Restaurant Review: PappaRich Doncaster

Location: 540 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Phone: 03 9848 1572
Link: papparich.net.au
Cuisine: Malaysian
Overall Impression: 4/10

With the Malaysian PappaRich chain taking on Victoria during the past few months, it was difficult not to take notice. Even though I had heard less than promising reviews from family and friends, G, A and I decided to visit the Doncaster restaurant out of curiosity.

 Biriyani rice with chicken and eggplant

The place was bustling and incredibly packed on the Friday night we visited. We were told to take a ticket for a table and wait our turn at the bar. It was a good thing that neither of us were in a hurry because that wait was 40 minutes long.  

 Egg Noodle

When we were finally seated, the menu was cause for salivation. The vibrant pictures on the menu were brilliant and we all had trouble deciding what to eat but given how hungry we were by this stage, we all put our orders in as quickly as possible. If you’ve been to PappaRich you will know that the orders are taken by patrons writing down their orders on a pad and pressing a green button on their table to alert staff that a table requires attention – brilliant move given how little training this would require overall. 

 Ipoh Hor Fun

Ending the night with some sweet beverages

The food we received was of a reasonably good standard. While a lot of the items were lacklustre and perhaps not as flavoursome as we would have liked, they were incredibly well priced. If we omitted the waiting time, we all agreed that we would have been pleased with our dining experience. However, given the unreasonably long wait, we will certainly think twice before returning.

Restaurant Review: Estelle Bar & Kitchen

Location: 243 High St, Northcote

Phone: 03 9489 4609

Link: estellebarkitchen.com.au

Cuisine: Modern Australian, European

Overall Impression: 8/10

Estelle Bar & Kitchen is quite the dream collaboration. Chefs Scott Pickett and Ryan Flaherty have joined forces to create this intimate space that certainly delivers. Scott (whose leadership brought The Point 2 Chef Hats) and Ryan (an alumnus of The Fat Duck, el Bulli and Arzak) grace the kitchen with their presence. The dining area is cosy and allows glimpses into the even cosier kitchen, where Scott and Ryan ply their trade. The cuisine is unashamedly Modern Australian, the menu seasonal and unique and the execution wonderful.

Amuse bouche

One thing is certain; the flavour combinations that appear on your plate, whilst not always classical, work. Given the calibre of the chefs, it is no surprise that the food frequently reaches 2 Chef Hat standard.

Like everything in life, however, Estelle Bar & Kitchen is not perfect. The wine list is small and unimpressive (for a self proclaimed bar) with an emphasis on foreign wines. Given the sheer calibre of Australian wines, it is hard not to feel this list was designed to appeal to those seeking "sophistication" at the expense of quality.

Despite this, it is easy to forgive Estelle Bar & Kitchen because of the food. Each course was well thought out and delightfully balanced. Perhaps most importantly, each course was interesting (an attribute often neglected by restaurateurs). The service was warm and unobtrusive. If J and I could keep this restaurant a secret all to ourselves, we surely would.

Beetroot, orange & ashed goats cheese

Sashimi, horseradish cream and gazpacho

Flathead, beurre noisette & cauliflower

Venison, mushroom & chocolate

Sour cream, pumpkin & salted caramel

Estelle Bar & Kitchen represents amazing value for money ($70 for 5 courses, $90 for 7 courses and $110 for 9 courses). I would recommend trying this restaurant before it gains a Chefs Hat, outgrows its setting in Northcote and starts commanding higher prices. But before this inevitably happens, J and I will be returning as often as we can.

Restaurant Review: The Bottom End

Location: 579 Little Collins Street Melbourne
Phone: 03 9629 3001
Link: thebottomend.com.au
Cuisine: Diner, American, Burgers
Overall Impression: 8/10

Brought to you by the makers of the night clubs "Poof Doof" and "Survivor!" is an exciting new menu at The Bottom End. A well crafted menu that is certainly a welcomed addition to the CBD dining scene, it features an impressive list of drinks (including brilliant martinis and cocktails) and an adventurous lists of burgers and sides.We were taken on a journey that was accurately described as "a bold burger odyssey".

Sides: Mac n' cheese balls, fries and N.Y.C. Buffalo Wings

The N.Y.C. Buffalo Wings were a winner. They were deliciously crisp on the outside and tender on the inside and covered in a thick gooey sweet and spicy sauce. I dare say, they were one of the best chicken wings I have had to date. They even rivalled R's best memory of chicken wings (in a Hooters restaurant in Texas).

Every single burger we had was cooked very well. As adventurous as the items on the burger menu sounded, when all was said and done, it was clear that the flavour combinations worked. The buns were always toasted perfectly and the protein it contained was consistently cooked well.

Our top 5 favourite burgers:

1. The famous Mitsubishi
2. Roman conquest
3. Mexico City Cheese
4. Plato's Delight
5. Chicken 5-0

"The famous Mitsubishi" burger blew our minds. It was genius and absolutely delicious. The Katsu Chicken pattie was delectably crumbed and crisp and the chicken was moist and juicy. The seaweed salad brought a nice touch of umame and the wakame and wasabi mayonnaise had a perfect level of heat which balanced the creaminess of the mayonnaise.  It is a delicious burger that I certainly recommend.

Sides: Parmesan truffle fries (left), Famous house taco salad (right)

The Australian Martini - with a smear of vegemite on the side... and instead of olives as the usual garnish, it's a pickled onion and cheese.

Our top 5 favourite drinks:

1. The Robert Mitchum
2. F*&king Marvellous Martini
3. Camel Toe
4. Breakfast Martini
5. Alabama Slammer

Our favourite drink of all was "The Robert Mitchum". Made from a strange mix of bourbon, maple syrup, orange juice and egg, it hardly inspires confidence. But have a little faith and place that order because what you receive is a beautiful drink that taste quite like a banana smoothie (with a lovely milkshake consistency) that is a perfectly sweet end to any meal.

The Bottom End is a great bar and dining venue. The new menu is not one that conforms to burger norms. In fact, the whole venue is a little left of centre but that is precisely what makes it tick.

 

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of The Bottom End.

Restaurant Review: Nevsky Russian Restaurant

Location: 476 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick
Phone: 03 9530 0012
Link: nevsky.com.au
Cuisine: Russian
Overall Impression: 5/10

The service was brilliant from start to finish. We felt incredibly welcomed and taken care of. Our lovely waitress and maître d even took the time to explain the different vodka shots we were having and how they varied in quality and taste. The ambience is lovely. There is a fireplace that burns throughout the evening and was incredibly comforting as it was a cold winter night on our visit. Looking at the extensive menu, we were not sure what we should order so we settled on the “Russian Banquet” that costs $55 a head. Overall, the food was of a reasonably good standard and tasted home-made. It was a pleasant introduction to Russian cuisine.

 Cold Entrée: Selection of cold entrees including olivier, pâté and smoked and cured meats

 Cold Entrée: Solenaya Ryba - salmon cured in vodka, dill, sea salt & sugar on rye bread

Cold Entrée: pickled vegetables

Vodka shots

Hot Entrée: Blinchiki s Myasom - thin crepes filled with minced beef and pan-fried in butter

Hot Entrée:

beef piroshki  - house-made baked pasty filled with minced beef

cabbage piroshki - house-made baked pasty filled with cabbage

Main Course: Pozharskie Kotlety minced chicken breast patties, crumbed and pan-fried in butter, served with euro frites and salad

Main Course: Ryba - atlantic salmon fillet grilled pink, served with olivier salad and a lemon, caper & dill sauce

Main Course: Sibirskie Pelmeni - Siberian meat dumplings cooked to order, served with fresh dill and sour cream

Main Course: Stroganoff - creamy veal & mushroom casserole with buckwheat kasha

Dessert: Sladkie Blini - thin crepes filled with sour cherry compote and topped with double cream

Long Macchiato

Restaurant Review: Cookie

Location: 252 Swanston St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 7660
Link: cookie.net.au
Cuisine: Thai
Overall Impression: 7/10

Cookie is more than your average bar. For starters, it is one of Melbourne's most popular Friday night drinking spots (it helps that there is a dancefloor a quick flight of stairs away from it). And commendably, it manages to serve consistently good Thai food.

Roti

Steamed Tapioca dumplings filled with pickled turnip, pork and peanuts

Betel leaves with smoked fish, chicken and roasted coconut salad

Mussels steamed with ginger, lime lemongrass, chilli and coriander

Stir fried pork belly with red curry, green peppercorns, kaffir lime and green beans  

Asparagus, sugar snaps, spinach and garlic beans

Fat rice noodles with duck, cabbage, green peppercorns and basil

Salmon, prawn and pomelo salad with ginger and lemongrass

The food is basically jazzed up Thai food that thankfully retains authentic characteristics. My all time favourite dish at Cookie is their Stir fried pork belly with red curry. The crackling on that pork belly is crisp and indulgent and the flesh is always delectably tender and the luxurious red curry is always packed full of flavour. With larger groups, I would recommend ordering the banquet that starts from as little as $30 per person. It's a great way to eat your way through the Cookie menu especially if it is your first time. The service is brilliant and the staff are incredibly helpful and accommodating  The only downside is how popular this place is - it gets uncomfortably packed on Friday and Saturday nights.

Restaurant Review: Misty's Diner

Location: 103 High St Prahran
Phone: 03 9510 1959
Link: http://www.mistysdiner.com.au/
Cuisine: American
Overall Impression: 6/10

Misty's Diner is proudly American. A cheerful figure, you can spot Misty quite easily at the diner making sure patrons are getting enough food and having a good time.

 Looking through the menu, J, R and I couldn't go pass the chilli fries and wings to start.

 Bucket of wings

A bucket of buffalo chicken wings with: buffalo sauce, ranch or bleu cheese, celery sticks, your choice of mild, spicy, or po'man's cocaine sauce.

Chili Fries

Served with onions, Mexican cheese & homemade chili con carne with your choice of meat or vegetarian & your choice of mild, spicy or po'man's cocaine sauce.

This is seriously delicious heart-attack causing food. Greasy, crunchy and packed full of cheesy goodness the chilli fries and wings are to die for.

The celery sticks are served with contempt. The lie  lifeless on the plate, staring back at you reminding you of what you should perhaps be eating instead. But J, R and I are not easily distracted. The sauce served beside the celery sticks are dipping sauces for the wings. And these definitely add to the All American goodness of those crispy flavoursome wings.

 Baked Roast Beef

Sliced roast beef served open-face on white bread with mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies. Bring on the 1950's!

Our next course is the baked roast beef. The beef was surprisingly tender and cooked very well.  The mashed potatoes are well seasoned and luscious. Although a little rough around the edges, this is certainly a hearty dish that tastes like it was made with a lot of love.

Misty's American style Burger

American cheese, sauteed onions, lettuce, tomato, bacon, American pickles, egg & Misty's special sauce

More vegetables served with contempt!

 R couldn't resist choosing a few classics.

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

The pecan pie was a winner. It had a beautiful pie crust and the filling was deliciously dense, moist and had just the perfect amount of sweetness. The ice cream on both the pies tasted a little strange though - it was quite foamy and lacked density.

Certainly a great American diner that is worth a visit.

Weekend in Apollo Bay, Lorne and Geelong

Andrew's Chicken Joint
Location: 134 Mount Joy Pde, Lorne
Phone: 03 5289 1255
Cuisine: Chicken, Fast Food, Pizza
Overall Impression: 5/10

Our first stop was Andrew's Chicken Joint (a favourite among locals and the yearly schoolies and toolies crowd). The food was average. It was a mere notch above what you would expect from a food court but the prices were not dissimilar to one so it was certainly fair.

River Tea House
Location: 4B Mountjoy Pde, Lorne
Phone: 03 5289 2099
Cuisine: Coffee/Tea, Latin American, Breakfast/Brunch 
Overall Impression: 8/10

River Tea House is a precious Lorne establishment. It is the home of the famous Lorne polenta cake. Beautifully tucked away but thankfully not too hidden, the cafe is cosy and the staff are delightful. We were impressed at the selection of teas on offer and incredibly appreciative for the good coffee.

Lemon Polenta Cake

At first instance, the main thing you notice is the peculiar textural element of the cake. The polenta certainly gives it a gritty texture. The flavours are beautiful. The tangyness from the lemon is perfectly balanced by the ample sweetness of the dense and moist cake. All in all it was a delectable cake. Although we found the texture peculiar at first, we quickly enjoyed it and craved it the next day (which is why as you will see, we stopped by again on the way home).

Good coffee

We finally arrived in Apollo Bay.

Chill @ the Bay
Location: 14 Pascoe St, Apollo Bay
Phone: 03 5237 1006
Cuisine: Tapas, Spanish, Wine Bar
Overall Impression: 5/10

We walked around for quite a bit trying to figure out where we should have dinner. Chill @ the Bay caught our eye. Although it was completely empty, against our reservations, we decided to pop in. J and I hadn't had Spanish food for a while so we thought it might be a good idea.

Spanish music fills the air when we arrive. And that exact same Spanish song we heard when we entered was repeated throughout our time at Chill @ the Bay.

Lamb Cochifrito - Slow cooked lamb neck in Rich Spanich flavours $16

Pork Ribs slow roasted in spicy sauce $17

This was the most disappointing dish of the night. For $17, this little bowl of ribs was far from what we expected. Being ribs, there were hardly and real meat we could eat which is fair but due to that fact, we certainly expected a bigger portion. The dish was also disappointing as the sauce was far too sweet and lacked any spice despite being described as being roasted in a spicy sauce.

Paella with chorizo, flathead fish, squid, mussel, king prawns, and butterfllied school prawns $45

The lamb and the paella were underwhelming and lacked flavour and punch synonymous with Spanish cuisine.

Churros (Spanish donuts) with chocolate dipping sauce (four) $8

While still very pleasant, the churros were unfortunately undercooked and doughy in the centre.

All in all, we were disappointed with the food we received and found the items we ordered overpriced for what they were. On the upside, the service is good and attentive and we certainly didn't have any trouble getting a table.   

Having a hike in Otway Park

Apollo Bay Seafood Cafe
Location: 119 Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay
Phone: 03 5237 6008
Cuisine: Fish & Chips
Overall Impression: 2/10

After what turned out to be a 4 hour walk in Otway Park, we decided we to reward ourselves with Fish & Chips. We drove past Apollo Bay Seafood Cafe's incredible large blue and white sign and decided to satiate our hunger there.

And there it was. The most overpiced fish and chips I have ever had in my life. This was quite a bit over $30 and they were the two thinnest slices of fish I have ever seen. To make matters worst, everything else we ordered appeared to arrive in a downsized version from what is the norm. Perhaps this is something cafes are tempted to do when they trade on visits by tourists rather than regular customers. Certainly no goodwill here. We left still very hungry but so annoyed that we could not bear to order any more. This is certainly a fish and chip joint I would advise avoiding. So back to River Tea House we ventured. 

River Tea House

Thai red curry soup

 We had a big bowl of soup each and had more lemon polenta cake. YUM!

Khan Curry Hut Indian Restaurant
Location: 101-103 Ryrie St, Geelong
Phone: 03 5222 4471
Link: khancurryhut.com.au
Cuisine: Indian
Overall Impression: 5.5/10

We couldn't decide on what to eat so we settled for the "Royal Treat" banquet that was a mere $26.50 per person.

Entree: Samosa, Tikka, Onion Bhaji and Lamb Cutlet

Mains: Butter Chicken, Lamb Madras, Daal, Vegetable Korma, Rice, Naan and Raita

While the mains were very enjoyable to eat. They tasted like they had been dramatically altered to suit the Western palate. The curries were incredibly mild and the butter chicken was very sweet as was the raita. I enjoyed the Vegetable Korma as it tasted the most authentic and there was some heat.

Desserts: Mango Kulfi and Pista Kulfi

Overall, we found the service slow. We had to wait quite a while for our food to arrive and the staff seemed extremely confused - it was as if no one had ever ordered the Royal Treat banquet before and they were not quite sure what to do. To be fair, the food is of a reasonably good standard although not quite authentic and to the restaurant's credit the menu is extremely well priced. At $26.50 for a banquet it is certainly bang for your buck.

Restaurant Review: Seamstress

Location: 113 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 6363
Link: seamstress.com.au
Cuisine: Fusion, Modern Australian, Asian
Overall Impression: 7.5/10

The typical dining experience is filled with highs and lows. There are hits and misses and if you’re lucky, you leave with the gift of reminiscence thanks to the stand out dish of the night. Our dining experience at Seamstress was certainly unique. J and I were surprised to find a restaurant that served each dish at an impeccably consistent standard. Every single course was good but at the exact same level and standard to the next. We had a total of 7 courses that night and each and every one of them were executed very well and consistently so. There was no, however, stand-out dish of the night and on the flip side there was nothing that was sub-par either.

Pan seared wild harvest scallops stuffed with our house XO paste, chili & fresh lime.

 Crispy soft shell crab on sugar snaps with a sweet & sour style chili sauce.

Smoked duck breast & enoki mushroom salad with snow pea tendrils & water chestnuts tossed in soy & sesame dressing.

Twelve hour braised Berkshire pork belly with drunken potatoes, steamed baby bok choy & red wine jus. 

Caramelised eggplant with red miso & silken tofu sauce, crispy spice crusted firm tofu & toasted sesame seeds.

Rhubarb & marscapone pancakes, crumbed rhubarb candy, Persian fairy floss with pistachio ice cream.

Coconut, lime & pandan leaf tart with mango sorbet.

The appeal of the Seamstress menu is obvious. The highly skilled chefs present dishes that have classical, tried and true flavour combinations. There is nothing strange or odd about what you receive on your plate. The flavours are well-balanced and the proteins are cooked to perfection – our duck was perfectly pink, our pork had a spectacular layer of crackling and our soft shell crab was crisp on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. There is ample seasoning all round and the desserts are pleasant.

The Seamstress menu offerings appear to err on the side of caution but they certainly do a splendid job of it. Perhaps a little more risk would take this restaurant to a whole different level but as is, J and I were satisfied customers that will certainly be back for more consistently delicious delights.

Restaurant Review: David & Camy Noodle Restaurant

Location: 605 Station St, Box Hill
Phone: 03 9898 8398
Cuisine: Chinese
Overall Impression: 5/10

It's cheap. And that is perhaps the most obvious reason why people keep coming back. The dumplings, noodles and rice dishes all have their flaws but at the end of the day, it is certainly a place that meets expectations. There is no pretence - don't expect to be treated as a valued customer. The menu boasts cheap Chinese delicacies and everything else is secondary (service in particular). The dumpling dough is incredibly thick and the meat is slightly dubious but when you consider the price, it is hard to be too critical.

Restaurant Review: Passionflower

Location: Shop 2, 168 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 0033
Link: passionflower.com.au/Home
Cuisine: Asian-influenced desserts
Overall Impression: 5/10

Passionflower serves Asian influenced dessserts. Their ice cream range is commendably substantial with exotic flavours such as sticky rice and durian.

The music was extremely loud during our visit and the songs kept getting skipped half way through. It certainly appeared as though the cafe was being run by teenagers.

The ice cream style appears to be very similar accross the various flavours. They are all very creamy and milky. There is a good density to the ice cream and they all taste luscious.

While their ice creams certainly fall short of being revolutionary, their exotic ice creams in general are of a reasonably good standard. A standout flavour is their durian ice cream. It had incredibly intense durian flavour and tasted 'real' (often durian ice creams taste of a strange durian flavouring and lack depth and complexity).

Whilst Passionflower is an interesting new addition to Melbourne, it is clearly experiencing a few growing pains in relation to the manner in which the cafe is run. In terms of the desserts themselves, they are reasonably good although a tad overpriced for what they are. 

Restaurant Review: Nyala

Location: Level one, 356 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Phone: 03 9419 9128
Cuisine: African
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Nyala African restaurant is a brilliant African restaurant on Brunswick Street. Don’t let the entrance deter you from entering though. It certainly looks a little scary on the outside (all you can see is a dirty glass door and a flight of stair behind it) but should you dare to enter, you will find at the top, a charming African restaurant. 

The décor is unmistakably African influenced. Cotton fabrics with floral-like motives adorn the tables and African themed paintings brighten the pale white walls. The ceiling is wood with fans hanging from them. There is a glorious array of colours from the lantern-like lights and it seriously puts you in the mood for an African feast.

Mountain Bread

J and I were disappointed to find out that you needed at least a table of four to have the banquet but we soon realised we could make our own little banquet if we chose the “combination” entrees and mains.

Mixed Combination Entree of Baboutie, Deberja, Ful and Lentils

For entrée we chose the Mixed Combination (any Four combination of dips and entrees) – We chose the Baboutie, Deberja, Ful and Lentils. Our favourite was the Baboutie which is a South African specialty made from mincemeat, fruit Chutney, sultanas, almonds and other spices. It was full of flavour and went beautifully with the delicately thin mountain bread it was served with. There was depth and complexity in the flavour of the Baboutie. It had a hint of sweetness that complemented the overall savouriness of the dish. The almonds added a nice textural element to the dish and the spices brought a lovely flavour and were well balanced. Like all of our courses, it was also very hearty. It was certainly the highlight of our evening.

Meat Mixed Combination Main

For mains we chose a combination of meat and vegetarian courses. Our meat courses consisted of Kuku Na Nazi (A Kenyan dish of chicken, coconut, curry and mild spices), Beg Tibs (Marinated and spiced lamb sizzling cubes sautéed with fresh Tomato, Rosemary and white wine) and Nyala Special (a traditional Ethiopian stew of lean, boneless beef, finely chopped fresh ginger, garlic and homemade peri peri with other spices). These were all good and had very familiar flavours (they reminded me a lot of Indonesian and Indian curries) but we were surprisingly full from our entrées to really enjoy this. It was strange but we found the food to be very substantial even though the serving sizes were relatively normal. In fact, we took away what we couldn’t finish for lunch the next day and experienced the same thing!  

Vegetarian Mixed Combination Main

Our Vegetarian dishes included Furari (a Tanzanian vegetarian dish of cabbage, potato, carrot and seasonal vegetables cooked with mild spices, topped with coconut milk) and Gomen (freshly cooked silver beet and potatoes with garlic, ginger and other spices). These were delicious. They really do know how to immerse and infuse flavour into their vegetables. Each vegetarian dish was different in flavour but they all shared one thing in common - all the vegetables had been cooked to the point where they simply melted in your mouth and were incredibly tender. The flavours from the herbs and spices were unique and very enjoyable to eat. 

Couscous

Injera

The Injera that we were served was beautifully light and fluffy and sponged up the delicious sauces from our mains.
As full as we were, J and I did not want to leave without having tasted their desserts.  I preferred the Tafach Mooz over the Sweet couscous but neither of the two truly impressed. Although pleasant to eat, the desserts were very one dimensional in flavour.

Sweet couscous – Morrocan speciality. Delicious fine semolina dish, served with slivered almonds, sultanas, icing sugar, unsalted butter and served with ice cream.

Tafach Mooz – East African favourite. An exotic name for “sweet bananas”, is a product of layers of bananas, brown sugar, cream cheese and cinnamon, lightly baked.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable dining experience. I only wish the dishes were not as filling because it was difficult to resist the temptation to overeat even though I could feel my body telling me I had had more than enough. Apart from that minor detail, the service was warm and friendly, the ambience was great and the food was more than satisfying. I will certainly be back again (so I can get my hands on more Baboutie and Injera).

Restaurant Review: Zara

Location: 168 Sydney Rd, Coburg
Phone: 03 9384 1415
Link: zararestaurant.com.au
Cuisine: Turkish
Overall Impression: 5.5/10

In terms of ambience the restaurant is unnerving at first instance. The carpets are worn out and the tables and chairs look like they have not been replaced since the 1980s. Perhaps our experience would be different if we were here on a weekend when belly dancers would grace the very wide dining space. But on that weeknight, the restaurant appeared quite lifeless.

To balance the awkward mass of space between diners is a charming older gentleman who served us throughout the night. We suspect he is also the owner of Zara. He talks to us like we are guests in his home and immediately we feel a lot more comfortable.

We opted for the King’s Banquet ($30 per person) which was described as follows:

“For people who want to try a bit of everything. This menu includes unlimited soft drinks , two different types of Turkish Pizza , Rice & Salad , A Large Variety of Dips , Doner Kebab ,Chicken & Lamb Skewers , Lamb cutlets.”

Dips

Turkish Pizza

Doner Kebab

Chicken and Lamb Skewers

Lamb Cutlets

Turkish Delights and Baklavas

Turkish Coffee

Ultimately, it is the warm and friendly service that truly makes Zara tick. The food itself while pleasant to eat doesn’t go too far beyond ordinary. That said, for $30 a head, it is certainly a value for money proposition. We found the food homely and hearty with authentic Turkish flavours.

The banquet was appropriately generous and we all left with our appetites satiated. Zara is a good introduction to Turkish food and as far as banquets go, this is one that certainly won’t break the bank.

Product Talk: Heinz Squeeze & Stir

A package filled with goodies from Heinz arrived in the mail for me - It's time for another Product Talk by Nuffnang...

It's not your ordinary powdered cup soup, these babies come in individual sachets filled with a rich concentrated paste that you simply add boiling water to. Really handy to stash away in your office desk. I've just had the  Ripe Tomato & Vegetable soup, whilst obviously not as delicious and hearty as mum's but for a quick and convenient soup, I found the flavour and taste to be much more natural and real than the powder soup alternative. It's made from fresh ripe tomatoes, low in fat, no artificial colours, flavours and has no preservatives - looks pretty good to me.

Restaurant Review: Dench Bakers

Location: 109 Scotchmer St, Fitzroy North
Phone: 03 9403 5333
Link: denchbakers.com.au
Cuisine: Bakery, Brunch
Overall Impression: 7/10

Dench Bakers is one of the most highly regarded bakeries in Melbourne. A premium stockist for bread, Dench Bakers is a supplier to well known Melbourne establishments such as Richmond Hill Café & Larder, Earl Canteen and Market Lane Coffee.  

The coffee is great and the food is delicious. Simple, to the point and well executed. Our focaccia (salami, pesto, asiago & rocket) and sandwich (pulled pork, rocket & apple sauce) were both delicious.

sandwich - pulled pork, rocket & apple sauce

focaccia - salami, pesto, asiago & rocket

beesting

flourless orange cake

The desserts were equally as impressive.

We couldn’t go home empty handed so we bought a lovely olive and rosemary loaf and a traditional baguette, both of which were beautiful. 

This little eatery is the perfect place for a Sunday brunch. If the good coffee and food doesn’t win you over, the lovely cost ambience and friendly staff just might.

Restaurant Review: Yong Green Food

Location: 421 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Phone: 03 9417 3338
Cuisine: Vegetarian, Korean, Asian, Vegan
Overall Impression: 6/10

Boasting animal-free goodies, Yong Green Food is proudly Vegan in its offerings. Tucked away on lively Brunswick Street, this humble eatery has gained considerable popularity over the years. Run by two lovely Korean sisters with a passion for food, the restaurant has a sense of warmth and cosiness. 

The highlight of our meal was the Rawsagna – their take on what a lasagne would be in a vegan world. It was absolutely delicious. The decadent cashew sauce paired with the delicately sliced zucchini and marinated eggplants made for a delectable combination of flavours. It would have been the perfect summer dish.

Tuna served with brown rice and steamed vegetables

Korean Stir-fry "beef"

The other dishes we ordered were far more simple and unfortunately, lacked seasoning.

Blueberry Cheesecake

Pecan Pie

Chocolate Brownies

We were excited when it came to dessert time and at the risk of appearing greedy, decided to order three desserts to share between the two of us. Considering the desserts had to omit common ingredients like eggs or dairy products (think cheesecake without cheese) we were curious to see what they would taste like. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the desserts tasted. They were very different to their “original” counterparts but were unique and delicious in their very own way.

All in all, Yong Green Food delivers all that it promises to both Vegans and non-Vegans. I know I will certainly be back for their Rawsagna (especially when the weather is warmer).

Restaurant Review: The Bond Store

Location: 1 Riverside Quay Southbank
Phone: 03 9686 9007
Cuisine: Brunch, Coffee
Overall Impression: 5/10

Bond Store serves reasonably good food at fair prices and the coffee is of a good standard.

In terms of cafes around the Southbank area, it is certainly one that is worth a visit.

Restaurant Review: Comme Kitchen

Location: 7 Alfred Pl, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9631 4000 CBD
Link: comme.com.au
Cuisine: French, European
Overall Impression: 4.5/10

An ex-Michelin star restaurant sous chef and now Orthopedic surgeon (and dear friend) that G and L met during their 2 years in Europe was visiting. We all decided to take him to a French restaurant to see his views on the Melbourne take on French cuisine.

Being a born and bred French man himself, he was very sceptical about how authentic the execution of the French cuisine would be but was also excited to see what French cuisine in Melbourne had to offer. I had read that Comme Kitchen was a brilliant French restaurant and had consistently earned a chef hat for several years now in The Age Good Food Guide so we thought it would be a fair reflection of a reasonably good Melbourne French restaurant. Neither, J, G, L or I had ever visited Comme Kitchen prior to this occasion. Unfortunately, neither of us will ever be coming back.

The place is unconventionally set out but aesthetically, it works. There is a relaxed elegance about the place and based on first impressions, it was certainly a place we liked instantly. 

We commenced our night with cocktails at the bar while waiting for our table. When we were finally seated, our French guest ordered a few beautiful bottles of wine. We had been drinking for a while and were becoming incredibly hungry. Our orders had been placed an hour ago and we all wondered whether the kitchen had forgotten our orders. It was perplexing given the restaurant was far from full.

Our five entrees finally arrived. All five, minuscule in size. We thought, given these were entrees, it might be a good way to work up an appetite for the mains.

Our mains arrived in half an hour after our entrees. To our disappointment, they were the size of a normal entree (i.e. although bigger than a Comme Kitchen entree, trifling for what would be expected of a normal sized main). It was clear that the restaurant was suffering from a serious case of 'big plate syndrome' - tiny portions on a giant plate. A phenomenon common in the ancient past that was indicative of  restaurants with "class". Something fine dining establishments in the twenty first century (bar a few) have realised does not induce patronage.

To the restaurant's credit, ignoring the portions, in terms of the food itself, our dishes met our expectations. They were reasonably well executed as a whole and had good flavours that were well balanced and pleasing to eat. My highlight of the evening was my entree of 'Escargot Bourguignon, button mushrooms, lardons & parsley cream'. Although, the flavours of the dish were quite strong and slightly overwhelmed the subtle flavours of the snail, that did little to detract from the fact that the snails were tender and melted in my mouth. 

The desserts were the most adequately sized of all the courses.

They were a sweet end to the meal.

As a whole, it was an incredibly underwhelming dining experience. The unreasonable wait for the food to arrive and the ridiculous portions were the main downfall. The main waitress that served us was lovely and accomodating but every other staff member we encountered during the night was defensive and rude. The food itself is of quite a good standard but for a hatted establishment and the high end price tags, we would have expected much more.

Restaurant Review: Bamboo House

Location: 47 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 1565
Link: bamboohouse.com.au
Cuisine: Chinese, Cantonese
Overall Impression: 7/10

Chinese wedding banquets are always a delicious experience. It really is all about the food. No one ever leaves hungry.  If you're not unbuckling your belts by the end of the night, something has gone terribly wrong.

Crispy Roast Pork & Assorted Cold Platter

Dragon Phoenix Bird's Nest

Stuffed Crab Claw

Chicken & Shark Fin Soup

Lobster with Ginger & Spring Onion

Braised Abalone

Sichuan Tea Smoked Duck

Steamed Barramundi with Lotus Leaf

Red Bean Sweet Syrup

The standard and quality of the food served at Bamboo House was commendable. We were delighted to see that every course was executed well despite the volume. Whilst Bamboo House is already a very popular restaurant for dumplings, the wedding banquet experience has definitely sparked an interest in me to better experience their menu. Needless to say, J and I will certainly be back for more.

Restaurant Review: Shark Fin

Location: 52 and 131 Little Bourke St Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 2681 (Shark Fin Inn), 03 9663 1555 (Shark Fin House)
Link: sharkfin.com.au
Cuisine: Chinese, Yum Cha
Overall Impression: 7/10

In terms of Yum Cha, the Shark Fin group certainly has it all down pat.

There is a brilliant variety of dishes and we were delighted to see that they were, in general, well executed. We ordered as much as we could physically eat and the bill came up to a very reasonable $30 per person. Shark Fin is certainly one of the better Yum Cha places in China Town.

Restaurant Review: Touché Hombre

Location: Cnr Tattersalls Lane & Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 0811
Link: touchehombre.com.au
Cuisine: Mexican, Latin American
Overall Impression: 8/10

We were privileged to dine at Touché Hombre 9 days ahead of the official launch (on the 26th of April 2012) featuring Australian street artist Beastman (who let loose on the walls of Tattersalls Lane) and seňor Casper (an actual Donkey to add to the Mexican flair).

The place was bustling with patrons. The crowd consists predominantly of young urban professionals of the trendy sort. We are told by Owner and Designer himself, Davis Acacia Sky (born Davis Yu) that all this came into fruition in a month. Apart from his talent in running restaurants (he is also the proud owner of The Millswyn in South Yarra); his eye for interior design is commendable.

The scene is clearly set – Touché Hombre is trendily and impeccably restrained “grungy“. The tables, shelving and the bar top are adorned with wood salvaged from Princess Pier. Naked bulbs hang from the ceilings and the splashes of neon at the entrance create a distinctive chaotic night time feel that compliments the Mexican street inspired menu. 

La Margarita de octubre 1941

Tostaditos - Spiced Chicken, mango jam, toasted sesame & chipotle mayo

The food itself is of a high standard. It is Mexican soul food – simple, to the point and executed well. The flavours on every dish are well balanced and full of flavour. It was clear that quality ingredients had been sourced. The menu boasts a selection of tostaditos, grilled corn, fresh ceviche and a wonderful list of delectable tacos. My favourite savoury dishes of the night were the soft shell crab taco and the fatty lamb ribs.

Ceviche· Diced fish, mussels, cilantro, chilli, red onion, tomato & guacamole with tortilla chips

Blood orange madagascar

Fatty lamb ribs - merquen, cilantro, lemon, honey

La Paloma

De Jaiba - Soft shell crab, corn cream, pea shoots, lime and mint

Breakfast Taco - omelette, salchicas, Egmont cheese, beans, avocado, salsa, fried onions with habenero cream

Michelada Bitchin’ Mexican Beer Cocktail

Del Coronel - Chargrilled Chicken, chimchurri & toasted pepitas

The drinks menu, compiled by Bar Manager, Johnnie Kai certainly shows the capabilities of Touché Hombre on the beverage front. His signature cocktail, La Margarita de Octubre 1941 is a classic margarita made with the original Damiana Mexicana. It is rough around the edges, a little left of centre and seductively strong. 

Ice Cream Sangas: Rice Pudding & Cinnamon

We indulged in the lovely ice cream sangas. The chocolate and chilli peanut cookie was divine. The spiciness of the chilli (not for the fainthearted) complemented the luxurious chocolate and indulgent cookie and ice cream. It was a match made in heaven. 

Ice Cream Sangas:  Chocolate & Chilli peanut cookie

Ice Cream Sangas: Dulce De Leche

Davis Sky’s passion and enthusiasm translates into a memorable dining experience as Touché Hombre delivers on all fronts - great food, brilliant drinks, excellent service coupled with an ambience that has a hell of a vibe.

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Touché Hombre.