EAT: 279, WEST MELBOURNE

There’s something striking and beautiful when it comes to minimalism, especially when executed to perfection. This is very much the case through and through at new kid on the block, 279, with both its clean cut, eye-catching interior aesthetics and straightforward menu embracing simple, done well. The menu is musubi-centric, featuring several variations of musubi or rice balls. I opted for the negi toro musubi, comprising smashed tuna and avo piled onto a rice ball. The flavours were light, fresh and incredibly balanced, with some punchier oomph coming through the nori strips and biting spring onion. We finished our lunch with a mochi donut to share. I had anticipated soft fluffy mochi with a crispy exterior but these were more akin to a Chinese doughnut stick in flavour with a bit more chew and a gentle crispiness.