Mr Brownie Rooftop Hotel

Mr Brownie Rooftop Hotel is a delightful array of lights, sounds, smells and colours. Offering Indian inspired cuisine from chef-restaurateur Jessi Singh (think Horn Please and Daughter in Law) Mr Brownie is four stories tall offering a different style of bar on each level. 

Being Melbourne Summer, we couldn't go past trying their rooftop bar which was absolutely pumping for a Saturday night.  Service was friendly but incredibly slow - but hopefully it's just the growing pains of being open in this new post-lockdown world. The tikka chicken pizza was definitely a highlight in terms of food, but the nachos (done Indian style - and stone cold) could definitely be missed. 

Definitely a great addition to the South Melbourne bar scene, and given it's eclectic originality, one that will likely stick around for a while. 

Service: 3/5

Food: 3/5

Venue: 4/5

Total:  10/15

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

Atlas Dining

With the old saying ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ going through my head, to be honest I didn’t know quite what to expect when dining at Atlas Dining -  I mean, can a chef really not only cook, but master, a variety of cuisines? Well if you’re going to Atlas Dining, the answer is yes, he can. 

For those not familiar with concept, every 4 months or so, the cuisine at Atlas Dining changes based on the travels of Head Chef, Charlie Carrington. On our occasion, the cuisine was Indian, with a set menu for $85 consisting of:

                                                PRAWN, TAMARIND, POMEGRANATE 

                                HOUSE MADE PANEER CHEESE, DAHL, SQUID SALAD

DUCK CURRY

MANGO, SWEET MILK BALLS, SAFFRON

The squid salad was by far our least favourite, which was a bit chewy and difficult to share, and the palak paneer was also a bit bland. However, the prawns were an absolutely exquisite blend of textures and flavours, and the duck curry was just bursting with flavour. The accompanying naan bread smothered in duck fat was also a nice touch. Not being a sweet tooth, I was surprised however that my favourite dish of the night was the desert - with the syrupy blend of mangoes and cream, it was like a summer holiday in the mouth. 

For an additional $55 you can add matching wines - an absolute must based on our dining experience, with each wine coming with its own story. If you’re looking for an exquisite dining experience that’s a little different from the norm, look no further than Atlas Dining. 

Food: 4/5 

Venue: 4/5 

Value for money: 4/5 

Service: 5/5 

Total: 17/20 

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

Taquito

It’s places like Taquito in Carlton that remind me why I missed dining out in a Melbourne so much. With its great food, amazing service and fun vibe, it was definitely a great choice for a Friday night. 

What sets Taquito apart from the usual Mexican haunts in Melbourne is Taquito’s house-made tortillas and totopos. There’s no doubt that you can taste the difference it makes - especially when we were lucky enough to be served a warm crispy batch of totopos straight from the oven. So with that in mind, the Guacamole de la abuelita with totopos ($14) and a serving of the tacos (a flight of four setting you back $26) are definitely a must when ordering - with the baja syle crispy fish taco being so good, we both ordered another. 

While the churros ($12) came out like any good churro should be - warm and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside - the sauce was definitely an interesting choice, reminding me more a brandy custard to go with Christmas pudding, rather than a dipping sauce.  The churros themselves, however, were delicious. 



If you’re looking for a venue that’s elegant but trendy, service that’s friendly and efficient and food that is utterly delicious - then look no further than Taquito - which is what makes it the new fave.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 5/5
Venue: 5/5
Total: 19.5/20

Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number one on the to do list.