The Duke of Wellington - The Rooftop

Is it a parma, is it a lasagna, no....it's a Lamargiana.  That's right, The Duke of Wellington on Flinders Street in Melbourne serves up a classic Aussie parma topped with lasagna.  But before we get to this Aussie/Italian creation, first to the venue. Melbourne's iconic Duke of Wellington is spread upon three levels - a casual bar at the bottom, a restaurant in the middle and a rooftop bar at the top.

Being a glorious warm Melbourne night, we decided to hit up the Rooftop.Whilst the vibe up there was definitely buzzing, and the view of Federation Square was quite beautiful, the food itself was a bit disappointing. My fellow diners went with the normal parma which they commented was "okay but not great".  I of course had to give the Larmagiana a try. Whilst the chicken itself was plump and juicy, the overall dish lacked any real seasoning or flavour - indeed, a frozen McCain lasagne has a lot more flavour than what was atop this parma.  I also thought it was a bit steep for $31 when the only real addition to the classic $26 parma was two sheets of pasta and the smallest dash of spaghetti sauce.  

 If you're heading to the Forum for a show on a warm balmy night, or on your way to the footy, the Rooftop of The Duke is definitely worth a drink - but perhaps find somewhere else to eat beforehand.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Value for money: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying the Rooftop for a drink at some point if you heading to the Forum or the footy.

Code Black Coffee - Brunswick

When I first saw that Code Black Coffee had four venues across the city, my first thought was "crap, my friend has asked me to a mildly fancier version of the Coffee Club".  But to my absolute pleasure (and surprise), Code Black Coffee is miles above the Coffee Club - the two aren't even in the same league.

The Code Black cafe (slash coffee roaster) in Brunswick oozes industrial-chic, offering up a drool-worthy menu with the likes of truffled eggs benedict with mushroom duxelles, sausage and black truffle hollandaise on offer.

Whilst perhaps not the most insta-worthy meal on their menu, the Buttermilk fried rockling burger with japlepenos, green chilli mayo, cheese, cos lettuce and dill pickles, was the best fish burger I have ever had. A big call, I know - but the freshness of the fish, the fluffiness of the bun, and the richness of the generously smothered sauce made me eat it SUPER SLOW as I knew I would be sad when my meal was over.

My friend went with the slow cooked lamb shoulder with roasted baby carrots, babaganoush, sumac tabbouleh and poached eggs. Not only did the dish look beautiful - after being allowed a sneaky taste, I am pleased to confirm that it was also delicious.


Oh, and the potato tots are non-negotiable. Crisp on the outside, fluffy on this inside, it was definitely a rookie error of mine agreeing to share.

Whilst the venue was packed to the brim, our meals were quick and the service was friendly - it's is an absolute must if you find yourself in the area.

Food: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Total: 18.5/20
Verdict:The New Fave - put it as number 1 on the To Do list.

Enter Neighbour

Hitting up Enter Neighbour in Camberwell on a Friday or Saturday night is a bit like going to a good friend's dinner party - well, that is, a good friend that can make exceptional cocktails, play live music and can cook delicious food.  But it's Enter Neighbour's warm and friendly vibe, homely interior, and even a collection of board games on offer that makes it feel like you're right at home amongst friends from the minute you walk through their door. 

Whilst Enter Neighbour is usually known for its breakfast and brunch menu, on Friday and Saturday nights they offer a tapas menu. On this occasion we tried the arancini balls, the polenta chips with truffle aoili and the Nanban glazed tenders.The Nanban glazed tenders were definitely the highlight - the chicken was plump and juicy on the inside, and they tenders were smothered with a rich and flavoursome glaze - delicious!

However, whatever you do, be sure to save room for the cheese platter - with the ability to choose either 1, 2 or 3 of their 4 cheeses on offer. Whilst I am quite partial to my hard cheese, the Brique D'Affonoise was nothing short of exceptional.

If you're in the mood for a good glass of wine (or cocktail!) and cheese, in a venue that makes you feel instantly at home, then Enter Neighbour is the place to be.


Food: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5
Total: 16/20
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Tsuta Sushi

With my love of burgers, and my love of sushi, I thought how could I possibly go wrong with trying a sushi burger - that's right, a sushi burger! And that's exactly what's on offer at Japanese eatery Tsuta Sushi on Hardware Lane in the city. 

With a venue that's about as casual as your fast food sushi joints, I was admittedly surprised by the exceptional table service, and the presence of sake and wine on the menu.

Ordering one of their sushi burgers was obviously a must. Whilst the seaweed itself was a little dry around the edges (obviously due to its positioning), once I got into the crux of the burger I definitely became a sushi burger convert - juicy and flavorsome, it's definitely something I would come back for.

Being a cold night, I also couldn't go past trying their katsu curry - and I'm glad that I did - the chicken was crisp and juicy, and the curry was rich and fragrant. And for all of those udon noodle lovers out there - good news, you can also order your curry with udon rather than the classic rice.

If you're looking for some cheep and cheerful Japanese that does not lack in service or flavour, then I would definitely recommend hitting up Tsuta Sushi.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Value for money: 5/5
Total: 18/20
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Greek Me

Greek Me is the sort of place you look forward to going back to even before you’ve finished your main meal. With a Greek inspired menu that's nothing less than drool-worthy, this casual but classy new Middle Park eatery is sure to do well.

The double saganaki is non negotiable (that’s right, I said DOUBLE saganaki). Why have one cheese when you can have two? 

In terms of mains, the lamb shoulder is also pretty hard to go past -  juicy, well seasoned and falling to pieces, it’s exactly what a good chunk of lamb shoulder is meant to be. The accompanying crispy oregano seasoned chips, fresh garden salad, warm fluffy pita bread and zesty tzatziki also didn't disappoint.

With hospitality as warm as what you'd expect from a grandma, you are guaranteed to feel at home from the minute you walk through the doors. This paired with the exceptional food and it’s fantastic value makes Greek Me the new fave. 

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 5/5

Venue: 4.5/5

Value for money: 4.5/5

Total: 18.5/20

Verdict: the new fave - put it as number one on the to do list 

 

Tommy Ruff

It used to be the case that when heading to your local fish and shop, the only thing that wasn't fried on the menu was the lettuce and tomato in your burger with the lot.  With the introduction of the likes of Hunky Dory and Tank, fish and chip shops have been taken to a whole new level - offering a range of healthy, fresh and delicious seafood options.  Tommy Ruff is one such venue. With venues across Mordialloc, Windsor and Elsternwick, Tommy Ruff's menu consists of items such as seafood tacos, fresh oysters and mussel pots.

For those with the appetite, Tommy Ruff's famous Seafood Tower is hard to go past. However, on this occasion we stuck with the fish tacos and the grilled calamari.

Whilst the grilled calamari was clearly fresh and cooked well, it unfortunately came out cold. However, luckily the fish tacos delivered on the temperature, and were incredibly satisfying.

If you're in the area and in the mood for fish and chips,  then I would recommend giving Tommy Ruff a try.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying at some point