Review: WAYGOOD, Richmond

Bars, Drink, Eat, Melbourne, Restaurants / 2 December 2021

You don’t need to be a regular to feel like a local here.

Something fresh, vibrant and neighbourly has landed in Richmond. Owner Martin Pirc (Punch Lane, Juliet) sought a change. Something fresh and exciting that would give Richmond locals a destination for any day of the week. WAYGOOD offers just that. Contrary to what you might expect, the name WAYGOOD came to Pirc during construction, “…when we stripped back Saint Urban’s façade and found the name on a steel beam from the building’s original structure; it instantly aligned with our pared-back philosophy,” said Pirc.

Image: Kristoffer Paulsen

The contemporary menu celebrating fresh produce is updated regularly – look to the specials menu when you visit and any further guidance from the wait staff. We loved the kingfish with a zesty pesto sauce and creamy fresh pasta. Although, you can’t go past the roasted capsicum, pine nut and goats cheese dish on the main menu. Fresh mignonette oysters with a sparkling rosé was the perfect way to start the menu.

Image: Kristoffer Paulsen

Whilst there is a collection of delightful cocktails, we couldn’t deter from a finely crafted wine list with a selection of French and European favourites and local vintners. The Clyde Park Chardonnay made a stone’s throw away in regional Geelong was our choice for the evening, pairing well with the Kingfish from the specials board, and the creamy pasta with artichoke crisps.

“People can come as they are and enjoy as they please. We’re hoping it will become a central hub and meeting place for the neighbourhood,” says Pirc.

Providing a European feel, as we start venturing out and about post-lockdown, this cave a manger is your destination to see old friends, new colleagues, family and dates. Plus, oif you ever run out of conversation, you’ll find fun, quirky entertainment around the place, including the always-intriguing book of birthdays. We certainly learnt a few things from those pages during our courses!

If there’s one thing to know for sure about WAYGOOD, it’s that you don’t need to be a regular to feel like a local.

Find out more and book a table here