The team behind Tartine Bistro, Ines Wine Bar, Sistine, and The Meatball & Wine Bar have opened Middle Park European restaurant in Melbourne’s Bayside Area.
Matteo Bruno’s The Valarc Group is known for owning and operating several well-regarded venues across Melbourne, with a focus on European-inspired dining and innovative concepts.
Middle Park European is a classic wine bar and bistro bringing a touch of Italian and French flair to Melbourne’s bayside. Expect handmade pasta, dry-aged steaks, and classic French desserts, all under the guidance of chef Ian Curley. Curley is a British-born, Melbourne-based chef with a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in the city’s hospitality scene. He is currently the co-owner and chef at French Saloon and Kirk’s Wine Bar, both located in Melbourne’s CBD, and also oversees Kirk’s Cellar Dining Room.
The group promises a laid back, yet refined setting, and is hoping to evoke the spirit of an all day and night European wine bar, blending the building’s heritage charm in the relaxed leafy streets of Middle Park.
Under Curley’s mentorship, the kitchen will be led by Head Chef Aaron Wrafter, whose experience spans some of the UK’s most respected kitchens, including The Venture Inn and Michelin-starred Turners and Harborne Kitchen in Birmingham.
The simple and refined menu lists small bites like crab with fennel on milk loaf and more substantial dishes such as handmade pastas, dry-aged steaks, and classic French desserts.
The drinks list features curated Australian, French, and Italian wines, including Valarc’s own Sandhill Estate Wines from the high-altitude region of the Macedon Ranges, Victoria. Premium Champagnes and house cocktails are also on offer.
Design elements include solid walnut, hand-shaped by a local boatbuilder, adding a sense of depth to the space, whilst imported Italian lights, natural stone and rustic tiles work together to create an atmosphere that hopes to transport guests straight to the heart of Europe.
An Albert Park resident, Bruno created the Middle Park European as a go-to spot for any time of the week to catch up with friends and enjoy some warm European hospitality.
“We wanted to create a place that feels like home for the community and surrounding suburbs, but also a destination worth visiting. Whether you’re stopping by for a drink and some oysters at the bar or enjoying a more indulgent meal with friends, we aim to be a gathering spot that celebrates classic Italian and French cuisine in a relaxed, casual environment,” says Bruno.
The group are also set to open The Florence on Flinders Lane in late 2025 and Bodega Alegria is opening soon in Albert Park, though no confirmed date is yet known. Middle Park European is open now.
Photos by Chege Mbuth.
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