25 Crossley Street in Melbourne has been a great spot for foodies over the years. In the 1950s, it was the home of Pellegrini’s Tavola Freddo Cantina. From 1996 to 2024, the site was transformed into fine diner Becco. Now, it has been reborn into Côte Basque. Inspired by the Basque country, this is the first Melbourne restaurant by hospitality giants Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann since they opened Gimlet in 2020. Expect flame-cooked produce, alongside European wines and classic cocktails. It opens on Friday, August 7, and will run daily from noon till late.
Côte Basque
The site has been carefully renovated by ACME, restoring the original 1950s green terrazzo flooring, cherrywood panelling and stainless-steel framed windows. Inside, you’ll find a tiered dining room and a leather-lined bar, adorned with a 12-metre mural by artist Magnus Reid. Together, the restaurant and bar can fit 100 guests, with a private room upstairs that can fit 50 people. If you’d like to channel a bit of European dining, the laneway outside can also fit 24 extra guests.
The venue will channel the simplicity of Basque cuisine, with a wood-fired grill and oven for cooking meat and seafood.
“Since my first trip to the Basque in the 90s I have been inspired by the region,” said McConnell. “We wanted to do an authentic wood grill and wood-oven restaurant, dedicating a menu to the beauty of that tradition of cooking. We’re trying to keep it as simple as possible – the best produce we can get our hands on, treat it with care, grill it perfectly, put it on the plate.”
Look forward to signatures such as Victorian calamari, seasoned with its own ink, and a fish soup inspired by Basque ttoro. There will also be a daily grill list of freshly-caught seafood, and fine cuts of David Blackmore’s Rohne hybrid of wagyu and Galician rubia gallega. This steak is richly marbled, and aged in-house for a month. You’ll also find memories of Becco, including a veal cotoletta on Mondays.
As for dessert, expect nostalgic treats, like chocolate soufflé and a Gâteau Basque with Armagnac-soaked prunes.
Pair your meal with a drink from the European-leaning wine list, or go for a classic cocktail or aperitif, such as a cosmopolitan or martini.
📍25 Crossley St, Melbourne VIC 3000
