Little Ramen Bar

Little Ramen Bar epitomises many of the things I love about Melbourne's "budget eats" scene - cheap price tag, warm and welcoming venue, friendly staff and, most importantly, incredibly delicious food.

You won't be surprised from the title that Little Ramen House specialises in, well, Ramen. Although, it would be a mistake to come here and just order their signature dish of ramen - their veggie gyozas are absolutely sensational and some of the best gyozas I've had in a long time.

There's a range of Ramen to chooses from - from your classic ramen to Hokkaido Ramen. For me, I couldn't go past the spicy miso Ramen and I'm glad I didn't - the sauce was rich and full of flavour, and the dish itself was packed full of noodles and veggies.

Situated on Little Bourke street right near GPO, this cosy little venue is so small you'd be forgiven if you blinked twice and missed it. However, during lunch and dinner times it's packed to the brim and it's pretty hard to miss the place with its line of hungry patrons waiting outside its doors - a true sign of any good Melbourne budget venue.

Food: 4.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

The Crux and Co

Often breakfast/brunch menus with their eggs benedict and smashed avo on toast are victims of being 'same same but different' - but not Crux and Co! Pushing the boundaries on brunch items, Crux and Co offers the likes of elderflower yogurt and squid ink toast.

For me I couldn't go past the Bisque Benedict with tiger prawns, poached eggs and a lobster bisque hollandaise served on squid ink toast. Whilst slightly nervous to order prawns for breakfast, it absolutely worked! With its perfectly cooked seafood, rich and creamy sauce, and much needed textual crunch to the dish, this benny was an absolute delight. 

 

 

Situated opposite Melbourne instigation The Kettle Black, Crux and Co definitely faces some tough competition. But with its edgy menu, great coffee and friendly service, Crux and Co is a Melbourne café which is likely to stick around for awhile.

 

Venue: 3/5

Service: 4/5

Food: 4/5

Total: 11/15

Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

 

35 Albert Road, South Melbourne

 

Peddler Cafe

The "Campfire Eggs" at Peddler Cafe definitely make it worth the drive. Situated in Nunawading , Peddler Cafe is as homely and welcoming as the tree lined streets it is situated on.

Bustling at 10.00am with most of its indoor and outdoor seating taken, Peddler Cafe is obviously the local favourite. Offering an extensive breakfast brunch menu, it has all of the favourites from eggs benedict to avocado on toast.

But back to the best bit - the "Campfire Eggs". Whilst baked eggs are often at risk of just tasting like a can of crushed tomatoes with a few stray bits of chorizo stirred through it, this was not the case for this incredible dish. Filled with chorizo, bacon, butter beans, chilli, parmesan and Napoli sauce, these baked eggs were rich with flavour and each bite of this dish left you wanting more. My fellow diner definitely had food envy after a small taste of my dish.

Another incredible looking item on the menu was the field mushrooms with rosti, goats cheese, mushroom duxelle, poached egg and onion jam - definitely a dish I will be trying next time!
With its Friendly staff, and wholesome and delicious food, Peddler Cafe is definitely on the 'love' list.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying the baked eggs soon!
295 Springfield Road, Nunawading

The New Fave dined courtesy of Peddler Cafe

Aunty Franklee

Aunty Franklee is a new Malaysian restaurant just opened up on Russell Street (Sugar Bun with a face lift!). Serving up traditional Malaysian cuisine, you will find everything on their menu from Chinese donuts to old fashioned bak kut teh - a meat bone tea.

The turmeric chicken served with multi grain rice and tea egg was out of this world - the chicken itself was tender and juicy, and the whole dish was the perfect balance of sweet and sour, crunch and creaminess, spice and flavour.

The golden fritters - being a giant bowl of fried vegetables - were fried to perfection and were an excellent addition to the turmeric chicken to add an extra element of crunch.

Next up we tried the "Let's Meat Up" which consisted of smoky pork ribs, meatballs, okra and lotus root in a garlic soy sauce with chillies. Unfortunately, the pork ribs in the dish were on the tough side, but otherwise, the flavours in the dish were vibrant and tasty and the okra and lotus root were a delicious touch.

As Aunty Franklee's tumeric chicken is up there with potentially one of my top 20 dishes of Melbourne, I will definitely be back to Aunty Franklee's soon.

Service: 3.5/5
Food: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying the turmeric chicken soon.

The New Fave dined courtesy of Aunty Franklee 

El Rincon

El Rincon is a new tapas bar located near the Queen Victoria Market.  Offering authentic Spanish cuisine, it's not hard to feel as though you may actually be sipping on Sangria in Spain as soon as you walk through El Rincon's doors.

There are two important things to note about El Rincon.  The first is that they have Sangria on tap, that's right, on tap - and it's absolutely delicious. The second (which is just as important as the first), is that El Rincon would have to have one of the best croquettes I've had in Melbourne. Rich, gooey, and full of flavour, the croquette with jamon serrano and choriza was fried to perfection.

Another incredible dish of the night was the salmorejo. Similar to gazpacho, salmorejo is a cold tomato soup which is often served as a starter in Spain.  Robust in flavour, and beautifully complimented by the dried jamon, it was easily a dish that I would come back for.

The albondigas (spainsh meatball with almond sauce), whilst terribly unattractive, was also delicious and flavoursome.  It could, however, have done with some acidity (such as the tomato salsa which accompanied the croquette).

Unfortunately, with my dislike of both sardines and cod, the fried sardine with cod croquette never really stood a chance.  However, even if I was a fan of the old sardine, I would have hoped for the batter to be a touch crispier.

With such warm and welcoming staff who have such a love for delicious authentic Spanish cuisine, I'm sure El Rincon will do well in Melbourne.

Service: 5/5
Venue: 4/5
Food: 3/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

The New Fave dined courtesy of El Rincon

Uncle

Uncle has all the makings of a great Summertime restaurant - an incredible outdoor courtyard (tick), a  menu filled with fresh Vietnamese cuisine (tick) and a drinks list worth not being the desi-driver for (tick).  However, unfortunately its food didn't manage to hit the mark.

To be fair, two out of the three dishes we had, whilst not spot on, were quite tasty.  The free range chicken slaw with fragrant herbs, bean sprouts and chili came out looking spectacular - but lacked a punch in any of its flavours.

The flavours, however, were spot on in the chicken tenderloin steamed bao with  Vietnamese mint and spicy pickles, but the fried chicken was a touch on the soggy side.

 

 Unfortunately, the lamb curry with okra would have be one of the worst dishes I have had in Melbourne.  Am I exaggerating? When you actually have to spit out your meal into your napkin I would say absolutely not.  The flavours were there (I'll give them that), however, there was barely any sauce and the lamb was so fatty and filled with cartilage/bones, I'd be surprised if there was actually any meat on it. Indeed, it was a mouth full of cartilage that made me spit out my food, which is never a nice look at any restaurant.

Whilst the venue was incredible, and the staff were amazing, the food alone is enough for me to not want to go back.

Food: 2/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 5/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: Don't bother - there are much better Vietnamese restaurant's out there

Newmarket Hotel

Newmarket Hotel is a Melbourne Institution - having been around for years, this Inkerman Street establishment in St Kilda is definitely a household name. The venue itself just oozes with character - looking almost like an old factory from the outside, the inside is elegant whilst still being dim and enchanting.

Serving up a menu inspired by Californian cuisine with a hint of the south (think cheesy quesadillas, soft shell tacos and Latin cured meats) the food on offer is both mouth watering and extensive. The fiejoada taco with braised black beans, cured pork and brisket was delicious - however I definitely had food envy of my friend's crispy john dory taco which had sea urchin sauce, artichoke and scallop cake. The corn on the cob was also tasty, but not quite as good as the like's of Mamasita's or Paco Taco's.

The smoked 24 hour angus beef brisket just melted in the mouth and was bursting with flavour.  The sprout slaw was also a different, but inspiring accompaniment to the meal and was absolutely delicious. 

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of my favourite dish of the night - the mushroom and spinach quesadilla with pinto beans, sour cream and huitlacoche. It's fair to say that this may even by one of my favourite dishes in Melbourne. Huitlacoche is actually a fungus which grows on corn which has the most incredible flavour - definitely worth giving a try!

The staff were also a stand out of the night - from the person taking our orders, to the person taking away our plates, everyone was amazingly helpful and friendly. The friend I dined with is fructose intolerant, which can often put a restaurant into a spin, however, the people at Newmarket hotel were absolutely wonderful about it! Thank you for such a wonderful night!

Food: 4/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Total: 13.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Dundas & Faussett

From the crowds that are drawn to Dundas and Fausett every weekend morning, you would think that it would certainly be a place worth talking about. Situated on Victoria Avenue in Albert Park, and offering both indoor and outdoor seating, Dundas and Faussett offers the standard cafe venue setting.

The most Instagramable worthy dish on their breakfast menu would have to be the Ricotta hotcakse with banana, palm sugar caramel, hazelnut crumble and fresh berries. Coming out looking as pretty as a picture, whilst definitely delicious, my friend who is known for her sweet tooth found it so sweet that she couldn't even finish it - indeed, after the bite I had, whilst it was delicious, I was sculling down the water - the giant chunks of sweet hazelnut crumble were quite unnecessary.

 

The breakfast bruschetta was another dish that came out looking amazing.




Unfortunately, my dish (smoked salmon with potato rosti, avocado salsa and poached egg) was the least prettiest dish out of the three and the most underwhelming - my egg was overlooked, the toast was so tough I almost sprained my wrist trying to cut through it and the rosti tasted like dry ball of flour.

The coffee, however, was spot on and the staff were friendly - so whilst not a complete ride off, it's definitely not the new fave.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 2.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 8.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

111 Dundas Place, Albert Park

 

Tank Fish and Chips

The "healthy" fish and chip store concept has been around for a while - with the likes of Hunky Dory, Hooked and Saltwater Grill entering the scene, no longer are we stuck with just the good old potato cake and dim sim.  However, from all of the 'healthy' fish and chip stores that I have been to, Tank Fish and Chips has been far my favourite.

Why you ask? Well to start with, they offer up one of the best fish burgers I've had.  With its cheese, lettuce, lightly crumbed fish and lashings of sauce, this little beauty sandwiched in a fresh fluffy burger bun is fish burger heaven. The chips, however, while  okay, are not the best chips going around (a touch on the dry side).

Tank also offers the usual suspect of fish with chips, or fish with salad and rice.  However, distinguishing itself from the usual brown rice on offer, Tank's brown rice is deliciously seasoned.
The calamari is also a must - sold by the strip, it's deliciously seasoned and so tender you could cut it with a fork.

Located at both Emporium and Lygon Street, Tank Fish and Chips is definitely my recommendation if you have healthy fish and chips on the mind - especially seeing as they also serve wine!

Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Venue: 3/5
Total:10/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

149 Lygon Street, Carlton,

The New Fave dined courtesy of Tank Fish and Chips

The Waiters Club

The story goes that, many years ago, the Waiters Club Restaurant was a small, no frills hole in the wall restaurant where Melbourne waiters used to go after their shifts for a hearty and delicious Italian meal.

True to the story, on climbing the stairs to enter this Meyers place venue, I was definitely greeted by a no frills kind of room which could have easily been the setting of a school camp dining hall (although a very small one at that).  The Waiter's club doesn't even mess around with menus - the daily offerings written up on a chalkboard with no price tag in site.

But what a menu it is - from Spaghetti Bolognese to Veal Parmigiana, it has all the Italian favourites. On a recommendation from our waitress, I couldn't go past the Tagliatelle Al Pollo. Ordering a creamy pasta is not usually a no-no - it's hard not to giggle at people who feel ill after a giant bowl of carbonara and claim that they are lactose intolerant - no darling, you just ate a ginormous bowl of cream, carbs, eggs and cheese - of course you are going to feel unwell!  However, The Waiters Club All Pollo fell far from this category - light, flavoursome and incredibly moresish, it was one of the best bowls of pasta I have ever had.  

Whilst the venue was no frills, the service was by no means lacking - friendly, attentive and up for a banter - they will make you feel like a welcomed guest in their family home the minute you walk through the Waiters Club's doors.

It's the simplicity of the Waiter' Club concept - incredibly delicious food at an incredibly reasonable price - which makes the Waiter's Club restaurant the New Fave.

Food: 5/5

Decor: 2.5/5

Service: 4/5

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: The New Fave - get around to trying it soon

20 Meyers Place, CBD

Belleville

Situated in China Town, you could almost blink and you'd miss the entrance to Belleville on Globe Alley. However, on climbing a flight of stairs and walking through Belleville's doors, you quickly realise it's not your usual China Town venue.  Set up in an old warehouse, with its graffitied walls, exposed beams, eclectic array of artwork and furniture, and a DJ pumping out the tunes from as early as 6pm, it definitely epitomises Melbourne's laneway culture.

Famous for its rotisserie salt water brined free range chicken, Belleville serves up quarter, half or whole chickens - I couldn't exactly pay Belleville a visit without trying at least a bit of their chook.  To share we ordered half a chicken ($17) with the miso butter glaze.  For the sauce, whist usually a lover of all things spicy, I would highly recommend passing on the "Hot as F*$K" fireball sauce, and going for the medium sauce of coriander, ginger and chilli ($1.50) - whilst not having any spice factor, this sauce is packed full of flavour.

Voted by Urban List as one of the best poutine's in Melbourne, Belleville's poutine ($11) is not to be missed. Smothered with delicious cheese, gravy and hot sauce, it's the sort of dish which dreams are made of.

Aside from the poutine, other highlights of the night for me were the sticky pork hock with red papaya salad ($15.50) which was fresh, fragrant and deliciously sticky, and the lobster mac'n'cheese croquette with Japanese mustard and bacon jam ($4.50) which was rich, creamy and an absolutely decadent treat.

The disappointments of the night were definitely the char grilled lamb ribs ($12), and the beef meatballs stuffed with cheddar ($10). The ribs were unfortunately mostly fat (I think between the three of us, only one of us got a skerrick of meat) and it was like a treasure hunt to find the cheese within the meatballs which were overall uninspiring.

Whilst Belleville didn't necessarily hit a home run with all of its dishes, with its trendy and buzzing vibe, welcoming staff and some superstars on its menu, Belleville will definitely still go on my recommendation list.

Food: 3/5
Venue: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Globe Alley, CBD, Melbourne
 

Hibachi Japanese Grill

Hibachi on King Street faces some tough competition. Serving up Japanese cuisine, it sits somewhere between the casualness of Takitori and fine dining feel of Hanabishi.

To start with we were served a complimentary dish of beanshoots soaked in what may have been miso? Whilst not exactly a treat on the eyes, it was actually a lot more tastier than it looks.

For the main fare I ordered the chicken katsu curry (which for some strange reason appeared on my menu, but not on the menu of two of my fellow diners). It was actually one of the best chicken katsu curries I have had in a while - the chicken was tender and juicy, the sauce flavoursome and the salad on the side was a nice accompaniment.

 

If you're in the mood for some Katsu Curry, Hibachi Japanese Grill is definitely an excellent option.

Food: 3/5

Venue: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Total: 9/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

Ionio

Looking for the best Saganaki in Melbourne? Well then look no further than Ionio. After the longest run of chewy, rubbery fried cheese, I was starting to think that my idea of a good Saganaki was just a delusion - but then came Ionio, with its deliciously-bitey cheese which was crisp on the outside and oozing on the inside.

Slightly off the beaten track for some, Ionio's is situated in the Westfield shopping centre in Doncaster. Although walking through its doors, you wouldn't think you were situated inside of a shopping centre, with Ionia's having a warm, family-friendly feel.

My number one suggestion would be (well, number two after my suggestion that you have to get the Saganaki) to go on a hungry stomach. The serving sizes are huge and incredible value for money. To eat on this occasion, we were served a 'mini' version of the banquet (although it was hardly small), although the normal size banquet will only set you back $36. As part of our banquet we were served:

Olives

 

Trio of dips and pita

 

Rosemary and fetta chips

 

Saganaki

 

Fried Calamari

 

Spit fired chicken and lamb

 

Grilled haloumi jewelled salad

 

The warm pita, dips and olives were all delicious starters, with the beetroot dip being a clear stand out for me.

Although, as delicious as the dips are, make sure to save room for the main events. Served with even more warm pita, both the chicken and the lamb were incredible tender and juicy, and had a delicious charcoal flavour. The chips were also cooked to perfection  - crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, the sprinkling of fetta and oregano on the top finished the chips off nicely. 

For anyone who says you don't make friends with salad surely hasn't met the grilled haloumi jewelled salad with mixed salad leaves, thyme, grapes and pomegranate. With the tang of its pomegranate, creaminess of haloumi and sweetness of its grapes - this is a ridiculously delicious salad.

The calamari was the only let down of the meal, with some of the peices being quite tough and chewy. But the midly spiced sauce that was served beside it was definitely a highlight.

If you ever find yourself in Doncaster looking for a Greek feast (or any kind of feast in fact) make sure to head to Ionio's.

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Venue: 3.5/5

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre, Level 2, 619 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, Melbourne       

The New Fave dined courtesy of Ionia's