Sunday, October 11, 2009

JOURNAL CANTEEN

Mezzanine
253 Flinders Lane
City
9650 4399

Italian
Open Mon - Fri 11.45am - 3.45pm ,Fri 6 - 9,30pm.
No cards and No coffee machine available here.

Also known as Rosas kitchen this is a perfect locatiion to have a low key sicilian lunch. If you want to avoid the crowds that pack this place for lunch I suggest arriving after 2pm. The most value for money way to eat here is the $32 degustation which gives you the chance to try all on offer - Antipasto which includes 8 or more morsels like a chunk of fried ricotta, and a shredded celeriac and caper salad, the famous Porchetta ( rolled pork roast with a layer of stuffing ) is a must try. Always on offer is a piece of cake maybe a sour cherry custard tart ,which is nice accompanied with a stove top espresso. If you want a homecooked meal and could not be bothered doing it yourself this is the place to come.

HUTONG DUMPLING BAR

14 - 16 Market Lane
City
9650 8128
Liscenced and BYO wine $3 corkage per head

Located directly opposite the famed Flower Drum, Hutong is whipping Melbourne into a dumpling frenzy. Famous for its XLB ( Xiao Ling Bao ) which on entry to the restaurant you can see being made in front of you - these are arguably the best dumplings in town.Taken so seriously infact that they come with instructions on how to eat them. Pan fried dumplings and Turnip cake are also worth a try. Mains - house speaciality Chilli chicken cooked with plenty of dry chillis and peanuts is a chilli lovers delight as is the Beef fillet cooked chinese style which just melts in your mouth. Other safe favourites are the Prawns with vegetables and the Salt and Pepper calamari.Bookings are recommended.

PORTELLO ROSSO

15 Warburton Lane
City
9602 2273
www.portellorosso.com.au

Jamon Bar and Pizzeria
Open Tues - Fri noon - late Sat 6pm - late
Wine Liscenced

Tucked down a city lane way - this urban chic restaurant caters to Melbourne's love of Tapas and Pizza. Famed for its imported pork products the best way to sample this is to order the charcuterie plate which comes with four charcuterie items ranging from italian prosciutto to seranno and the imported Iberico acompanied by toasted brioche, cornichons and mustard fruits. A large range of Tapas is catered for on the blackboard from bravas patatas to fried goats cheese but dont leave without trying a pizza - I recommend the simple Jamon. There are only 2 desserts on offer a Chilli chocolate pudding and a Creme Catalan, which go well with a glass of PX.

DINO'S DELI

34 Chapel St
Windsor
9521 3466
www.dinosdeli.com.au

European/Spanish
Open Mon - Fri 7am - 11pm Sat - Sun 8am - 11pm Bar 10am - 1am
Wine Liscenced
Breakfast Available

Want a Spanish breakfast here is the place to go - for a Spanish Omelette or if your after something sweet try the Spanish Toast served with poached fruit. Great coffee and a lovely casual breakfast spot down the grungy end of Chapel St.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

JACK'S SATAY BAR

571-573 Mount Alexander Rd
Moonee Ponds
9375 3778
www.jacksatay.com.au

Malaysian
Open Tues - Sun noon - late
Wine - Liscensed and BYO ($7 corkage)
Vegetarian Options available
Take away and Home Delivery Available

Relaxed,reasonably priced restaurant with very attentive service. Entree's include Pandan Chicken which seemed lacking as it was served without an accompanying sauce, Lohkaing - minced chicken and prawn wrapped in beancurd skin was delicious served with a tangy plum sauce and the roti rolls are a super but filling entree. Catering for those who have an aversion to spice is the signature Satay Harikan - rockling,prawns and calamari with a mild satay sauce whilst the Seafood combination is exactly the same combo except it is served with a thai chilli sauce.The star main however is the Ikan Snapper which is marinated in Sambal and cooked in banana leaves, the whole snapper is deboned for you at the table by the wait staff, well worth trying but be warned as it packs a chilli punch. Desserts - the sago pudding comes swimming in coconut milk and palm sugar and is a nicet sweet end to the meal.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

RED SPICE ROAD

27 McKillop St
City
9603 1601
www.redspiceroad.com

MODERN ASIAN

Open Daily noon - 3pm, Mon - Fri 5-10pm, Sat-Sun 6-10pm
Wine - Liscenced and Fab Cocktails as well

This place is true value for money and the food is fabulous.Try the $20 sharing menu available for lunch and dinner ( $55 after 7pm ). The Larb Gai chicken salad,the five spice pork belly and the Red Beef curry are all winners. This is a great place to have a night out with your friends especially on a Friday night when they have great happy hour drinks specials.

SPICE MARKET

Beaney Lane ( off Russell Street )
9660 3777

This is my absolute favourite bar at the moment in Melbourne - you can almost imagine you are in Dubai whilst you are in this opulent, sophisticated temple where you are surrounded by Buddhas and oodles of gorgeousness. Greg Malouf is in charge of the Bar food here. Huge lists of cocktails - my fave being the Turkish Delite Martini - just yum. You can book private lounges and rooms here for your own little soiree - check out the prices on the back page of the drinks menu.
Please go and tell all your friends - this is THE place to be. If you decide to go after 6 pm on a Friday or a Saturday night be prepared to line up. They have a live DJ on Fri/Sat nite as well .

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

MOMO

Lower plaza level, 123 Collins Street
City
9650 0660

MIDDLE EASTERN
Open Tues - Sat 6 - 10.30 pm
Wine Liscensed - very little under $50

This is Greg Maloufs much anticiapted new incarnation - a plush diining room adorned with crystal chandeliers certainly created a kitcsh Arabain atmosphere.Family style sharing is encouraged here especially on Fri and Sat nights.The Arabian menu is $100 and the Moorish menu is $140.The sommelier is easily identifiiable with his camp,gold 'bunch of grapes' brooch which he wears to signify to all diners that indeed he is the "one who looks after the wine ". If you want your Reidel glasses to stay on the table be sure to order the Still or the sparkling water and not melbourne's finest.The food here is definitely gorgeous and a must try is the Good Food Guides dish of the year - The Veiled Quail, equally as delicious is the Turkish style mussel and prawn Pilaki cooked and served in parchment with a parsley salad. Mains - Laban Imor - slow cooked milk fed kid in a youghurt tagine with pearl onions and lima beans and Maloufs signature dish is the Pigeon Bistaeeya served with a white cabbage salad. Sides worth trying are the Nicola potatoes and the Yarra Valley Fetta spinach . Tastings of all four desserts on offer are provided with the sharing menu - my favourites were the Honey and Tahini Icecream served with the persian fairy floss and the Tangelo , passionfruit sorbet combo served with the pistachio halwa. This is a great special occasion restaurant. The maitre'd will even walk you to the lift as you leave but not before he publicly checks the bill to see if you have left a tip.

TAI PAN

239 Blackburn Rd
Doncaster East
9841 9977
www.taipanrestaurant.com.au

CHINESE
Open Mon - Fri noon - 3pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 3pm, daily 6 - 10pm
Wine - Liscensed and BYO ( corkage $1.50 a head )
Vegetarian - great selection for yum cha

This is the place to go for sunday yum cha where approximately 1000 people walk through the split level dining room. There are three sittings ( 11am,12.15pm and 1.30pm). Twelve chefs prepare the myriad of dim sum avaialble - siu mai, prawn rice rolls,chickens feet, steamed buns,taro cake, prawn meat on tofu. For sometihing sweeter try the doughnuts which are only available on the week end and the usual favourite egg custard tarts.

THE DEANERY

13 Bligh Place
City
9629 5599
www.thedeanery.com.au

CONTEMPORARY
Open Mon - Fri noon - midnight, Sat 6 pm - midnight
Wine - Liscensed

Following the closure of Interlude Chef Robin Wickens is now weaving his molecular gastronomy magic at this groovy city laneway restaurant. Food and service here is superb and faultless. You can opt for a la carte or the 9 course degustation menu with matched wines. Entree's - try the warm rabbit terrine with hay icecream or the brain over braun - lambs brain caramelised in madeira lightly crumbed served with pickled onion and warm potato salad. Main course leads to more adventures on your dinner plate - winners are the duck breast,confit leg,celeriac,maple,dates and dehydrated bacon and also the mulloway stuffed with scallops, mushroom broth and creamed leeks. The side of broccolini comes with a delicious truffle cream. Pastry chef whiz Pierre Roleofs desserts are deconstructed and visually magnificent - I found the Coffee Savarin with caramelised witlof, chicory and banana to be delightfully confronting.Noise levels can be challengin in the restaurant on a Fri nite but if you want a special night out with a lovely ambience I would opt for a Saturday night.Wine storage is also avaialble here - please check the website for pricing details - they have a great bar area for you to enjoy one of your own bottles.Highly Recommended.

ARKIBAR

27 Coventry Street(At Kilda Rd end)
Southbank
9690 6688

ITALIAN
Open Mon - Wed 7.30am -4pm,Thurs- Fri 7.30am - 11pm,Sat 8.30am - noon
Wine - Liscensed
Breakfast Available

Great breakfast available here - egss done any style which the usual sides try the oven roasted Roma tomatoes in oregano and the Kransky sausage.French Toast is also a great choice with maple syrup,cinnamon and fresh strawberries.They are known for their wine dinners - around $145 with matched wines.Great spot for locals to have dinner on a Thurs/Fri nite.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

PALADARR THAI ISSAN

7 Rowe Street Alphington 9499 9477
www.paladarr.com.au

Thai
Open Daily 6-11pm Wed-Sun noon - 3pm
Wine Liscensed
Vegetarian Available - all options can be prepared with vegetable stock and no fish sauce.

Unexpected find on a quiet neighbour hood street - Gorgeous statue at the entrance.Evening got off to a bad start when firstly my booking had not made it to the printed list by the door,then I was told they were no longer BYO as advertised so hence had to troop the wine back to the car.After picking an adelaide hills Pinot Gris, the sommelier made a suggestion of a French Pinot Gris which he thought might be better suited to the food prepared by Chef Chaloem.He offered a tasting of the French wine which was sold by the glass - classic upselling here as we were charged for a glass of wine when the bill arrived.I found the Thai food flavours here to be overly complex and too fiery.The Chappoo leaf appetiser with all its varying accompaniments like lime,dried srimp,cashews,onion,coconut,chilli,ginger and tamarind sauce was definitely an explosion of flavor but I much preferred the version at Little Thai Princess.Northern Thai sausage was very dry and intensely chilli hot . Duck salad was familiar with coriander,red onion and the annoying texture of ground rice.Issan chicken which is one of the traditional dishes was a delicately herbed broth.They only cook one batch of rice for the night so when that is over there is no more rice to be had. Desert- was an unexciting warm egg and taro custard sweetened with palm sugar syrup - the toffee brittle icecream on the other hand was a sweet delight.Dissappointing food but if your into boys with a minimum waist size of 22inches then it is worth checking out the all male wait staff at this establishment.

ROCKPOOL BAR & GRILL

Crown Complex,Southbank 8648 1900
www.rockpoolmelbourne.com
Open Daily 6-11pm: Sun - Fri noon - 3pm
Wine : Liscensed

Restaurant is gr8 but the bar is such good value for money and u can just walk in even on a fri nite - no need 2 book.Minute steak with cafe de paris butter - cooked to perfection u can cut it with a butter knife and a wagyu burger- which fits the cheap eats bracket.Cute cupcakes if u need a sugar fix or my fave the pavalova .Give it a try it is 1 of my favourite fri nite eating haunts.

SYRACUSE

23 Bank Place,City 9670 1777
www.syracuserestaurant.com.au

Modern Mediterranean
Open Mon - Fri 7.30am - 11pm Sat 6-11pm
Wine : Liscensed
Breakfast Available

Glorious chamber of Corinthian pillars and period furnishings - the space is the former dining room of a Victorian residential hotel.Gr8 Tapas share plates - lamb cutlets,pork belly and octopus.Also do a fab steak and oh so yummy truffled oil mushroom risotto and 4 desert try the choc hazelnut mousse meringue with cognac icecream which goes down a treat with a nice glass of Pedro Ximenez.

CUTLER & CO

55 - 57 Gertrude Street,Fitzroy 9419 4888
www.cutlerandco.com.au

Contemporary
Open Tues-Thurs & Sat 6-11pm,Fri & Sun noon - 11pm
Wine : Liscensed

Voted Best new Restaurant.I have only been there for drinks so far - extensive bar menu - tried the oysters and the anchovy fritters - fab wine selection by the glass - worth trying out the spanish lager.Cant wait 2 go back for dinner as the restaurant menu looks delicious - saw Andrew McConnell behind the bar.Surprising find 4 the less cool end of Gertrude st.Dinner wait list 6 - 7 wks for Fri/Sat nite and 2 wks for during the week,but they are open 4 lunch on Sundays.

WALTERS WINE BAR

Upper level,Southgate,Southbank 9690 9211
www.walterswinebar.com.au

Contemporary
Open Mon - Fri 9am - 1130am Sat - Sun 8-1130am daily noon - 11pm
Wine Liscensed
Breakfast Available

Had a horrid breakfast there this am - poached eggs were overcooked,infact they were hard boiled,bacon 2 salty,hash brown straight out of a packet - not good enough - mexican eggs on the other hand were ok - but were more spanish I... thought since they came scrambled with chorizo.Blah coffee as well.Hmmm - not going back

SOUTHPAW

189 Gertrude Street Fitzroy 9004 2590
www.southpawbar.com.au

Surprisingly cute bar serving british grub - from Scotch eggs 2 Hot chips wrapped in newspaper.Gr8 wine and boutique beer selection.Must try the Champagne Fondue next time.Tuesdays all night Bangers and Mash for $12 - recession buster.