THE laneways on the eastern side of Deakin Avenue could become Mildura’s next great food and entertainment venue, says restaurateur Brett Robertson.
Mr Robertson, who last month brought his Enjoy Wine restaurant back to its old location at the Hotel Mildura site at the corner of Eighth Street and Madden Avenue, says business access roads such as Harrison, Risbey and Midgley lanes offer untapped potential for alfresco dining and festival-style events.
He intends discussing the concept with Mildura Regional Development and the Mildura Council in the hopes of generating activity in what he feels is a “forgotten” part of the CBD.
“We’re not even part of the City Heart (business precinct) over here, which is ridiculous … if that’s the heart of the city, we’re only 150 metres from it,” Mr Robertson said.
“It just needs a bit more support from the council and I can see an opportunity opening up for that now.”
In the shorter term, Mr Robertson says he’s excited to bring the Enjoy Wine brand back to the restaurant site, on the ground floor of the historic hotel building and adjacent to Harrison Lane.
Enjoy Wine previously operated there for about a decade and Mr Robertson still runs Enjoy Catering, which supplies meals to other hospitality businesses around the district.
He said the new version of the old restaurant specialised in expertly matching food and beverages, using local winemakers and food producers wherever possible “because the product is so good here”.
The quality of local game meat had also inspired him to start planning a smoked meats festival.
