Corte

The first thing you notice about Corte (and its biggest drawcard) is the venue.  Situated within an old courthouse built in the 1800's, with its distressed stone walls, high ceilings and wooden features, the building just oozes with character.  Also adding to Corte's old world charm is its courtyard which is filled with palm trees and greenery, and spotted with outdoor seating for visitors to enjoy a drink in the sun - a little Oasis in the midst of the bustling Bay Street of Port Melbourne.

Serving Latin cuisine, Corte's menu is designed to share.  On this occasion we ordered (and over-ordered I must add) the Ahi Poke Nachos with raw yellowfin tuna, fresh tortilla chips, kewpie, chilli jam and sesame, the baked Charlston brie with onion jam and rolls stuffed with pulled pork and coleslaw.

The Ahi Poke Nachos was the dish of the day.  Whilst it could have done with more sauce (it looks saucy in the picture below but the chips underneath the top layer were bone dry) the yellow fin tuna was fresh, the sauces were flavoursome and the overall flavours dish surprisingly worked (who would have thought to put raw fish in nachos??).  The baked brie was also executed well -  the brie was warm and gooey and the accompanying sourdough was fresh and spongy.

 

The rolls, however, were disappointing.  The pork was flavoursome and cooked well and the corn chips added a nice textual crunch, but the overall dish was dry, and lacked any zest/spice/tang in its one dimensional flavours.

With live music in the courtyard Fridays from 6pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm, it's definitely a venue I would suggest for an afternoon drink on a sunny afternoon (and maybe order a bowl of the Ahi Poke nachos while you're there!).

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3/5
Venue: 5/5
Total: 10.5/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point.

Taketori

Taketori is about as under-rated as they come.  On heading there for a mid week lunch of Japanese cuisine, the place was absolutely deserted - an absolute shock after trying their delicious food which comes at a very affordable price.

For under $20, you can get yourself a Taketori Bento - a traditional Japanese lunchbox with appetizer, salad, miso soup, protein of your choice, sushi and sashimi and rice.  On this occasion I ordered the beef teriyaki - an exceptional choice - the beef melted in the mouth and the teriyaki was the perfect balance of flavours without being overly salty.  The seafood on the plate (sashimi and prawn covered in roe) was fresh, the Miso wasn't too salty and the seaweed salad was full of flavour. All in all a delicious plate which was exceptional value.

There is no need to make a booking at this King Street eatery which just oozes with charm. It's definitely on the short list for a mid week lunch meal and a great place to take your clients!

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

Mr Huang Jin

I had high hopes going into Mr Huang Jin's based on a number of rave reviews.  However, aside from the prawn and pork wontons with chilli sauce (probably some of the best wontons I've ever had), the experience was overall disappointing.

Mr Huang Jin, which used to be located under the Rialto building, is now situated on Katherine Place off of Flinders Lane. It's definitely more upmarket then your usual dumpling joint - elegant lighting, clean and well spaced tabletops and even  a complimentary salad on arrival.

As mentioned above, the prawn and pork wontons ($13 for 5 pieces) were some of the best wontons I have ever had - generously plump parcels filled with fresh local prawns, Mr Huang Jin's special pork, spring onions and ginger with the family's secret chilli sauce, ordering this dish is a must if you find yourself eating at this venue. 

The pan fried pork dumplings ($11 for 5) were not so great - the dough was overly chewy (aka undercooked) and the filling was one dimensional in flavour.  The noodles with fresh local seafood in oyster sauce ($16) were also lacking in flavour and the seafood tasted old and undercooked.

Whilst we did order 4 glasses of wine between the two of us, we walked out the door spending just over $100 - very pricey for a dumpling house but a price I would be willing to pay if the dumplings blew me away. Unfortunately they didn't and next time I will stick with Hutong.

Food: 1.5/5
Venue: 2.5/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 7/15
Verdict: Don't bother - there are too many other amazing dumpling joints in Melbourne.

Stop 17

Stop 17 is one of the latest food destinations to hit Fitzroy. Offering more than just a bar or cafe, Stop 17 features Australia's first Writers Room - a room dedicated to authors, screenwriters and directors designed to get its visitors' creative juices flowing.

Writers Room

And if the Writers' Room isn't enough to conjure up some inspiration - the cocktails surely will.  On weekends Stop 17 has a Mixologist on board who, after telling her your preference for taste (e.g. sweet, sour, fruity) will whip you up a unique alcoholic creation.

But back to the food, serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner, there are some interesting (but delicious) dishes on their menu including the crispy buffalo pigs tails with ranch dipping sauce, and the duck liver pate slider with maple bacon, homemade slaw and Japanese mayo. Whilst not the most attractive dishes going around, they definitely delivered on flavour!

Crispy Buffalo Pig Tails

Duck Liver Pate Slider

 

However, you would be crazy to go past the  nachos (loaded with fresh and flavoursome toppings) and the fried chicken wings marinated in Middle Eastern spices and served with spicy yogurt.

Nachos

Fried Chicken Wings

With such a unique and creative concept, paired with passionate and visionary staff, Stop 17 is one of those places which will surely succeed. Whilst I look forward to seeing Stop 17 fine tune and develop its concepts, most of all I look forward to going back to try their iconic "Krabby Eggs" (Blue Swimmer crab sauteed with garlic, ginger, shallots, red chilli and curry scrambled eggs) which they serve up at breakfast.

Food: 3.5/5

Decor: 4.5/5

Service: 5/5

Total: 13/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

The New Fave dined courtesy of Stop 17

 

Arbory Bar

Arbory Bar is one of the hottest places to be in Melbourne after work on a Summer's night. Always buzzing, the outdoor bar runs for over 100metres along the Yarra behind Flinders Street station.

Whilst it's definitely a favourite among many as a watering hole, Arbory Bar also manages to impress on the food front. The hotdog with bacon, onion, cheese and pickles is without a doubt the best hotdog I've ever had. With its buttery brioche bun, lashings of toppings and generous serving of pickles - this dog is absolutely drool worthy. But do not stop there, the dog is not complete without a side of crinkle cut chips with truffle pecorino! 

More than just a pre-dinner drink place, the food at Arbory Bar is definitely worth hanging around for. 

Food: 4/5

Venue: 4/5

Service:4/5

Total: 12/15

Verdict: the new fave - put trying their hotdog as number 1 on the To Do list.
 

8bit.

With its monstrous burgers, shakes, potato gems and loaded fries, 8bit. took Footscray by storm.  Luckily for the South Siders who consider journeying to the North Side an equivalent feat to climbing Mount Everest, 8bit. decided to open a store in the CBD earlier this year.

With very limited seating inside (and music so loud it would give Retro a run for its money) it's probably a more take-away appropriate option.

The original choice was to go for the traditional 8bit. with cheese. But after seeing the girl next to me chow down on the Golden Axe (fried chicken, cheese, Siracha Mayo and slaw) I couldn't resist. Although, unfortunately my chicken and overall burger was dry and the flavours were bland (pretty sure they forgot to put the Siracha in the Mayo) The chilli cheese fries, however, were everything I hoped for and more. The chilli was flavoursome and the scattering of jalapeños gave the dish a delicious sweet but spicy hit. 

And did I mention that they were open until 11pm - the perfect time for a second dinner if you've had too much to drink! 

Food: 4/5

Decor: 2/5

Service: 3/5 - surprisingly quick for the number of people in line!

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon
 

Tahini Lebanese Diner

Tahini is one of the latest eateries to open up in the legal district of the CBD. Offering Lebanese cuisine, the venue itself oozes with character and offers both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as eat in or take away options.

The menu is extensive offering a range of wraps, skewers, salads and dips and, most importantly, they do serve wine! To eat I couldn't go past the Tablieh - choice of wrap with chips, salad and dip for only $18.  For the wrap I chose the Kafta - spice minced beef with hummus, pickles, parsley onion and sumac.  The wrap itself was dry and lacked flavour, so thank goodness for the side of hummus and an offering of chilli sauce to liven the dish up. Otherwise,  the chips were cooked well and deliciously seasoned, and the slaw was a delicious and complimentary accompaniment.

The staff were incredibly helpful and all had smiles on their faces - a little slow at times (something to remember if wanting a quick lunch) but we did dine at Tahini in the middle of their lunch rush. 

All in all, the meal was pleasant enough to try Tahini again, but nothing I'd rush back for.

Food: 2.5/5

Decor: 4/5

Service: 3.5/5

Total: 10/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point

God's Kitchen

I've long been on the hunt for the perfect traditional parma. The perfect Mexican parma is a no brainer (The George in South Melbourne) but what about the perfect traditional parma with cheese, ham and Napoli sauce. Thanks to God's Kitchen, I finally found it.

Situated off the Main Street in Mornington, being a renovated church from the 1800s, the venue itself just oozes with character. Offering a cosy indoor area, and both a covered courtyard out the back and an open courtyard out the front, God's Kitchen has got every season covered which is well reflected in the number of patrons which walk through its doors. 

But onto the main event, the chicken parmigiana. The chicken was fat and juicy, the crumb was crisp, the sauce and was flavoursome and there was a generous amount of cheese smothering the delicious parcel. The chips on the side were were cooked well and the side of coleslaw was a clever alternative to the usual green soggy garden salad.

If you're ever down the Mornington Peninsula and looking for a great feed, or even just a drink in the sunshine, I'd highly recommend heading on down to God's Kitchen. 

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 3/5

Decor: 4/5

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon 

 

Pastuso

If 2014 was the year of Vietnamese and 2015 the year of Korean, it looks like 2016 may be shaping up to be the year of Peruvian. Luckily for Pastuso, it was well ahead of the curve, opening its doors to Peruvian cuisine a couple of years ago.

Sister to San Telmo and located off Flinders Lane, the venue itself has a dark and sultry vibe providing the perfect mood for any date night. This romance, of course, was lost on us as we headed there for a Friday work lunch. But how could we resist when they were offering a two course express lunch menu for $40 as part of the food and wine festival. 

The two courses comprised of traditional Peruvian cerviche and pork served with Peruvian sides. Having eaten at Pastuso before, I had incredibly high hopes for the cerviche. However, the dry roasted Andrean corn kernels gave the dish an unpleasant chalky flavour and the fish itself was slightly tough and chewy. 

The pork for the main was a generous serve, but the fat wasn't rendered and came out quite glutinous. The flavours, however, were spot on. 

While Pastuso didn't hit the mark on this occasion, in light of my positive previous experiences, I would be willing to give it one more go. 

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 4/5

Decor: 4/5

Total: 10.5/15
 

Patony Pizza

Every suburb needs a family-run-type, traditional pizza joint and for South Melbourne, this is none other than Patony Pizza.

Offering both take away and eat in options, it's the type of place which would draw in families and regulars - a no frills kind of place offering up hearty pizza and pastas at a reasonable price. It does, however, offer outdoor seating which is an appealing draw card on a warm summer's night.

To eat I had the half / half large pizza with Margherita and the Patony special. The Patony special was ok, but nothing overly inspiring. The must have on the menu though is the Margherita pizza. Crispy crust, lashings of cheese and bursting with flavour - often coined a 'boring' or 'safe' flavour of pizza, this Margherita is anything but ordinary. 

Whilst I wouldn't recommend going there for a wine (great value, but not the nicest wine going around), Patony pizza's is a must have if craving a Margherita pizza. 

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 3/5

Decor: 2.5/5

Total: 8/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying the Margherita at some point 

Lord Cardigan

You know those meals that taste so darn good that life stops around you just for a moment - the type of meal that you can't eat slow enough as you'll be devastated when its over...

Well Lord Cardigan served me up one of those meals - a meal so good that it's earned the title as the new fave. 

Lord Cardigan is local gem tucked away in Albert Park. Oozing elegance whilst remaining unpretentious, the restaurant serves up Modern Australian cuisine with European and Asian influences. The service is as impressive as the menu, making any dining experience feel as though it were a special occasion. 

The dish that stole my heart was none other than the mushroom tortellini with sautéed mushrooms and crispy sage ($38). It was the perfect balance of flavours, an incredible array of textures and each element of the dish was cooked to perfection. Probably one of the best pasta dishes which has ever been past my mouth!

Whilst the price tag on many of the menu item isn't exactly budget friendly, Lord Cardigan also offers special deals at very affordable prices. For lunch on Thursdays through to Saturdays, Lord Cardigan offers a main meal with a glass of wine for only $29. And on Sundays, $25 will get you a seasonal roast at lunchtime. 

Whatever the day or special may be, I'm sure I'll find some excuse to go back and dine at Lord Cardigan again soon.

Service: 5/5

Food: 5/5

Decor: 4.5/5

Total: 14.5/5
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number one on the To Do list

 

Three one 2 one

For those of you who haven't tried a monster shake before, it's like a regular milkshake but on crack! I'm talking lashings of whipped cream, chocolate cake, biscuits and even an ice cream cone sitting on top of a jar filled with milkshake. Thanks to Three One 2 One on Bridge Road in Richmond, I finally had a chance to try one.

There are a number of monster shakes on Three One 2 One's menu. There's the 'Triple Orgasm' with Nutella, Peanut Butter, Oreo, strawberries, banana, vanilla icecream, topped with whipped cream and chocolate cake in a waffle cone...

Then there's the 'Pretzel Cake' with chocolate hazelnut sauce, vanilla icecream and chocolate cake...

And my personal favourite (once I scraped off the choc icecream due to my cocoa allergy) the 'Popping Banana' with almond milk, banana, scotch biscuits and maple and caramel popcorn....

Three One 2 One's menu doesn't stop there, it offers a full range of burgers and sides including chips, onion rings and sweet potato fries. My fave - the chips - deliciously crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside and smothered with delicious seasoning.  And in terms of the burgers, nothing beats the Ghetto Burger - two beef patties with melted cheese, pickled cucumber and special mayonnaise on a brioche bun. 

The  venue itself isn't your typical burger joint (i.e. not a plastic fantastic American-esque diner experience) but the cafe vibe is still homely and the food speaks for itself.  Also, whilst the staff were incredibly helpful, friendly, and attentive, the service was quite slow.  However, considering that this was their first night showcasing their new menu, the slow service can be forgiven.
 

Food: 4/5 

Service: 3.5/5

Decor: 3/5
Total:10.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon
 

The New Fave fined courtesy of Three One 2 One

 

 

Pablo Honey

Home to street art, buskers and Luna Park, Acland Street in St Kilda is one of Melbourne's most iconic streets. So what better place to set up one of Melbourne's newest tequila bars, Pablo Honey.

The venue itself stays true to the street's culture - trendy, unique and an inspiring clash of art and colour.  Its windows open up to a majestic view of Luna Park's Big Dipper, and its walls are adorned with local artists' work.

Usually being one to stick with a wine over dinner, I couldn't really say no to a tequila based cocktail whilst attending a tequila bar - lucky for that, as the spicy margarita (with smoky chilli salt lining its rim) shouldn't be missed.  

The dish of the night was the grass fed beef tartare with smoked chilli, finger line, coriander and cumin seed lavosh. Whilst raw meat may seem intimidating to some, with its depth of flavour and incredibly tender meat, it's a dish that should be tried at least once by any Pablo diner. 

The green tea ant cured salmon (with its delicate flavours showcasing the freshness of the produce) and the juicy smoked chicken wingnettes (with its finger licking good tangy habanero sauce) were also highlights of the night.

For main (yes, it had all just been entrées up until now - but with food so good there is always room for more!) we shared the chimichurri grass fed rump with corn soufflé and salsa verde.  Whilst the corn soufflé was a little heavy on the garlic side (so perhaps don't eat it if going home to a hot date), the steak was cooked to perfection and the salsa verde added a refreshing element to the dish. 

The Spiced rum mango with salted caramel, meringue and sponge was my least favourite dish of the night. Whilst it came out looking as pretty as picture, it needed an element of acidity, or more salt in the caramel, to break up the sweetness of the desert.  

Tick after tick, Pablo Honey is definitely on the recommendation list if heading out for dinner on Acland Street. Although, make sure you don't walk out of its doors before sampling some of its sensational tequila. 

Food: 4/5

Service: 4.5/5

Decor: 4/5

Total: 12.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

The New Fave dined courtesy of Pablo Honey