Where Chefs Eat: Salad Queen Frankie Cox Avoids “Hectic Brunch” (and Is Opening a New Venue)

In 2021, after returning from a five-year stint in New York that saw her work as executive chef at Aussie-style cafe Two Hands, Frankie Cox founded Green-On. The Cremorne salad bar, since rebranded as Crop, is known for hearty, nourishing bowls and a low-waste ethos.

Now, Cox is finally opening a second outpost. The second Crop will open on Smith Street in Fitzroy this winter, and she hopes to grow the business even further in the coming years. While building an empire, she still finds time to enjoy Melbourne’s dining scene. We caught up with the chef to find out where (and what) she’s been eating lately.

What’s your go-to breakfast spot?
Cam’s Kiosk. I’m not a huge fan of that hectic brunch environment, so I love going to Cam’s because the food is not fussy and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed.

Where do you take visitors when they’re in town?
Clover. The food just keeps getting better and better.

If you’re asked to recommend a date spot, where do you tell people to go?
Brico. My partner and I love to sit at the bar and drink lots of different wines by the glass. The team introduced us to Scarlet menta amaro and it’s now our favourite way to finish a meal. I’m looking forward to having a glass on ice soon.

What’s your favourite ice-cream or gelato spot?
My local is Piccolina. We love walking up there on a hot summer night. My go-to is the Better Than Nutella.

Where do you go for a special occasion?
Chauncy. It really feels like an extension of [owners Tess Murray and Louis Naepels’s] home. The way their roles dance together in food and wine is something very special, and I love a little walk in the veggie garden to break up the meal.

What’s the best place to eat when you’re with a big group?
Jim’s Greek Tavern. It’s impossible to have a bad time. You arrive with your BYO and the rest is looked after. I’m always the one that orders, so I love a set menu that allows me to just relax and be present.

What’s the most underrated restaurant in Melbourne?
The Local Drop just opened in Collingwood and the wine program is unbelievable. You can drink champagne with no corkage on takeaway prices, and they have some amazing, hard-to-find bottles.

What’s the best place to go for a late-night feed?
France-Soir. The kitchen is open till midnight and there’s a guaranteed vibe no matter what time you roll in.

What’s your bucket-list restaurant?
Chae. I love how everything is so intentional. It looks like a beautiful expression of hospitality.