Martha’s Table

A short drive from the Mornington Peninsula’s vineyards, Martha’s Table evokes the kind of waterside, produce-driven dining you’d expect to find along the Mediterranean coastline. It’s a handsome all-in-one, comprising a restaurant led by executive chef Adam Beckett; an aperitivo bar dubbed Arthur’s; plus a provedore and wine cellar stocked with enough local, imported and house-made products to capsize one of the smaller yachts floating in the nearby Martha Cove Marina.

The restaurant’s interiors feature a marine colour palette offset by raw concrete pillars and timber-and-rattan furniture. There’s also a pristine outdoor space for alfresco dining that offers views of the cove’s bobbing yachts and palatial residences.

Beckett – the former executive chef at Lancemore Lindenderry – counts several other notable posts on his resume, including Quay, Vue De Monde and Paringa Estate’s exceptional in-house restaurant. His Mediterranean-inspired menu centres around the restaurant’s woodfired grill, which imparts a charred note to dishes such as whole grilled flounder with grenoble sauce, or a hefty rib-eye steak with jus and dijon. Other highlights include pork belly with brussels sprouts and quince purée, plus a selection of handmade pasta and risotto dishes – many of them starring locally-caught seafood.

Arthur’s Bar is a more casual offering of oysters, antipasti and crudo; matched with signature cocktails and classic Italian aperitivi. Between here and Martha’s impressive wine cellar, you can expect a wide-ranging curation of bottles from the Mornington Peninsula, Australia and Europe.

For guests who are inclined to bring the Mediterranean experience home, the provedore-slash-cafe features an impressive walk-in cheese and charcuterie room, complemented by a takeaway spread of Italian-style baked items such as pizzettas, calzones and pastries.