Mr Lawrence at The London

With such a drool-worthy looking menu (and may I add, an exceptional location) Mr Lawrence has been near the top of my To Do list for quite some time. Situated on Beach Street looking over the water, Mr Lawrence draws in the Summer crowds with its outdoor seating, and the Winter crowds with its reputation for delicious Middle Eastern cuisine.

Situated in the iconic Port Melbourne venue "The London", with its bright blue bar, retro light fittings and indoor plants, Mr Lawrence has a casual, almost Moroccan inspired vibe.

Its Turkish Pizza's are about as iconic as its venue - offering $10 pizza specials on Monday nights. The spiced minced lamb, mint, yoghurt and almond pizza was exceptional - the lamb was juicy and well seasoned, the dough light and flaky and the presentation was rustic but still appealing - definitely a dish worth ordering.

The twice cooked pork belly with mashed potato, pickle salad and pomegranate molasses was nice, but not as impressive as the pizza - the salad was exceptional (light, zesty and full of flavour), however the pork was on the dry side and the mashed potato an odd accompaniment.

Unfortunately, the service was on the disappointing side. Repeatedly we had to wave down a waiter to ask for a drink, place our order and ask for the bill - all in a half filled restaurant.  That being said, it may have just been a bad night (perhaps someone called in sick?) and I'd be willing to give Mr Lawrence another try - especially if it means taking another shot at that delicious lamb Turkish Pizza.

Food: 3.5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Service: 1/5
Total: 8/5
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point

92 Beach Street Port Melbourne

Lawyers, Guns and Money

With a name as sexy as Lawyers, Guns and Money, how could we not give this reasonably new Asian inspired venue off Little Collins Street a try.

With a name apt for its location within Melbourne's legal district, the venue is modern but inviting, offering a range of traditional, and some would say adventurous, Asian inspired dishes (anyone for the offal plate which comes complete with pig's ears and tripe?)

On this occasion we ordered the Shangdong fried chicken with crispy garlic and fragrant chilli, and the Sichuan Tan Tan noodles - wheat noodles with a miso and sesame broth, topped with a spicy Sichuan pork and chilli topping.

The fried chicken was everything you want good fried chicken to be - crisp and well seasoned on the outside, whilst remaining juicy and tender on the inside. But don't be fooled, just because they come nestled within a number of dry chilli's, these tasty little morsels actually don't have much of a kick.

The Tan Tan noodles were also outstanding - the broth was fragrant without being overly oily, the noodles still had a bite and the topping of Sichuan pork was just bursting with flavour. However again, don't be scared away by the use of the term "spicy" - whilst this dish was definitely delicious, it also lacked any spicy kick!

Bought to you by chef Victor Liong, the very same man behind Lee Ho Fook, there were already high expectations on entering this venue.  However, Lawyers, Guns and Money definitely hit the mark is a stand out lunch venue in the legal district of the CBD.

Food: 4/5

Venue: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Total: 10/15 

Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Corner Church Lane and St James Lane, CBD, Melbourne

Hell of the North

On hearing that I would be going to Hell of the North, I instantly had images of grunge, graffiti, and large servings of deep fried, sub standard food.  So it was to my absolute surprise to discover that Hell of the North is in fact none of the above, but is instead a warm and inviting venue offering refined European inspired cuisine.

With its exposed brick walls, wooden features and array of booze on display, the venue has a snow chalet meets American saloon type of vibe.

The service was definitely one of the stand outs, with our waiter more than happy to run through the menu and add value to our order by assisting us to decide what, and indeed how much, to order (you were right, our eyes were far bigger then our stomachs that night!).

To start with we shared the cheese donut ($7) and the pork belly with sweet and sour onions ($7) - both incredibly delicious (who knew cheese would actually work in a donut??) and both dishes that I would highlight recommend you order.

Although, the stand out of the night was the beef tartare ($21). Whilst looking like a simple dish (as my dining companion kept commenting, it's just like an uncooked hamburger pattie), this dish leaves nowhere to hide.  The produce has to be incredibly fresh, and the flavours have to be spot on.  Hell of the North ticked both of these boxes.

Luckily for us, Hell of the North also manages to cook it's beef pretty well too. The braised beef short rib, which was paired with celeriac, horseradish and red wine sauce ($32) was cooked to perfection - tender, juicy and full of flavour.

Unfortunately for the gnocchi parisienne with Jerusalem artichoke, kale and pine nuts ($27), due to my absolute hatred for kale, it never really stood a fair chance.  Whilst the gnocchi parcels were light and fluffy, the artichoke puree smooth and creamy, and the truffle parmesan on top an exquisite touch, I just couldn't get past the dirty taste of kale.  That being said, for any kale fan out there (as I know there are many), this is definitely the dish for you.

Serving food until 1am on Wednesdays through to Saturdays, Hell's doors are always open (well, not always, but definitely great for a late night eat). With its exceptional food, inspiring character and incredible service, Hell of the North is definitely the New Fave.

Service: 5/5
Food: 4/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Total: 13.5/15
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number 1 on the 'To Do' List.

135 Greeves Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3060

Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove

Whether it be rain or shine, Winter or Summer, Montalto's Vineyard and Olive Grove in Red Hill is the perfect venue for any occasion. Offering both a formal, award winning chef hat restaurant, and a casual pizza café, Montalto also caters to the price tag.

The degustation menu is a must if visiting the formal restaurant. Offering both a 5 and 7 course menu, we couldn't go past the 5 course option for $105:

Raw cobia, persimmon, sake vinaigrette

 

Slow cooked pumpkin, egg yolk, grains, miso

 

Pan roasted John Dory, pine mushrooms, stacciatella, hazelnut, leek

 

Aged duck breast, carrot, fennel, buckwheat

 

Whipped passionfruit and lemon curd with Daintree chocolate and burnt meringue

The appetisers were both the highlight and the lowlight of the meal.  The mussel with goats cheese appetizers were surprisingly the dish of the day - elegant but still bursting with flavour. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said about the wrapped fig (the fig lacked in any natural sweetness and would have been complimented better by stronger/saltier flavour such as a prosciutto) and the miso cucumber with poppy and sesame seeds (which was both tasteless and boring). 

Luckily it was all uphill from there. Aside from the mussel appetizer, the dish of the day was the cobia. The fish melted in the mouth and was complimented beautifully by the creaminess of the goats cheese and the tartness of the persimmon. 

Not a dish I would usually order, the slow cooked pumpkin was also a dish which was both plated elegantly and was a textual delight.

 

The John Dory was cooked perfectly and was paired beautifully with the pine mushrooms and edible flowers from the garden which added a layered, earthy tone.

However, the aged duck breast was slightly on the disappointing side. Whilst the meat was deliciously flavoured (as was the rest of the dish), the skin was far from crispy and my piece of meat was tough and chewy.
 

The grande finale was as impressive as the mains. Whilst I have a cocoa allergy, the staff were only too happy to offer me a substitute for the desert - poached apples with vanilla bean ice-cream and cinnamon crumb.  The apples were poached perfectly, the ice-cream rich creamy and cinnamon crumb added the required texture to make it overall an exceptional dish.

 

The staff at Montalto are as exceptional as the food - warm, friendly and attentive, they were everything you would expect from a chef hat restaurant.

Aside from its formal dining area and pizza café, Montalto also offers packed picnics for its designated picnic areas between 1 October and 30 April each year - an idea I will be keeping in my pocket for those warmer months.
 

With its elegant and refined food, exceptional staff and stunning location, Montalto is without a doubt the new fave.

Food: 4.5/5

Venue: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Total: 14.5/15

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

AMBA

AMBA on Chapel Street is a cosy oasis tucked away from the blistery cold - with its modern lighting, sporadic greenery and wooden features, this breakfast/brunch venue is both trendy and inviting.

Eggs benedict isn't usually the most beautiful dish on the menu, but somehow AMBA managed to take the cake. The eggs were poached perfectly, the salmon generous and the hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy - delicious!

A breakfast is not complete without a side of hash browns (especially when a mild hangover is involved) and AMBA managed to again deliver. Crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside - these golden little morsels were an absolute gem. 

Whilst only 6 or so months old, with such a beautiful decor and menu, AMBA will definitely be sticking around.  

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Venue: 4/5

Total: 12.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon 

497 Chapel Street, South Yarra

 

The New Fave dine courtesy of AMBA

Misuzu's

Misuzu's is without a doubt an Albert Park institution. Known for its signature lanterns dressing up the trees just metres from its doors, Misuzu's has been serving up Japanese cuisine to its patrons for years.

Whilst we didn't have a booking, Misuzu's still managed to squeeze us in on a Friday night in the upstairs room (which, unfortunately, lacks some of the warmth and vibe the downstairs counterpart has to offer).

To eat we shared the spicy tuna sushi, the eggplant with sweet miso, the prawn wontons and for a main, the spicy wagyu beef.

The starters were the stand out - the prawns in the wontons were plump, juicy and fresh, the sushi full of flavour and the eggplant just melted in the mouth (although the tofu sitting on top was a peculiar addition).

The main was pleasant but lacked in any form of spice - if you are trying to sell yourself as the "spicy" wagyu, at least try and carry a tiny kick of heat. 

Misuzu's is by no means a cheap night out (and has terrible lighting for photos), but with such potential in the starters, it will remain on my list of candidates for a local night out.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point. 

7 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park 

 

San Antone

Having a Texan father, if you promise me a Texan BBQ, you had better deliver! Luckily for San Antone, they passed the test.

Firstly (and some would say most importantly) they have red and white wine on tap - and it's actually pretty good. A litre beaker of the Shiraz will only set you back $46.

But the highlight of the night was the desert. Whilst it's no secret that I'm not usually the biggest desert fan, the Peach cobbler and the Banana cream pie are definitely worth saving room for. 

As for the rest of the meal, we shared the elote corn crema, the Texas beef chilli, chicken jalapeño and cheddar sausage, pork rib tips, Mac n cheese and coleslaw.

Coming out as a bubbling cauldron of roasted corn, charred poblano and melted string cheese, the corn crema was a highlight of the night. The soft tortilla wraps that came with it was an odd match though and it would have been paired better with a something along the lines of a crunchy tortilla.

Surprisingly the chicken, jalapeño and cheese sausage was another highlight of the night - full of flavour, I would highly recommend including one in your order. The rib tips however were the low light of the night. Whilst the flavours were by no means unpleasant, the bones scattered throughout the timade it difficult to eat and the meat wasn't exactly tender.

With staff that make you feel right at home from the minute you walk through the door, San Antone is definitely on the repeat attendance list. However, they do take bookings and I would highly recommend you make one as they often have a line weaving out their doors.

Food: 4/5

Service: 5/5

Venue: 3.5/5

Total: 12.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon!

Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street,Southbank, Melbourne