Location: a small side street on the south side of Nunawading Station [Link]
Cuisine: Japanese
Company: Jeanie
When we found out that the place we wanted to eat at was closed on Tuesdays, Jeanie and I decided to explore the little shops around the station, in search for a light but filling lunch. Neither of us had eaten breakfast and therefore didn't really feel like KFC.
~Food~
For a tiny little shop, the food was quite decent. We both ordered the lunchtime bento box, consisting of miso soup, a sushi roll and chicken teriyaki with salad on rice. The miso soup was nice and even comparable to Sushi Monger. The sushi roll was freshly made and the teriyaki sauce was done quite well too. Somewhat concerned that their idea of 'salad' consisted of two pieces of cucumber and two pieces of tomato with a squeeze of mayonnaise! Other than that, quite happy with the food.
~Atmosphere and Service~
Being out in the suburbs, the place was very quiet and casual, with the odd person or two popping in to buy sushi on the go. There isn't much of a view, one look out the window and all you see are little factories and warehouses - dull, grey and boring. The waiter was friendly and helpful, although he didn't have a very good grasp of English and confused Jeanie's order of 'tuna' with 'chicken'.
~Price~
Cheap. The bento box cost us $8.80 each. The rest of the menu seemed similar.
~Overall Impression: 7/10~
Wasn't too bad for the price and location. The tip when ordering is to keep it simple - basically, point at the menu and they'll understand. They can't remember more than one thing at a time.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Watermark
Location: Tenancy 9, 800 Bourke Street, Docklands
Link: www.watermarkbar.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Company: Jie's 21st
Jie chose this place off Melbourne.com.au... Interestingly when she picked the place, she had never been to it and had no idea where it was. Anyway, Watermark is a bar without a slightly disjointed area for the restaurant. After a certain hour, they clear away the tables and that part becomes an open area for the club.
~Food~
The menu was rather extensive for what one would expect at a bar, and the food was of really good quality. The skewers at the beginning were really well done, with awesome dipping sauces and creative combinations of vegetables with meat. The mains were fantastic. I ordered the chicken breast, which was really tender inside, and crispy on the outside, the mash was really soft and creamy, The vegies on the other hand, involved steamed beans, and a giant piece of broccoli. The place must love its broccoli! Liz's fish and chips looked fresh and the chips were really good. The menu also included a range of pasta, risotto, steaks and grills. Servings were quite large too, especially the parmagiana.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The waiters were extremely friendly and helpful. They were also quite patient as most of the guests arrived late and we took so long to order and eat. The atmosphere in the restaurant area was very casual, if a little cold due to the open door. The place also overlooked the water, which gave the place a classy feel too.
The club-like atmosphere is probably like all others, given the only other club I've ever been to was F4. There was a hype in the place, and the people there were quite friendly. Cloakroom was a little confusing at the start, and somewhat expensive too, but the overall feel of the place was comfortable.
~Price~
Average. Menu pricings were very similar to a lot of our regular haunts. Mains ranged between $15 to $30. But given the serving sizes, it can probably be deemed as fairly low-priced..
~Overall Impression: 9.5/10~
A nice place to chill and grab a nice meal before heading into the bar area for drinks if you wish. The place is accessible by tram [down Harbour Esplanade], but before you go, get an idea of where it's exactly located, because it doesn't have a streetfront view.
Link: www.watermarkbar.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Company: Jie's 21st
Jie chose this place off Melbourne.com.au... Interestingly when she picked the place, she had never been to it and had no idea where it was. Anyway, Watermark is a bar without a slightly disjointed area for the restaurant. After a certain hour, they clear away the tables and that part becomes an open area for the club.
~Food~
The menu was rather extensive for what one would expect at a bar, and the food was of really good quality. The skewers at the beginning were really well done, with awesome dipping sauces and creative combinations of vegetables with meat. The mains were fantastic. I ordered the chicken breast, which was really tender inside, and crispy on the outside, the mash was really soft and creamy, The vegies on the other hand, involved steamed beans, and a giant piece of broccoli. The place must love its broccoli! Liz's fish and chips looked fresh and the chips were really good. The menu also included a range of pasta, risotto, steaks and grills. Servings were quite large too, especially the parmagiana.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The waiters were extremely friendly and helpful. They were also quite patient as most of the guests arrived late and we took so long to order and eat. The atmosphere in the restaurant area was very casual, if a little cold due to the open door. The place also overlooked the water, which gave the place a classy feel too.
The club-like atmosphere is probably like all others, given the only other club I've ever been to was F4. There was a hype in the place, and the people there were quite friendly. Cloakroom was a little confusing at the start, and somewhat expensive too, but the overall feel of the place was comfortable.
~Price~
Average. Menu pricings were very similar to a lot of our regular haunts. Mains ranged between $15 to $30. But given the serving sizes, it can probably be deemed as fairly low-priced..
~Overall Impression: 9.5/10~
A nice place to chill and grab a nice meal before heading into the bar area for drinks if you wish. The place is accessible by tram [down Harbour Esplanade], but before you go, get an idea of where it's exactly located, because it doesn't have a streetfront view.
Friday, May 9, 2008
San Churro
Location: Burnswick St, Knox, Eastlands
Cuisine: Chocolate
Company: Usually Mark
~Food~
-Best hot chocolate ever! Get a hot and cold, which is hot chocolate with a scoop of icecream. The sensation is so delicious and the hot chocolate is so lush.
- Also a great place for spanish inspired snacks. Spanish donuts called churros dusted with icing sugar and dipped in chocolate are quite unique but VERY filling. I need to try their tasting plate.
- Their boutique chocolate truffles are pretty yummo too.
~Atmosphere and Service~
-Usually very friendly. Can be a bit slow in making the hot chocolate but since it's been the same whenever we go there, I'm assuming making good hot chocolate should take a bit of time to get it to taste so good.
~Price~
-Reasonable but not cheap. I *think* is $5.50 for a hot and cold. However, they have great loyalty schemes (stamp cards) and if you fill up a stamp card, you get a discount card sent to you on top of that so yay
~Fructose Friendliness~
-High. Chocolate is never a problem and they also have flourless chocolate cake for the fructys.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
- This is one of my favorite hot chocolate places. The hot chocolate is so unique- I love hot and colds coz I've not seen it elsewhere. Also, their hot chocolate is not as sweet as Max Brenner or as heavy as KoKoBlack. I think its pretty perfect!
- The snacks available are interesting and different with a nice Spanish twist but I've had better.
- Go there for a yummy yummy drink and a nice place to sit and hang for a while.
Cuisine: Chocolate
Company: Usually Mark
~Food~
-Best hot chocolate ever! Get a hot and cold, which is hot chocolate with a scoop of icecream. The sensation is so delicious and the hot chocolate is so lush.
- Also a great place for spanish inspired snacks. Spanish donuts called churros dusted with icing sugar and dipped in chocolate are quite unique but VERY filling. I need to try their tasting plate.
- Their boutique chocolate truffles are pretty yummo too.
~Atmosphere and Service~
-Usually very friendly. Can be a bit slow in making the hot chocolate but since it's been the same whenever we go there, I'm assuming making good hot chocolate should take a bit of time to get it to taste so good.
~Price~
-Reasonable but not cheap. I *think* is $5.50 for a hot and cold. However, they have great loyalty schemes (stamp cards) and if you fill up a stamp card, you get a discount card sent to you on top of that so yay
~Fructose Friendliness~
-High. Chocolate is never a problem and they also have flourless chocolate cake for the fructys.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
- This is one of my favorite hot chocolate places. The hot chocolate is so unique- I love hot and colds coz I've not seen it elsewhere. Also, their hot chocolate is not as sweet as Max Brenner or as heavy as KoKoBlack. I think its pretty perfect!
- The snacks available are interesting and different with a nice Spanish twist but I've had better.
- Go there for a yummy yummy drink and a nice place to sit and hang for a while.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Ishikai Japanese Cafe
Location: 177 Russell Street, Melbourne [between Bourke and Little Bourke Streets]
Cuisine: Japanese
Company: Jenn
In accordance with our plan for ramen, Jenn and I headed in search of a good Japanese restaurant to try out. Walked past Ishikai and decided that the dessert and drinks menu was enough to tempt us inside.
~Food~
I found the servings for the mains quite large. I ordered the Karaage Age Ramen, which was essentially fried chicken marinated in some nice sauce on top of ramen noodle soup. The soup had a nice flavour to it, not to salty to complement the strongly flavoured chicken. But the serving was HUGE! Jenn opted for some sashimi and sushi, then ordered another raw beef entree. The raw beef dish seemed a little small, and came with a raw egg in eggshell and onions on the base. To me it looked like a dish of beef waiting to be put into hotpot.
~Atmosphere and Service~
Friendly and casual enough for our liking. Only drawback was the amount of time they took to get Jenn's dessert order. In the end, we canceled it because it was taking too long.
~Price~
Very cheap for the serving size. There are a whole range of desserts and drinks for a very reasonable price too.
~Overall Impression: 7.5/10~
It was a good feed, especially on a rather cold day. Will probably go back again for the ramen some time.
Cuisine: Japanese
Company: Jenn
In accordance with our plan for ramen, Jenn and I headed in search of a good Japanese restaurant to try out. Walked past Ishikai and decided that the dessert and drinks menu was enough to tempt us inside.
~Food~
I found the servings for the mains quite large. I ordered the Karaage Age Ramen, which was essentially fried chicken marinated in some nice sauce on top of ramen noodle soup. The soup had a nice flavour to it, not to salty to complement the strongly flavoured chicken. But the serving was HUGE! Jenn opted for some sashimi and sushi, then ordered another raw beef entree. The raw beef dish seemed a little small, and came with a raw egg in eggshell and onions on the base. To me it looked like a dish of beef waiting to be put into hotpot.
~Atmosphere and Service~
Friendly and casual enough for our liking. Only drawback was the amount of time they took to get Jenn's dessert order. In the end, we canceled it because it was taking too long.
~Price~
Very cheap for the serving size. There are a whole range of desserts and drinks for a very reasonable price too.
~Overall Impression: 7.5/10~
It was a good feed, especially on a rather cold day. Will probably go back again for the ramen some time.
Pancake Parlour
Location: Bourke Street Mall
Link: www.pancakeparlour.com
Cuisine: pancakes
Company: Jie and Jenn
Jie was craving pancakes so we decided it was time for another trip to good old PP.
~Food~
As always, the pancakes are awesome, as are the crepes. The only dish I've had problems with was the fish pancake. We were in for a quick lunch before Jenn had to head back to uni so ordered off the 'Express Lunch' menu, well all except Jie! I ordered the Mexican Beef Crepe, which was something I have never tried before. It surprised me. The filling for the crepe was full of flavour, with a decent taco sauce. The beef was nice and tender and well-marinated, and was mixed with sliced almonds to give it that slightly different texture. The crepe was scattered with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Brilliant. Jenn ordered the Lunchtime Tabriz with Cottage Fries, her only complaint was that the fries didn't have the bacon bits. Jie had the Mozzarella Pancake from the regular menu, and came in a huge serving. No complaints.
~Atmosphere and Service~
We requested 'Express' and that's what we got. The service at PP has always been rather friendly, and most request are usually complied with.
~Price~
Regular prices, but always seem somewhat overpriced for the serving size. I guess you can't really get pancakes like them anywhere else though.
~Overall Impression: 9.5/10~
Very impressed with the food and service this time around. No need to really elaborate, Jie loves the place for supper at midnight!
Link: www.pancakeparlour.com
Cuisine: pancakes
Company: Jie and Jenn
Jie was craving pancakes so we decided it was time for another trip to good old PP.
~Food~
As always, the pancakes are awesome, as are the crepes. The only dish I've had problems with was the fish pancake. We were in for a quick lunch before Jenn had to head back to uni so ordered off the 'Express Lunch' menu, well all except Jie! I ordered the Mexican Beef Crepe, which was something I have never tried before. It surprised me. The filling for the crepe was full of flavour, with a decent taco sauce. The beef was nice and tender and well-marinated, and was mixed with sliced almonds to give it that slightly different texture. The crepe was scattered with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Brilliant. Jenn ordered the Lunchtime Tabriz with Cottage Fries, her only complaint was that the fries didn't have the bacon bits. Jie had the Mozzarella Pancake from the regular menu, and came in a huge serving. No complaints.
~Atmosphere and Service~
We requested 'Express' and that's what we got. The service at PP has always been rather friendly, and most request are usually complied with.
~Price~
Regular prices, but always seem somewhat overpriced for the serving size. I guess you can't really get pancakes like them anywhere else though.
~Overall Impression: 9.5/10~
Very impressed with the food and service this time around. No need to really elaborate, Jie loves the place for supper at midnight!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Automatic
Location: Crown
Link: www.automaticcafe.com.au/
Cuisine: Italian
Company: Mel, Jane, Alex, Peter
Crown is wonderful if you're looking for somewhere to dine. Despite the slight distance from the CBD [which is cured by catching the 96 or 109 trams], there is an atmosphere of class and elegance just from the location. In addition, a number of restaurants there open onto Southbank and the Yarra, which is great in summer. We've been there twice, first for Mel's 20th, and then earlier this year as a post-evidence celebration.
~Food~
Both times we went, the food was great. Mel's 20th was a little different in that she ordered a whole range of dishes and we just shared it around, so it's a little tricky to recall all the dishes. They have the usual Italian menu, pizzas, pastas, salads and the like. The bruschetta and the seafood pasta were memorable.
Our post-evidence dinner ended up at Automatic because we had strolled along Southbank and found nothing particularly appealing for the night [and Alex wanted something by the Yarra]. The food this time wasn't as good as the first time, perhaps because it was a Monday night. Mel and I ordered a seafood pizza and giant penne. The others ordered pasta from memory. In any case, our pizza was not cooked properly and they had to make us a new one. The good thing was that pizza was half-price that night, so we forgave them for it!
~Atmosphere and Service~
Noisy and fast. There was a buzz to the place, and service was quite fast - if you could get hold of a waiter that is. Very casual dining and there is a bar in the middle of the room for those waiting for a table or just looking for something to drink.
~Price~
Somewhat overly priced for the size of the dishes, but then pizza is often on half-price, so it does work out. Find out which days they have the specials if you plan to go.
~Overall Impression: 7.5/10~
Would probably go again for the pizzas, but not much chance of going back for their pastas - Lygon Street is probably a better option.
Link: www.automaticcafe.com.au/
Cuisine: Italian
Company: Mel, Jane, Alex, Peter
Crown is wonderful if you're looking for somewhere to dine. Despite the slight distance from the CBD [which is cured by catching the 96 or 109 trams], there is an atmosphere of class and elegance just from the location. In addition, a number of restaurants there open onto Southbank and the Yarra, which is great in summer. We've been there twice, first for Mel's 20th, and then earlier this year as a post-evidence celebration.
~Food~
Both times we went, the food was great. Mel's 20th was a little different in that she ordered a whole range of dishes and we just shared it around, so it's a little tricky to recall all the dishes. They have the usual Italian menu, pizzas, pastas, salads and the like. The bruschetta and the seafood pasta were memorable.
Our post-evidence dinner ended up at Automatic because we had strolled along Southbank and found nothing particularly appealing for the night [and Alex wanted something by the Yarra]. The food this time wasn't as good as the first time, perhaps because it was a Monday night. Mel and I ordered a seafood pizza and giant penne. The others ordered pasta from memory. In any case, our pizza was not cooked properly and they had to make us a new one. The good thing was that pizza was half-price that night, so we forgave them for it!
~Atmosphere and Service~
Noisy and fast. There was a buzz to the place, and service was quite fast - if you could get hold of a waiter that is. Very casual dining and there is a bar in the middle of the room for those waiting for a table or just looking for something to drink.
~Price~
Somewhat overly priced for the size of the dishes, but then pizza is often on half-price, so it does work out. Find out which days they have the specials if you plan to go.
~Overall Impression: 7.5/10~
Would probably go again for the pizzas, but not much chance of going back for their pastas - Lygon Street is probably a better option.
The Pub at Crown
Location: as the name suggests... Crown
Link: www.thepubatcrown.com.au
Cuisine: pub food, Modern Australian
Company: various
Haven't been to the Pub at Crown for a while, but was going through my food list and happened across it. Went there for my 20th birthday, such a long time ago, but a great experience!
~Food~
The food was of quite decent quality. I ordered steak, and by well-done, it truly was well-done. Not just well-done in the sense that it was cooked through, by more that it was still tender and juicy. The menu is also very extensive and has a range of dishes from steak, pastas, salads and the traditional pub feed.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service was quite fast and friendly. They asked what the booking was for when I booked, and when I told them it was for a birthday, they set up helium balloons on our table, which was very nice of them. Wasn't very convenient to have to order and pay at the bar first for our meals, but the timing was rather quick. The only drawback with this place being a pub is that you weren't able to book out a table for the entire night, bookings were limited to around 2 hours and they asked us to start leaving around 8pm. I guess that's the bonus with being at Crown - there's a wealth of entertainment out there, and we spent the rest of the night inside Barcode and the gaming areas.
~Price~
Decently priced for the dishes served, mains averaging from $15 - $30 depending on what was ordered. Grills tended to be more expensive as usual.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
A little noisy and casual if you're looking for a more formal or classy dinner place, but a great place for a quick bite if you're around at Crown and looking for quick access to alcohol too.
Link: www.thepubatcrown.com.au
Cuisine: pub food, Modern Australian
Company: various
Haven't been to the Pub at Crown for a while, but was going through my food list and happened across it. Went there for my 20th birthday, such a long time ago, but a great experience!
~Food~
The food was of quite decent quality. I ordered steak, and by well-done, it truly was well-done. Not just well-done in the sense that it was cooked through, by more that it was still tender and juicy. The menu is also very extensive and has a range of dishes from steak, pastas, salads and the traditional pub feed.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service was quite fast and friendly. They asked what the booking was for when I booked, and when I told them it was for a birthday, they set up helium balloons on our table, which was very nice of them. Wasn't very convenient to have to order and pay at the bar first for our meals, but the timing was rather quick. The only drawback with this place being a pub is that you weren't able to book out a table for the entire night, bookings were limited to around 2 hours and they asked us to start leaving around 8pm. I guess that's the bonus with being at Crown - there's a wealth of entertainment out there, and we spent the rest of the night inside Barcode and the gaming areas.
~Price~
Decently priced for the dishes served, mains averaging from $15 - $30 depending on what was ordered. Grills tended to be more expensive as usual.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
A little noisy and casual if you're looking for a more formal or classy dinner place, but a great place for a quick bite if you're around at Crown and looking for quick access to alcohol too.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Meltemi
Location: Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds
Cuisine: Greek
Company: Kate and Katie (high school yeah!)
~Food~
Mix of modern and traditional Greek fare. Had Entree and Mains.
The dip was average, no better or worse than the tzasiki(sp?) that comes out of a supermarket. At least to my taste buds. The goat cheese starter was awesome though. Really salty but really yummy. You have to squeeze a bit of lemon on it apparently!
Mains were great!
I had moussaka (mince sauce with potatoe, zucchini and eggplant baked under a fluffy cheese blanket). Very yummy and filling but a tad too salty. I think next time I'd get the vegetarian version coz it was the vegies in it that were the best!
Kate had lamb cutlets and they were BEAUTIFUL. Really juicy and tender. Not smelly at all. Loved it.
Katie had the best dish- a seafood risotto. It wasn't at all gluggy and there was heaps of seafood in it. This is what I'm getting next time. Hands down, best dish.
What set this place apart was the fact that all the ingredients were so fresh. You can really taste the quality of the produce they use. Very nice.
Unfortunately, like most Greek food, it tended towards the salty side but hey, that's what you need water and bread for!
~Atmosphere and Service~
Lots of buzz. Lots of people. one man put a menu on his head. :S
Service was a bit too slow, we waited quite a while for mains but lucky we had entrees to keep us occupied. However, the quality of the food made up for the wait time. I like that they don't serve inferior food even though it was soooo busy. Basically the restuarant went from 2/3 empty to full capacity in 20 mins. No wonder the kitchen was stressed out! So the delay was definitely forgivable.
~Price~
Bit pricey, by uni student standards. Mains about $20-$30 dollars. Risotto was more expensive ($27.00) but considering what you get, its not so bad.
The three of us spent just over $100 inc drinks so it wasn't a cheap meal.
~Fructose friendliness~
Very helpful. When I asked the waitress about making food fructose free she was very nice and said and i quote 'oh, onions is easy. We can just give you unmarinated stuff!"
Contrast this to Jim's Greek Tavern.
They did say we should ring ahead first.
~Overall Impression~
8.5/10
Loved the food- generous servings cooked well using fresh ingredients! (the saltiness seems to be a characteristic of the genre and not the restaurant. it would be like marking an indian place down for being too spicy)
Would have got an extra point if only it wasn't so expensive... I'd definitely go back there. And take friends!
Cuisine: Greek
Company: Kate and Katie (high school yeah!)
~Food~
Mix of modern and traditional Greek fare. Had Entree and Mains.
The dip was average, no better or worse than the tzasiki(sp?) that comes out of a supermarket. At least to my taste buds. The goat cheese starter was awesome though. Really salty but really yummy. You have to squeeze a bit of lemon on it apparently!
Mains were great!
I had moussaka (mince sauce with potatoe, zucchini and eggplant baked under a fluffy cheese blanket). Very yummy and filling but a tad too salty. I think next time I'd get the vegetarian version coz it was the vegies in it that were the best!
Kate had lamb cutlets and they were BEAUTIFUL. Really juicy and tender. Not smelly at all. Loved it.
Katie had the best dish- a seafood risotto. It wasn't at all gluggy and there was heaps of seafood in it. This is what I'm getting next time. Hands down, best dish.
What set this place apart was the fact that all the ingredients were so fresh. You can really taste the quality of the produce they use. Very nice.
Unfortunately, like most Greek food, it tended towards the salty side but hey, that's what you need water and bread for!
~Atmosphere and Service~
Lots of buzz. Lots of people. one man put a menu on his head. :S
Service was a bit too slow, we waited quite a while for mains but lucky we had entrees to keep us occupied. However, the quality of the food made up for the wait time. I like that they don't serve inferior food even though it was soooo busy. Basically the restuarant went from 2/3 empty to full capacity in 20 mins. No wonder the kitchen was stressed out! So the delay was definitely forgivable.
~Price~
Bit pricey, by uni student standards. Mains about $20-$30 dollars. Risotto was more expensive ($27.00) but considering what you get, its not so bad.
The three of us spent just over $100 inc drinks so it wasn't a cheap meal.
~Fructose friendliness~
Very helpful. When I asked the waitress about making food fructose free she was very nice and said and i quote 'oh, onions is easy. We can just give you unmarinated stuff!"
Contrast this to Jim's Greek Tavern.
They did say we should ring ahead first.
~Overall Impression~
8.5/10
Loved the food- generous servings cooked well using fresh ingredients! (the saltiness seems to be a characteristic of the genre and not the restaurant. it would be like marking an indian place down for being too spicy)
Would have got an extra point if only it wasn't so expensive... I'd definitely go back there. And take friends!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Beijing Gourmet (东方水饺)
Location: Whitehorse Road, Box Hill
Cuisine: Chinese... as with most shops in Box Hill
Company: family, family friends
My dad wanted to shout some family friends dinner after they got back from Macau. Being over the whole large restaurant experience, we decided to opt for something a little different.
~Food~
The place is known for it's snack-like dishes, a similar approach to what you get at yum cha but there are no trolleys. The menu was quite extensive and we ordered a heap of dishes ranging from dumplings to kebabs. Some of the top dishes:
~Atmosphere and Service~
Box Hill is not renowned for it's service, and we didn't expect much. The waitresses were able to explain the dishes to us and we got everything we asked for. I consider that decent service.
~Price~
Some of the dishes were a little pricey in terms of the serving sizes but the dumplings and kebabs were quite cheap in comparison to other places.
~Overall Impression: 8.5/10~
The variety of food means that you can go there even when you're not really hungry, and just nibble on small dishes. It's a good alternative to yum cha if you're sick of it!
Cuisine: Chinese... as with most shops in Box Hill
Company: family, family friends
My dad wanted to shout some family friends dinner after they got back from Macau. Being over the whole large restaurant experience, we decided to opt for something a little different.
~Food~
The place is known for it's snack-like dishes, a similar approach to what you get at yum cha but there are no trolleys. The menu was quite extensive and we ordered a heap of dishes ranging from dumplings to kebabs. Some of the top dishes:
- Noodle salad - thin flat noodles with preserved carrots etc, the lot was marinated in a slightly spicy, slightly sour dressing...mmm...
- Dumplings - could be steamed or fried, and came in three or four different varieties such as lamb, seafood etc.
- Asian-ised sauerkraut soup - served with chicken and vermicelli in a little clay pot
- Xinjiang kebabs - these were awesome, made a mistake in asking for the spicy ones but still, so very very nice.
~Atmosphere and Service~
Box Hill is not renowned for it's service, and we didn't expect much. The waitresses were able to explain the dishes to us and we got everything we asked for. I consider that decent service.
~Price~
Some of the dishes were a little pricey in terms of the serving sizes but the dumplings and kebabs were quite cheap in comparison to other places.
~Overall Impression: 8.5/10~
The variety of food means that you can go there even when you're not really hungry, and just nibble on small dishes. It's a good alternative to yum cha if you're sick of it!
Kun Ming
Location: 212 Little Bourke Street (Chinatown, between Swanston and Russell Streets)
Cuisine: Chinese
Company: Christine
When I eat out, I don't eat much Chinese food, usually because we have family dinners at the Chinese restaurants in Doncaster and that since most of my friends are Asian, we're all sick of Asian. The lawyer I did work experience with took me to this place once and I loved the atmosphere and quality of food that I've taken Christine there twice.
~Food~
The first time we went there was for lunch. We ordered soup, prawns with vegies, and fried chicken with plum sauce and rice. The chicken was awesome and very unique because the sauce wasn't visible - in fact, the chicken had been marinated in it before being coated, so that it was crispy on the outside and sweet on the inside. The bonus of that was that the crispy coating couldn't go soggy like sweet and sour pork does.
Being so impressed with the place, when C came back to Melbourne over the summer, I took her there again, but this time for lobster. We managed to finish a 1.5lbs lobster with noodles and vegies between us, and I finally got to show to her what I had been harping on about for over a year! On top of that, I think I drank too many pots of tea.
~Atmosphere and Service~
Being one of the smaller Chinese restaurants in Chinatown [compared to Dragonboat and the like], the service has always been surprising good. They knew when to approach us and when to stay away.
~Price~
Compared to the suburbs and maybe some of the smaller restaurants, the prices hint on the expensive side of things. I don't mind paying the extra though, because you can almost guarantee that the food is going to be good, especially if you order their specials.
~Overall Impression: 9.5/10~
I'll always keep this in mind when I'm out for Asian, there aren't many places I'd eat at for Asian in the city, and this certainly tops the list.
Cuisine: Chinese
Company: Christine
When I eat out, I don't eat much Chinese food, usually because we have family dinners at the Chinese restaurants in Doncaster and that since most of my friends are Asian, we're all sick of Asian. The lawyer I did work experience with took me to this place once and I loved the atmosphere and quality of food that I've taken Christine there twice.
~Food~
The first time we went there was for lunch. We ordered soup, prawns with vegies, and fried chicken with plum sauce and rice. The chicken was awesome and very unique because the sauce wasn't visible - in fact, the chicken had been marinated in it before being coated, so that it was crispy on the outside and sweet on the inside. The bonus of that was that the crispy coating couldn't go soggy like sweet and sour pork does.
Being so impressed with the place, when C came back to Melbourne over the summer, I took her there again, but this time for lobster. We managed to finish a 1.5lbs lobster with noodles and vegies between us, and I finally got to show to her what I had been harping on about for over a year! On top of that, I think I drank too many pots of tea.
~Atmosphere and Service~
Being one of the smaller Chinese restaurants in Chinatown [compared to Dragonboat and the like], the service has always been surprising good. They knew when to approach us and when to stay away.
~Price~
Compared to the suburbs and maybe some of the smaller restaurants, the prices hint on the expensive side of things. I don't mind paying the extra though, because you can almost guarantee that the food is going to be good, especially if you order their specials.
~Overall Impression: 9.5/10~
I'll always keep this in mind when I'm out for Asian, there aren't many places I'd eat at for Asian in the city, and this certainly tops the list.
Groove Train
Location: Level 3, Melbourne Central [near Hoyts]
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Company: various
~Food~
Groove Train is the place to go to when you don't know what you want to eat. They have an extensive menu ranging from pastas and risottos to satay chicken on rice to steaks, salads and focaccias. The possibilities are endless! Key favourite dishes:
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Company: various
~Food~
Groove Train is the place to go to when you don't know what you want to eat. They have an extensive menu ranging from pastas and risottos to satay chicken on rice to steaks, salads and focaccias. The possibilities are endless! Key favourite dishes:
- Calamari and octopus salad - this has the most awesome dressing... and the calamari is always soft and chewy
- Fried calamari - mmm, tartare sauce
- Porterhouse steak - but more of a dinner dish than anything
The food is always of decent quality, although I do tend to stray away from the Asian dishes, you wouldn't order Italian food at a Korean restaurant, likewise I prefer not to order Asian dishes at an Australian restaurant.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service is always pretty friendly, and it's nice to sit outside on the couches because they leave you alone more, and of course it's more comfortable. Even inside, the atmosphere is relaxing and casual.
~Price~
Mains around around $15 - $20, more for the steak and some seafoods.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
This place never fails me, there is always something decent to eat and the service is quite good. It's almost a regular place to eat, except that our aim at the moment is to try as many new places as possible!
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service is always pretty friendly, and it's nice to sit outside on the couches because they leave you alone more, and of course it's more comfortable. Even inside, the atmosphere is relaxing and casual.
~Price~
Mains around around $15 - $20, more for the steak and some seafoods.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
This place never fails me, there is always something decent to eat and the service is quite good. It's almost a regular place to eat, except that our aim at the moment is to try as many new places as possible!
La Camera
Location: Southgate
Cuisine: Italian, Modern Australian
Company: Stace, Mel, Mandy, YC, Anna, Alex, Ed, Peter
~Food~
Having overlooked the fact that all the restaurants would be full due to Valentine's Day, we spent over an hour searching for a place that would give us a table without having to wait for an hour. Strolled along Southbank, then finally managed to get a table of 9 at La Camera in Southgate. The table was so coolly shaped!!!
Ordered the Pollo Prezemolo which was essentially a piece of chicken stuffed with cheese and sundried tomatoes, wrapped in prosciutto and served with some white wine sauce and mashed sweet potatoes. The chicken was nice, not too dry and the stuffing inside was awesome. The sauce was surprisingly nice for wine [I don't like wine]. The two downfalls were the mash and the serving size. The sweet potato mash tasted more like mashed pumpkin, and the serving was quite tiny... as in, the food would have covered maybe a third of the plate!! However, by the end of it, I was sufficiently full and the dessert filled up that last remaining bit. Mel and Stace ordered tiramisu, which was quite good... Then Anna chose a dark chocolate calzone... oozing with chocolate and served with fresh strawberries...mmmm.... I want more now...
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service went from high to low. When we first inquired about a table, they made one up for us in 10 minutes [compared to these one hour waits at other places] and the waiter was very friendly. Once the food arrived though, the service dropped. Everyone's food all came out at once except for Mel's. And when we asked about it, one waitress said that it was "on it's way", however, another few minutes later, we asked another waitress who went out the back and finally brought it out. When we asked for more water, the waiter took the jug away, and forgot to bring it back. Alhough in comparison to other places we've been, I guess the service was still pretty decent.
~Price~
Mains were around $20-$25
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
Given that they were able to immediately set up a table for us on a night where we hadn't found any, the place deserves some brownie points. Will recommend this place for a nice dinner.
Cuisine: Italian, Modern Australian
Company: Stace, Mel, Mandy, YC, Anna, Alex, Ed, Peter
~Food~
Having overlooked the fact that all the restaurants would be full due to Valentine's Day, we spent over an hour searching for a place that would give us a table without having to wait for an hour. Strolled along Southbank, then finally managed to get a table of 9 at La Camera in Southgate. The table was so coolly shaped!!!
Ordered the Pollo Prezemolo which was essentially a piece of chicken stuffed with cheese and sundried tomatoes, wrapped in prosciutto and served with some white wine sauce and mashed sweet potatoes. The chicken was nice, not too dry and the stuffing inside was awesome. The sauce was surprisingly nice for wine [I don't like wine]. The two downfalls were the mash and the serving size. The sweet potato mash tasted more like mashed pumpkin, and the serving was quite tiny... as in, the food would have covered maybe a third of the plate!! However, by the end of it, I was sufficiently full and the dessert filled up that last remaining bit. Mel and Stace ordered tiramisu, which was quite good... Then Anna chose a dark chocolate calzone... oozing with chocolate and served with fresh strawberries...mmmm.... I want more now...
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service went from high to low. When we first inquired about a table, they made one up for us in 10 minutes [compared to these one hour waits at other places] and the waiter was very friendly. Once the food arrived though, the service dropped. Everyone's food all came out at once except for Mel's. And when we asked about it, one waitress said that it was "on it's way", however, another few minutes later, we asked another waitress who went out the back and finally brought it out. When we asked for more water, the waiter took the jug away, and forgot to bring it back. Alhough in comparison to other places we've been, I guess the service was still pretty decent.
~Price~
Mains were around $20-$25
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
Given that they were able to immediately set up a table for us on a night where we hadn't found any, the place deserves some brownie points. Will recommend this place for a nice dinner.
Cafe Max
Location: Hardware Lane
Cuisine: Italian
Company: Jie
~Food~
Since Jie had been craving for pasta for almost a week now, we finally went in search of a good place to eat. Stumbled across Cafe Max whilst perusing Menulog for restaurants to add to our growing list of places to eat at. The cafe was one of the many places hidden away in Hardware Lane - a place we always seem to overlook when looking for somewhere to eat - and was surprisingly spacey inside. Ordered a Peking duck risotto and linguine marinara. Although the servings were quite small [in comparison to other places], they had a lot of decent content. The risotto had heaps of duck where other places would sprinkle some on, and the linguine had lots of seafood.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service was quite good, the waiter who seated us was friendly and didn't mind giving us extra plates [for good old Asian dining lol!].
~Price~
Somewhat pricey, but for a decent meal, it was worth it.
~Overall Impression~
Will possibly return when we crave good quality food, as for value for money, this is not the place to go.
Cuisine: Italian
Company: Jie
~Food~
Since Jie had been craving for pasta for almost a week now, we finally went in search of a good place to eat. Stumbled across Cafe Max whilst perusing Menulog for restaurants to add to our growing list of places to eat at. The cafe was one of the many places hidden away in Hardware Lane - a place we always seem to overlook when looking for somewhere to eat - and was surprisingly spacey inside. Ordered a Peking duck risotto and linguine marinara. Although the servings were quite small [in comparison to other places], they had a lot of decent content. The risotto had heaps of duck where other places would sprinkle some on, and the linguine had lots of seafood.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service was quite good, the waiter who seated us was friendly and didn't mind giving us extra plates [for good old Asian dining lol!].
~Price~
Somewhat pricey, but for a decent meal, it was worth it.
~Overall Impression~
Will possibly return when we crave good quality food, as for value for money, this is not the place to go.
Chillipadi
Location: Menzies Lane, Melbourne Central, next to Max Brenners
Cuisine: Fusion, Thai
Company: Jeanie
~Food~
Ordered a roast duck curry with roti and Penang prawn noodles. Mmmmm... Still not quite sure whether it is Thai or Malaysian, but the food was awesome and the servings were pretty big - although we finished everything. Not sure if my appetite is growing due to all the eating out I've done!! The water tasted somewhat funny and the waitress showed hints of annoyance when I asked if they flavoured the water. She claimed it was possibly lemon juice, I still think otherwise.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service [as implicitly as I said it above] was fairly low. From the moment we asked if there were tables upstairs, we got a feeling that the waitress just didn't want to be there! Instead of a quick explanation that it wasn't opened at lunchtime, she bluntly told us that we couldn't go up and had to sit downstairs. Then when we asked for plates to share, she seemed annoyed [at having to wash extra plates?]. The atmosphere was okay, a little crowded since they were cramming everyone in downstairs, but at the same time it was quiet and comfortable.
~Price~
Somewhat expensive but the food was well worth it.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
There is quite an extensive lunch menu, I can only imagine the dinner one. Location is convenient and assuming there is more seating upstairs, I'd like to try it out for dinner sometime.
Cuisine: Fusion, Thai
Company: Jeanie
~Food~
Ordered a roast duck curry with roti and Penang prawn noodles. Mmmmm... Still not quite sure whether it is Thai or Malaysian, but the food was awesome and the servings were pretty big - although we finished everything. Not sure if my appetite is growing due to all the eating out I've done!! The water tasted somewhat funny and the waitress showed hints of annoyance when I asked if they flavoured the water. She claimed it was possibly lemon juice, I still think otherwise.
~Atmosphere and Service~
The service [as implicitly as I said it above] was fairly low. From the moment we asked if there were tables upstairs, we got a feeling that the waitress just didn't want to be there! Instead of a quick explanation that it wasn't opened at lunchtime, she bluntly told us that we couldn't go up and had to sit downstairs. Then when we asked for plates to share, she seemed annoyed [at having to wash extra plates?]. The atmosphere was okay, a little crowded since they were cramming everyone in downstairs, but at the same time it was quiet and comfortable.
~Price~
Somewhat expensive but the food was well worth it.
~Overall Impression: 9/10~
There is quite an extensive lunch menu, I can only imagine the dinner one. Location is convenient and assuming there is more seating upstairs, I'd like to try it out for dinner sometime.
Oriental Spoon
Location: La Trobe Street, Melbourne [near Elizabeth Street]
Cuisine: Korean
Company: Stace, Jane, Anna, Alex, YC, YMG, Ed, Peter
~Food~
Most of us ordered the same thing - the stone bowl bulgogi. There was a good mix of meat, vegies and rice. And the rice even came somewhat crispy where it had been stuck to the stone bowl. It came with that sizzling effect that those sizzling plates of meat usually come with. On the other hand, I still think I prefer Jap food. The service was minimal, no harassment, which was good given that most places we've been to harass you time and time again about ordering and such. Atmosphere was pretty good, we've been there once before ages and ages ago and it hadn't changed much. Just much quieter on a weekday lunch.
~Atmosphere and Service~
As with most Asian places [apart from the expensive dining restaurants], the service is minimal. The highlight for Jane and Alex would have been the Korean waiters...
~Price~
Cheap for the amount of food there was.
~Overall Impression: 7.5/10~
Quite decent and affordable.
Cuisine: Korean
Company: Stace, Jane, Anna, Alex, YC, YMG, Ed, Peter
~Food~
Most of us ordered the same thing - the stone bowl bulgogi. There was a good mix of meat, vegies and rice. And the rice even came somewhat crispy where it had been stuck to the stone bowl. It came with that sizzling effect that those sizzling plates of meat usually come with. On the other hand, I still think I prefer Jap food. The service was minimal, no harassment, which was good given that most places we've been to harass you time and time again about ordering and such. Atmosphere was pretty good, we've been there once before ages and ages ago and it hadn't changed much. Just much quieter on a weekday lunch.
~Atmosphere and Service~
As with most Asian places [apart from the expensive dining restaurants], the service is minimal. The highlight for Jane and Alex would have been the Korean waiters...
~Price~
Cheap for the amount of food there was.
~Overall Impression: 7.5/10~
Quite decent and affordable.
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