Scarpetta

When thinking back to my experience at Scarpetta, the story of Goldilocks and the three bears comes to mind - Scarpetta isn't too fancy, it isn't too casual - it's just right. With staff that make you feel at home from the second you walk through the door, this Italian inspired restaurant in Albert Park serves food which can be described as nothing less than drool worthy.

Whilst it was hard to pass up ordering the fresh local scallops topped with a homemade Atlantic Salmon chive mousse, or the pork rib cutlet butterflied and filled with provolone and basil, crumbed in bread, cheese, herbs and then grilled, I couldn't go past ordering a couple of their incredible looking pizzas.

Both the Funghi pizza (with Fior di latte, exotic mushrooms, garlic, grana padano and truffle oil), and the Salame Piccante (with Fior di latte, hot salami, black olives, roasted capsicum and fresh herbs), are excellent options. Whilst I'm often told a traditional Italian pizza should only have a few toppings on it, the highlight of my meal at Scarpetta was the abundance of toppings on my pizzas - fresh, flavoursome and ridiculously delicious!

Great service, impressive price tag, incredible wine, and food to drool over - I will definitely be back to Scarpetta soon.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Fat Albert

Fat Albert in Albert Park takes your boring old brunch, gives it a spin, throws in some fireworks, and then serves it up lashings of taste and character.  Offering up what I would call a mix of modern Australian and Asian cuisine, Fat Albert serves dishes such as Apple Crumble Porridge and Mushrooms in Miso Butter.

On this occasion, I tried the Fat Benny with chili caramel glazed pork belly, kaffir lime hollandaise and poached eggs on sourdough toast, and the Chicken Katsu Sando with panko crumbed chicken, cabbage and bulldog sauce with a side of potato salad. 

The Fat Benny was without a doubt one of the best Benny's going around Melbourne.  The pork literally melted in my mouth, and the zest of the the kaffir lime in the hollandaise sauce lifted the entire dish, cutting through the richness of the eggs, pork and sauce.

The Chicken Katsu Sando was also surprisingly delicious.  Whilst coming out looking a little on the plain Jane side (although really, how do you dress up a sandwich?) - the panko crumbed chicken was fat, juicy and cooked to perfection, and paired beautifully with the tangy BBQ sauce and the creamy (but not too creamy) potato salad.

Fat Albert is definitely on my list of recommendations if your find yourself in Albert Park wanting some tasty and rather unique brunch.

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

Venus and Co

Located on Victoria Avenue in Albert Park, relatively newish Greek inspired restaurant Venus and Co offers a delicious array of Mediterranean dishes made to share. Located in a casual but warm and inviting venue, the vibe makes you feel like you're a million miles away, and the staff make you feel like you've instantly arrived home.  

The Three Dips and Olives is a must as a starter dish. So too is the perfectly cooked Southern Calamari with squid ink ouzo fennel seed aioli (which looks a little creepy due to the colour and its tar consistency, but is oh so delicious!). 

The Saganaki of Haloumi with golden raisin compote and pickled zucchini, whilst having a lot of potential, came out cold, making it on the tough and chewy side (rather than the ooze i usually enjoy from a Saganaki). 

For mains, the lamb shoulder over coals was an excellent choice - the meat was tender and juicy, and filled with a delicious charcoal flavour.  However, the moussaka was by far the highlight of the night.  Smothered with cheese and rich with flavour - it was the sort of dish worth dreaming about.  It was by far the best mousakka I've had in Melbourne. All three of us wanted to dive in and lick the bowl to savour the last of the flavours. 

With such incredibly friendly and attentive service, delicious food and a reasonable price tag, I was actually quite surprised by Venus’s low-3s score on Zomato. It was definitely a winner in my books and I look forward to going back again - especially if the special of mousakka is on the menu. 

Food: 4/5

Venue: 3.5/5

Service: 4/5

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon 

DOC Pizza and Mozzarella Bar

Looking for fresh ingredients and authentic Italian flavours - then look no further then the DOC group. With venues in Carlton, Mornington and Albert Park - DOC’s menu has a focus on good quality deli meats and delicious Italian cheeses. 

On this occasion we visited the Albert Park venue situated on Victoria Avenue.  With a small scattering of outdoor seating, and plenty indoors, the venue has a relaxed casual vibe - so relaxed it was tricky to get anyone's attention even though the restaurant was nearly empty being a Monday night - indeed when I tried to catch one of the staff's eyes with a smile, she asked "Are you okay", and then seemed shocked that my answer was that we would like to order some wine (which she wasn't able to help us with). 

Whilst many of DOC's pizzas look incredibly appetising (including the tiger prawn pizza with fresh chili) we couldn’t go past ordering the classic Margherita, the Porcini Pizza with truffle oil, mozzarello in bianco and grated pecorino cheese, and the Rucola salad with rocket, pear and Sardinian pecorino. The Rucolo salad was surprisingly a standout - presented beautifully, the ingredients were fresh and vibrant, and paired well with the flavours of the pizzas. 

The Porcini Pizza was however the stand out - although how can you really go wrong with lashings of truffle oil and cheese.

Whilst the service was a bit of a mixed bag, if you’re looking for an authentic pizza in Albert Park then DOC is worth a try.

Food: 4/5

Venue: 3/5

Service: 2.5/5

Total: 9.5/15

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

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

Ricardo's Trattoria

It has been a long time since a place has really wowed me - the sort of place that you makes you want to run back and try everything on the menu and relive the experience all over again. Ricardo's is one such place.  Situated on Dundas Place in Albert Park, Ricardo's serves up magnificent Italian cuisine.

Warm and welcoming whilst still giving off a fine-dining feel, the venue itself makes you feel as though you have been whisked away to Rome for the weekend. Open for both lunch and dinner, it has seating out the front which is perfect for a warm summer's day.

The menu is extensive and offers a range of entrees, salads, pastas and mains.  To start with we shared the Bufala Caprese  - Buffalo Mozzarella from Shaw River, roma tomato, basil leaves and extra-virgin olive oil. The tomatoes were sweet and juicy, the buffalo mozzarella was smooth and flavoursome and the salad was dressed with a fragrant bold olive oil - simple but superb.

For the main I had the Tagliatelle Polpettine. Described as "flat ribbon pasta with gorgeous baby meatballs", I would have to agree, those little meatballs were absolutely gorgeous.  On the suggestion of our waiter, I ordered the entrée size (which is the size shown below).  Whilst I regretted my decision while making my through this delicious bowl of goodness (why did it ever have to end!), by the end of the meal I was grateful that I had saved room for desert.

For desert, I ordered the sticky date pudding which just so happens to be my favourite desert so the expectations were extremely high. Luckily for Ricardo's, this dish exceeded my expectations - fresh, warm and fluffy, this pudding was absolutely magnificent.

With its incredibly attentive and friendly staff, superb food and reasonable price tag, I cannot wait to get back to Ricardo's again soon! It is definitely the 'New Fave'.

Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Total: 14.5/15
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number 1 on the To Do list.

99 Dundas Place, Albert Park

The Crux and Co

Often breakfast/brunch menus with their eggs benedict and smashed avo on toast are victims of being 'same same but different' - but not Crux and Co! Pushing the boundaries on brunch items, Crux and Co offers the likes of elderflower yogurt and squid ink toast.

For me I couldn't go past the Bisque Benedict with tiger prawns, poached eggs and a lobster bisque hollandaise served on squid ink toast. Whilst slightly nervous to order prawns for breakfast, it absolutely worked! With its perfectly cooked seafood, rich and creamy sauce, and much needed textual crunch to the dish, this benny was an absolute delight. 

 

 

Situated opposite Melbourne instigation The Kettle Black, Crux and Co definitely faces some tough competition. But with its edgy menu, great coffee and friendly service, Crux and Co is a Melbourne café which is likely to stick around for awhile.

 

Venue: 3/5

Service: 4/5

Food: 4/5

Total: 11/15

Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

 

35 Albert Road, South Melbourne

 

Dundas & Faussett

From the crowds that are drawn to Dundas and Fausett every weekend morning, you would think that it would certainly be a place worth talking about. Situated on Victoria Avenue in Albert Park, and offering both indoor and outdoor seating, Dundas and Faussett offers the standard cafe venue setting.

The most Instagramable worthy dish on their breakfast menu would have to be the Ricotta hotcakse with banana, palm sugar caramel, hazelnut crumble and fresh berries. Coming out looking as pretty as a picture, whilst definitely delicious, my friend who is known for her sweet tooth found it so sweet that she couldn't even finish it - indeed, after the bite I had, whilst it was delicious, I was sculling down the water - the giant chunks of sweet hazelnut crumble were quite unnecessary.

 

The breakfast bruschetta was another dish that came out looking amazing.




Unfortunately, my dish (smoked salmon with potato rosti, avocado salsa and poached egg) was the least prettiest dish out of the three and the most underwhelming - my egg was overlooked, the toast was so tough I almost sprained my wrist trying to cut through it and the rosti tasted like dry ball of flour.

The coffee, however, was spot on and the staff were friendly - so whilst not a complete ride off, it's definitely not the new fave.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 2.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 8.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

111 Dundas Place, Albert Park

 

Misuzu's

Misuzu's is without a doubt an Albert Park institution. Known for its signature lanterns dressing up the trees just metres from its doors, Misuzu's has been serving up Japanese cuisine to its patrons for years.

Whilst we didn't have a booking, Misuzu's still managed to squeeze us in on a Friday night in the upstairs room (which, unfortunately, lacks some of the warmth and vibe the downstairs counterpart has to offer).

To eat we shared the spicy tuna sushi, the eggplant with sweet miso, the prawn wontons and for a main, the spicy wagyu beef.

The starters were the stand out - the prawns in the wontons were plump, juicy and fresh, the sushi full of flavour and the eggplant just melted in the mouth (although the tofu sitting on top was a peculiar addition).

The main was pleasant but lacked in any form of spice - if you are trying to sell yourself as the "spicy" wagyu, at least try and carry a tiny kick of heat. 

Misuzu's is by no means a cheap night out (and has terrible lighting for photos), but with such potential in the starters, it will remain on my list of candidates for a local night out.

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

7 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park 

 

Lord Cardigan

You know those meals that taste so darn good that life stops around you just for a moment - the type of meal that you can't eat slow enough as you'll be devastated when its over...

Well Lord Cardigan served me up one of those meals - a meal so good that it's earned the title as the new fave. 

Lord Cardigan is local gem tucked away in Albert Park. Oozing elegance whilst remaining unpretentious, the restaurant serves up Modern Australian cuisine with European and Asian influences. The service is as impressive as the menu, making any dining experience feel as though it were a special occasion. 

The dish that stole my heart was none other than the mushroom tortellini with sautéed mushrooms and crispy sage ($38). It was the perfect balance of flavours, an incredible array of textures and each element of the dish was cooked to perfection. Probably one of the best pasta dishes which has ever been past my mouth!

Whilst the price tag on many of the menu item isn't exactly budget friendly, Lord Cardigan also offers special deals at very affordable prices. For lunch on Thursdays through to Saturdays, Lord Cardigan offers a main meal with a glass of wine for only $29. And on Sundays, $25 will get you a seasonal roast at lunchtime. 

Whatever the day or special may be, I'm sure I'll find some excuse to go back and dine at Lord Cardigan again soon.

Service: 5/5

Food: 5/5

Decor: 4.5/5

Total: 14.5/5
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number one on the To Do list

 

L'Altro Mondo

Whether it be a Wednesday night steak night or a Tuesday night Parma night, I tend to have a soft spot for night-specific deals. So when I walked past L'Altro Mondo's Sunday $29 pasta night, I found it hard to resist.

L'Altro Mondo is a quaint (but elegant) Italian restaurant situated on Victoria Avenue in Albert Park. On Sunday's, $29 will get you a piece of bruschetta, choice of pasta and a glass of wine or beer. 

Now, the thought of bruschetta has never really overly excited me (I may be slightly scarred by years of stale bread and soggy tomatoes) but this bruschetta was deceptively delicious. The mixture of incredibly fresh ingredients and simple but elegant flavours made this dish a delightful start to the night.
 

For the pasta I chose the beetroot tortellini filled with ricotta and spinach. The pasta was cooked well and the beetroot pasta dough was an interesting (and delicious!) touch.  But the serving itself (just the four pieces as shown below) was too small for my liking, being more akin to the size of an entrée. 

At least, however, the small serving of pasta left room for the panna cotta which almost looked too beautiful to eat! 

With its friendly service and exceptional food, L'Altro Mondo definitely deserves a return visit (however, I wouldn't suggest the $29 pasta special if you have a very hungry stomach!)

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Décor: 3/5
Total: 11.5/15
Verdict: Love - rush out and try it soon

Truman Cafe

Trueman's is an Albert Park institution for breakfast and brunch. Decorated with a miss match of plates, old cameras, eclectic furniture and even a pink flamingo, this buzzing little joint reminds me somewhat of a grandma's (albeit a trendy grandma's) lounge room.

Having been up since the crack of dawn, it felt more like a lunch appropriate meal than brekki so to eat I ordered the vanilla milkshake and chicken schnitzel burger.

The milkshake was delicious - thick, creamy and with the perfect amount of vanilla flavour. The burger was nice, but not amazing. The bun was fresh and delicious and the celery in the coleslaw added a nice crunch. But the overall burger was a quite dry and the schnitzel could have done with more seasoning. That being said, it's not the first time I've been to Trueman's and their breakfasts are usually delicious - next time I might just stick to the brekki choices rather than venturing into the lunch menu. 

With its exceptional service (the staff are always friendly and attentive - we never had an empty jug of table water) and its local cosy vibe, Truemans is a brunch spot I'd recommend getting around to trying at some point. 

Service: 4.5/5

Decor: 4/5 

Food: 2.5/5

Total: 10.5/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying at some point

Aja –A Journey to Asia

Aja – the local surprise.  What my friend and I had initially dismissed as a “greasy beef and black bean destination” (which wasn’t helped by the fact that she had received a $25 meal voucher in her letterbox - rarely a good sign of a business going well), turned out to be an exceptional local restaurant. 

It was a Friday night sleepover at Kathleen and Adam’s place after being forced to leave my own home due to a flooded bedroom.  Initially hesitating to going to Aja for dinner, after a few wines at Albert Park Hotel we decided why not, let’s give this place a go – thank goodness we did!

As soon as we walked into the door the service was impeccable.  Our wine and water glasses were never left empty, our plates were cleared and table cleaned at the end of the each dish, the staff were incredibly warm, helpful and friendly, and we consistently had a waiter within only a metre or so away to be at our every beck and call.  Even the toilet experience was something to rave about (who would have thought??): candles on each step of the stairs that led to the toilets, a sweet outdoor tea garden at the top and fluffy white towels to dry your hands on.

The food, while not mind-blowing, was still very good Asian cuisine.  We shared steamed duck and spinach dim sum ($12), fried squid in spice salt ($15), Aja’s no-nonsense stirred fried noodle ($20.80), the wok tossed fish of the day which was barramundi ($29.80) and the Korean Beef ($29.50).  The fried squid in spice salt was a bit tough and the dim sums were nothing inspirational - but the rest of the dishes were rather tasty.  The barramundi was the dish of the day for Kath and me – although the Korean Beef scored a vote from Adam who was kind enough to take the photos below after my phone had died. 

A restaurant of exceptional value (even more so in our case with a $25 meal voucher and a bottle of BYO wine) and impeccable service, this local gem is a must to visit if you’re in the mood for Asian cuisine.  

Verdict: Love