Sandi Sieger’s guide to what’s hot and happy(ning) this week. Eat, drink, buy, try, visit, read, be merry.
EAT: Lah Bros
Between 2012 and 2022, Australia’s Nepali migrant population quintupled to 151,140 individuals, making it the tenth-largest community in Australia. With a strong presence across well-regarded kitchens, Nepali talent is starting to receive recognition, but until recently, the dining scene was devoid of the well-deserved ‘coming of age’ their own cuisine demanded.
Lah Bros (meaning ‘OK mate’), is a modern Nepalese restaurant located on Chapel Street in Windsor. Not a newcomer, but rather a hidden gem that is ready to be discovered by epicureans (outside of the hundreds who have left five-star Google reviews).
Owner and Chef, Rajeev Chakradhar, set the intent to introduce a contemporary and elevated representation of Nepali cuisine following his experience working in Tasmanian kitchens including Ball and Chain Grill and Peppina in Hobart.
His menu assimilates his respect for local producers, while still nostalgically bringing in the flavours of ‘home’. It’s a playful banter between both cultures and reflects the casual ambience of the restaurant – you will often find him front of house on many occasions, asking for feedback from the guests!
The flavours are long on the palate, with gentle tickles of spice, and carefully curated textural layers that add that bite, crunch or substance for that coveted balance.
Rajeev’s heartier signature dishes include a crispy pork belly curry and a Nepali festival favourite slow-cooked goat chilli (he keeps small tubular bones in so you can suck out the marrow), and a vegetarian curry.
To drink, there’s a carefully developed cocktail list, a limited wine list and a small selection of Nepali and international beers, alongside non-alcoholic options.
View the menu and book via www.lahbros.com.au
DRINK: 50% Off Drinks At All Good Company Bar Group’s Venues
Since 2020, Good Company Bar Group (GCBG) has been shaping Melbourne’s nightlife and hospitality scene, transforming small bars into a thriving portfolio of exceptional venues. Founded by Nick Young, Ben White, and Antony Beltrame, the group has become synonymous with high energy nightlife, eclectic hospitality spaces, and an unwavering commitment to community.
On Friday May 2, GCBG will mark its 5th anniversary with a city-wide celebration across its eight venues, featuring exclusive activations, entertainment, and a major expansion announcement. To toast the milestone, guests can enjoy 50% off drinks until midnight across all venues and a series of venue specific activations, promotions and music events.
Enjoy 50% of drinks, and the following, at these venues:
HOLY GRAIL (67 Chapel St, Windsor) – Doors Open: 3PM
- Gentleman’s Lair Barbershop pop-up: Haircuts & beard trims
- Tarot readings
- Hospitality Speed Cocktail Competition – Win a bottle of rum (RSA required)
LA LA LAND – CHAPEL ST (134 Chapel St, Windsor) – Doors Open: 4PM
- Flash tattoos (La La Land–inspired)
- Temporary tattoos
- Red Bull Truck DJ Set
LA LA LAND – CBD (125 Hardware St, Melbourne) – Doors Open: 4PM
- Free photo booth
- Live music: Jazz & neo-soul performances from Off The Cuff & Unfunkables SOMEWHERE BAR (181 Chapel St, Prahran) – Doors Open: 5PM
- Tote bag & cap printing (by Das T-Shirt Automat)
- Karaoke in the VIP Room
- Spinning wheel with prizes
CIRCUS (199 Commercial Rd, South Yarra) – Doors Open: 10PM
- International DJ duo In Parallel (UK)
- Giveaway: 4 free tickets for GCBG Birthday
ROSSI (162 Greville St, Prahran) – Open to Public from 6PM. Pizzas outside for takeaway from 12PM
- 50 free pizzas given away on Greville St (From 12 noon)
- New menu launch
- DJs playing late into the night
ELECTRIC (265–267 Chapel St, Prahran) – Doors Open: 7PM
- Official GCBG 5th Birthday Afterparty
- Feature set by Electric original artists
THE EMERSON (141–145 Commercial Rd, South Yarra) – From 5PM
- New rooftop Mexican food offering
- Sunset drinks & live DJs
BUY: You Matter High Tea For Hope
Melbourne-based not-for-profit, You Matter, has released tickets for its High Tea for Hope event on Sunday 25th May, 2025.
The event is generously sponsored by its partner venue, The Westin Melbourne. A keynote speech from Jelena Dokic will headline it. The former world number four tennis player will share her story of finding one’s voice, transcending the past, and thriving against all odds. Dokic’s journey is one of triumph. Her bestselling books Unbreakable and Fearless and her documentary Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story chronicle her transformation from victim to survivor to thriver. Now a TEDx speaker, commentator, and bestselling author, she inspires as a testament to human resilience.
High Tea for Hope is the culmination of a month-long campaign created by You Matter – You Matter in May – which aims to raise much-needed funds for women and children impacted by family violence in the lead up to the end of the financial year.
It comes at a time when the prevalence of family violence weighs heavily on the conscience of Australians, with 14 women and four children killed to date in 2025, according to The Australian Femicide Watch tally.
You Matter supports women and children who have experienced family violence by creating ‘Havens of Hope’ – supplying and setting up the contents of their long-term accommodation. This service receives no government funding and is vital in enabling the women of Melbourne to take the next steps in recovery and rebuilding of their lives.
Last year’s event featured guest speaker Rosie Batty and hosted 150 guests who raised $55,000 on the day. This year, the target is over $70,000, with funds enabling You Matter to continue to deliver Havens of Hope, which cost around $7,000 each.
Tickets are available now via shoutforgood.com/fundraisers/2025highteaforhope
TRY: Your Pink Bits
Your Pink Bits Intimate Brightening Cream is here to brighten and smooth where it really counts, offering a gentle, natural option for those interested in intimate skincare.
After two years of research and development, Your Pink Bits has perfected a formula that’s natural, pH-balanced, and designed for even the most sensitive skin. It’s all about giving people a simple, effective way to feel confident and pampered, with a subtle boost of confidence when it matters most.
The new Australian intimate skincare brand specialises in natural, non-toxic formulations. Launched in late 2024, Your Pink Bits combines cutting-edge skincare technology with ethical production practices to deliver safe, effective intimate skincare solutions. Inspired by timeless beauty rituals like the WW2 red lipstick rule, the products offer simple ways to feel confident and pampered, even during life’s toughest moments.
VISIT: LKF Bar
LKF Bar is the ultimate late-night destination for karaoke and cocktails, now operating as a stand-alone venue above the modern Asian eatery, Yum Sing House. Located in the heart of Melbourne’s bustling CBD, LKF Bar’s sleek late-night bar and private karaoke rooms offer the perfect spot to drink, dance and sing the night away.
Formerly known as Yum Sing House Karaoke, LKF Bar is inspired by the lively streets of the Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) district in Hong Kong — a renowned nightlife hotspot. Known for bringing people together from all walks of life, LKF is a place where locals and expats living in all parts of the city gather for a vibrant mix of music, drinks, and late-night revelry.
Expanding on its vibrant nightlife experience, LKF Bar also offers exclusive private dining in each karaoke room, providing the perfect setting for a private lavish feast. Guests can indulge in a curated set menu or elevate their dining experience with off-menu inclusions such as fresh crab, caviar, and lobster. And when the feast ends, the party continues, as the room transforms into a private karaoke haven, keeping the night alive in true LKF style.
READ: Ela na Fáme! by Eleftheria ‘Thierry’ Amanatidis
In the heart of Yarraville, where the aroma of traditional Greek cuisine has wafted through the streets since 1971, Eleftheria ‘Thierry’ Amanatidis unveils her debut book, Ela na Fáme! (‘Come and Eat’) – a captivating blend of recipes and stories that celebrates the powerful lineage of women who built a Melbourne food dynasty. With the growing popularity of food memoirs and a resurgence in Greek cuisine, Ela na Fáme arrives at the perfect moment for food lovers and home cooks alike. More than a recipe collection, it brings together over five decades of family stories, paying tribute to three generations of strong-willed Greek women who transformed food into a language of love, resilience, and cultural identity.
Ela na Fáme! shares cherished family recipes that are accessible to home cooks of all levels, organised into Meze (appetisers), Mains and Sweets. Beyond familiar classics like spanakopita and moussaka, readers will discover northern Greek delicacies like gemista (stuffed capsicum and tomatoes) and lamb kleftiko (“stolen lamb”, cooked in individual parcels with vegetables). For dessert lovers, there’s plenty to try – including Thierry’s personal favourite, rizogalo (rice pudding). Each recipe comes to life through personal anecdotes that transport readers to the bustling family kitchens of Thierry’s childhood, where she and her sister Natalie learned to cook from their yiayias.
Rich with photographs, family stories and characteristic Greek humour, the book paints an intimate portrait of an immigrant family whose food became their identity. Yarraville itself emerges as a character in this narrative – the setting where multiple generations of Thierry’s family established cafés, restaurants, and even a butcher shop, creating a hospitality legacy that continues to flourish.
Ela na Fáme! is available for purchase online: www.eleniskitchen.com.au/cookbook
