Friend or Pho

The brief for Friend or Phó was to design a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant in Yarraville, serving hawker-style food for indoor and outdoor dining. The kitchen was designed with flexible preparation areas allowing for menu changes throughout the seasons while seating accommodates large and small groups to suit a variety of needs.

The internal fit-out features blondewood benches around a white central island, as well as shelves lined with colourful condiments and lanterns.

Festoon lighting, cathedral mesh cages and fold-down hardwood benches lend the restaurant a robust yet lively street presence. Recycled materials were adopted to reflect the Vietnamese culture of re-use, where nothing is wasted. The overall effect is reminiscent of the lantern-lit eateries of Hanoi An.