Tina Fisher and Michael Drellis thought they were on the cusp of realising a long-held ambition when they started their Food Seduction on Doveton business in December 2019.

But their dreams for 524 Doveton Street North - the space formerly occupied by by the Bike Rack Cafe - were put on ice as COVID-19 restrictions began.

Ms Fisher, who has now lodged an application with the City of Ballarat for a liquor license, more seats and extended hours to serve evening meals, hopes the plans will allow them to put last year behind them.

"It was absolutely devastating - we had put everything we had into it," she said.

"We drained everything we had just to keep our shop."

She told The Courier that the pandemic also prompted them to do works and make changes to the business.

"We turned it into a takeaway and restaurant - we had nothing to sell people for takeaway, it wasn't worth turning the lights on.

"We totally gutted the place because we had the time."

The plans are now being publicly advertised and include a move to finally change the signs from the previous business.

If the plans are approved, they will join a growing number of venues offering evening dining in the area.

Under the plans, liquor would be served at the venue, while the number of potential customers increased by adding 30 new seats both inside and outside the venue. If it gets the green light, it would mean there will be 80 seats at the venue, which is in a heritage building.

Documents included with the planning application propose the restaurant to open until 9pm from Wednesday to Saturday. An internal courtyard would close at 8.30pm under the plans put forward.

The application requests a full liquor license be granted, an arrangement documents suggest was previously in place at the Bike Rack Cafe.

In their application to vary the permit, Ms Fisher wrote: "We consider our neighbours and respect the fact that this is where they live and will do everything in our power not to disturb this in any way."

The cafe will still operate every day apart from Sunday, Ms Fisher told The Courier.

The site was previously the home of Gove Bikes, one of Ballarat's best known cycle stores. Under its guise as the Bike Rack Cafe, the location was part of a growing trend for neighbourhood cafes around Ballarat in recent years.

Several cafes including the Tin Roof Cafe and the Local have also been set up in the wider Soldiers Hill area. There is an increasing move towards serving restaurant food in the evening too.

Earlier this year, Soldiers Woodfired Pizzeria opened in the same neighbourhood - also located on Doveton Street North around a block south of where Food Seduction is now.

Ms Fisher, who grew up in Ballarat but now lives in Geelong, said they planned to start delivering meals in the near future.

She said she needed little persuasion to set up a business in her old home town. "It's such a beautiful place," she said.

"It's where my parents are. It was our dream [to open a restaurant] here."

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