Chef Tinee Su’s laneway spot Tori’s is known for lines down the block, iced strawberry matcha lattes and delicate Asian-influenced cakes. The small bakery is particularly popular with the city’s students who wait for a place on one of the vintage couches.

Where Tori’s leans into a Tumblr-core aesthetic, Su’s new bistro Regale is decidedly more polished with uniform furniture, pendant lights suspended from the ceiling and a Luke Whitten sculpture that greets guests as they enter.

At 150 seats, Regale is a big departure from the tiny cafe. But given its location in a historic 1800s building that was once the Carlton United Brewery, right next to RMIT buildings and a short walk from Melbourne Uni, its core customers will likely be the same student base that Tori’s appeals to.

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Regale is spacious, and specifically designed for spontaneous dinners. “If you want to hang out as a big group and you don’t have a place to go … we can definitely find a spot for you,” Su tells Broadsheet.

The chef, who also owns nearby cafe Humble Rays, has teamed up with executive chef Brett Johnson (ex-Mitre Tavern) to create what the pair describe as an “East meets West” menu that the two says they created by envisioning a group of friends on a night out.

Savoury dishes span grilled butter scallops with saltbush, chicken cordon bleu with a Sichuan-inspired sugo, and rempeyek kacang (Indonesian peanut rice crackers) served on a silky bed of tofu cream (the creation of sous-chef Kevin Setiawan). The menu has a dedicated rice and noodles section, which features black garlic fried rice, and mushroom tagliolini. Larger plates include soy-glazed scotch fillet and honey char sui-glazed barbeque pork jowl.

There are echoes of Tori’s on the dessert menu, where there is an avocado and jasmine tiramisu with a hint of genmaicha, crowned with a sprinkling of roasted genmai (Japanese roasted rice) for a nutty finish.

The wine list travels around Europe and to local vineyards. And you’ll find Asian-inspired cocktails such as the Pandan Paradise, which pairs the green leaf with coconut and a shot of gin. Others include a Genmaicha Spritz and a Margarita made with rosemary-infused tequila.

Later this year, adjoined basement bar Galer will open its doors, welcoming people for drinks and live performances.

Regale
555 Swanston Street, Carlton
0435455455

Hours:
Tue to Thur 5pm–9.30pm
Fri & Sat 5pm–10pm

regaler.com.au