Restaurant
Gaea
166 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Find Gaea
166 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout Gaea
Sixteen counter seats on Gertrude Street, low light, and Chef Mo Zhou plating mere centimetres from your elbow. Melbourne dining regulars track the calendar—the kitchen overhauls its degustation every month, pairing native produce with regional Asian technique. Dishes land in quick sequence: spanner crab with shaved macadamia, crocodile tartlets, and wagyu spooned over bone marrow rice. Those in the loop skip traditional bottles for the house-crafted ferment flights and rare sakes.
- 16-Seat Counter: Front-row dining mere centimetres from the plating pass, capped at 16 seats for a focused, low-noise service.
- Monthly Evolving Menu: A multi-course tasting format overhauled every four weeks, balancing native Australian produce with regional Asian techniques.
- Ferment & Sake Pairings: Curated flights featuring rare sakes and house-crafted zero-proof ferments brewed from native teas and botanicals.
What's On at Gaea
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Gourmands Choose Gaea
An ultra-intimate tasting counter driven by constant reinvention. Secure your seats to discover Chef Mo's latest monthly menu.
Monthly Degustation Evolution
Chef Mo Zhou completely rotates the multi-course degustation on a monthly cycle, combining native Australian produce with rigorous Asian technique.
Not many people realise the amount of thought and work it takes to completely change the menu every month.
Stephanie Yeoh Inventive Australian Ingredient Canvas
Courses fearlessly balance native botanicals and unexpected Australian proteins, delivering culinary combinations not found anywhere else.
What they do with Aussie ingredients is very creative and unique.
Thuong Artisanal Zero-Proof Pairings
A dedicated house-crafted beverage pairing explores complex in-house fermentations, native teas, and unconventional infusions designed course-by-course.
Non alcoholic homebrew pairings with teas and other unusual ferments was a highlight.
Michael O'Toole Curated Cellar & Sake Selections
The beverage program presents tightly curated allocations of boutique sakes and international wines tailored precisely to rich, complex flavor profiles.
Pair this wonderful food with sake or non-alcoholic creations…both are wonderful and unlikely to be anything you’ve had before
Serena Ayers Micro-Scale 16-Seat Dining Counter
With only 16 seats and direct counter sightlines, the micro-capacity dining room immerses guests directly into the plating and kitchen craft.
this intimate restaurant (16 seats) and the proximity to the kitchen have a lot to do with it
LAURENT TOURETTE Focused Milestone Dining
Attentive, unpretentious hospitality and an intimate room provide a memorable focal point for honeymoons and milestone occasions.
We were sat by the counter with direct view on the kitchen almost making it a live cooking experience.
Vanessa Lin
Most popular items
Standout dishes and curated beverage flights highlighted by diners across Gaea's rotating degustations.
Non-Alcoholic Pairing
The non alcoholic pairing is a must, you will experience such creativity that's uniquely offered here.
Thuong Wine and Sake Pairing
We had the wine and sakè pairing which really enhanced the experience.
Garrie Russell Spanner Crab
The spanner crab was beautifully textured, paired well with shaved macadamia.
Thuong Wagyu Steak with Bone Marrow
The absolute best dish of the night was the wagyu steak with bone marrow and rice.
Mark Singh
Beyond the menu
From live kitchen dialogues to unlisted trial bites, experience Gertrude Street's most intimate tasting counter. Reserve your seats early.
Unlisted Test Bites and Culinary Previews
Diners are regularly treated to unannounced trial dishes and off-menu snacks, such as crocodile bites and kangaroo courses shared fresh from recipe testing.
Direct Chef-to-Guest Counter Dialogue
Positioned mere centimetres from the plating line, guests experience attentive dish introductions and behind-the-scenes walkthroughs directly from the culinary team.
House-Crafted Fermentation Pairings
The kitchen crafts zero-proof flights entirely from scratch, incorporating homebrewed ferments, native botanical teas, and unconventional reductions like roasted pumpkin skin.
Personalized Milestone Gestures
Milestone gatherings are met with dedicated hospitality, including complimentary birthday cakes and tailored accommodations for special events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the seating layout and atmosphere like?
Gaea operates as an intimate tasting-menu dining room with around 16 seats and only four tables in the main area, placing diners in direct view or close proximity to the kitchen counter. Seated dining is offered indoors, and reservations are accepted.
How does the dining menu work?
Rather than a permanent à la carte selection, the restaurant serves a multi-course degustation that Chef Mo Zhou changes every month, spotlighting native Australian ingredients paired with Asian culinary influences. Courses frequently feature seafood and seasonal produce.
What drink pairing options are available?
Alongside wine and saké pairings, Gaea offers an elaborate house-made non-alcoholic pairing crafted from custom ferments, native teas, and unconventional ingredient infusions designed specifically to accompany each course.
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