Pontoon

Nestled on the bottom floor of the Stokehouse is its more casual, some would say party-animal sister Pontoon. With one of the more stunning views in Melbourne, don’t be surprised if you find yourself sharing your dinner with DJ working his decks even before the sun has gone down, with a bustling room of people who already have a glimmer of a big night ahead in their eye.

Pontoon’s menu is gastro-pub in style - offering classics such as fish and chips and steak, as well as a large offering of seafood, such as skewered octopus, barramundi calamari and oysters. On this occasion I went with the fish finger burger with cocktail sauce and house pickles.

Unfortunately there was an overpowering smokey taste to it, and the fish was definitely on the scarce side - so while a reasonably tasty meal, not the best fish burger going around.

But who are we kidding, no one is coming to Pontoon for its food. Pontoon is definitely all about its stunning venue, and would be a great choice if you’re looking for a Sunday afternoon drink with an epic beachfront view

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

Spud Bar - St Kilda

Some fun facts about potatoes: they are 80% water, have 5 and a half times the fiber of a banana and have more vitamin C than three avocados.  They are also ridiculously delicious if you order one piled high with fresh toppings from one of the many Spud Bars spread across Melbourne.

The latest venue to grace the spud scene is their store in St Kilda - similar to the other Spud Bars, you can expect fun and friendly service, plenty of seating, and loads of fresh spud toppings.  Pictured below is their Pulled Pork spud with baby spinach, shredded cabbage, corn, peas, light sour cream and spring onions, as well as their Mexican Chicken spud with chicken, chilli beans, wild rocket, carrots and corn with chipotle mayo.

The cream of the crop for me though had to be their Home Style Bolognese spud with tasty cheese, peas, carrot, corn, light sour cream and spring onion.

Quick, fresh and delicious - if you're in St Kilda and are craving a gourmet spud, Spud Bar is the place to be.

The New Fave dined courtesy of Spud Bar  

 

Frankies Top Shop

Situated in the backstreets of St Kilda, Frankies Top Shop is a favourite amongst the locals - and it's easy to see why. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, this quaint, lush, and incredibly inviting cafe will immediately make you feel at home.

Using seasonal produce wherever possible, Frankies' menu consists of breakfast, brunch and lunch items such as the potato roesti with smoked salmon, cucumber salad, horseradish creme fraiche and poached egg, and the Reuben sandwich on Elwood sourdough. It also offers a range of take home meals (lasagna, family pies, chicken meatballs), daily specials, and of course (as should any good local cafe should) sweet treats.

On this occasion, I couldn't go past the special of the day being pan fried salmon on a bed of Thai salad. Let's just say that  if I could cook salmon as good as Frankies', there is no doubt that it would be a more regular staple on my home menu.

My fellow diner went for a regular culprit on the menu - the Green Goodness Bowl with green vegetables, avocado, jalapeno kraut, detox salad and poached egg. It's fair to say that she was incredibly happy with her decision.

Frankies is the sort of place that makes you leave feeling wholesome, even though you have ordered a cake, milkshake and a cookie to go.  It's definitely on my recommendation list for cafes in St Kilda.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon.

Radio Mexico

After eating at Radio Mexico, I was rather shocked by its high Zomato rating. Whilst Radio Mexico wasn't terrible, it was below average and just did not hit the mark. 

To start off, the service whilst friendly was slow - it took approximately 15 minutes of me trying to catch the waiter's eye (who was happily chatting away to various individuals) to get our bill to leave. 

And the food? Disappointing. The flavour in the Picoso Chilaquiles (spicy red chilli based red sauce with guacamole and crema on corn chips) was completely one dimensional (with the guac running out too soon), and got boring after about the second bite.  And whilst I personally love my spice (being known to eat jalapenos out of the jar like candy) this dish should have come with a warning for people with normal tastebuds, with my fellow diner struggling to handle the spice (which was extremely spicy).

The baja tacos (with pico de gallo and slaw) were just as disappointing - whilst the fish was cooked well, it was overall incredibly dry. 

Despite serving up top notch margaritas, I will not be back. 

Food: 2.5/5

Venue: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Verdict: Don't bother - there are better Mexican restaurants in town.

 

Cowderoy's Dairy

So I'd expect to get a good burger from a specialty burger chain or my local fish and chip shop - but what I didn’t expect was to get such a delicious burger from my new local cafe, Cowderoy's Dairy. 

Cowderoy's Dairy in St Kilda is like a little slice of suburbia in the (nearly) inner city. With a park situated next door and a plethora of outdoor seating, it’s the perfect place to take the kids, or stop in for a morning coffee after the morning stroll.

The menu consists of all the items you’d usually expect from a good suburban cafe - scones and slices, pasties and pies, hot soup and as mentioned above, to my surprise an absolutely incredible 'Milk Bar Burger' which comprises of a house made premium wagyu beef pattie, lettuce, tomato, caramelised onion, bacon, cheddar, seeded mustard and home made BBQ sauce all on a brioche bun.  The side serve of beer battered chips are also note worthy - golden and crunchy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the in, they are the epitome of what a good chip should be.



Perfect for a brekki, brunch or lunch, Cowderoy's Dairy is definitely on my recommendation list.

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

 

Paper Fish

Owned by the crew behind the Stokehouse and Pontoon, and situated right next door, the view doesn't get much better then from this beachfront casual fish and chippery.  Having been on my To Do list for quite some time, Paper Fish offers all of the usual fish and chip culprits, as well as a few fancy extras (cucumber and mint salad anyone?).

The fish (Blue Grenadiar) and chips (Cajun spiced) themselves were incredibly delicious - the chips were well seasoned and the generous portion of fish was fresh and juicy.  The Fritto Misto was also a highlight - whilst deep fried prawn heads may not seem appealing to the fainthearted, these crunchy little morsels were incredibly delicious.

But then there were the tacos....ohhhh the dreaded tacos...how can you go so wrong with prawn and fish tacos? Well Paper Fish did.  They were so bad to the point that I took one bite and couldn't eat them, and for me not to finish my food is surely saying something. Both the fish and prawn tacos were dry, had no flavour (except for a burnt taste) and the protein had been cooked to smithereens.

Whilst there was the slightest language barrier with the staff, they were certainly still friendly and the food was quick and came out piping hot.

What a shame about the tacos though, otherwise this place would have been a real treat.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 9.5/15
Verdict: Get around to trying it at some point - but stay away from the tacos.

Trippy Taco

Looking for something cheap, cheerful, and vegetarian (so that us meat-eaters can convince ourselves we're being totally healthy despite the lashings of sour cream and cheese), then look no further than Trippy Taco in St Kilda. With a surprisingly low score on Zomato, the Mexican inspired vegetarian cuisine at Trippy Taco is absolutely fresh and delicious.  With a chilled, no frills vibe (active wear is totally acceptable), Trippy Tacos offers the array of usual Mexican suspects (think tacos, nachos, burritos etc), as well as extensive cocktail menu at very reasonable prices.

The best thing about Trippy Taco? They are not shy with their condiments and sauces - yep, that's a whole giant tub of sour cream served with their deliciously seasoned fries - an absolute must-order on your visit to Trippy Taco.

Their burritos (fresh and filling - who would have thought they contained no meat) and corn on the cob (just look at that chunk of cheese!) are also excellent choices - especially because both are served up in a way that's very easy to share, which is really just an excuse to order more things from the menu!

And who would have thought we had an avocado crisis in Melbourne when you're served up a whopping half of an avocado in Trippy Taco's side salad at an incredibly minimal price.

Great fresh food at reasonable prices - even if you're not a vegetarian, Trippy Taco is definitely a go-to if you're in St Kilda looking for a casual place to eat.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

The Stokehouse

The revamped Stokehouse in a word? Exceptional. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the best food I've ever had - but when you pair quite delicious food with a warm and welcoming ambiance, elegant architecture, reasonable prices, and service fit for a queen, you are bound to have an exceptional experience.

To start with, too many restaurants in Melbourne make you feel as though they are doing you the favour by allowing you to dine at their restaurant. Not the Stokehouse - after rudely arriving half an hour late, instead of being shunned like you'd usually expect from a fine dining restaurant, we were welcomed with a warm smile and informed that we were more than welcome to sit at the bar for a drink before being taken to our table if we needed to wind down. The exceptional service didn't stop there - our drinks were never empty, our food was out in a flash, and all with the familiar friendly banter that you'd expect from the favourite bartender at your local.

The menu is Modern Australian with a large showcase of seafood - including an extensive Raw Bar to start. Whilst everything (well nearly everything) was delicious - each of us had our specific favourites from the menu. Packed full of flavour, the beef short rib wrapped in filo pastry definitely appeared in mine. So too did the sashimi tuna tacos which were fresh, crisp and incredible more-ish.

The Australian beef of the day was cooked to perfection, and the sides of roasted broccoli and the grain salad were the perfect accompaniments.

 

 

The only dissapointing dish of the night was the prawn and bug cannelloni with pumpkin and saffron, and fermented chilli. How can such an incredible sounding dish go so wrong I hear you ask. Unfortunately it did - it was bland, dry and tasted very fishy.



In my view, ice cream is a completely underrated desert - thank you Stokehouse for recognising this and putting an ice cream of the day on your menu. That being said, The Bombe (White chocolate parfait, strawberry sorbet and toasted meringue) and the White Chocolate Rose (Yoghurt mousse, white chocolate shaving, yuzu gelato and rose petals) also looked delicious and will definitely making a feature on my next dining experience.

It's exceptional dining experiences like these that made me want to be a food blogger - which is why the Stokehouse has earned the title of the new fave.

Food: 3/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 5/5
Total: 13/15
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number one on the To Do list

Donovans

Donovan's in St Kilda goes hand in hand with a champagne filled sunny Sunday afternoon. It's draw card is by far its location - situated right on St Kilda beach it not only offers incredible views while dining, it also offers a beach front deck scattered with lounges for diners to lap up the St Kilda vibe with a drink either post or pre dining.

Offering up Modern Australian cuisine, the menu isn't exactly on the cheap side - serving up beer battered Fish and Chips for $45.00. But the price tag soon becomes worth it as your settled in by incredibly attentive and friendly staff, and treated like your dining at nothing less than a fine dining restaurant.

On this occasion I couldn't go past the linguine with chilli, garlic, seafood and Moreton Bay bug. The dish however, was a bit flat on the flavours and could definitely have done with some more herbs, chilli and garlic - and a couple of my mussels unfortunately tasted a touch less than fresh.

My friend ordered the crispy skin Cone Bay barramundi which looked absolutely sensational - with its sautéed spinach, cherry tomato and caper 'acqua pazza', it looked just like Christmas on a plate.

But a word of warning, don't order the chips in expectation of being served French fries - whilst still tasty, the 'House chips with whole garlic and rosemary sea salt" are actually little baked potatoes and are somewhat a disappointment if looking forward to the 'French' version of the fry.

With its incredible location and its relaxing Summer's vibe, Donavon's is definitely still a contender though if you're looking for a long Sunday lunch in the warmer months.

Food: 3/5
Décor: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point.

Newmarket Hotel

Newmarket Hotel is a Melbourne Institution - having been around for years, this Inkerman Street establishment in St Kilda is definitely a household name. The venue itself just oozes with character - looking almost like an old factory from the outside, the inside is elegant whilst still being dim and enchanting.

Serving up a menu inspired by Californian cuisine with a hint of the south (think cheesy quesadillas, soft shell tacos and Latin cured meats) the food on offer is both mouth watering and extensive. The fiejoada taco with braised black beans, cured pork and brisket was delicious - however I definitely had food envy of my friend's crispy john dory taco which had sea urchin sauce, artichoke and scallop cake. The corn on the cob was also tasty, but not quite as good as the like's of Mamasita's or Paco Taco's.

The smoked 24 hour angus beef brisket just melted in the mouth and was bursting with flavour.  The sprout slaw was also a different, but inspiring accompaniment to the meal and was absolutely delicious. 

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of my favourite dish of the night - the mushroom and spinach quesadilla with pinto beans, sour cream and huitlacoche. It's fair to say that this may even by one of my favourite dishes in Melbourne. Huitlacoche is actually a fungus which grows on corn which has the most incredible flavour - definitely worth giving a try!

The staff were also a stand out of the night - from the person taking our orders, to the person taking away our plates, everyone was amazingly helpful and friendly. The friend I dined with is fructose intolerant, which can often put a restaurant into a spin, however, the people at Newmarket hotel were absolutely wonderful about it! Thank you for such a wonderful night!

Food: 4/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Total: 13.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Pablo Honey

The chorizo and cheese fundido with hickory corn chips on Pablo Honey's reasonably new re-vamped menu is what foodie dreams are made of - warm, gooey, and oozing with delicious goodness - the sharpness of the cheese is a marriage made in heaven with the mildly spiced chorizo. A dish I could easily sit down and eat all day!

The chargrilled wallaby fillet with guindilla chili, charred leeks and salbitxada is also a new addition to the menu - it's hard to believe that such a delicious dish could actually be so healthy - but the meat was cooked to perfection and the sauces a well balanced accompaniment. 

A work of art in itself, the Dulce de Leche Mousse was born to be on instagram - absolutely stunning and also delicious. The Caramalised Milk Pudding with Coffee ice cream and hazelnut toffee, whilst definitely the ugly duckling in comparison to the Dulce de Leche Mousse, is by no means the weaker sibling in terms of flavour and is definitely a must for someone like me who is a pudding lover. 

Consistently delicious food with a menu that just bursts with flavour - Pablo Honey is still one of my new faves on Acland Street. 

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Venue:4/5

Total: 12/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

68A Acland Street, St Kilda 

 

Sister of Soul

Sister of Soul was so close to getting a spectacular review - but then the pebble in my dish happened. And look, I understand these things happen, but what disappointed me the most was how they handled it - they tried to justify it by saying that they don't use processed food so "these things are bound to happen", and then charged me full price for the meal which almost cracked my tooth. In a word - outrageous!

The pebble aside, most of the food was actually delicious.  Only serving vegetarian and vegan cuisine, Sister of Soul is the type of place where you can convince yourself you are being healthy, but you don't have to make a sacrifice on flavour.  Indeed, Sister of Soul even offers 'no garlic / no onion' menu options which are increasingly in demand, but are often difficult to find on a menu.

The rice balls with satay sauce and the okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) were definitely the highlights of the night. Cooked well and bursting with flavour, these two dishes would definitely be on my list of recommendations if heading here for lunch or dinner. 

 

 

Then of course there was the offending pebble dish - the Grain Brain super-food salad - which sends chills up my jaw just thinking about it.

 



 

In terms of desert, with a flavour as vibrant and punchy as its colour - the sorbet of the day is definitely a go-to if you are into fresh and fruity sorbet.  The raw coconut and honey cheesecake, however, is definitely worth a miss - with its one dimensional flavours and a chalky texture, it's definitely not a desert to drool over.



Unfortunately, if it wasn't for the pebble incident, Sister of Soul would have been on my list of recommendations. 

Olive Garden Cafe Bar and Grill

When a friend suggested that we try the Olive Garden Cafe Bar and Grill on Inkerman Street in St Kilda for dinner, I thought she was slightly mad. No, it's not related to the famous American chain, and yes, it's the tacky looking one at the bottom the apartment building that is always empty. But to my surprise, at the end of my dining experience, it was no longer tacky - it was funky,  it was no longer cheap - it was good value and it was no longer empty - it was intimate.

The staff of Olive Garden are definitely its main attribute - warm and friendly, they were up for a good laugh throughout the entire night. With its fairy lights, eclectic colours, and outdoor couch set up which would be perfect in Summer, the venue reminded me of a cheap and cheerful place you would find on a university campus,

To start with we shared the nachos with guacamole, salsa and sour cream ($12) - which came out with sweet chilli sauce instead of tomato salsa and the addition of black beans.  Whilst it didn't come out quite like the description, the blacks beans were rather delicious and the sweet chilli sauce actually worked, making it a refreshing change from the standard nachos.

For main I had the home-made pumpkin gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce, baby spinach and reggiano ($20.50). The gnocchi was cooked well and the sauce was full of flavour - a bit salty for my liking -  but I'm not the biggest salt fan and my friends who tried it thought it was salted perfectly. 

Olive Garden is by no means fine dining, and were a little slow in getting our meals to us, but it is still a good value spot which I wouldn't object to going to again.

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Decor: 3/5
Total: 10/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point