Taxi Kitchen

Whilst Taxi Kitchen at Federation Square is slightly shabby around some of its edges, there is no question that it serves up some exceptional food. With a view that just screams Melbourne, the menu is Asian inspired, offering both an a la carte menu or a very reasonably priced $85 six course tasting menu. 

Unable to go past the tasting menu, our starters consisted of sake washed tuna with soy bean pesto and yuzu jelly, flathead tails with seeded mayonnaise, and candied pork papaya with red nam jim.  All three of these fresh and fragrant starters impressed with their impeccably balanced flavours of sweetness, saltiness and spice, and certainly set a high bar for the rest of the meal. 

Luckily the Crispy skin salmon and the Szechuan duck with hot Vietnamese salad and 5 spice caramel were just as exceptional - both of the proteins were cooked to perfection and married well with their accompanying salads. 

For the finale, our desert of Zokoko white chocolate cream, goats' yogurt foam, honey oat crumble and berry sorbet came out looking like a garden party.  Delicate but still decadent, it was a sweet but refreshing way to finish the meal.  

So with such exceptional food, why have I coined it slightly shabby I hear you ask? Well for one, the venue itself needs a bit of a face lift - the couch I was sitting on was so bally I could feel it through my dress. And other than two wonderful gentleman we were lucky enough to have brief encounters with, the service was slow and impersonal  However, with such good food, it's still worth a try if you're in the Fed Square area. 

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 2.5/5

Venue: 2.5/5

Total: 9.5/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying at some point 

 

Trippy Taco

Looking for something cheap, cheerful, and vegetarian (so that us meat-eaters can convince ourselves we're being totally healthy despite the lashings of sour cream and cheese), then look no further than Trippy Taco in St Kilda. With a surprisingly low score on Zomato, the Mexican inspired vegetarian cuisine at Trippy Taco is absolutely fresh and delicious.  With a chilled, no frills vibe (active wear is totally acceptable), Trippy Tacos offers the array of usual Mexican suspects (think tacos, nachos, burritos etc), as well as extensive cocktail menu at very reasonable prices.

The best thing about Trippy Taco? They are not shy with their condiments and sauces - yep, that's a whole giant tub of sour cream served with their deliciously seasoned fries - an absolute must-order on your visit to Trippy Taco.

Their burritos (fresh and filling - who would have thought they contained no meat) and corn on the cob (just look at that chunk of cheese!) are also excellent choices - especially because both are served up in a way that's very easy to share, which is really just an excuse to order more things from the menu!

And who would have thought we had an avocado crisis in Melbourne when you're served up a whopping half of an avocado in Trippy Taco's side salad at an incredibly minimal price.

Great fresh food at reasonable prices - even if you're not a vegetarian, Trippy Taco is definitely a go-to if you're in St Kilda looking for a casual place to eat.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Attica

With three Hats, the title of Best Restaurant in Australia, and ranked number 32 restaurant in the world -  Ben Shewry's Attica was definitely on the bucket list. And it doesn't take long after being whisked to your white table-clothed table by Attica's incredibly friendly staff to see why this Australian icon has won such a multitude of awards.  The term "magical" is definitely a start in explaining our incredible evening in this Ripponlea venue, with terms such as "exemplary" and "flawless" also appropriate.

Attica's Australian-inspired set-menu delights (and surprises), offering the likes of native ants, whipped emu egg and possum meat from Tasmania. For our starters, we were served (as named in the menu) Tac Oz, Aged Santa Clause Melon, Pearl cooked in Paperbark, Smashed Avocado on Toast, An Imperfect History of Ripponlea, Pav, Scampi and Wattlesoy, Chewy Carrots and Mutton Shell (black lipped abalone).

Tac Oz

Aged Santa Clause Melon

Pearl Cooked in Paper Bark

Smashed Avocado on Toast

Scampi and Wattlesoy

An Imperfect History of Ripponlea

Pav

Chewy Carrots

Mutton Shell

Whilst everything was delicious (and everyone had their different favorites), the Tac Oz (taco filled with native leaves) the Smashed Avocado on Toast (definitely not going to be able to afford a house eating this bad boy) and the black sausage tart in the Imperfect History of Ripponlea were the highlights of the starters for me.  The biggest surprise, however, was the Pav stuffed with cream cheese, and topped with a banana and ants.  Yes, I said ants.  However, once getting over the texture, the ants were surprisingly delicious.  The carrots were also a surprise - what appeared to be a rather uninspired "just a plate of carrots" actually consisted of an incredibly juicy and flavour filled dish that made it onto one of my fellow diner's top 3 dishes of the night.

The starters were followed by Hand Picked Crab and Sour Damper, Kangaroo Wattles and Waxflower, All Parts of the Pumpkin and Grilled Marron with Desert Lime.  I always thought that I wasn't a fan of crab - turns out I just haven't had incredibly good crab before as the Hand Picked Crab, which you could stuff into the fresh hot sour damper (after a smothering of butter of course), was ridiculously delicious.

Hand Picked Crab and Sour Damper

Kangaroo Wattles and Waxflower

All Parts of the Pumpkin

Grilled Marron with Desert Lime

About half way through our meal we noticed that the diners surrounding us started to mysteriously disappear, only to pop back up at their tables in about half an hour's time.  To be honest, when we saw the first table go, we thought they may have nicked off without paying their bill.  But to our absolute delight, we soon came to realise that the disappearing tables were not being led to the slaughter, but instead were taken to Attica's backyard garden, where we were met with a cold beer (or 3) and a classic Aussie BBQ cooking up a dish coined "Pests of the Neighborhood" (aka, possum sausages - served up in white bread of course - Bunnings eat your heart out).

To finish the evening we were served a Camel Milk Ice (served with more ants - just when you thought the servings of insects were over for the evening) and a Whipped Emu Egg with Quandong (which tasted as magnificent as it looked).

From it's incredible staff that made us feel welcome from the minute we walked through the doors (including an outstanding Sommelier), to its exquisitely mouth watering food and wine, it's no surprise that Attica is the New Fave.

Food: 5/5
Service 5/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 14/15
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as Number 1 on the To Do List.

Red Spice Road

Red Spice Road is an oldie but a goldy - for years it has offered consistently delicious Asian fusion cuisine for an incredibly reasonable price.  From just $29.50 you can stuff yourself with Red Spice Road's banquet which promises an array of fresh, delicious and fragrant Asian inspired dishes that will leave you waddling out the door.

Red Spice Road's pork belly is famous for a reason - served up with fresh herbs, chilli caramel and black vinegar, the pork is cooked to perfection and pairs beautifully with the fresh herbs and sticky chilli sauce.  The stir fried rice noodles with chicken and the crispy tofu were also highlights of the meal.

However, to be fair, every dish was a winner, with the meatballs and Thai beef salad also excelling in the flavour department.

The venue itself consists largely of very large long shared tables, meaning it's not the ideal place if you're wanting to have any form of confidential discussions with your fellow diners.  However, if your conversation is free for all (or if you're lucky enough to hit a quiet day and don't have to share your table) Red Spice Road should definitely be a considered a top contender when choosing a mid week lunch spot.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

The Kettle Black

The Kettle Black in South Melbourne is part of the Higher Ground/Top Paddock family, and similar to its siblings, is located in anything but your run of the mill venue, situated in a rather grand white Victorian style building. Serving up breakfast, brunch and lunch options, its menu includes the iconic hotcake with ricotta, blueberries, double cream seeds and nuts (also available at Higher Ground and Top Paddock) and the incredibly delicious looking chilli scrambled eggs with Mooloolaba Crab.

Known for its Instagram worthy menu items, I was actually quite disappointed when my avocado on toast came out looking less than grand, with my companion even commenting "I hate making my own food".  However, on constructing the individual elements of lime, kelp salt and Meredith's goats fetta, the result was actually quite amazing - a delicious dish that shows how simple but fresh flavours can be married magnificently together.

With its friendly and attentive staff, stunning venue and tasty food, I will definitely be back to The Kettle Black if I'm looking for somewhere for brunch in South Melbourne. However, as with many Melbourne breakfast and lunch spots, if you're heading to The Kettle Black, be prepared for a short wait - at least there is a coffee cart out the front to keep you entertained!

Food: 4.5/5
Service:4/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Pacific Rim Thai

It was no surprise to me when I heard our neighbouring table comment "no need to see the menu" as we sat down to eat at this Albert Park institution.  Situated on the corner of Ferrars and Vic Ave for as long as I can remember, there is a reason why the locals keep coming back to Pacific Rim Thai - and no, it's not just because the food is fresh and full of flavour - Pacific Rim Thai is proof that you don't have to go to a fine dining restaurant to get top quality service.  Not only were the staff incredibly friendly and attentive, they made sure our water carafe was never empty and asked questions such as "are you ready for your mains, or would you like to wait a while?".

Offering all the usual Thai culprits, on this occasion we couldn't go past the vegetable curry puffs, the roti with peanut sauce, the Pad Se Ewe and the Penang Beef Curry.  The thing that really sets Pacific Rim Thai apart from the rest is the freshness of their food and the inclusion of vegetables.  For instance, the vegetable curry puffs were filled with actual chunks of real vegetables (not a blended paste like you get at some places), and the Penang Beef Curry, which is usually served up with a token potato or carrot, was stuffed full of grilled vegetables including capsicum and zucchini - delicious!

Pacific Rim Thai's roti bread is also some of the best going around - crisp and buttery, it is served with a very generous portion of peanut sauce.

Offering a byo policy, Pacific Rim Thai is definitely my recommendation for Thai restaurants if you're in the Albert Park/Middle Park area.

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

Rosetta Ristorante

Rosetta in a word? Devine. Brought to you by Neil Perry, this exquisite Italian fine dining venue not only has an incredible authentic vibe, the service is nothing short of impeccable. Even the complimentary bread makes Rosetta stand out from the crowd - offering three freshly baked sorts, including an olive and sundried tomato focaccia option.

To start with we shared the Charcoal grilled prawn, calamari, octopus, mussels and Rock Flathead with lemon, capers and chili. Not only a pretty face, the well presented seafood dish was fresh, flavoursome and cooked to perfection.

Whilst some say pasta is not generally a summer dish, with Rosetta's extensive range of mouth watering pastas, it is certainly not a dish that can be missed. On this occasion I couldn't go past the classic tagliatelle ragu bolognese.  Whilst not quite claiming the title of the best ragu bolognese I've ever had, it was still rich and delicious, and the pasta was cooked well.  It also looked far more elegant when it came out than what the picture below shows, which is the aftermath of being drowned in fresh parmesan.

With an outdoor terrace perfect for a long boozy lunch or a hot summer's night - Rosetta's is definitely not a restaurant to be missed this warmer season.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Total: 14/15
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number one on the To Do list