Lona

Fitting right into St. Kilda’s city beach vibe is Lona, a pintxo bar/restaurant that combines beach chic with South American and Spanish flavours. The Sedgley brothers (Charles and Edward) are behind this venture, and know the restaurant scene well. They have done it before with Barca Food & Wine and another Lona in Armadale.  

The premise here is to eat, drink and share, hence ‘pintxo’. It’s a speciality of the Basque Country and similar to tapas, so don’t shy away from the toothpicks on your table!

Hang here before a boozy night out with friends, or if your group is feeling nibbly and chatty. Catch glimpses of Luna Park if sitting outside, and the humdrum of Acland Street around the corner. Inside it’s bright, and roomy – there is enough booths and tables for everyone. A fun fact for you: the large artwork that spans across the inside wall was tipped off to the Sedgley brothers when they first bought the property. Now since restored, it was originally hidden behind a plasterboard and painted in the 80s.

So, food? Their menu is divided by food produce sources, ‘Land’, ‘Sea’ ‘Earth’, and ‘Boards’. We started with a serve of their Patatas Gravas (‘Earth’). These warm bites of fried potato are seasoned well with hits of paprika, then topped off with garlicy aioli and zesty tumaca sauce – you will want to keep dipping into it! Overall it’s a great mix of spice and comfort (potatoes can do no wrong!).

Bite into their Jamon Croquetas (‘Land’) for pleasurable flavours of creamy cheese, ham bits and leek subtleties. The chia seeds add a nutty note, and its fried outer layer has good texture. But a pinch of salt to finish would have improved its depth. Get all DIY with their Beef Brisket tacos (‘Boards’) and share with the table. The salad sides and sauces complement the pull apart brisket strips. Use the chipotle sauce for a mild spicy kick, and the bourbon barbecue sauce to add fuller flavour to your taco.

Their Pork Sliders (‘Land’) might initially seem small in size, but it is moreish. There’s a surprisingly generous portion of well glazed pork belly, completed by crunchy slaw. This leaves the mussels from their sea menu. To say the least, it is worth it. The sauce really pulls this dish together, especially with the vino bianco punch and the complex but balanced dance of garlic, onion and parsley. Be sure to dip the side of crusty bread into this one!

Not to forget, are Lona’s crowd-pleasing cocktails. The Popcorn Colada is carnival themed and plays on reliving happy childhood memories. It’s exactly like tasting butter popcorn in all its fun-fair glory, with accents of sweet coconut, pineapple and Havana Club 3. Try the Pornstar Martini for passionfruit tang and fun. There’s a passionfruit shell with a shot of prosecco to pour into the other half of the drink, it’s a nice finishing touch.

Overall Lona has a good spread of pintxo dishes for groups. There’s plenty of opportunity to graze, drink and enjoy good company like you are basking in Spain.

Lona 
64–66 Acland Street, St Kilda
Open 7 days, 8am to late
lona.com.au