The Alley
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The Alley is a vegan fast casual food concept sharing delicious, wholesome, plant-based food, aiming to revolutionise vegan eating as we know it.
Read MoreThe Post Hotel
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A friendly pub in St Kilda, The Post Hotel delights locals with a menu that draws influence from waterholes the world over.
The beverage list boasts a selection of great craft beer, a range of local and international red and white as well as a curated list of cocktails.
Grilled Hervey Bay scallops with corn puree, crispy prosciutto and truffle oil
The scallops were beautifully seared and boasted natural sweetness while the crispy prosciutto added a lovely salinity to the dish.
Salt and pepper calamari
Tender ribbons of battered calamari were served with flavoursome sweet soy dressing. The calamari was perfectly seasoned and went beautifully with the sauce.
Cape Grim beef rib with twice cooked Jerusalem artichoke, chorizo and thyme
Pan seared ocean trout with charred fennel, thyme and lemon jus
Our favourite dish of the evening, the trout, was perfectly cooked - beautifully seared and pink in the middle. The charred fennel, thyme and lemon jus was a delicious accompaniment.
Housemade doughnuts with spiced sugar and chilli chocolate dipping sauce
These golden puffs were delicious. Ethereal in texture, the doughnuts were cinnamon-sugar coated and tasted delicious with the decadent chocolate sauce.
Chocolate brownie with espresso ice cream
The chocolate brownie was a playful and sweet end to our evening.
The folks at The Post Hotel have stayed true to the 140 years of its rich history in St Kilda and deliver a modern twist on old fashioned hospitality.
Location: 306 St Kilda Road, St Kilda
Phone: 03 9534 7678
Cuisine: Pub Food
Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of The Post Hotel.
Dear Liza
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Dear Liza is a relatively new eatery on St Kilda Road demonstrating a unique dining experience that has left customers wanting more.
Owner, Rochelle, makes a conscious effort to accommodate for a range of customers’ needs and aims to deliver a welcoming and friendly experience for anyone who walks through the door.
The restaurant operates as a cafe by day with lighter options. By night, the restaurant specialises in ribs, seafood and salads with plenty of Build Your Own options.
Edamame: Chilli salt; Bacon; Lime zest and cracked pepper
Everything is made in house by a passionate team that aim to produce the highest quality of food coupled with exceptional service.
Grain & Seed Salad
The Grain & Seed Salad was an enlivening salad of quinoa, pomegranate seeds, slivered almonds, celery, pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, spring onion, feta, basil, mint and coriander was brought together with an OJ vinaigrette, the salad was a medley of exciting flavours and textures which will appeal to even the most carnivorous individuals.
Moreton bay bugs with garlic, chilli, parsley, lemon, crusty bread
The Moreton Bay bugs were stunning and cooked to perfection. The lemon beurre blanc with confit garlic accompanied the sweet Moreton Bay bugs perfectly resulting in a dish that was flavoursome, rich and complex.
Char-grilled smoky beef ribs
The beef ribs were tender, falling off the bone, juicy and packed with flavour. We loved the smoky flavour imparted.
Churros, Barbecued banana, 2 x char-grilled pineapple skewer, both dipping sauces and your choice of 1 serve of ice cream
A playful dessert platter concluded our evening. The churros were of particular note. Moist and light on the inside with a crispy exterior, we enjoyed dipping them in the 3 different dipping sauces before eating each bite with a mouthful of house made salted caramel ice cream.
With good food, exceptional service and a touch of charm, Dear Liza ticks all the boxes and is more than capable of providing each diner with a memorable dining experience.
Location: 181 St Kilda Road, St Kilda,
Phone: 03 9534 5492
Cuisine: Seafood, Healthy Food, Sandwiches
Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Dear Liza.
A celebration of traditional and modern Italian cuisine @ Bistro Bakini
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Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Bistro Bakini.
Blending the best of local produce with authentic Italian cooking, Bistro Bakini satisfies families and gourmet diners alike.
Bistro Bakini’s menu features authentic Italian cuisine, made up of the highest quality ingredients, some of which are imported from Italy.
The dining room possesses a warm familial atmosphere with views of the vast wine collection Bistro Bakini harbours.
The wine list is reasonably priced and features a good selection of wines to complement your meal.
Olive ascolane - Stuffed green olives crumbed and fried
Croquette di baccala - Potatoes and baccala croquette cappers aioli
The croquette had a wonderfully crisp exterior which combined beautifully with the salted cod which provided salinity to the dish while the creamy cappers aioli ensured that the dish had requisite balance.
Capasante alla griglia - Hervey bay scallops caramelized onions vernaccia and bread crumbs
The scallops were beautifully seared and boasted a delicate sweetness.
Burrata pugliese - Burrata roasted eggplant and confit tomato
This cheese sensation demonstrated that unforgettable dishes can sometimes be very simple. In this instance, a ball of unadulterated burrata simply paired with smokey eggplant and confit tomato. When the outer solid mozzarella shell was cut, we loved how the the creamy interior of soft, stringy curd and fresh cream revealed itself. The sumptuously rich yet sensibly balanced flavours were sensational.
Risotto con le cicale di mare - Morton bay bug meat risotto chilli garlic spicy tomato broth
The risotto was, as expected from a good Italian restaurant, superbly executed. The rice in the risotto was puffy and al-dente and, coupled with generous amounts of tender Morton bay bug pieces and luscious chilli and garlic spicy tomato broth, had a wonderful depth of flavour. The dish boasted a rich seafood flavour with a robust undercurrent of parmesan.
Guancia Di manzo - Slow braised ox cheeks, barley risotto & cooking jus
Atop the layer of superbly cooked barley risotto, lay a delicious piece of decadent and flavoursome ox cheek. The braised ox cheek was incredibly tender, falling away easily with the weight of our forks. Coated with the earthy braising sauce, the dish was very enjoyable to consume.
Bistecca di manzo - Wagu beef tagliata, roasted cauliflower gratin and red wine jus
The accompaniments to the wagyu were each perfectly seasoned and wonderfully flavoured. However, the true highlight of the dish was the slice of wagyu beef – a light searing ensured that it was lined with a thin crisp layer packed with caramelised beef flavour. The meat was intense with characteristic wagyu notes and a deep earthy richness. Texturally, the beef was sublime with a decadent melt in the mouth, almost buttery, consistency.
Dessert platter: Pannacotta, Nutella Bomboloni, Tiramisu, Chocolate mousse & “Ladies' Kisses” (elegant little hazelnut cookies from Piedmont in Italy's north)
Our dessert tasting platter was a stunning end to what was a fabulous dinner. While everything on the plate was absolutely delicious, the yogurt panna cotta was of particular note. Possessing complexity with a pronounced sour "twang" courtesy of being made from good quality yogurt, the panna cotta was silky smooth and just barely holding its shape.
Bistro Bakini impresses with the freshness of its ingredients and the quality of its service. Highly recommended for a place to take that special someone or perhaps the family for the perfect treat.
Location: 568 St Kilda Rd Melbourne
Phone: 03 9521 7774
Cuisine: Italian
Dinner service commences @ West Village Cafe
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Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of West Village Cafe.
Set in the heart of the bustling business district of St Kilda Road, West Village Cafe have hunched their dinner menu for Thursday and Friday evenings, in addition to their breakfast and lunch services throughout the week.
The team is led by Head Chef Glen McNab (ex-Harvey's Restaurant South Yarra & Cherry Tree Hotel Richmond) and Sous Chef Lance Mueller (ex-Press Club) and boasts a menu that is produce driven, flavoursome and innovative. At the front of house, gregarious manager, Gil Reddick is ever on hand to make sure everything happens on time in addition to the perfect barrister-made coffee.
Charcuterie
The charcuterie selection consisted of prosciutto, salami, pan fried chorizo, bresaola, caper berries, pecorino and crusty bread. The salami and prosciutto were excellent – both possessing a richness that had been further enhanced by the flavours of the intense curing salt mix. The air-dried wagyu bresaola was similarly enjoyable.
Pan fried Saganaki, lemon & grilled Turkish bread
Our feast of entrees began with the saganaki. The salty flambéed pan-seared haloumi was an enlivening start. With a textural kick from the chewiness of the cheese, this dish was a highly addictive appetiser.
Mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs with tomato and saffron glaze
Hanoi duck spring rolls, iceberg lettuce, Asian herbs & chilli caramel dipping sauce
The Hanoi duck spring rolls were one of the highlights of our dinner. The pastry which encased the tender duck was crisp and cooked perfectly. We enjoyed the fresh and delightful flavours.
Left: Slow roasted pork belly, pan seared scallops, cauliflower puree & truffle oil
Right: Fish of the Day
Oven roasted whole spatchcock, pan jus
The spatchcock was well flavoured, having absorbed much of its braising stock and was beautifully tender.
300 gm chargrilled eye fillet, red wine jus
The slices of very tender medium rare eye fillet was a superbly executed dish highlighted by the quality of the beef and the excellence of its preparation.
The mains were served with an array of sides – the duck fat roasted potatoes are a must have.
Hot chocolate fudge brownie, honey macadamia ice cream & salted caramel praline
The dessert was similarly well devised. The decadent chocolate brownie was matched with velvety honey macadamia ice cream and harmonised with a salted caramel praline crumble and topped with generous amounts of chocolate sauce - delicious!
With good food, exceptional service and a touch of charm, West Village Cafe ticks all the boxes and is more than capable of providing each diner with a memorable dining experience.
Phone: 03 5422 6860
Link: http://westvillagecafe.net.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian
