Bon Chovy: Carnation Canteen

What to expect

A Neighbourhood Gem in Fitzroy

Set the table for four at Carnation Canteen, a small, quietly beautiful spot tucked away on a tree-lined Fitzroy corner. It feels more like dining in an old friend's home than a restaurant - warm, thoughtful, and unhurried. Run by Audrey Shaw and Alexander Di Stefano, the menu shifts weekly - thoughtful, European-leaning food grounded in local, seasonal produce. It’s elegant but unfussy cooking: the kind that lets good ingredients and careful technique do the talking. With such a small setting, the evening will be all about presence - good wine, shared dishes, and honest conversation. Come ready to be yourself, to listen, to laugh, and to lean in.