Laksa Bar

With my favourite laksa place being miles away (Laksa King in Flemington), I was on the look out for something a bit closer to home. So I had high hopes going into Laksa Bar, hoping it would be the new go to. Unfortunately on this occasion Laksa Bar didn't earn itself the title of being the new fave. Was the food nice? Yes. But was it anything mind blowing? Unfortunately not.

With bar service and self serve cutlery, this venue had all the makings of a Melbourne cheap eats dining institution. The highlight of the night for me was definitely the free bibs which came the bowls of Laksa - such a simple but clever idea!

On this occasion I ordered the veggie and tofu Laksa. The flavour of soup was nice enough, and the crisps were a delicious touch, but there were giant chunks of raw onion through it and my 'veggies' consisted of one tiny piece of greenery, one little piece of baby corn and a couple of raw mushrooms sliced up.

It is definitely times like this I wish I was a fan of soft shell crab as that dish looked magnificently delicious - whilst I have no idea how it tasted, from looks alone of the bowls pouring out of the kitchen, I'd highly recommend soft shell crab fans give it a go.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 8.5/15
Verdict: don't bother - unless you are a soft shell crab fan, then I would say this place is worth giving a try at some point

Sake Jr

With its long lines, all of the hype, and the reputation of its mother, I had high hopes going into Sake Jr! But what I was met with was a meal that I thought was just 'ok'.

Set across two levels with an abundance of seating, Sake Jr serves up Asian inspired  bowls which are along the lines of a 'choose your own adventure'. You first pick is your base, which is a choice between rice, salad or bao - then you get to choose your protein - with options along the lines of popcorn shrimp and crispy sesame soy pork. To finish it off, you get to top your bowl off with a variety of vegetables, garnishes and sauces.

On this occasion I ordered the brown rice bowl, with raw tuna and avocado as the protein, sprouts, corn, bok choy and blistered beans as my vegies and Japanese salad dressing as my sauce. Unfortunately, after patiently waiting in line for 10-15 minutes, all of the vats of proteins were definitely on the sparse side and, rather than Sake Jr filling these up, I was served a couple of tiny chunks of tuna with no avocado. The dish was also very dry - sitting on their upper level, we didn't realise they had all of the sauces they had on offer downstairs which the bowls definitely needed.

With its super friendly staff, and unique (well at least in this part of the city) lunch concept - is sake Jr worth the lining up - at the moment I'm not sure I'm convinced, but I'd be willing to give it another try.


Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3/5
Venue: 3/5

Total: 8.5/15

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

 

555 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD

Donovans

Donovan's in St Kilda goes hand in hand with a champagne filled sunny Sunday afternoon. It's draw card is by far its location - situated right on St Kilda beach it not only offers incredible views while dining, it also offers a beach front deck scattered with lounges for diners to lap up the St Kilda vibe with a drink either post or pre dining.

Offering up Modern Australian cuisine, the menu isn't exactly on the cheap side - serving up beer battered Fish and Chips for $45.00. But the price tag soon becomes worth it as your settled in by incredibly attentive and friendly staff, and treated like your dining at nothing less than a fine dining restaurant.

On this occasion I couldn't go past the linguine with chilli, garlic, seafood and Moreton Bay bug. The dish however, was a bit flat on the flavours and could definitely have done with some more herbs, chilli and garlic - and a couple of my mussels unfortunately tasted a touch less than fresh.

My friend ordered the crispy skin Cone Bay barramundi which looked absolutely sensational - with its sautéed spinach, cherry tomato and caper 'acqua pazza', it looked just like Christmas on a plate.

But a word of warning, don't order the chips in expectation of being served French fries - whilst still tasty, the 'House chips with whole garlic and rosemary sea salt" are actually little baked potatoes and are somewhat a disappointment if looking forward to the 'French' version of the fry.

With its incredible location and its relaxing Summer's vibe, Donavon's is definitely still a contender though if you're looking for a long Sunday lunch in the warmer months.

Food: 3/5
Décor: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point.

Cookie

Situated in the Curtin House (home to The Toff,  Rooftop Bar and Messe Verde), and serving up Thai cuisine, Cookie could definitely be classified as a Melbourne institution.

Offering formal-ish, bar or 'beer hall' seating, the venue has a colourful, fun, surely-it's-Friday vibe which is suitable for any occasion. The bubbly, attentive staff only add to Cookie's value, making you feel right at home the minute you walk through Cookie's doors.

The roti and the green curry with chicken and corn meatballs were the dishes of the night for me - the green curry was rich, creamy and punching with flavour, and the roti buttery and flaky.

On this occasion, however, unfortunately the chicken in the Pad Thai was quite fatty (which was such a shame as the rest of the dish was incredibly delicious and full of flavour) and the salt and pepper squid limp and verging on soggy.

Nonetheless, with its cheerful vibe and reasonably price tag, I'd definitely still be willing to give Cookie another try (especially if it's a Friday with the Toff just up the stairs!)

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point.

Maedaya

Maedaya had been on my To Do list for quite some time, and thank goodness I finally got around to trying it. Whether it was the menus served up on ipads, or the semi-private dining booths for 2-3 patrons, there was definitely something incredibly unique and charming about this venue.

Situated on Bridge Road in Richmond, Maedaya serves up a delicious array of fresh and affordable Japanese cuisine. On this occasion, we couldn't help but stuff our faces and tried the okonomiyaki with cheese, the crispy prawn bao, the double salmon roll, the agedashi tofu and the potato and cheese croquette.

Whilst everything was incredibly delicious, the agadashi tofu was my fellow diner's favourite dish of the night, where as I couldn't go past the freshness and flavour of the double salmon roll.

 

If looking for something on the richer side (and not watching the waistline), the okonomiyaki with cheese and/or the potato and cheese croquette are both excellent options. And for those who have a sweet tooth, the prawn bao with its oozing sweet chilli sauce is just the dish for you.

The service was just as impressive as the food - friendly, attentive and informative, they were an absolute pleasure from the minute we walked through the doors.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Total: 14/15
Verdict: The New Fave

398-400 Bridge Road, Richmond

The Winey Cow

Usually it's a good sign when a café is jam packed and you actually have to wait for a table. However, I quickly learnt that this is not always the case if you are heading somewhere down Mornington Main Street in the peak of summer.

Whilst filled to the brim, The Winey Cow was, in a word, "disappointing". I ordered the 'Brunch Stack', which consisted of two poached eggs, bacon, potato rosti, avocado and haloumi with rocket and lemon hollandaise. Unfortunately, the eggs were rock hard (not even a tiny bit runny), the rosti floury and the worst part, the avocado didn't even taste like real avocado - it tasted like the cheap avocado dip you can get from the supermarket.

The service was also incredibly slow - taking about 20 minutes for anyone to take our order, and then a further 30 minutes for our coffees to arrive. Being busy in a "busy period" is no excuse for poor service.  It should have been no surprise that they were going to be busy over the summer holidays and in response they should have put on more staff.

It surprised me when looking at The Winey Cow's other reviews that most people had come away speaking of quite a positive experience. So perhaps it was just a bad day for The Winey Cow team - but still, no excuse -  it was such a disappointing experience, I will not be back.

Food:2/5
Service: 2.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 8/5
Verdict: Don't bother

Coda

After my previous flawless dining experience with Coda, this Asian inspired restaurant quickly became one of  my 'New Faves' in Melbourne. Unfortunately, on this occasion of dining, the same praise of 'flawlessness' could not be said.

Situated in the foodie precinct at 141 Flinders Lane, and sister to Tonka and Oter, Coda is a Melbourne institution. On this occasion we ordered the calamari, green papaya and cucumber salad with nahm jim, peanuts and crispy anchovies, the sizzling plate of Moreton Bay bugs, mussels and XO sauce, the roasted yellow duck curry and the buffalo mozzarella zucchini frittera with mint and pea salad.

The dish of the night was surprisingly the zucchini frittera. A dish epitomising spring, it was fresh, vibrant and full of flavour.

The calamari papaya salad was the biggest disappointment - the calamari was tough and incredibly fishy, contaminating the enjoyment of the rest of the meal.

The Moreton Bay bugs and the yellow duck curry however, were cooked to perfection, with the duck mouth-wateringly shredding off the bone.

Whilst always crowded and sometimes booked out weeks in advance, on my previous visit to Coda, you wouldn't have guessed that they were filled to the brim with the staff being incredibly attentive. However, on this occasion the service was slow and we found ourselves having to waive down someone to place our food order and to fill up our wine.

Nonetheless, with its incredible food, and in light of my precious dining experience, I would definitely be willing to give Coda another chance.

Service: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

Touche Hombre

 

Not only is Touche Hombre in my opinion the best Mexican restaurant in Melbourne, it also serves one of the best plate of nachos I've ever had.

With a casual, eclectic 'day of the dead' vibe, the place oozes character and Melbourne charm. And the staff are just as charming - warm and welcoming, they are an absolute pleasure from the minute you walk through Touché Hombre's doors.

There are three nachos varieties, or 'chilaquiles' as they call them. However, with its lashings of topping and juicy pulled pork packed full of flavour, whilst probably one of the ugliest dishes I have ever had, the braised pork hock and beans nachos is definitely one of the best nachos I've ever had.



The tacos are also a must. Coming out looking as festive as the vibe, and packing more punch then the usual taco seen by the likes of Paco Tacos and Newmarket - the pork, fish, beef brisket or sweet potato are all excellent options.

 Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, an extensive tequila list and an impressive array of hot sauces - Touché Hombre should definitely be on your short list for a night out in Melbourne.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 13.5/15
 Verdict: The new fave - put it as number one on the to do list.