October was a huge month for Melbourne’s restaurant and bar scene. Many highly anticipated venues opened, including the France Soir and Askal team’s new bars and surprise newcomers like Rathdowne Village’s Malin. Here are the venues that caught our attention last month.

• First look: Entrecote’s lavish new bar, Gigi, is a taste of high-society Paris.

• First look: want a drink at France-Soir’s Le Splendide? Put a sticker over your phone camera.

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• This new Palestinian food truck drew a crowd of hundreds on its first day.

• First look: there’s room to grow at Moon Mart’s new two-level South Melbourne site.

• First look: get drinks, dinner and a show at Wildflower Picture House & Bar.

• First look: at its new CBD store, Hector’s Deli grows up.

• First look: Lygon Street icon DOC Espresso begins a new era as DOC Osteria.

• First look: South Melbourne’s Kirbie channels British caff energy.

• First look: people are driving from Weribee to Richmond to eat at northern Indian restaurant Parathaas.

• First look: Indonesian sambal empire Waroeng SS lands in Melbourne.

• First look: another wine bar hits Rathdowne Village. But Malin packs a punch.

• Now open: Terror Twilight’s sibling venue Ophelia is serving miso iced lattes and midday Martinis.

• Now open: Amatrice Rooftop has some of the city’s best views, but the real magic starts at sundown.