Restaurant Review: Royal Mail Hotel

Location: 98 Parker St, Dunkeld
Phone: 03 5577 2241
Link: royalmail.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 10/10

This was J’s generous 2-year gift to me. It was a trip to my dream restaurant, The Royal Mail Hotel.

There was much to celebrate. We had reached that 2 year milestone, I had just welcomed 2 beautiful new nieces (both born in the same week) to the world and I was starting a new job. The year had come to a conclusion quite abruptly for me. As such, it was also a good time for reflection and contemplation. Staying in the beautiful surrounds of the Royal Mail Hotel could not have been a better option.

view from our room

After a relaxing swim in the pool, J and I both got ready for dinner. It felt slightly strange getting dolled up to walk a mere 50 metres to the restaurant from our room.

We both opted for the menu omnivore ($160 each) with accompanying wines ($115 each). Initially we had thought it might be a good idea to share a bottle but the impenetrable wine list (which was more like a book) got the better of us.

Wine list

Imagine the tax advantages associated with having your own cellar as a wine list in a successful restaurant. Allan Myers is a lucky man.

The restaurant is set up in the most peculiar manner. Every table is set to face the sommelier and his wooden table of wines, an impressive collection of riedel glasses and decanters and wine bottles. It was an amusing sight. It was clearly a deliberate move – perhaps to pay homage to one's love of wine?

pork sandwich

globe artichoke and mayonnaise

chicken crisps

matched with: nv ulysse collin blanc de  blancs

champagne france

It was an incredible start to the meal. All three elements on the plate were superb. Each carefully thought out and perfectly executed. J and I were under Dan Hunter’s spell. We immediately lusted for more. With Hunter's impressive resume (he was the head chef at the two Michelin star restaurant, Mugaritz), we were both excited to see what else was in store.

tomato and prawn, cinnamon basil, daikon ice

matched with: 2010 domaine Tanglore

tavel france

And the dishes continued to deliver.

heirloom carrots, garlic, soy cream, sorrel seeds

matched with: 2009 domaine du belliviere 'l'effraie'

coteaux du loir france

This was an outstanding course. It was difficult to understand the mechanics and the complexity of the dish because you sense that you are not fully contemplating all there is to it. The dish is delicious and tries to be deceptively simple but you cannot help your suspicions. The carrots are what carrots would be in a perfect world. It has the perfect hint of sweetness, tastes intensely natural yet without the impurities you would attach to an average carrot. I apologise for the strange descriptions but it really is one you will have to try for yourself because words simply do not do it justice.

egg yolk and new potatoes, salt cod, fish crackling

matched with: 2007 bannockburn 'srh' chardonnay

geelong vic

The yolk enveloped the potatoes and the deliciously salted fish crackling, creating an explosion of intense delight in my mouth. This was genius. It tasted comforting and wholesome. Every element complemented the next.  

sand flathead, mustard, nori, sugar snap peas

matched with: 2010 crawford river riesling

henty vic
This course was subtle in both texture and flavour. It demonstrated a full appreciation of the delicate allure associated with fresh produce, allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves.

Again and again, the theme of balance in flavour and the importance of different textural elements resounded throughout the courses. As expected, everything was consistently cooked to perfection.

eel and bone marrow, eggplant, pickled vegetables

matched with: 2010 best's 'old clone' pinot noir

grampians vic

*Spoiler alert!*

A good meal at the Royal Mail Hotel wouldn’t be complete with a bit of a challenge to traditional notions. The prominent gleaming brown object is not the eel. Instead, it is the thin, dark and crisp-looking piece on the top!

duck and cucumber, coastal plants, calamari cream

matched with: chateau d'armailhac 5th growth

pauillac france

The coastal plants literally exploded in my mouth, their juices lingered as the duck meat melted and the saltiness of the calamari cream struck a lovely balance. It was a beautiful end to the savoury courses.

Palate cleanser - chamomile

fallen fruit; apple, almond, caramel, chamomile

The desserts were no different. They were impressive at every turn. Did we need three desserts? Probably not, but the joie de vivre of the experience certainly brought out the glutton in us.  

berries and fig leaf, white chocolate and rose

matched with: 2009 marenco 'pineto' brachetto d'acqui

piedmont italy

pistachio, hazelnut, honeycomb, chocolate

matched with: nv sanchez romate cream sherry

jerez spain

And it had come to an end. It was an amazing set of 10 courses, all of which alluring, appetizing, and aesthetically pleasing. The delivery of each course was timed perfectly and the order of the courses was faultless.

The service was impeccable. The waiters came in sets of two, so that both J and I received our courses at the exact same time. Without a word, one of them would invariably disappear into the abyss leaving the other to describe the course we were about to indulge in. At one stage my napkin fell to the ground. The next thing I knew, I was presented with a new one. I had not noticed since it happened in a split of a second but J saw it all happen (he described it as fascinating). Apparently one waiter immediately took the fallen napkin from the ground while another brought me a new one. 

Flawless.

Earl grey chocolate petit fours

What a tremendous start to 2012. You have set the bar inordinately high, Royal Mail Hotel.

Thank you for this indulgent gift, my sweet J.

Restaurant Review: Mings Dim Sum

Location: Level 1, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
Phone: 03 9292 8888
Link: http://crowncasino.com/mings-dim-sum
Cuisine: Chinese
Overall Impression: 5/10

Standing where Sante stood, Mings Dim Sum is the new kid on the Crown Casino block. Although newly established, it is already starting to attract the Southbank corporate lunchtime crowd. The place has a relaxed ambience, the service is of a good standard and the food certainly meets expectations.

Left: Braised Beef soup served with Shanghainese noodles $12.00
Right: Sweet Almond soup with Almond Glutinous Rice Balls $5.00

Cafe Review: The Forge Pizzeria

Location: 1771 Sturt Street, Ballarat
Phone: 03 5338 4309
Link: theforgepizzeria.com.au
Cuisine: Pizza
Overall Impression: 7/10

Pizzas can be extremely disappointing. We have an abundance of pizzerias and there is such a wide range when it comes to quality and delivery. The average pizza is one that is acceptable - not great but rather enjoyable to eat when you are hungry but not one you would eat if you were not in the hunger zone. Only on very rare occasions do you stumble upon a place that serves pizzas outside the midpoint of that bell curve. Dining at Forge Pizzeria is one of those rare occasions when you find your pizza is about two positive standard deviations from the mean. It was excellent!

Butchers Pizza

Bacon, sausage, shaved ham, salami, mozzarella, tomato, rosemary

Pumpkin Pizza

Pumpkin, spinach, Meredith goats’ cheese, garlic, rosemary, tomato, mozzarella, cracked pepper, topped with a sprinkle of pine nuts

Where the magic happens

We were promptly seated when we arrived by the loveliest waitress I have ever met. Looking at the dense menu, I had trouble choosing what to order and as if sensing my plight, she re-appeared, suggesting the Pumpkin Pizza to me. It was a choice I was incredibly pleased with. Both the pizzas we ended up choosing were delicious. The crust was beautifully thin and the toppings were delicious. The toppings were generous and as a whole, there was a lot more depth in terms of flavour in the pizzas. As far as gourmet pizzas go, these are certainly very good. So, if you’re ever in Ballarat, be sure to pay this place a visit!  

Cafe Review: L'Espresso

Location: 417 Sturt St, Ballarat
Phone: 03 5333 1789
Link: http://www.ballarat.com/lespresso.htm
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Breakfast/Brunch, Coffee
Overall Impression: 7/10

Ballarat is hardly a “foodie” destination but there are certainly a couple of eateries that I have discovered to be consistently gratifying. L’Espresso is one such eatery. The café was bustling when I arrived - there were hungry tourists and locals scurrying about during the lunch hour rush. Sitting in the café, the jazz and blues CDs can be quite distracting as the musically inclined folk browse through the collection. You see, L’Espresso is also a music store, tailored for the peckish crowd that are in need of a jazz CD.

The menu is simple. What I love best about it is the traditional Italian fare they have on offer during lunch. The pasta and risotto are always perfectly cooked and seasoned. What you get is hearty fare that ticks all the right boxes.

Restaurant Review: Indochine

Location: 51 Carrington Rd, Box Hill
Phone: 03 9890 2966
Link: indochinerestaurant.com.au
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Overall Impression: 6/10

My friends know this restaurant as ‘that Vietnamese place with the hot waitress’. I frequent this restaurant to check out the waitress but I stay for the Bun (pronounced ‘boon’).

Pork and Prawn rice paper rolls

Bun with char-grilled lemongrass pork and spring rolls

Bun with char-grilled lemongrass chicken and spring rolls

Bun with char-grilled lemongrass beef

As far as buns go, this place serves the very best I have had in Melbourne. The rice vermicelli tossed in beautifully fresh salad greens and herbs are a perfect summer meal. Their nuoc mam sauce is always well balanced and beautifully flavoured. It is always a treat.

Cafe Review: Half Moon Café

Location: 13 Victoria St, Coburg
Phone: 03 9350 2949
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Overall Impression: 6/10

Therein lays the best falafels in Melbourne. Hard to believe? Well, it’s true.

In an unassuming little café, you would hardly suspect it but it is certainly a Melbourne gem.

Their  menu is a wonderfully fresh and works a treat.

Cooked to perfection, these Egyptian-style falafels are crisp on the outside and deliciously moist on the inside.

The first thing you notice is how green they are on the inside. No, it’s not some weird chickpea they are using. These falafels are made from fava beans and they are absolutely delicious.

Restaurant Review: Rae's Restaurant

Location: Melba Hwy, Yarra Glen
Phone: 03 9730 0774
Link: balgownieestate.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

There is nothing quite like a lazy lunch in the relaxing Yarra Valley surrounds. Whilst being a mere 40 minute drive from the CBD, you feel a million miles away.

Balgownie Estate is one of J’s favourite wineries so visiting Rae’s Restaurant, the restaurant attached to the winery made sense. The locally sourced produce takes the dining experience to greater heights as these fresh ingredients are skilfully prepared.

Unfortunately, all this good work is undone by bad service. The service is irrefutably impersonal. We were treated like cattle, ushered in and out the door without being acknowledged whatsoever. It was clear that the wait staff were trying not to pay attention. It was far from non-intrusive. We were almost non-existent. The service that an older waiter delivered to us can only be described as service with contempt. After he put J’s bread down, he reached over J to put my bread down. It was incredibly rude.  

Soup of the day $15

with grilled sour dough

Grilled sour dough bruschetta $18

with whipped Persian feta, double smoked leg ham and tomato relish

Slow cooked Yarra Valley salmon $22

with capers, white anchovies sauce gribiche

Grilled free range spring chicken $32

with sage and onion stuffing, herbed cous cous and rocket pesto

Home made gnocchi $25

Tossed in tomato coulis with estate grown green vegetables and shaved parmesan

Fish of the day $35

Although the food served at Rae’s restaurant is consistently good. There is a clear disrespect for patrons. Such a pity given the calibre of the chefs!

Restaurant Review: Oriental Spoon

Location: 254 La Trobe St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9654 9930
Cuisine: Korean
Overall Impression: 7.5/10

Oriental Spoon is a delightful Korean eatery in the CBD. Authentically good, it takes J and I right back to the time we spent in Seoul together.

The condiments are the part of the Korean meal that I love the most. Although they provide more of a supporting role, the humble Kim chi is what makes my meal.  

Megumi

Korean Casserole with dumplings, assorted vegetables, kimchi and tofu

Seafood pancake

Jap Chae

Clear sweet potato noodles pan-fried with thin slices of marinated beef and assorted seasoned vegetables in sesame sauce oil

Bulgogi

Finely sliced beef marinated in Korean Bulgogi sauce, cooked with vegetables and served on a hot sizzling plate

Korean Fried Chicken

Each dish was incredibly flavoursome. The portions were also incredibly generous. Those 5 dishes fed the 7 of us (with a whole heap of fried chicken left over which KC took home for lunch the next day). It ended up costing us less than $25 each including drinks, offering the soundest bang for your buck.

Restaurant Review: Great Northern Hotel

Location: 644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
Phone: 03 9380 9569
Link: gnh.net.au
Cuisine: English/Irish
Overall Impression: 7/10

Hand pumped, cask conditioned beer. This is how beer used to be (before big corporations started pasteurising and carbonating it) and how beer should be.

After years of mass produced, artificially carbonated beer flooding the market and becoming the new ‘norm’ in Australia, hand pumped beer is beginning its resurgence thanks to breweries like the Holgate Brewhouse in Woodend, and temples of beer worship such as The Royston and the Great Northern Hotel.

Holgate ESB

This genuine, English style of beer shows greater complexity and depth of flavour than its artificially carbonated and pasteurised competitors. A pint of this brings J and I right back to the time we spent in the UK. We were glad to hear that they recently installed a second hand pump!

Apart from excellent beer, Great Northern Hotel provides good food at reasonable prices.

Asian Style Beef Salad

Marinated and fried beef strips, cucumber, chilli tomato, and bean shoots with a soy and sesame dressing

Veal Parmigiana oven baked and served with a choice of beer battered fries and salad or vegetables and baked potato.

Spaghetti Bolognaise a rich red wine and beef sauce, nestled in fresh cooked spaghetti and topped with shaved parmesan

Our visits are always satisfying so it is easy to see why Great Northern Hotel has been gaining a cult following in recent times.

Restaurant Review: Dessert House Eatery

Location: 313 Swanston St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 2284
Cuisine: Hong Kong Cafe Style food
Overall Impression: 5/10

This place is great for their Hong Kong style cafe food. Of particular note is the Lemongrass chicken. With friendly service and a well-priced menu, the appeal is obvious.

Restaurant Review: Portofina

Location: 984 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster East
Phone: 03 9841 7922
Link: portofina.com.au
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Overall Impression: 4/10

My bosom buddy, G and I decided to catch up at Portofina, mainly because of my limited driving skills. Portafina is a few kilometres straight down the road from where she lives. I was picking her up in my car and I didn’t want to have to drive very far or make too many turns without my GPS because I have no sense of direction and cannot read a map.

After looking at the menu and deciding on what we would like, we made our orders to an incredibly impatient and rude waitress. G and I were immediately put off by the place (hence the thumbs down in the picture).

Quiche and salad

Chicken parma burger

Our food arrived and it was of a passable standard. The older lady that brought our food to the table was much nicer so I wouldn’t say that the service is bad all round. The food itself was at best ordinary. To the restaurant’s credit however, the menu is popularly priced, with none of their lunch items costing over $10. Unfortunately, that does not do much in terms of gaining G and I’s patronage in the future.

Restaurant Review: Taiwan Cafe

Location: 273 Swanston St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 6663
Cuisine: Taiwanese street food
Overall Impression: 5/10

Celebrating Taiwanese street food, this little eatery has become increasingly popular. Having come to our attention due to the long queues we had been seeing, we were curious to see if the hype was justified.  

Pork Dumplings with Hot & Sour noodle soup

The dumplings in my noodles were pleasant but the hot and sour soup was neither spicy nor sour enough. It lacked that punch synonymous with Taiwanese street food.

Bento Box

As far as Taiwanese bento boxes go, this ticked every “box”!

All in all, this is a nice eatery that I would revisit but only if I could get a seat easily.

Restaurant Review: I Love Pho 264

Location: 264 Victoria St, Richmond
Phone: 03 9427 7749
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Overall Impression: 6/10

Boxing Day sales were upon us. It had been a tiring but productive day. J, with my help, (looking for sizes was a nightmare!) managed to get a sexy, well-fitting black suit for 40% off the RRP. We had also successfully “net-worked” randomly with another couple over pre-dinner drinks at a trendy bar in Southbank. This was particularly victorious on my part because I was born socially awkward. I’m not sure what happened but somewhere between finishing the first half of my glass of wine to heading off for dinner, we had exchanged business cards. It was reason to celebrate!

Not wanting to stuff our faces for the umpteenth time this week, we decided to have a light dinner to celebrate. Having heard of the aptly named “I Love Pho” (a sentiment I share) from food blogging circles, we decided to make our way there.

The place was buzzing with Pho-lovers.

Prawn and pork rice paper rolls

As customary in every Vietnamese restaurant that J and I have been to, we decided to start the meal with Pork and Prawn rice paper rolls. We were glad we did. These were the best that we have ever had. The beautifully thin and delicate rice paper encased fresh herbs and ingredients. The sauce was of particular note. It was incredibly scrumptious when eaten with the rice paper rolls. It had the perfect hint of spice from a chilli sauce that had been added right up the top. It was a great appetiser and a wonderful start to our meal.

Rice noodle soup: sliced beef and brisket

Rice noodle soup: shredded chicken

Both the Pho dishes were lovely. The broth was a lot more delicate and subtle in flavour in comparison to your run of the mill Vietnamese pho. The flavours appeared to be far less intense to our “local” Vietnamese eatery, Codo. That said, the broth tasted a lot more real (i.e. made of real chicken and beef stock as opposed to laden with MSG). It was certainly pleasant to eat.

Although slightly overrated, the appeal of I Love Pho is certainly easy to see. With a clear focus on rice noodle soups, it looks like a lot of heart and soul has gone into the food, making it a notch above the rest.

Event Review: The Stokehouse and Schweppes Foodathon

Location: 30 Jacka Blvd, St Kilda
Phone: 03 9525 5555
Link: stokehouse.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian

 

J and I were fortunate enough to be invited to an exclusive Nuffnang Foodathon event at the iconic Stokehouse in St Kilda on Thursday the 8th of December. This intimate event brought together some of Melbourne's finest food bloggers. I felt extremely privileged to be a part of it. Whilst enjoying the serene sun set over St Kilda beach, our taste buds were spoilt with delicious desserts matched to delectable Schweppes cocktails. The kind people at Schweppes also provided us with all the cocktail recipes. I have reproduced these below for you to try at home! The following are pictures from the evening consisting predominantly of the glorious food and cocktails we were fortunate enough to indulge in.

Cocktail: Creole Crush

Matching dessert: Watermelon sorbet

Creole Crush Recipe:

Ingredients

45 ml gin

Cubed water melon

100 ml Schweppes Agrum Citrus blend

3 lime squeezes

3 sprigs of coriander

Method

•    Place the leaves from the coriander into a sturdy highball glass with    watermelon cubes

•    Crush and add ice and gin.

•    Pour in the Schweppes Agrum Citrus blend and stir well

•    Garnish with a lime wedge and a coriander tip

Cocktail: Mojito

Matching dessert: Mango, rum & chilli, mint sorbet, coconut wafer

Mojito Recipe:

Ingredients:

60ml White Rum

6 mint leaves

20 ml fresh lime juice

10 ml sugar syrup

Schweppes Soda Water

Method:
1. Add mint into a highball
2. Add White Rum, lime juice and sugar syrup
3. Add crushed ice and stir
2. Top with Schweppes Soda Water

Garnish: Mint sprig

Cocktail: The Golden Grape

Matching dessert: Passionfruit mousse, brandy snap

The Golden Grape Recipe:

Ingredients:

45ml Brandy

3 pieces of pink grapefruit

8 green seedless grapes

10ml golden syrup

60ml Schweppes Agrum White Grape & Passionfruit

Method:

1.         Add pink grapefruit and grapes into a mixing glass. Muddle.

2.         Add golden syrup and Schweppes Agrum White Grape
            & Passionfruit.

3.         Add ice, shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish: Grapefruit peel

Interlude: Pizzas and chips

Cocktail: Miyagi Kyo

Matching dessert: Poached pear, honey ginger biscuit & mascarpone

Miyagi Kyo Recipe:

Ingredients

30ml Scotch

½ nashi pear (diced) or regular pear if unavailable.

20 ml maple Syrup

Lemon wedge

100 ml Schweppes ginger ale

Method

Crush lemon wedge, nashi pear, maple syrup in the base of a sturdy container with a muddler, or end of rolling pin till all ingredients are well mixed. 

Add ice and shake well, strain through tea strainer or fine sieve into a tumbler with ice.

Garnish with nashi pear slice

Cocktail: Blood Orange Cosmo

Matching dessert: Lemon ricotta cake, lemon curd

Blood Orange Cosmo Recipe:

Ingredients:

45ml Vodka

15ml Cointreau

10ml Fresh Lime juice

2 drops Bitters

30ml Cranberry Juice

30ml Schweppes Agrum Blood Orange

Method:
1. Add all ingredients into a Boston Glass
2. Add ice, shake and strain into a cocktail glass
3. Top with Schweppes Agrum Blood Orange

Garnish: Burnt orange zest

Cocktail: Elixer Honey Gin

Matching dessert: Hazelnut Chocolate ice-cream, strawberry sorbet, honeycomb

Elixer Honey Gin Recipe:

Ingredients:
30ml Gin

10ml honey water

15ml orange juice

Method
Add Gin
Top with Elixir

Squeeze orange wedge garnish

Build & stir highball

Thank you Nuffnang, Schweppes and Stokehouse for a lovely evening of indulgence!

Restaurant Review: Dunyazad Lebanese

Location: 329 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster
Phone: 03 9857 8778
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Link: dunyazad.com.au
Overall Impression: 8/10

Aunty M was kind enough to take us all out for a wonderful feasting at Dunyazad to celebrate (THANK YOU, AUNTY M!). And what a feast it was!

MEZZA $17.00

An assortment of dips including Hommus, Baba Ghannouj and Labneh with Tabouleh

We started our meal with a lovely assortment of dips served with freshly baked pita bread. The dips were some of the tastiest I have ever enjoyed. The Babba Ganoush in particular was incredible, with its beautiful smoky flavour.

Every single main dish we ordered was delicious. The Shish Kebab lamb fillets were perfectly cooked- juicy and delectable. The Kafta Bi Tahina lamb mince patties were bursting with flavour. The Shah Rayar lamb fillets were tender and immersed in a rich and hearty curry and the Dunyazad chicken fillets were moist and well-seasoned.

DUNYAZAD (DEJAJ HARR) $26.00

Stir-fried chicken fillets with tomato concasse, chilli, garlic, herbs and lemon juice

SHAH RAYAR $26.00

Lamb fillets cooked in a tomato and curry concasse chick peas and seasoned with a special mixture of Middle Eastern herbs & spices

KAFTA BI TAHINA $25.00

Lamb mince patties mixed with parsley, onion herbs & spices topped with tahina

SHISH KEBAB $24.00

Char-grilled marinated lamb fillets served on skewers

Each main came with two mouth-watering sides: almond and pine nut rice pilaf with loubieh beans. Each course came in generous proportions. It was a feast even though we had opted for the a la carte menu. The four of us struggled to finish what we ordered. As I really did not want the food to go to waste, I plucked up the courage to ask if I could take away the leftovers. I was pleasantly surprised when our waiter graciously packed everything neatly for me to take home. Let’s just say I had an awesome lunch the next day.

Dunyazad delivers on all fronts. It has great well-priced Lebanese food, and the service is impeccable. The wait staff members are incredibly friendly and helpful without being intrusive in the slightest.  This may be my first time at Dunyazad but it certainly will not be my last.

Restaurant Review: Espressino Coffee and Pizza Bar

Location: 68-70 King Street, The Rialto, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9620 4774
Link: http://www.rialto.com.au/espressino.html
Cuisine: Italian
Overall Impression: 6/10

I grew up with the most amazing sister. She is incredibly intelligent, athletic and beautiful both on the inside and out. Growing up, I have always been L’s little sister. People knew me as the younger sister of that really hot chick. I guess that is how Espressino feels, as the sister restaurant to the famous +39 Pizzeria.

The truth is, the pizzas are just as good. And I don’t mean it in a metaphorical, “I am just as good as my sister way, so please love me.” In all seriousness, this is where the comparison departs (my sister and I could not be more different!).

Iced Coffee

Salads – Insalata

Rucola

With Rocket, Avocado, Cherry Tomato & Fresh Pecorino Cheese

Pizza: Gamberi

With Mozzarelle, Zucchini, Prawns & Cherry Tomato

The pizzas served at Espressino are of the same quality and standard to that served at +39. Both eateries rate very high on this blogger’s scale of deliciousness. Notably, their menus are almost identical!  

So, if you like +39 Pizzeria, you will like Espressino – unless there is something about the +39 Pizzeria venue that you particularly love.

Pizza: Salsiccia

With Tomato, Mozzarella, Italian Sausage, Porcini Mushroom & Parmesan

The pizzas are very much what you would expect from a pizzeria in Italy – delicious without being overly complicated with a beautifully thin crust.

Restaurant Review: The European

Location: 161 Spring St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9654 0811
Link: theeuropean.com.au
Cuisine: European
Overall Impression: 7.5/10

Our resident office foodie Ms L was in charge of the group’s Christmas party this year so we all knew we would be in for a treat. When I found out we were dining at The European I started counting down the days to the event. I adjusted my expectations though – function menus are never particularly impressive. In fact, when they are of a passable standard, it is reason enough to celebrate.

Our party was in the Tea Room, up the stairs from the ever so popular Melbourne Supper Club. The Tea Room is a great function space. With natural light pouring in through the little windows on the side, you see the hustle and bustle of the city as you peer out. The first thing I noticed was the attentiveness of the wait staff. Upon entering the wooden panelled doors, within seconds I was asked if I would like a drink.

Roasted Moreton Bay bug, crispy chicken, cabbage & chervil

Vitello Tomato

The food was of a very high standard. This entrée was beautifully fresh. It was the perfect summer salad. The pieces of Moreton bay bugs were tender and succulent. The slices of crispy chicken were (as its name suggests), crisp without being dry on the inside and well-seasoned. The acidity of the light dressing complemented the freshness of the salad. It was certainly an appetizing dish that was clearly a crowd pleaser.

Roasted eye fillet, Bourguignon garnish

My roasted eye fillet was flawless. Beautifully charred and sealed on the outside and immaculately pink in the middle. The meat was tender, juicy and delicious. The mushroom pie that was served alongside the eye fillet was reasonably good but the eye fillet was clearly (as it should be) the hero of the dish.

We were given two sides. A Roquette salad and some roasted Kipfler potatoes. The Roquette salad was pleasant and acted as a lovely side. The potatoes were unfortunately under-seasoned. However, the moment I added a little salt on them, they came to life. There is something so hearty and comforting about a simple plate of roasted potatoes with generous amounts of rosemary – very Christmas!

Everyone was pleased by how gratifying the dining experience was. Ms L has certainly outdone herself! I am certainly not exaggerating when I say, function-menu wise, this was by far the best food I have ever been served.

Restaurant Review: Naked For Satan

Location: 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Phone: (03) 9416 2238

Link: www.nakedforsatan.com.au

Overall Impression: 6/10

It had been a crazy day and I was in desparate need of some alcohol. So before heading to our dinner venue, J and I decided to stop by Naked for Satan for some vodka infusions and pintxos. We were there on a Tuesday night so the pintxos were a mere 80cents each. Pintxos are basically snacks served in bars, resembling tapas. These snacks, we discovered, were certainly capable of being a meal. A very enjoyable and delicously economical meal.

It was surprising to see that the place was bustling on a Tuesday night but with great snacks and a variety of vodka based drinks, it makes sense.

Another thing we noticed was the variety of pintxos on offer. And while you remain seated, a host of hot pintxos are presented to you and you may choose to accept.

The food is simple and delectable, the service is.. well, it's self-service so, make it as prompt or as laid back as you like. We cannot wait to go back!

Restaurant Review: Bottega

Location: 74 Bourke St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9654 2252
Link: bottega.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Italian
Overall Impression: 7/10

Located in the CBD, this little Italian eatery is a gem. Celebrating Modern Italian cuisine, the dishes are contemporary without losing the appeal synonymous with classical Italian robust flavours.

We arrived right on time and were promptly greeted by a lovely Maître d'. The restaurant was not surprisingly empty for a mid-week lunch. We benefited from this as the service we received was impeccable.

The dining menu is separated into 4 sections: Entrée, Pasta, Main and Sides. On this occasion, I decided to order pasta and a main.

High-end Italian restaurants usually serve good olive oil with bread and Bottega is no exception. The extra virgin olive oil was delicious. It made waiting for our dishes to arrive very enjoyable.  

House made ricotta gnocchi, cherry tomatoes, fava beans, burrata & light pesto $24

The ricotta gnocchi had the perfect texture. The ingredients were fresh and tasty. Commendably, the flavours in the dish were very well-balanced. It was a perfect summer dish.

Twelve hour roasted goat, burghul, mandarin, fresh dates, almonds, yoghurt dressing $38

The goat was incredibly tender and moist. The flavours were subtle but very pleasant. The only criticism I would make would be with regards to the condiments that were served with the goat. They were quite sweet and overpowered the subtle flavours of the goat when eaten together.

Bottega means “artist's workshop” in Italian – appropriate, given the culinary artwork produced.

Nasi Lemak House

Location: 113 Grattan St, Carlton
Phone: 03 9348 1572
Link: nasilemakhouse.com.au
Cuisine: Malaysian hawker food

Mere minutes away from Melbourne Law School, J and I used to be regular customers at Nasi Lemak House. Now that uni life seems like a distant memory, we rarely visit. On our recent visit, it does not look like things have changed, the furniture looks the same and the menu is still heavily nasi lemak focused. The food always comes in more-than-you-can-finish portions and the service is always prompt. Nothing revolutionary but it certainly satisfies.

Right: Malaysian Loh Mein [$9.80] - Hokkien Noodles, Seafood and Chicken in a Rich and Sour Soup.

Left: Penang Char Kuay Teow [$9.80] - Stir Fry Flat Rice Noodles with Prawns, Cockles, and Beanshoots.