Clutch

Elisa Mercurio originally opened Acacia as a destination breakfast and lunch spot, with the occasional dinner and wine-pairing session thrown into the mix. Recognising her increasing focus on the evening trade, Mercurio made the transition official with a rebrand as Clutch in 2021.

You can still drop by in the morning for coffee and pastries. But in the evening, the space shifts into gear with an innovative menu of small and large plates driven by Japanese cooking techniques and fermentation.

To start, you might order the duck breast prosciutto with pickled papaya cured with koji and spices, followed by sliced chargrilled kangaroo fillet with blackened lime, Korean chilli, and nori. There are also house-made cheese and charcuterie boards for casual grazing.

But if you’re in it for the long haul, opt for the seven-course degustation with matching wines from an extensive list of traditional, alternative and emerging styles. Other drinks include beer, cider and spirits with a focus on Australian craft producers.

Early risers can still stop in early for Acacia-style breakfast dishes on Sunday, such as umami scrambled eggs with octopus, confit duck leg with house-made crumpets, and breakfast tacos.