Bistro Guillaume

Bistro Guillaume in a word? Dissapointing.  For the exxy pricetag, you would expect this French inspired restaurant to serve up delicious food, and offer friendly and attentive service.  Unfortunately, what you actually get is service that is not only slow, but is rude (taking them half an hour to even offer us the drinks list) and food that is mediocre at best.

$25 will get you the "In-House Smoked Salmon, Dill Cream and Brioche", which is actually just a small slither of salmon with a burnt piece of dry homebrand white toast.

$39 will get you a piece of duck that is so overcooked and dry, it will be a challenge to chew, let along try to cut it with your knife and fork.

However, if you find yourself dragged to Bistro Guillaume on some sort of work event or the like, both the oysters and the steak tartar are excellent choices (might have something to do with the fact that they aren't actually cooked - removing the risk of overcooking).

It is fair to say that this place is not on my recommendation list.

Food: 2/5
Service: 1.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 6.5/515
Verdict: Don't bother - it's not worth the calories

Hofbrauhaus

For a little slice of October Fest all year long, head down to Hofbrauhaus on Market Lane in Melbourne. With live music Thursday to Sunday (including tracks such as the chicken dance, which will score you a free shot of schnapps if you dance along), bucket loads of character and costumed waitresses that serve you with beaming smiles, Hofbrauhaus will keep you entertained and feel welcomed from the minute you walk through the door. 

Serving up all your Bavarian favourites, the menu consists of dishes such as Bratwurst, Bretzel and Kesseler. For me, I couldn’t go past trying the classic Hahnchenschnitzel with mushroom sauce, served with a side, salad chips and haus-made Bavarian mayonaise - absolutely delicious. 

However, the surprising standout of the night was by far the Kasesoatzle. Would could be coined as the Bavarian version of Mac n cheese, this dish of Haus-made German egg noodles baked with fresh herbs, cream and cheese, comes out piping hot in its griddle pan, offering up the perfect mix of creaminess in its cheesy German pasta and crunch in its fried onions on top. For good measure, the dish also contains a scattering of spinach and cherry tomatoes, so you can somewhat convince yourself you’re being healthy. 

Hofbrauhaus should also get accolades for its spot on ratio of strudel to ice cream. Too many places think that one tiny scoop of icecream is enough to accompany this dish, however Hofbrauhaus has you sorted, offering ice cream, custard and cream with its Apfelstrudel. Whilst the apples could have been cooked a little longer, it was still a tasty dish.

 With its jovial vibe, delicious food, and incredibly friendly service, Hofbruahaus should definitely be on your list to visit soon. 

Food: 4/5

Venue: 4/5

Service: 4/5 

Total: 12/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon 

The new fave dined courtesy of Hofbrauhaus 

 

Bahari The Hellenic Palate

I used to be under the misconception that really good Greek food was hard to find South Side - after trying Bahari The Hellenic Palate on Swan Street in Richmond, my misconception was quickly corrected.  Serving up a variety of mouthwatering Greek inspired dishes, the venue is casual enough to make it feel homely and welcoming, but still special enough to make it feel like a treat.

With the pita bread coming out slightly crispy and hot, he trio of dips (Tzaziki, Melitzansolata and Taramosalata) with pita bread is a must for your order.

The Saganaki with oregano and lemon is another non-negotiable menu item for your order.  One of the best Saganaki's I've had in Melbourne, it comes out piping hot, whilst being crispy on the outside and oozy on the in.

The chips could have done with more of a crunch, however the 'Pantzarosalata' Beetroot Salad with chard, mint, roasted walnuts, crumbled feta, garlic and yogurt was perfect just the way it was.

The hardest part of your time at Baharai will be picking what to eat from the menu - definitely a place worth visiting more than once.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 12/15

Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Cowderoy's Dairy

So I'd expect to get a good burger from a specialty burger chain or my local fish and chip shop - but what I didn’t expect was to get such a delicious burger from my new local cafe, Cowderoy's Dairy. 

Cowderoy's Dairy in St Kilda is like a little slice of suburbia in the (nearly) inner city. With a park situated next door and a plethora of outdoor seating, it’s the perfect place to take the kids, or stop in for a morning coffee after the morning stroll.

The menu consists of all the items you’d usually expect from a good suburban cafe - scones and slices, pasties and pies, hot soup and as mentioned above, to my surprise an absolutely incredible 'Milk Bar Burger' which comprises of a house made premium wagyu beef pattie, lettuce, tomato, caramelised onion, bacon, cheddar, seeded mustard and home made BBQ sauce all on a brioche bun.  The side serve of beer battered chips are also note worthy - golden and crunchy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the in, they are the epitome of what a good chip should be.



Perfect for a brekki, brunch or lunch, Cowderoy's Dairy is definitely on my recommendation list.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 11.5/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

 

Shanklin Cafe

Shanklin Cafe is a little ray of sunshine amongst the leafy streets of Hawthorn. A favourite amongst the locals, Shanklin serves up all day breakfast, lunch, coffees and juices, and variety of sweet treats.  But it's not just the food that makes this place such a favourite - the warm and welcoming staff will make you feel at home from the minute you walk through the doors. 

On this occasion, I could not go past opting for the beef burger with double cheese, french mustard, coleslaw and pickles, served with chips.  With its well seasoned juicy pattie, fresh coleslaw and extra crispy chips - it's definitely a good option from their lunch time menu. 

And for someone who isn’t usually a sweets fan, this place has me converted - I don’t even know what was in this raspberry slice concoction but it was something along the lines of heaven and absolute bliss. 

With its exceptionally friendly staff, delicious food and great atmosphere - Shanklin Cafe should definitely be on your list if looking for somewhere to breakfast, lunch or brunch in Hawthorn. 

Food: 3.5/5

Service: 5/5

Venue: 3.5/5

Total: 12/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

The New Fave dined courtesy of Shanklin Cafe 

 

Rock Sugar

I’ve never been a big spring roll fan - it’s not that have anything personal against them, but unlike many other Melbournites’ Uber eats orders, the trusty spring roll generally never appears on my order.  But Rock Sugar’s spring rolls have me converted - crisp on the outside, rich and fragrant on the inside - these delicious little morsels are just bursting with flavour and are without a doubt the best spring rolls in Melbourne. 

But back to the venue. Rock Sugar is vibrant but trendy Thai inspired restaurant situated in South Yarra – think bright neon lights on exposed brick walls, and features of neon pink scattered through the restaurant.  Their menu consists of many of your Thai favourites (including massaman curry with beef that’s been slow cooked for 18 hours) as well as a number of dishes with a modern twist (including soft shell crab buns with pickled papaya, green onion, chili jam and peanuts).

The sides on offer also don’t disappoint – including a fresh and fragrant papaya salad, and piping hot roti served with a delicious satay peanut sauce.





But whatever you do, make sure to save room for desert - one of their offerings being a large ball of coconut ice cream sandwiched between two slices of warm cinnamon donut – an absolutely drool worthy desert that is nothing less than memorable.



With its friendly and attentive staff, notable wine list and delicious food - Rock Sugar is definitely a must if you’re in the South Yarra area craving Thai food.

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

The New Fave dined courtesy of Rock Sugar