Restaurant Review: Maha Restaurant

Location: 21 Bond Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9629 5900
Link: mahabg.com.au 
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
Overall Impression: 8/10

L loves Middle Eastern food, so during our recent lunch catch up, I suggested Maha. 

 

Maha serves Mediterranean inspired Middle Eastern cuisine that boasts bold flavour combinations that retain authentic characteristics.

Restaurant Review: Cutler & Co

Location: 57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Phone: 03 9419 4888
Link: cutlerandco.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Wine Bar, International
Overall Impression: 8.5/10

 

Awarded the best restaurant in Victoria by Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide 2013, Andrew McConnell's flagship restaurant, Cutler & Co, showcases perfectly executed Modern Australian fare.

Restaurant Review: St Katherine's

Location: 26 Cotham Road, Kew

Phone: 03 9207 7477

Link: www.stkatherines.com.au

Cuisine: Modern Greek, Turkish, Mediterranean

Overall Impression: 7.5/10

Headed by acclaimed chefs George Calombaris (GC) and Shane Delia, St Katherine’s is a celebration of their individual family histories and culture on a plate. 

Event: Unplugged at Touché Hombre

Touché Hombre will be supporting local artists every night this week when it hosts its second series of Unplugged.

Restaurant Review: Prime House

Location: Shop 5a, 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9602 2955
Link: primehouse.com.au
Cuisine: Steakhouse, Breakfast/Brunch, Burgers
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Once upon a time, EARL Canteen was *the* purveyor of gourmet sandwiches on the 500 Bourke Street turf. Their complete reign has now come to an end with (relatively) new kid on the block, Prime House.

Restaurant Review: City Quarter

Location: Level 1, Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Foreshore Road, Geelong
Phone: 03 5222 6233
Link: thecityquarter.com.au
Cuisine: Tapas, Coffee, Pizza
Overall Impression: 7/10

A mere couple of hundred metres from Corio Bay, this waterfront bar boasts stunning views of the sea and the Geelong city skyline. 

Event: Kitchen Garden Workshops for foodies with green thumbs!

Melbourne Central Launches Urban Gardening Workshops

This month treat  your green thumb and sign  up for Melbourne Central’s Community  Kitchen  Garden  Workshops  held  during  Kitchen  Garden  Week  (24-28  September) and experience the art of inner city living gardening.

Cafe Review: BrimCC Organic Soup and Japanese cafe

Location:601 Little Collins Sreet,  Melbourne

Phone: 03 9614 5316

Link: brimcc.com.au

Cuisine: Japanese, Organic, Soups

Overall Impression: 7/10

Oddly named “BrimCC”, we were told by the smiling staff that “Brim” comes from their soup cups always being filled to the brim which leads to customer happiness and “CC” varies in meaning depending on the seasons. In winter, “CC” stands for Chunky and Cosy and in summer, “CC” stands for Cool and Colourful.

Cafe Review: Cacao Fine Chocolates & Patisserie

Location: Various (see below)
Phone: 03 8598 9555
Link: cacao.com.au
Cuisine: French
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Cacao Fine Chocolates & Patisserie is a reputable patisserie that serves chocolates, cakes, pastries and award-winning macarons. The coffee served is also of a high standard which is brilliant given how coffee and sweet delights go hand in hand. Cacao has 4 retail stores scattered around Melbourne.

The Cellar Bar (Grossi Florentino)

Location: 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 1811
Link: http://www.grossiflorentino.com/grossi-florentino/the-cellar-bar.aspx
Cuisine: Italian
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Want some Grossi style Italian lovin' without the hefty price tag? The Cellar Bar is a brilliant spot for post-dinner coffees and cakes. They have a good selection of desserts, serve consistently good coffee and it is always nice to indulge in one of their decadent hot chocolates.

Restaurant Review: Red Spice Road

Location: 27 McKillop Street, Melbourne

Phone: (03) 9603 1601

Link: http://www.redspiceroad.com/

Cuisine: Asian, Thai, Vietnamese

Overall Impression: 7/10

Check out our review of the Red Spice Road bar (where we enjoyed a few yummy cocktails) here and our first visit to Red Spice Road here.

Betel Leaf with Chicken, Crab, Coconut, Chilli and Kaffir Lime

Red Spice Road continues to draw in the crowds with its South East Asian influenced offerings. While the food on offer is perhaps not entirely “authentic”, the menu boasts South East Asian cuisine that thankfully retains authentic characteristics like robust flavours and the generous use of spices. A year and a half from our first visit, we are pleased to see that Red Spice Road has continued to deliver on all fronts.

 

We particularly enjoy their banquets which are great value and a brilliant introduction to Modern South East Asian cuisine for first timers. 

Cafe Review: Bunyip Cafe

Location: 313 Coventry Street, Melbourne

Phone: 0411 968 650

Cuisine: Modern Australian, Breakfast/Brunch, Coffee

Overall Impression: 5/10

 

Bunyip Café is a cosy café in South Melbourne with a warm and inviting space. It was the first day of spring and South Melbourne market and its surrounds were packed with people enjoying the warmer weather. J and I were glad to stumble upon Bunyip Café as it appeared to be the only place that did not require a reservation that Saturday afternoon for lunch.

Brad Pitt is killing them softly...

There's a new Brad Pitt movie arriving at our shores on the 11th of October 2012 - "Killing Them Softly".

Restaurant Review: Williams Bar & Cafe

Location:1 William Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9296 8862
Link: http://www.clarionsuitesgateway.com.au/williams-bar-cafe/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Pub/Bar Food, International
Overall Impression: 5/10

William’s Express lunch menu is great value for money. From $10, you receive a meal that includes a drink (a glass of house wine, pot of beer, soft drink or juice) which is served promptly so that you are well and truly within your lunch hour break!

Restaurant Review: Tonik Bar

Location: 524 Macaulay Road, Kensington
Phone: 03 9376 9928
Link: tonikbar.com.au 
Cuisine: Breakfast, Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 7/10

On weekend mornings, Tonik Bar transforms into a casual dining space that serves a brilliant breakfast. Perfect during these warmer months, there is alfresco seating where you can bask in the pleasant warmth of the sun. 

Restaurant Review: Binh Minh

Location: 40 Victoria Street, Richmond
Phone: 03 9421 3802
Cuisine: Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese
Overall Impression: 6/10

Binh Minh is one of the most popular eateries along Victoria Street. And for good reason. 

Restaurant Review: Camy Shanghai Dumpling

Location: 25 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 8555
Cuisine: Chinese
Overall Impression: 6/10

Camy Dumpling House has inadvertently become a well-known Melbourne culinary institution. The dumplings may not be the best but they certainly deliver what they promise. The menu is invariably greasy (literally) and features a wide variety of dumplings, noodles, rice dishes and stir fries. The main reason for its popularity is the very low price tag. Hell, for $15 you can opt for their all-you-can-eat adventure that of course includes dumplings. 

Restaurant Review: Ajisen ramen

Location: 130 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 1100
Link: ajisenramenmelbourne.com.au
Cuisine: Japanese
Overall Impression: 4.5/10

Founded in Japan, this Japanese chain eatery has seen international expansion with branches all over the world. Their speciality is ramen (as the ‘Ajisen Ramen’ would suggest) served in tonkotsu soup which is a hearty and flavoursome pork broth.

Chargrilled Beef Ramen Ramen served with Char-Grilled Beef, Egg & Vegetables

Product Review: Golden Circle Healthy Life Fruit Juice

Heinz has just released a new product called Golden Circle Healthy Life that is filled with a good dose of dairy-free probiotics. As our usual sources of probiotics are dairy goods like yogurts and fermented milk drinks, this new juice is particularly handy for anyone who is lactose-intolerant (or have kids that simply cannot stand the taste of yogurt!).

Golden Circle Healthy Life Fruit Juice is currently the only probiotic juice of its kind in Australia. The juices taste just like regular Golden Circle fruit juices because the probiotics don’t add any flavour at all. And just like regular Golden Circle fruit juices, they have no added sugar, no artificial colours or flavours and are very high in Vitamin C.

The juice comes in 2 conveniently sized packs (300ml and 1L) and is available in 2 delicious flavours - Breakfast, and Apple and Mango. 

What is so good about probiotics?

Probiotics are good bacteria that help our digestive system and enhance our immune response to protect us from environmental stresses. The Golden Circle Healthy Life Fruit Juice has a unique blend of probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 and Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL 9.

This is a Product Talk by Nuffnang

Restaurant Review: Peko Peko

Location: 181 Wells St, Southbank
Phone: (03) 9686 1109
Cuisine: Modern Taiwanese

Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Peko Peko is a cosy Taiwanese eatery that serves Japanese-inspired cuisine and authentic Taiwanese fare. The restaurant is decorated with framed pictures of cartoons and comics which gives it a very relaxed and fun vibe. 

The Pop Chicken (which is beautifully battered and crispy morsels of chicken served with steamed rice and two sides) is one of the most popular items on their menu along with the Peko Box (which is the house rendition of a bento box) and Beef About (a Taiwanese beef noodle soup). 

Restaurant Review: India Delights

Location: 59 Mahoneys Road, Forest Hill
Phone: 03 9877 7593
Cuisine: Malaysian, Indian, Asian
Overall Impression: 6/10

India Delights is a Malaysian/Indian (Mamak) eatery in Forest Hills that serves deliciously cheap fare.

Restaurant Review: Thy Thy House

Location: 118 Victoria Street, Richmond
Phone: 03 9429 8668
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Overall Impression: 5/10

Thy Thy House is one of the many Vietnamese eateries along Victoria Street.