What a fantastic spot nestled down a laneway in the heart of Brunswick. A warm welcome reception and we were taken to a cosy little nook and we started with two delicious cocktails. These went down super well with the ultra delicious scallops in spicy butter. Highly recommend. The oysters with granita were ok but I felt the granita lacked flavour and overwhelmed the delicate oyster beneath. The rest of the meal was fantastic paired with a great wine list. Delicious fish with a green sauce that wasn’t too in your face it complimented the fish well. Ask the friendly staff for their wine recommendations and they will happily inform you. I’ll be back and will return with more friends so we can sample the menu beyond their super well priced $45 set menu :)

The fact that this spot is hidden away in Brunswick's backstreets already makes me like it. The fact that they are a cafe with a wine bar vibe (or vice versa) makes me like it more. It has a great indoor/outdoor front dining area perfect for sunny days. While open for day trade daily, brunch is only available here on weekends. During the week, you'll find an assortment of sandwiches and small bites that you may want to order a couple of, whether with a wine or a coffee. Prices are pretty reasonable and menu is short but varied. It's not extremely cohesive, but at least it's interesting. I started with an oat flat white, which was okay but too frothy. I'd checked out the menu before I went but decided to order the broccoli sub, which seemed to be a new addition as it want on the menu I'd seen. I was sceptical when it first came. It took ages to arrive and looked quite small for the $14 cost. But one bite made me forget all that. The combo of charred broccoli, gooey cheese, garlic and slightly sweet gochujang (cut with mayo) is genius. The dish isn't groundbreaking, but it is refreshing and makes me keen to see what concepts the venue has up its sleeve. There are definitely areas they could improve upon and brand identity seems a bit muddled at the moment, but I'm eager to see what's to come.

🍀 Fennel Tarte Tatin, Leek Soubise 🌶️ Crispy Artichokes, Smoked Chilli, Pistachio Pesto 🐖 Pork Chop, Broad Beans, Roast Shallots 🐟 Rock Flathead, Lemon Butter, Tarragon, Capers 🥔 Salt and Vinegar Potatoes Theodore’s Refreshment Service is a Brunswick wine bar tucked away in a street just behind Sydney Rd. It was named after the owners son Teddy and in a previous life was an old fishmongers. You would never know it though, the warehouse venue is architecturally stunning, featuring an atrium style courtyard out the front, leading to a bottle shop and dining space with bar and booth seating. Since opening in 2019 and surviving through the past few tough years, in 2022 they have pivoted to hosting kitchen takeovers! On my visit was @fiend_melb headed by Chef @latestdisgrace13 with experience working in at highly regarded restaurants like @cutlerandco, @anchovy338 and @rockpoolbarandgrill. 👩🏽‍🍳 The menu was short but sweet, with every option leaving us intrigued. The Artichoke Hearts were a great starter, very crisp. The Fennel Tart Tartin was huge and I love that my palette was confused wether it was having a savoury or sweet dish. It was the perfect balance of both, beautifully caramelised. 🤤 The Pork Chop was juicy and tasty, with a bold jus. The Fish was absolutely delicious, so well cooked and surrounded in a sea of lemon butter. It was quite difficult to eat being a whole fish in a very dimly lit venue, I could barely see to remove the bones. 🐟 An amazing spot for a drink, quality food and service. We did have some hiccups with very long wait times which may come from a new pop up. We were offered complimentary wines for our wait (their wines selection is ace!). 🍷

My go-to in Brunswick for a superb glass of wine and some tasty bar snacks. Their wine list is constantly changing so you’ll always get to try something new and interesting, plus I love the highlight on local Australian wines. The service is relaxed and friendly, the venue is beautiful, and the ambiance is simply immaculate (with great music too). A hidden gem that shouldn’t stay hidden for long.

Great drinks list. Fantastic cocktails and natural wine and mezcal selection

After months of enjoying their takeaway during lockdown (who doesn't love a pretzel brunch and a cocktail to get you through the day?) it was wonderful to finally be able to sit in and enjoy the hospitality at Theodore's. Somehow it exceeded even my highest expectations. I had the cleanest, brightest martini of my life and outstanding wine recommendations (Theodore's punches well above its weight in the wine list - next time I'm coming back for the Jura). The set menu was generous, and to be honest we just went all out with the add-ons not because we were still hungry but because we didn't want to miss anything. The service was warm and impeccable, the space is inviting and, well, just damn aesthetic. It hits all the right notes for 'stylish scandi meets industrial chic'. The outdoor casual seating benefits from the fact that it's tucked away from the Sydney Road noise - it's private and relaxed. Oh, and the Theodore's folks are all just really, really great. This is a fact. Honestly, I'm looking forward to when hospo can move beyond the current two hour seating times so I can stay at Theodore's for hours, drinking wine and snacking on fish wings and fresh oysters. In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to keep coming back as often as possible, and bringing all my friends.

A great bar/restaurant with nice chilled ambience and friendly staff (Ryan, Claire, and Cam). The red and cheese combination recommended by the staff was amazing.

Excellent vibe and the menu is always a seasonal selection. Everything was on point and would highly recommend.

Loved the Mr West x Dingo Ate My Taco collab! Super tasty wines and mezcal and innovative tacos. Loved the baby margarita option too!

Delicious Birria and cocktails. Service was quick and friendly. Looking forward to making this our go-to.

What a groove little place. We went to a bday party here so I know it’s not completely indicative of what they normal day - but we got a good sample!! Great food, drinks and attentive staff. Atmosphere is great. Look forward to trying it on a normal dining night.

Came here for a late breakfast on the weekend. Cosy, good space and people working there are on the ball. Tasty food choices, solid coffee and drinks. They seem to really care about their food and drink offers. We spent way too long and ate and drank too much coffee, and felt very welcome the whole time. Thumbs up from us.

Excellent wine and cocktail list, friendly helpful staff. Delicious food. A hidden gem.

Amazing cocktails! I’d been hanging out to try the Saxton St martini and it did not disappoint. I also loved the picante margarita which comes in 3 different levels of spice 🌶️

Always rave about Theodore’s to friends and family. My go to Melbourne recommendation. Always amazing seasonal veg and beautiful wines selection. My picks were orange wine and pickled rhubarb when we last went but the menu is ever evolving with the seasons which means variety is never out of the question. The staff and ambience are also lovely. Top tier dining experience for a reasonable price.

Lovely, casual, clean space with friendly, prompt & fun staff. Live vinyl was on point, drinks were adventurous and exciting. Food was delicious, we were all fully satisfied <3

Stopped in for a quick drink and had a good time. Callum was so personable, which made for such a wonderful Brunswick experience. Would recommend again for future me.

Fantastic customer service with a great collection of beer, wine and cocktails to choose from. The house sommelier suggested some great bottles and was open to helping find what was right for our table. The food was delicious and prepared expertly and with a seasonal menu you can never get tired of what’s on offer. I felt extremely welcomed and looked after during my meal. All of this generated an excellent atmosphere highlighted with great music. The manager was exceptionally customer facing and helpful. Would take my friends again!

Theodore’s is a hidden gem! Definitely recommended, great interior design, delicious and beautifully presented food! The waiter was very friendly, helpful and attentive.

Great breakfast. They also did a collaboration with a Mexican restaurant and it was delicious. Excellent hidden gem!

Delicious food and Mezcal - especially loved the birria taco’s and the waitress, Lilly was also awesome and educated us all about about Mezcal. Will be back for sure!

We love this spot for vino. Unpretentious wine bar with nice selection of wines and friendly staff. Ryan’s the best, warm service with great knowledge of wines. It’s our new local. Highly recommend!