Mr Miyagi

Considered by many Melbournians as the flavour of the month (or indeed, flavour of the year), Mr Miyagi offers a twist on traditional Japanese cuisine, offering the likes of "MFC" (otherwise known as Miyagi Fried Chicken), a dish so good that it has its own cult following.

So when I saw 'Pumpkin Toast' with white chocolate and pumpkin ganache, honeycomb, yogurt sorbet and spiced pumpkin ice-cream on the desert menu (which sounded so peculiar I of course had to try it), I was a little bit concerned - with such great reviews, could Mr Miyagi really do me wrong?  Well, thank goodness it didn't, and the Pumpkin Toast was one of the best deserts I've had in Melbourne (adding the caveat that I am allergic to cocoa so my desert options are limited).  Textually exciting and beautifully balanced, this desert is a definite must if you find yourself here for dinner.


Pumpkin Toast

Whilst my heart was definitely taken by the desert, my dining companion was won over by the roast duck roti wrap with 5 spice slow roast duck, grilled roti, pickled beetroot, nashi and mustard miso, which indeed was delicious.

Edamame

Roast duck roti wrap

The Tonkatsu Pork was a particularly clever take of the Japanese classic.  More akin to a croquette then the traditional schnitzel style pork, paired with the freshness of the apple salad, and the acidity of the yuzu cider gel, it was a well executed dish.

Tonkatsu Pork

The ramen gnocchi with wagyu bolognese and buffalo ricotta, whilst an unusual suspect for a Japanese restaurant, worked surprisingly well and was up there with many of the exceptional gnocchi dishes I've had in Melbourne Italian restaurants.



Ramen gnocchi

And how could we go past the infamous "MFC" which, with its incredibly juicy chicken and deliciously seasoned coating, is definitely worthy of its cult following.

Miyagi Fried Chicken

If you haven't yet had the pleasure of trying Mr Miyagi's, then I would definitely recommend putting it on the 'To Do' list.

Food: 4.75/5
Service: 4.75/5
Décor: 4.75/5
Total: 14.25/15

Verdict: The new fave - put it as number 1 on the To Do list.

 

Feast of Merit

Need an excuse to eat mouth-wateringly good food and actually feel good about it? Then look no further than Feast of Merit on Swan Street in Richmond, which directs 100 percent of its profits to YGAP, a movement of entrepreneurs who launch ventures in developing countries to improve the lives of people living in poverty.

From Head Chef Ravi Presser (previously at Circa, Bar Lourinha and Cumulus Inc) comes a Middle Eastern inspired menu that makes the most of locally sourced and seasonal produce. Middle Eastern being my favourite cuisine, I must admit that I was already bias even just looking at the menu. But biases aside, I must say that the breakfast I had at Feast of Merit was probably one of the best breakfasts I've had in Melbourne.

So what was this incredible breakfast?  Pressed and spiced 12 hour Cherry Tree lamb, burnt carrot puree, fried egg and fattoush dressing ($18). Sounds pretty mouth watering right? And indeed it was.  The pork was juicy and flavoursome, the salsa light and refreshing, and the burnt carrot puree added an element of creaminess that tied all of the other flavours together.

The service was a tad slow, taking quite a while for our meals to come out after we had ordered.  However, we had come at a peak time, so this delay could mildly be forgiven.

Feast of Merit is the type of place I would be happy to return to time and time again to experience all of the other delicious looking items that appear on their menu.

Food: 4.5/5
Décor: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

Bowery to Williamsburg

With all the hype that surrounded Bowery to Williamsburg on Oliver's Lane, I was pretty excited to hear that a store was opening up near my work on Hardware Street.  Then to see that it had mac'n'cheese on the menu, well...let's just say I was absolutely sold on trying it soon!

Bowery to Williamsburg offers a New York style menu - think giant subs (like the classic Rueben with sauerkraut and lashings of beef brisket) served with a pickle and pretzels. There is a surprising amount of seating tucked away in the Hardware Street store, although take away is also an option.

Whilst it was definitely a tough choice, for lunch I ordered the Philly cheese steak sub (smoked beef brisket, onions, peppers, mushrooms and provolone cheese - $13) with a side of mac'n'cheese ($4).  The sub was tasty, but the meat was quite dry and could have done with a sauce or a chutney -  a few extra mushrooms and peppers also wouldn't have gone astray.  Similarly, the mac'n'cheese was also tasty, but lacked the cheesy punch I usually like in my mac'n'cheese - being more on the creamy side rather then the cheesy side.

 

 

Whilst the food didn't blow me away, there were a few other sandwich optionsthat definitely caught my eye - so it's likely that I will be back to Bowery to Williamsburg at least once more so that I can try the Los Pollos with braised chipotle chicken, smoked corn salsa, guacamole and greens on a sub.

Venue: 3.5/5
Food: 2.5/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 10/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point

San Telmo

San Telmo in a word?  Perfection. With its flawless food, commendable staff and alluring atmosphere - the Argentinian inspired steakhouse is without a doubt one of my new favourites.

From the minute you walk through San Telmo's doors the aromas of polished wood, charcoal-grilled meat and exotic spices tease the senses - whisking you away to a place a million miles from the Melbourne CBD. 

Whilst the service was a touch slow off the mark (taking approximately 15 minutes to receive a menu), once we were attended to the staff were more than happy to spend the time with us to navigate the menu and help us choose our food and wine.

Tying in with its homely vibe, San Telmo's dishes are made to share - so to eat we ordered the following:

Beef, egg, olive and potato empanadas

 

Lemon cured white fish with chili, sweet potato and onion

 

Fried broccoli with pecorino

 

Eye fillet carpaccio with Dijon aioli, baby onions, cornichons, mojama and potato crisps

Pasture fed lamb rump spiced with coriander and chipotle

O'Connor's premium pasture fed hanger steak

O'Connor's premium pasture fed eye fillet

Crushed potato, green olive, parsley and garlic aioli

Burnt carrots with hazelnuts, thyme, and garlic goats curd

Grilled asparagus, beans, almonds, pickled garlic and herbs
  

Elegant but vibrant, the lemon cured white fish and the beef carpaccio dishes delivered on both technique and flavour. Whilst I wouldn't have thought raw beef would have been high on my list of recommendations, the silkiness of the eye fillet paired with the acidity of the baby onions and cornichons, and the crunch of the potato crisps, made it an exceptional dish (and definitely one worth a try).

Lemon cured white fish with chilli, sweet potato and onion



Eye fillet carpaccio with Dijon aioli, baby onions, cornichons, mojama and potato crisps

Whilst definitely the ugly duckling of the starter dishes, the fried broccoli with pecorino was yet another flawless dish - a cleverly modern way to combine the well known (and loved!) flavours of broccoli and cheese. And the empanadas? Oh the empanadas! Don't even think about ordering your starters without including some of these traditional Argentine pastries. 

Fried broccoli with pecorino

Then came the mains....

When asked the question of where the best steak is in Melbourne, I've often heard people say San Telmo in response and, after the cuts of meat we tried on this occasion, I can definitely see why.  The hanger steak, eye fillet and lamb rump were all exceptional - cooked medium rare, the meat was incredibly tender and rich with flavour.

O'Connor's premium pasture fed eye fillet

 

O'Connor's premium pasture fed hanger steak

Whilst often coined a steak house, San Telmo's side dishes still managed to steal the show (well, at least some of the show).  Complimented by a range of herbs, nuts and sauces, the perfectly cooked vegetables offered an exciting blend of textures and flavours that worked well with the accompanying meat dishes.  

Burnt carrots with hazelnuts, thyme, garlic and goats curd

A meal that exceptional cannot be abandoned without trying a desert - so to finish I had the dulce de leche crème caramal with salted peanut praline.  Not too sweet and nicely balanced by the crunch and saltiness of the praline, it was a delicious way to end an exceptional meal.

Dulce de leche crème caramel with salted peanut praline

Décor: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Total: 14.5/15
Verdict: The new fave - put as number one on the to do list.

 

Sushi Hotaru

Unlike in Sydney and parts of Queensland where there seems to be one on every corner, sushi trains are still somewhat a novelty in Melbourne (indeed, there are only 3 in the CBD that I know of).  At only $3 a plate, Sushi Hotaru is definitely the cheapest.  However, as with many things in life, you get what you pay for and, whilst Sushi Hotaru is still tasty, Sakura Kaiten Sushi would still be on the top of my list for sushi train recommendations.

Situated in the Midcity Arcade, the set up of Sushi Hotaru is its biggest selling point.  Offering a substantial rail with an abundance of front row seating, every patron has the opportunity to be apart of the sushi train experience.  To top off it off, each seating is decked out with a personal computerised ordering system allowing patrons to order any of Sushi Hotaru's items fresh off the menu.

However the sushi, whilst beautifully presented, was akin to the quality that you'd find in a good food court.  That being said, if I went to Sushi Hotaru again, I would definitely take more advantage of the personalised computer ordering system and order more sushi fresh off the menu.
 

Chicken and avocado sushi

 

Salmon cream cheese sushi

 

Crumbed prawn with tartar hand roll

The stand outs of the night were definitely the soba noodle soup and the green tea ice cream. Delicious and just packed full of flavour, I would highly recommend ordering these two dishes from the personal computerised ordering system.

Soba noodle soup

 

Green tea ice cream

The value of Sushi Hotaru  is not lost on many, with a long line being seen out of the door from as early as 6pm. So if you do want to give Sushi Hotaru a go, I would highly recommend going early.

Venue: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Food: 2/5
Total: 10/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point.

 

The George Hotel

Offering consistently good pub fare at very reasonable prices, The George Hotel in South Melbourne is an iconic drinking hole for many of the locals.

On Mondays you can get yourself a burger and pot for only $12, Tuesdays offer up a parma and pot for only $15 (plus FREE TRIVIA - how can you go wrong), Wednesdays are $12 steak nights, and on Thursdays $15 will get you a burrito and a pot of cider or beer.  It just so happened to be a Tuesday night on our latest visit to The George and, even though our trivia skills were dismal and I'm pretty sure we came last, the staff were terrific and the food was delicious.

Whilst it wasn't on the $15 parma menu, I couldn't go past the Mexican parma topped with bean salsa, cheese and jalapenos (on my request), served with sour cream, guacamole, chips and salad ($22).  Being one of my favourite parmas in Melbourne (indeed, it's one of the meals I have cravings for), the chicken is always thick and juicy, the accompaniments are generous (there is nothing worse than a stingy smear of avocado) and the chips are always well seasoned.  Unfortunately on this occasion it was a bit cold - but was delicious nonetheless.

If wanting to visit The George Hotel I would highly recommend going on a Tuesday night to take advantage of the free trivia - but book ahead, as the locals definitely head there early.

Food: 3.5/5
Décor: 3.5/5
Staff: 4.5/5
Total: 11.5/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

The Gallery Bar and Grill

There is something enchanting about the Manyung Gallery in Mount Eliza.  Needing to cross a moat just to walk through the front door, this medieval styled Gallery looks just like a castle from an olden day fairy tale.  So what better place to set up a restaurant then overlooking the Manyung Gallery's medieval inspired art adorned courtyard.

The Gallery Bar and Grill's head chef Rob Licciardo used to cook up a storm at the now-closed Licciardos in Mount Eliza Village.  Luckily he has bought across many of the favourites including the freshly made walnut bread rolls (when they haven't run out!), the macadamia crusted lamb cutlets and the Thai prawn Caesar salad.

Whilst not all of the menu items are hits (stay away from the flavourless rigatoni with sardines, garlic, anchovies, almond and raisins) and the special board is always nearly impossible to read, the homemade beef lasagne ($26) is an absolute must. With its perfectly cooked sheets of pasta enveloping a rich and flavoursome meat sauce, this cheese lover's dream lasagne is far from the ordinary.  Paired with a serve of The Gallery Bar and Grill's deliciously golden chips ($7) and complimentary steamed vegetables (which, to be honest, used to be a more generous and exciting serve) this meal is definitely worthy of a lunch time eat.

The service, just like the menu, is often hit and miss.  However, on the occasions that both the food and the service are on point, The Gallery Bar and Grill is a definitely a restaurnat I would recommend for lunch if you find yourself down the Mornington Peninsula.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 9.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point.

  

Casa Ciuccio

What do you get when you pair exquisite Mediterranean cooking with an elegant décor and a homely vibe - Casa Ciuccio on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy.  Being teased by the aromas of barbequed meat the minute we walked through the door, it didnt take long for the friendly and attentive staff to offer us a drink and help us navigate the menu.

To start with we had the Oritz anchovy 'montadito' with manchego, the short beef ribs and the prosciutto and salami sliced to order.  The montadito was tasty (but not overly inspiring), the beef ribs were juicy and well cooked (but could have done with some sauce to balance out the richness of the flavours) and the salami and prosciutto were fresh, flavoursome and went beautifully with the pickled accompaniments.

Oritz anchovy 'montadito' with manchego

 

Beef ribs

 

Freshly sliced salami and prosciutto

 

To follow we had the twice cooked S.A octopus tentacle and lemon, with a side of potatoes. Whilst I am not usually the biggest octopus fan, this wasn't your every day kind of octopus. The generously plump  tentacles were  juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside from the chargrilling - absolutely delicious! 

 

Twice cooked S.A octopus tentacle and lemon

 

Side of potatoes

 

Next up was the coal pit roast lamb shoulder with yogurt and fennel, with a side of spice roasted cauliflower, sour cherries and pistachio.  The lamb, in a word (well, two) was life changing. Juicy, tender and packed full of flavour, it was without a doubt the best lamb I've had in Melbourne and would be my top recommendation if attending this restaurant. Whilst not the prettiest looking dish, the spiced cauliflower was also packed full of flavour, working perfectly with the flavours of the pistachios and cherries and complimenting the lamb beautifully.  However, unfortunately some of the larger stalks of the cauliflower were undercooked and took a bit of elbow grease to get the knife through.

 

Coal pit roast lamb shoulder with yogurt and fennel

Spiced Cauliflower with sour cherries and pistachio

Even though we were far too full to fit in another bite, we couldn't go past ordering a desert after the success of the meals thus far.  So to share, we ordered the banana tart tatin with lime and coconut labneh.  The labneh was slightly too sour for the tart underneath, but the tart itself was deliciously warm and gooey and a lovely way to finish the night.

Banana Tart Tatin

Casa Ciuccio is a venue for all occasions. The front room is styled as a formal dining area, whereas the back looks more like wine bar and the courtyard (adorned with fairy lights) would be perfect for a romantic date on a hot summer's night. Whatever the occasion, Casa Ciuccio is definitely on my list of recommendations if wanting to dine at a Mediterranean restaurant in Melbourne.

Food: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon - (and order the lamb!)
 

Wills Batch

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream.  There is something about helicopters and ice-cream which make me revert back to a 5 year old child.  Whilst Wills Batch in Elsternwick is a rather strange name for an ice-creamery, an ice-creamery it is indeed  - and quite a good one at that.

The hardest part of the Wills Batch experience is deciding on what flavours to try.  There is a plethora of ice-cream and gelato flavours, ranging from jam donut to cherry ripe, with the choice of eating in (there is limited seating) or take-away.

For only $9, you can get yourself a three scoop sundae with your choice of toppings and sauce.  I couldn't go past the maple pancake ice-cream, honeycomb ice-cream and vanilla bean ice-cream with whipped cream, chopped nuts and caramel sauce. 

To be honest I could only get through about half of the sundae because the flavours were so rich. But what I did get through was delicious and I will definitely be back to Wills Batch to try some more of their delicious looking flavours.

Venue: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Food: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it soon.

Dandelion

The hardest thing about watching Masterchef is seeing exceptional budding chefs have bad days in the kitchen.  Well I'm pretty sure the chefs at Dandelion in Elwood were having one of those days. Despite some excellent reviews and the glory of a hat, Dandelion's food was expensive and disappointing.

To eat we ordered the steamed shredded chicken with Vietnamese slaw, peanuts, crispy shallots and nuoc cham ($22),  duck braised in coconut water and orange with Thai basil ginger and candied orange rind ($37) and the beef ribs ($38).

The chicken Vietnamese slaw was not a good start to the night.  The chicken was gristly, the slaw was predominantly red onion, and the dish lacked in flavour - a few more herbs and bit more dressing would have gone a long way in improving this dish.

The duck was cooked perfectly - juicy and full of flavour.  Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the rest of the dish. The taro dumplings that sat under the duck were inedible, and no, you're not imagining the picture below, they actually served bread with the curry - and not even fresh bread. I worked at a bakery for 10 years and this bread was either poorly cooked or days old.

 

 

The parts of the beef that I had were juicy and flavoursome, but a fellow diner said that her portion of meat was chewy.  There was also a lot of fat to the meat, even for a beef rib.  The accompanying salads and dipping sauces were one dimensional and uninspiring - the best part of the dish definitely was the sauce that sat under the beef ribs. 

Whilst Dandelion may have just been having a bad night (surely they must pull out the big guns on some occasions to deserve a hat), for the prices that it charged, I was expecting a deliciously satisfying meal.  Three bad dishes down - Dandelion, you were a disappointment.

Food: 1.5/5
Service: 3/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 7.5/15
Verdict: Don't bother - not worth the calories.

Mart 130

I may be biased because of the location, but Mart 130 situated in the old Middle Park Train Station is one of the best breakfast spots in Melbourne.  With its homely vibe (think hipster gran with its eclectic crockery and mismatched pillows), smiling staff and exceptional food, there is no wonder why there is often a wait to get through the door. 

While Mart 130 offers a range of delicious looking menu items, the corn fritters with smoked salmon, beetroot relish and cucumber, dill and lemon salsa, are hard to go by.  The fritters are packed full of flavour and work well with saltiness of the smoked salmon (a generous portion at that), the sweetness of the beetroot relish and the freshness of the salsa.  However, to my disappointment, the crème fraiche which used to accompany the dish has since been replaced with goats cheese - don't get me wrong, I could probably start my own goats cheese cheer squad, but the flavours were slightly overpowering in comparison to the rest of the dish.

Mart 130's fresh juices are also an excellent option - offering the likes of freshly juiced beetroot, apple and ginger, this juice works wonders on any hangover.

It's often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day - so what why not start the weekend off at the consistently exceptional Mart 130.

Venue: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

Republica

Situated at the St Kilda Sea Baths, Republica is best known for its beachside outdoor areas - perfect for people watching and a few drinks in the sun.  But is the food any good?

Whilst not exactly cheap, Republica offers a variety of menu options, ranging from a wagyu beef rump ($39) to an assortment of pizzas (from $19).  On this occasion I went for the salami pizza with peppers, olives and salsa verde ($20).

The pizza was surprisingly delicious - the salsa verde worked well with the salami and the base was thin and crispy.  It was a tad salty for my liking, but then again, I'm not the biggest fan of salt (what was I thinking ordering a pizza with both salami and olives - the saltiest foods going around) and I'm sure it would be to most people's liking. 

Whilst in the future I may feel more inclined to pop up to Captain Baxter's for a bite to eat, if settled in for a decent Sunday sesh, Republica's food is definitely a worth a try. 

Venue: 4.5/5
Service: 3/5
Food: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point.