A trio of Melbourne’s most dynamic hospitality entrepreneurs have joined forces to form an unstoppable foodie supergroup that is bringing the best burgers in town to a city suburb. Josh Lefers (Grand Trailer Park Taverna, Pawn & Co), Dani Zeini (Dandenong Pavillion, GTPT), and Jimmy Hurlston (Jimmy’s Burgers, Easey’s) have pooled their considerable experience and culinary know-how to deliver Truck Stop Deluxe, a sister venue to the Taverna with a familial love of dramatic interiors that sits on the route out to the Great Ocean Road.
Customers could be a mix of locals, adventurous diners making a special road trip out to TSD and truckies taking a break from a job, and even those without any experience driving an 18-wheeler across country will dig the Truck Stop Deluxe fit-out. As far as window dressing goes, there can’t be many more impressive sights than the monstrous Ford cab parked up in the front of the restaurant — not the only hulking knight of the road to have parked up and retired here.
Traditional road signs, a highway dot matrix and colourful lightboxes keep visitors well-informed about what’s going on where. As well as the burgers, look out for the bacon and egg brioche at the weekends, and the spiked shakes… well, any time.
Photography, Eugene Hyland
