
Australian Dining in the US
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Though Australian cuisine may be harder to put your finger on than, say, Italian or French, Australia has a few restaurant styles that it is quite famous for - the Aussie pub and the Aussie cafe - and both are touching down in the United States in rapid numbers. Some nationally established Aussie cafes have been around for a long time, like Bluestone Lane and Two Hands, but several new ones have hit the scene in the last year, or are about to.
What makes an Australian cafe or pub?
Australian cafes tend to be open all day, with an emphasis on great brunch fare and even better coffee. Some classic menu items include avocado toast, brekkie rolls, and meat pies, as well as a whole range of breakfast, brunch, and lunch items. And did we mention good coffee? As for an Australian pub, often called ‘hotel’ due to historic liquor laws that required lodging to be offered at drinking holes, pubs can be simple, rustic affairs or more grand, multi-level venues. Hallmarks are hearty pub fare and an extensive beer selection, but Australian pubs, unlike their British counterparts, often have a very good wine selection as well.
Here are four new Australian eateries that are worth putting on your travel radar this year:
Chapel Street Cafe (Chicago, IL)
Named after Melbourne’s boisterous Chapel Street, general manager Shawn Uldridge (a Melbourne native), has fashioned Chapel Street Cafe to bring the warmth of Australian hospitality to Chicago. Like most Aussie cafes, Chapel Street specializes in brekkie classics and fine-tuned coffee, but unlike most Aussie cafes, it’s open all day and late night. Chicago denizens can stop in for an early morning coffee, a raucous weekend brunch, or a late-night bite. Melbourne Parma? Sign us up.
Old Mates (New York, NY)
Old Mates is firmly on the pub side of the Aussie dining equation, with doors opening at 4pm everyday. Three levels of Australiana await guests: the first floor is more of a rowdy bar, with footy (i.e. Australian rules football) playing on TVs and DJs spinning on weekend nights, while the second is the more subdued dining room, with barramundi fish & chips and a “salad sanga” (salad sandwich) on the menu, which is about as Aussie as it gets. The drinks further emphasise the theme, with almost total devotion to Australian spirits, beers, and wines.
Matilda + FIVE5EEDS (Park City, UT)
Meanwhile, across the country, an Aussie expat has established a growing Aus empire in the snow-capped mountain town of Park City, Utah. With a tagline like ‘Great Food, Serious Coffee’, FIVE5EEDS is the quintessential Aussie cafe. But with the cafe closing at 3pm everyday, the team wanted to create a venue where people could continue to enjoy Australian hospitality at night. Matilda opened in early 2025 to great reception, with a menu that spans Australian influences, including French, Asian and Italian (beef tartarte with salt and vinegar chips; pork cutlet with japanese bbq sauce; and pizzas fired up in their outdoor ovens).
Loona’s (Huntsville, AL)
Coming soon is Huntsville’s very first Aus-inspired cafe. After spending time Down Under, the local owners wanted to recreate the experience of an Aussie cafe for Huntsville, complete with Aus breakfast specials, superb coffee, and an extra special focus on drinks (which we love). Expect an exceptional Australian wine list, and gradually expanding hours to be the breakfast, lunch, and dinner stop for its neighbors. It’s also named after the owner’s dog, an Australian breed--what more could you want?
Now, in addition to great Australian wine through How to Drink Australian, you can start to experience the Aussie hospitality and cuisine that made us fall in love with the country, with this new spate of restaurants opening up across the country. Cheers, mate!