The team behind Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina and more, will be slinging up Chinese cuisine in a bistro setting.

What does that mean exactly? The Chinese dishes and flavours we’re familiar with, done in a way we haven’t seen before. “Think Hainanese chicken club sandwich, all the best parts of the classic wedged between two crunchy triangles of bread,” says Simon Blacher, Commune Group creative director.

“We are flexing on prawn toast. Alongside the crowd favourite comes a prawn bisque dipping sauce to double down on flavour.

“Our wok section will be getting a workout between supreme fried rice and dishes like a wok-tossed soft-shell crab with garlic, black bean and pepper.

“Chinese food is such an exciting cuisine filled with familiar flavours that we love. Moonhouse, like all our venues, is not bound by tradition, rather inspired by it.”

The kitchen team has cred. Executive chef Anthony Choi is ex-Cumulus Inc, head chef Shirley Summakwan cut her teeth at Tokyo Tina and Hanoi Hannah Volume II and group pastry chef Enza Soto has Brae on her CV.

The food may be Chinese, but the drinks will be exclusively Australian wine, spirits and beers.

Not having a CBD address is an important part of the venue’s ethos. The building is located on the prominent corner of Carlisle Street and Nelson Street in Balaclava and Commune Group’s aim is to have it become an important part of the community.

“We want Moonhouse to be a neighbourhood restaurant that people travel to from all over Melbourne. I grew up and cut my teeth in this area, and we feel privileged to be taking over such an important site in Balaclava. The building is rich in history, and our design direction respects and embraces its heritage,” Blacher says.

Designer Ewert Leaf and agency Space Between will turn the art deco heritage building, a former bank, into a 110-seated venue that includes a dining room, upstairs cocktail bar and private dining space.

The interiors will be minimal but playful with a forward-facing identity based on the concept of intersection. Taking cues from the fit-out and existing soft curves of the building, the teams aim to simplify and interpret what art deco means in the context of Commune Group.

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