Disappear down a quiet side-street away from the parking battles of Glenferrie Road and you slip into a culinary pleasure zone. Livingroom sits on a corner, its split levels cosily furnished with wooden tables and knowingly mismatched wooden chairs. Chef Darren Daley, formerly of Sud, curates fascinating flavours on a plate. His appealing menu might include beetroot-cured salmon stained to translucent ruby, with vanilla pickled cucumber; or lemon thyme and goat's cheese fritters with truffle honey – salty, sweet and fragrant at once. Polenta-crusted sea bream is pleasingly crisp, plated with a pile of warm niçoise salad; Crystal Bay prawns, sauteed complete, have a smoky crackle that works superbly with herby salad. For dessert, crema catalana might come with fennel shortbread. Service is warm, relaxed and professional, and the wine list reflects the owner's love of wine-region travel. A real find.

Open Tues–Fri 6–11pm; Wed–Fri noon–3pm; Sat 8am–11pm; Sun 8am–3pm
Typical prices E $17 M $35 D $16
Cards AE MC V Eftpos
Wine Long, invitingly structured and well-priced list, a blend of big and boutique names from Europe and Australia; helpful tasting notes; BYO Tues-Thurs (corkage $10 a bottle)
Owners Alan Markham & Carolyn Liem
Chef Darren Daley
Seats 69; outdoor seating

And … The five- or seven-course 'shared table' experience is excellent value.