Betty Burgers

There’s certain places in Melbourne where you’d expect to see a long line of people waiting – I’m talking along the lines of your Mamasitas, Chin Chins and fave dumpling houses.  But a burger restaurant? When I saw Betty Burgers constant lines, I knew it was worth checking out.  And Betty’s Burgers didn’t disappoint.  

Offering a range of chicken, beef and veggie burgers, I couldn’t go past trying their ‘Spicy Chicken’ with Southern Fried Chicken, bacon, spicy pickles, lettuce, tomato, cheese and siracha mayo.  While I didn’t love the bacon in the burger, the Spicy Chicken was otherwise delicious and definitely a repeat order (sans bacon).

It would be rude to go for a burger and not have a stab at the fries, so Betty’s fries (with special sauce!) and onion rings were also the menu.  While they were some of the best onion rings I’ve had in Melbourne, I’m sad to say that the fries were on the disappointing side.

The icing on the cake for Bettys? It’s licenced so the ideal place if you’re in the mood for a cheeky beer or wine.

If you find yourself in the CBD craving a burger, Betty Burgers is definitely worth a try.  

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Venue: 3.5/5

Value for money: 3.5/5

Total: 5/15

Verdict: Love – get around to trying it soon

Two Birds One Stone

With its friendly staff, drool worthy menu and excellent coffee, it’s no surprise that Two Birds One Stone is bustling to the brim on a Saturday morning.

Two Birds’ menu embraces the Instagram age with items such as ricotta pancakes with rhubarb and raspberry compote, vanilla mascarpone, seasonal fruit and toasted pistachio ($18.50), while still staying true to classics such as eggs your way on toast ($11).

Long blacks are served with sparkling water (as they should be) and staff are quick to ask whether you’d like another coffee (when is one ever enough on a Saturday morning?)

The baked eggs with chorizo, capsicum, feta and olives with warm crispy pita ($23) are an excellent choice - especially if it’s a cold Wintery Melbourne day.



The sautéed mixed mushrooms with cauliflower, kale and goats cheese ($23) are another excellent choice - especially for all those mushie lovers out there.



A delicious brunch spot that ticks all the boxes - Two Birds One Stone is definitely on my recommendation list to check out soon.


Food: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5
Total: 17/20
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

The New Fave dined courtesy of Two Birds

 

La Porchetta - North Melbourne

Whilst some may think my blog has hit rock bottom if I'm choosing to write about Italian inspired food chain La Porchetta - my recent experience at the La Porchetta in North Melbourne made it blog-worthy.  

To start with, the food is cheap - and huge.  Offering both entree and main servings of pasta, the main size could easily feed two people.  On this occasion we went with the Gnocchi pesto and the Fettuccine Pollo e Funghi.  With its lack of flavour and overcooked gnocchi - the pesto gnocchi was unfortunately a miss. The Pollo e Funghi however, was surprisingly rich, but not too creamy, and the fettucini was cooked to perfection.

We also opted for the  Super Special with mozzarella, ham, olives, mushrooms, capsicum and hot salami.  Made just how I like dirty pizzas to be, there was loads of toppings piled high on each slice.

Cheap food (and drinks!), quick service, and massive meals - La Porchetta in North Melbourne is definitely an option if you're in the mood for some quick and dirty Italian.

Food: 3/5
Venue 3/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 14/20
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point 

Hutong Dumpling Bar

As a food blogger, I'm often asked where the best dumplings in Melbourne are.  Lucky for me, the answer is simple - Hutong Dumpling Bar.  Spanning across 3 levels, with its delicious home-made dumplings and byo wine policy, it's no surprise that the venue is always packed to the brim.

Whilst probably the least attractive dish on the menu, Hutong's spring onion pancakes are actually out of this world - crisp on the outside, and incredibly light and fluffy on the inside, they are the epitome of the saying that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

With their soft and tender wrappers, and fragrant soup filling, Hutong's Xiao-long Bao are also non-negotiable.

Of course, you can't go wrong with any of Hutong's dumplings - with their pan fried pork dumplings (which aren't too greasy!) and their chilli wontons (which have a delicious kick) also being excellent options.

Cheap, cheerful and offering Melbourne's best dumplings - if you haven't yet tried Hutong, be sure to head there soon.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Value for money: 5/5
Total: 17/20
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon.

The Rising Sun Hotel

In terms of Melbourne'a pub scene, nothing much beats a place that offers live music.  Often packed to the rafters, this hidden gem tucked away among the leafy streets of South Melbourne offers live Jazz music on Tuesday and Thursday nights, as well as a various array of other live music events throughout the year. 

Offering all the pub classics, the Rising Sun Hotel serves up the likes of fish and chips, pie of the day, veal schnitzel and of course the classic Parma. But with so much competition out there on the Parma front - what actually makes a good Parma? A big juicy piece of chicken breast is a must, so too is a generous slathering of cheese and flavoursome sauce, and a generous accompaniment of well seasoned chips that are crunchy on the outside, but light and fluffy on the inside is also a requirement. Luckily for The Rising Sun Hotel, it's Parma managed to tick all of these boxes. 

And what pub menu would be complete without an offering of sticky date pudding, and The Rising Sun Hotel's serving of this classic is both generous and delicious.



Good food, great service and great entertainment, The Rising Sun Hotel is quite the hidden gem of south Melbourne.


Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 11/15

Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point. 

 

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

Gru Thai

They say that you should never judge a book by its cover, well when it comes to Gru Thai, you shouldn’t judge a restaurant by its shop front. Looking cheap, dark and dingy from the outside - you’d be forgiven for thinking this place doubled up as a brothel. However, on walking through Gru Thai’s doors I was surprised to find a light and bright restaurant brimming with patrons.

From fish cakes to Thai green curry, Gru Thai has all of usual culprits. The drunken noodles with minced pork and green beans however was by far the highlight of the night, and definitely a dish I would go back to Gru Thai to order again.




The pad chicken satay was also on our menu for the night.  The chicken was cooked well, and the vegetables remained crisp, however the sauce was verging on watery and lacked any depth of flavour.

 

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the service was petty dismal - not only was it slow, they forgot our entrees, served two of our mains without rice, then served the last main about 45 minutes later. But service aside, the drunken noodles were enough to make Gru Thai a contender for takeaway.


Food: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 8/10
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point - but perhaps stick to take out

The Mess Hall

 

 

The Mess Hall in the CBD is the perfect spot for a mid week lunch - quick and friendly service for those who need to stick to a one hour time frame, a delicious Italian inspired menu with a large array of options, and an inexpensive price tag for the quality of food you get.

The venue is small, but not cramped, with a no frills modern cafe type feel.  It does, however, have a few little touches that makes it feel more special then your average run-of-the-mill cafe, including free bread with balsamic and oil on arrival and a delicious wine list to break up the work day.

On this occasion I ordered the potato gnocchi with pomodoro, basil and pecorino, with a side of broccoli with chili and garlic. The gnocchi dish was simple but classic -  the light and fluffy balls of gnocchi were cooked to perfection and the accompanying sauce was  rich and full of flavour.  The broccoli was also cooked well, and was a match made in heaven with the chili and the garlic.

 



I also stole a bite of my friends saffron tortellini filled with blue swimmer crab and Spring vegetables, which came out looking almost too good to eat. Unfortunately I'm not the biggest crab fan, so it's definitely not my place to review this dish. My friend seemed to like it though.



 The best part about the mess hall - it takes bookings.  Perfectly convenient for a mid week lunch!

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 10/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point

Kirk's Wine Bar

 

 

Kirk's Wine Bar is a little slice of Italy on Hardware Lane off Little Bourke Street. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating (with heating for the colder months), it has a wine list to die for a food menu that will make you drool.
Kirk's kefalograviera saganaki is definitely a highlight on their menu - crisp on the outside, soft, gooey and rich on the inside, the dish is beautifully balanced with the tartness of the pickled onion and the sourness of the lemon slice which has the additional touch of a sprinkling of fragrant paprika.



Whilst a plate of raw meat isn't a preferred dish for everyone, Kirk's beef tartare is definitely one of the best I've ever had. The meat itself just melted in the mouth and paired beautifully with the saltiness of the caper berries and the creaminess of the egg. Definitely a dish worth dreaming about.



The calamari wasn't quite as a success though.  Whilst the protein itself was cooked well, and the lemon had the signature touch of paprika, the pieces of calamari tasted like a mouthful of flour and oil and something had obviously gone wrong with the frying that evening.  The croquette of the day, which in our case was pumpkin arancini balls, was also another disappointment on the menu. It's not that the dish was terrible, but the arancini balls were verging on bland and could have done with some more seasoning.

 

Also, don't be surprised if the service is verging on rude, and you don't get offered a glass of wine until 20 minutes in.

Whilst I'd go back for the beef tartare alone - it definitely doesn't make the favourites list.

Decor: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Food: 4/5
Total: 9/15
Verdict: like - but only because of the delicious wine and the steak tartare!

50 Hardware Lane, CBD, 

House of Hoi An

Move over Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah, there's a new Vietnamese eatery in town. Situated slightly off the beaten track in Windsor, with its abundant display of colourful lanterns, eclectic furniture and graffitied exterior, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you'd made your way to Hoi An in the middle of the Tet Festival.

Bought to you by internationally renowned chef and restaurateur Ms Trinh Diem Vy, House of Hoi An's menu is (unsurprisingly) Vietnamese inspired, and contains the likes of 'Hoi An Street Food', 'Hoi An Celebration Food' and 'Daily Food from My Family Food', being a selection of memorable dishes that Ms Vy grew up eating as a child.

House of Hoi An's Chao Tom ('roll your own' shrimp mousse on sugarcane) definitely couldn't be accused of being your average rice paper roll - a popular traditional Southern dish available throughout Vietnam, the dish is made from marinated shrimp, wrapped around thin pieces of sugar can, grilled and served with rice paper, rice noodles, fresh herbs and sweet and sour dipping sauce.  Whilst slightly on the messy side, the textures and flavours on offer when the soldiers are all rolled up are definitely worth getting your hands dirty for.

For those who find some Vietnamese salads too sweet - the Pomelo Salad with Chicken is the salad for you.  Balanced out by the bitterness of the pomelo, this salad is beautifully complemented by the texture of the accompanying prawn crackers - who needs a fork when you can scoop up your salad with one of these crackling little bad boys.  And if you're looking for a dish that is punching with flavour - don't go past their Ga Nuong La Chanh (BBQ Chicken and Lime Leaf) - BBQ chicken thighs with lime leaf and herbs, served with rice and salad.

Whilst I love my wine more than most - a dining experience at House of Hoi An wouldn't be complete without trying some of their home made Vietnamese 5 Spiced Tea - sweet, fragrant, and punching with flavour, it gives most teas at T2 a solid run for their money.  And this post wouldn't be complete without a special shout out to Tin, our server on the night.  His absolute passion for the food and the overall restaurant shone through in his service, and his warmth and kindness made the whole experience an absolute delight.

With its fragrant and fresh flavours, delicious food and incredible service, I look forward to heading back to House of Hoi An soon.

Food: 4/5
Decor: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Total: 13/15
Verdict: love get around to trying it soon

The New Fave dined courtesy of the House of Hoi An

Limericks Arms Hotel

Limericks Arms Hotel in South Melbourne is what I consider to be your classic Australian pub. I'm talking an open roaring fire that makes the no-frills décor seem warm and inviting in the colder months, various TV screens for all of the local sport fanatics, staff so friendly you'd think you'd known them for years, and the sort of prices which are affordable even on the day before pay day.

Offering up traditional pub fare, it's menu features all of the pub culprits including Ale battered fish and chips, Pie of the day, Ceaser Salad and the Chicken Parma. On this occasion I couldn't go past the 'Rodriguez Parma with Napoli, ham, two types of cheeses, jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream, fries and spicy slaw.

The parma itself consisted of a plump and juicy generously sized chicken breast covered with juuuust the right amount of toppings, and the accompanying chips were crisp and well seasoned. The spicy law, however, must have been having a bad day, as it was far from spicy and was verging on bitter.

Spicy slaw aside, with its warm ambiance, friendly staff, decent food and reasonable price tag, I will definitely be back again.

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point

Higher Ground

Higher Ground  is the latest member of the Top Paddock/Kettle Black group.  Adding some much needed flair (and good breakfast options) to the legal district, the two levelled venue almost has a New York loft feel - think a bright open space with vertical gardens and exposed brick walls. 

 

The menu itself features the groups' famous ricotta hot cake, with maple syrup, seeds and grains, cream, seasonal fruit and fresh flowers.  Higher Ground's version of it certainly didn't let the team down.  Coming out looking as pretty as a picture, the hot cake was warm and oozy, and the seeds and grain give it the required textual crunch.  


For me, I couldn't go past the Benedict Eggs with dry cured ham, emmental béarnaise, sourdough and vinegar powder.  Now as my followers would know, eggs benny is one of my go-to breakfast items, so the expectations were high...and luckily this one didn't disappoint! Not only was it the most elegant eggs benny I have ever seen, it was incredibly rich and delicious.

On the occasion that we went (I should note that I've heard from friends this is not always the case), the service was commendable. I was offered a coffee whilst waiting for my friends (a small gesture, but surprisingly uncommon during breakfast peak hour), our water glasses were never empty and it took them under 10 minutes to serve us our meals. Higher Ground - I will definitely be back soon.

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

650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne