M.Y. China – San Fran
Happy memories of our holiday and the last lunch we had after a hard days shopping in San Francisco before we had to head back to the airport for the loooooong flight home! The website says it much better than I would so; James Beard Award winning chef and TV host Martin Yan transports the sights, tastes and discoveries of modern day Chinese food to America. He and his all-star crew create a fun and approachable restaurant where every visit offers a new experience. See,…
Phoenix Phuong Hoang
Any Victoria Street Regular will know the love of Pho (Fur?!?!) Big… sorry HUGE steaming bowls of noodle soup, pimped with your choice of chicken, beef, tripe and more! Add fresh, chilli, chilli oil, chilli and garlic, beansprouts, lemon / lime,Vietnamese herbs and ….slurp! I recommend you go in low and close to the bowl to save your top half from a re-design of splatterings!! A long time fan of I Love Pho (click here) I was excited to here I love Pho 2 or…
Straits of Malacca
Popping up across Melbourne The Straits of Malacca, it’s fast and fabulous Malaysian cuisine and it is really good!! Noodles packed with tofu puffs, veggies and so much flavour YUM! Satay – Divine! Loved this as my ‘Dukan lunch’ Generous, succulent, great flavours and that satay source was perfection! Nasi Lamak – what can I say? Peanuts, salty little fish, chilli, curry… amazing! Mouth is watering – must go back soon!
Neanderthal Grrrreat!
Commercial Road hotspot gets another cool spot for brunch, lunch, coffee and wild dogs! The menu screams debauchery with canadian hotcakes with strawberry and bacon, pork belly with bourbon dipping sauce, wagyu beef sliders and …. oh yes…. Neanderthal Wild Dog… Double hot dog with chilli relish and a cheeky side of fries! Delish, you can’t go wrong and if you need to make it a touch more wrong… You can make a chip butty like my hubby!! Great spot, good morning coffee and dogs…
Jimmy Watsons
Historical Jimmy Watson’s is a landmark on Lygon and offers a friendly bar for a drink, easy going restaurant for eating and a cute courtyard for .. whatever you like! A great spot to nip in for lunch, the menu has an abundance of fresh fish, pasta and pizzas to enjoy. Special entree BBQ prawns are a real treat, huge and fresh and served with a splash of lemon, fennel and spring onion – a perfect example of letting fabulous ingredients speak for themselves. Entree…
Blondie on the Block
My Mexican Cousin has left the building and in it’s place is Blondie – offering a quick and simple bar menu outside and a more extensive menu inside this is a great spot for something fast and yummy before a show. It feels like everyone is still finding their feet, wrong menus, missing tabs and missing plates, cutlery etc but roll with it and the reward at the end is overall pleasant! The arancini were delicious – could eat a bucket of them! The Chicken…
The BEast Burgers ever!
Quotes of the night; “If this was near home it would be dangerous” “I want it all!” “OMG Chips and Gravy (insert Bolton accent as desired!) “I think we over ordered!” A week off their first birthday I have heard many good things about the burgers at The BEast, a comfortable, trendy grunge bar. It’s mismatched seats, order at the bar and have a damn good time!! The menu is effing amazing! If you love burgers and all that comes with you are going to…
Banh Mi N Lee
The legendary Banh Mi – Vietnamese BBQ Pork Roll, crusty white baguette, pate, carrot, sweet bbq pork with that pink edge, chilli, coriander – DIVINE!! There is a reason that no matter which N. Lee Bakery you are at there is a queue out the door, and for good reason this is quite possibly the best lunchtime treat ever!! This is soooo good! Gorgeous fresh white baguette, sturdy enough to carry the many elements that make this a…
Circa, The Prince
It’s been a while since the make over and the New Circa was launched to the masses with a less formal approach to dining and more of a take on street food with a high end edge. It’s sharing food but with starchy white napkins! The menu is packed with Yakitori, Global Street Food and dishes from the Robata Wood BBQ. The Grill serves up Flinder’s Island lamb with Sichuan eggplant, Mountain peppered wallaby with quandong caramel and Peanut crusted tuna w. satay sauce. At…
The Social Glutton
New kid on the block The Social Glutton is bringing a comfortable little spot to enjoy coffee and a spot of breakie, lunch or brunch! Service is friendly, the fit out is welcoming and the coffee is good! The lunch menu is backed up by the goodies at the counter, with the Glutton Slider jumping on the current trend to deliver pulled sticky pork on a toasted sourdough but Social Glutton is bringing spiced relish, gravy reduction and purple mustard coleslaw yum! However I go…
Lamaro’s Bar
On a lazy Sunday afternoon there are much worse places to be than at a table in Lamaro’s Bar. The restaurant seems to be full of happy families enjoying wonderful food and having a great time. The bar has a similar vibe and a bit of live music happening and a fantastic small bites menu. Mouth watering tapas with croquettes, fat chips, coconut prawns and bigger bites with quesadillas, pizzas and pulled pork poh boys. That kind of menu that you know you…
My Tea Ritual
It’s Tea Time! There is nothing nicer than a package of tea arriving at your desk! Brightly coloured packets of gorgeous teas with their own cute little messages! My Tea Ritual is all about the Tea! My Tea Ritual began from a deep passion for tea and the way it can reconnect you to yourself and the present moment. I’ve always loved tea, but what I loved even more was the act of drinking it and what it brought to you by the act of…
The Vincent
It’s been a dingy good local and a high end wine bar over the last few years and now The Vincent has arrived on Victoria Avenue and it feels right! Taking inspiration from Vincent Van Gogh and hosting some impressive murals in the overhaul to clear out Hotel Nest, it already feels settled and welcoming….. apart from the background music! (more later!) Offering a varied European inspired menu there is plenty to pick from for all tastes and it was a perfect spot to curl…
Bangpop HOT!
Feelin’ Hot Hot Hot! Chilli lovers unite on the church of Bangpop! The old Sharing House has gone and any sadness I had was quickly whisked away in a wave of cocktails and chilli! The fit out is fun! Bright, clean and different! Bikes line the river walk and entrance, communal tables provide the alter at which the many sharing plates are offered for a very welcome sacrifice….. Ok this is getting weird!! Look BangPop Rocks, that is the overwhelming point! Lots of dishes to…
Top Paddock Time!
Top Paddock is a top place! It is surprisingly big and has a very cool vibe whilst being totally friendly and welcoming. To quote “It is where all the cool kids are hanging out” on a lunch time and who can blame them at that end of town! Until Baby Pizza things were a bit…. uncool!! Now Top Paddock has joined several fab places to spend a little time! The menu is screaming fresh and fabulous with mouthwatering breakfasts such as Barham avocado with lime,…
Pelican – A Love Affair!
Pelican – still wonderful and I am still in love! Seriously one of the best spots in Melbourne! Breakfast? Exceptional! Brunch? Fabulous! Afternoon tapas? Sure! Dinner with friends and good wine? Absolutely! You cannot go wrong! The menu doesn’t really change, the staff remain fantastic and the coffee? Fabulous!! Breakie is a little limited today with savoury muffins, french toast and avocado all having walked out the door before we got there but don’t frown because there is plenty more to enjoy! For example…. Perfect…
