Pinchy’s

Lobster and champagne are most often associated with fine dining, but Pinchy’s combines the two – and a few other oceanic snacks – in a laid-back, neon-pink setting.

Owner Jeremy Schinck and his wife Samara opened Pinchy’s in Bourke Street’s Midcity Centre arcade following pop-ups at HWKR, the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Night Noodle Markets and a six-month activation at Emporium. The menu, curated by exec chef Pieter Buijsse (ex-Point Leo Estate, Jackalope), includes meat, seafood and vegan offerings. Expect to use your hands.

For small bites, the king crab taco comes with spiced tomato salsa, and there’s crispy snapper croquettes on chipotle and miso mayo. Try the hibachi quail with juniper and watercress, or the octopus, fresh and light with green tomatoes and plum sauce.

The main event is the lobster roll, from the Cozy Harbour Seafood in Maine in the US. It’s finished with mayonnaise, lemon, a drizzle of butter, and chopped chives. Otherwise, opt for the whopping Wagyu beef burger, which stacks smoked tuna bacon and trout roe, with saltbush fries on the side.

There are two bars to choose from. One serves cocktails, craft brews and non-alcoholic drops, the other French champagne, local sparklings and an Italian prosecco.

The level-one eatery has a 100-square-metre open-air balcony with street views. Inside, the signature Pinchy’s neon claw sign is backed by a rose-gold mirror, casting the restaurant in a pink glow. There are velvet booths and tables to seat up to 75, with no trace of the room’s past life as an Asian restaurant.