If you’ve been wandering bleary eyed through the Valley (either to work in the morning or home from a night out) and wondered about the pod being constructed at the bottom of Brunswick Street Mall for weeks, prepare to have your curiosity cured. 88FortyEight opened to the public this week, offering cool and casual alfresco dining in the middle of the mall from early morning to the wee hours on weekends. If you are wondering – 88FortyEight is the height of Mount Everest in metres. Originally from Nepal, owners and operators Hom and Swotantra have drawn on their heritage for inspiration, so expect a menu of classic Australian fare with a few Nepalese and multicultural twists.

Restaurant manager Kundan Kumar Panday and head chef Dipendra have worked to hone in on the best way to make use of locally sourced produce to provide top-notch dining. From 7:00 am commuters will be able to grab a cup of joe from the coffee window or take a seat and enjoy favourites such as French toast, smashed avo, omelettes and muesli. Lunchtime offers a range of 88FortyEight’s signature burgers, chicken schnitzel and sandwiches, while the dinner menu (available until 2:00 am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday) offers dishes such as Nepalese–style steamed chicken dumplings, pan-seared haloumi with kalamata salsa, Asian Atlantic salmon, lamb shanks, steak and pasta dishes. Three tap beers and more than a dozen bottled varieties are on offer, as is a great selection of wines by the glass and bottle. The spirits list is also impressive, with top drops available for the discerning drinkers. Also of note, Hom and Swotantra are donating ten percent of profits to the Uniting Hands Foundation, which is dedicated to helping at-risk communities.

For more information, check out the Stumble Guide.