Pho Anh

Love your pho but sick of walking away feeling thirsty and bloated from all of the MSG? Well than newly opened Vietnamese eatery Pho Anh in Camberwell is the place for you.  Making its pho out of all natural ingredients, Pho Anh's fragrant, hot and delicious bowl of Vietnamese soup is made just how it's meant to be - without all the crap put into it.

Whilst I've never been the biggest fried rice fan (why waste valuable stomach space with boring old rice?) Pho Anh's fried rice was by far the best I've ever had.  Indeed, I would come back just for a big bowl of this dish.  Full of both flavour and texture, both my fellow dinner and I were disappointed to see it all go.

Pho Anh's menu also consists of a variety of other Vietnamese dishes, including wagyu beef betal leaves and vegetarian spring rolls.  Whilst these dishes were certainly tasty, the pho and the fried rice were by far the highlights.

 If you find yourself in Camberwell and are craving a big bowl of cheap but nourishing Vietnamese soup, than look no further than Pho Anh.

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 New Fave dined courtesy of Pho Anh

 

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

Short Black Cafe

Short Black Cafe is a family friendly restaurant on Burke Street in Camberwell. Serving up authentic Italian cuisine, the biggest draw card of this restaurant is definitely its staff - warm, welcoming and thoroughly across the menu, they will make you feel at home from the minute you walk through the door.

Often at Italian restaurants, the hardest part is picking which pizza flavour to choose. Luckily at Short Black Cafe this is not a problem. Offering a 'Tapas Pizza' option, Short Black Cafe let's you choose three flavours across three mini pizzas from their extensive menu. The Prosciutto, Chicken Primavera and Diavolo (salami) are all excellent options. 

Whilst I like my creamy gnocchi with a touch more cheesy bite, the Gnocchi Al Forno, infused with sage and then baked in light pana parmesan and pancetta sauce, was beautifully presented and had the most perfectly cooked little parcels of home made light and fluffy gnocchi.  

It won't be hard to save room for desert - patrons are presented with a cabinet full of delicious looking cakes, muffins and slices as soon as they walk through the door. After much debate, we couldn't go past the carrot cake which tasted as good as it looks! 

Warm, friendly and with delicious Italian food, Short Black Cafe is definitely an excellent option for a meal (or even a coffee and cake) if you find yourself in Camberwell.

Service: 5/5

Food: 3.5/5

Decor: 3.5/5

Total: 12/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon 

The New Fave dined courtesy of Short Black Cafe

761-767 Burke Road,Camberwell, Melbourne, VIC