Rosa's Kitchen 

After being to Rosa's Canteen just the week before (which was pretty incredible) I had high hopes going into Rosa's Kitchen. Unfortunately, whilst it was definitely 'nice', Rosa's Kitchen was a bit of a disappointment. 

Tucked away in Punch Lane, with its menus scrawled on blackboards and open kitchen, the place definitely has a homely feel. 

Unfortunately, the service was not so homely - it was very slow (it's never a good sign when a dinner companion has to raise their hand like a school kid to try and get someone's attention) and there wasn't much of a smile. But the menu looked incredible and we ended up sharing the antipasto platter and five different pastas. 

 

The antipasto platter was probably one of the best I've had in a while. It had a wonderful mix of cured meats, marinated vegetables, fritters and frittatas - ticked both the boxes for taste and variety. 

The dish of night was definitely the ricotta filled ravioli - deliciously creamy ricotta wrapped up in silky pasta - this dish was absolutely exceptional. 

The pumpkin rigatoni was also exceptional - buttery smooth pumpkin matched with lovely pops of hazelnuts - delicious. 

 

Our other pasta dishes (beef cheek ragu and pea and pecorino) were ok but nothing special - I thought the ragu could have done with more flavour, and the pea and pecorino was a bit eggy. 

Also, when asking whether we could order a side salad with the pasta we were told that salad came with the pasta for free - bonus! Unfortunately, when the salad came out is was one small bowl between 5 of us mostly filled with wilted iceberg. 

Whilst there were definite plusses to this joint, if looking for a good Italian joint in the city I would highly recommend hitting up Rosa's Canteen, Tipo 00 or Lupino's instead. 

 

Food: 3/5

Service: 2/5

Decor: 3/5

Total: 8/15

Verdict: don't bother - there are better Italian restaurants in Melbourne.

Gingerboy

Gingerboy is one of those places that never dissapoints - with its spectacular cocktails, vibrant and fragrant dishes, dark and funky vibe and modern decor, hitting up this venue always feels like a hot date. 

On this occasion a girlfriend and I showed up on Saturday night and to our surprise, were seated immediately at the bar (although hot tip from the night is never sit at the downstairs bar in winter as it is absolutely freezing every time someone opens the door). 

To eat we had the salt and pepper chicken ribs and the beef Penang with green beans and pumpkin. 

The chicken ribs were absolutely incredible - the chicken was juicy, the coating was crispy and the sauce that it was smothered in was the perfect combination of tang and spice. 

The curry was also incredible - not too heavy or rich, but abundantly fragrant and flavoursome. The beef was juicy, the beans were crisp and the sauce was the kind that I could have easily been left licking the bowel.
 

The service was a touch slow, but this can be forgiven seeing that it was a pumping Saturday night.  Overall, it is safe to say Gingerboy is always on my list of recommendations and definitely deserves the title of the new fave. 

 

Food: 5/5

Decor: 4/5Service: 4/5

Total: 13/15

Verdict: the new fave - have it as number one in your to do list 

 

Huxtaburger 

Whilst it has become a bit of a Melbourne institution, to be honest I think Huxtaburger is a bit overrated. 

On this occasion I hit up the Smith Street store. With its burger topped silver trays and chip filled red and white cardboard cups, this place definitely gives off an American vibe. The decor is nothing inspiring - the first room you enter is dull and squishy, and the room next door, with its cardboard chip containers scattered around the room and remanents of tomato sauce stuck on the table tops, reminds me of a high school common room. 

To eat I had the Theo - double pattie, cheese, lettuce and bbq sauce - definitely not the best burger I've had. 

Unfortunately the meat was overcooked and dry, the bacon was soggy and fatty, and the cheese wasn't at all melted and gooey. The chips, however, were crisp and delicious! 

It wasn't terrible, but with so many other good burger joints around, I wouldn't say it's worth the calories. 

Food: 2/5

Service: 3/5

Decor: 2/5

Total: 7/15 

Verdict: Don't bother

North East China Family 

North East China Family has always been one of my go to dumpling houses. But with it's latest reno, refreshed menu and new tasty delights, this dumpling house has moved up on the list. 

The decor is still traditional Melbourne dumpling house style - lots of plastic table and chairs, all cramped into a small space. However, the revamped furniture definitely gives the place a lighter and brighter feel than what it once had. 

The dumplings themselves were exceptional. The pan fried prawn dumplings were packed with real chunks of prawn and cooked to perfection.  The steamed veggie dumplings were just as good - brimming with veggies and loaded with flavours. 

The service, however, was disappointingly slow for a dumpling house - it took as 20 mins to wave down a waiter for menus and wine glasses in a pretty much empty restaurant. 

However, overall, considering the quality of its food and the price tag, I would definitely recommend hitting up North East China Family.

Food: 4.5/5

Decor: 3/5

Service: 2.5/5

Total:10/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

 

Grand Trailer Park Taverna 

When people now ask where my favourite burger joint is, the response is going to be Grand Trailer Park Taverna.  

I was lucky enough to be able to share two of their burgers - the Chunk Double Double and the Francis Underwood.  The Francis Underwood consisted of a beef pattie, cheese, tomato and kettuce - all topped off with a pattie of Mac n cheese - absolutely delicious.  And the Chunk Double Double, well it was pretty much the best burger I've ever had. The beef pattie was juicy, the cheese was gooey, the bacon was crisp but not overcooked and the jalapenos added a delightful zing.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it. However the chips, unfortunately, were nothing to write home about - soggy, flavourless and all around dissapointing.

Luckily the same could not be said about the peanut butter waffles. Two waffles stuffed with peanut butter parfait, whipped cream, fresh strawberries and smothered with salted caramel sauce - this desert was delicious! The parfait itself didn't quite compare to Supernormal's - but the overall desert wasn't overly sweet and offered a delicious range of tastes and textures. 

The decor was another highlight of this venue. Set up like an outdoor trailer park, its fairy lights, chandeliers and indoor trailer booths, gives it an overall American rustic vibe that makes you feel like you're 100 miles away from Melbourne.

If looking for a good burger - definitely make your way over to Grand Trailer Park Taverna. 

Food: 4/5 - the chips let it down 

Decor: 4/5

Service: 3/5

Total:11/15

Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Movida Aqui

The Movida group is a Melbourne institution. Serving up Spanish tapas (or tacos if you're hitting up Pacos), it's been a delight to Melbourne patrons for years. 

To the shock of many, throughout my years of dining out at Melbourne I had never been to Movida. It was time to set the record straight as I made my way to Movida Aqui for dinner. I had heard that Movida was overpriced and overrated, so I didn't go in with the highest of expectations.  But, in a word (well four), it's definitely the new fave.

The staff were incredible - warm and welcoming, attentive and helpful, and knew both the food and wine menu like the back of their hand. 

To start with I had the potato bomba filled with chorizo and the corn cakes with spanner crab and paprika pate (on of Movida Aqui's latest additions to the menu).  The bomba was absolutely outstanding. Crisp on the outside but delectably creamy and salty (from the chorizo) on the inside. And the corn cakes,  by far one of the best tapas I've had in Melbourne. Amazingly balanced and just bursting with flavour, I would highly recommend this dish. 

For main we shared the duck and mushroom paella, and the pork belly with black pudding and cannellini beans.  The paella was incredible - bursting with flavour and the juicy duck just fell off the bone.  The pork belly was also delicious - a well balanced dish with a variety of textures. 

Desert was plum sorbet and honey saffron icecream.  As the last dish of the night it didn't dissapoint. The plum sorbet was tangy and refreshing and the honey saffron icecream was creamy and fragrant.  Topped off with some homemade fruit bread, the dish was complete!

Movida Aqui was more than a delicious meal - it was an outstanding experience.

Service: 5/5

Food: 4.5/5

Decor: 4.5/5

Total:14/15

Verdict: the new fave

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Supernormal

Supernormal is one of the latest additions to the Andrew McConnell collection.  This wasn't the first time I had been to Supernormal and after having such an amazing experience the first time, there were high hopes going in - luckily the place didn't disappoint.

Even though being a Friday night the venue was busy and bustling, we still managed to secure two spots at the bar straight away.  The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, even offering us the option of a sommelier to come over and help us choose our wine.

To eat we shared the lobster roll, slow cooked Szechuan lamb with spring onion pancake and coriander paste, sautéed greens in black bean sauce and the peanut butter parfait. The lobster roll was nice, but not as amazing as last time. The lobster had something akin to a  soft shell around it which was both unexpected and unpleasant (I obviously have not prepared a lobster before or I would have known what it was, but I am pretty sure it was not meant to be there).

However, the lamb was incredible.  The flavours were explosive, with the zesty coriander past and the fragrant Szechuan sauce - and the lamb just melted in the mouth.  I would highly recommend getting this dish if going to Supernormal.

Supernormal is also home to my favourite desert in Melbourne - the peanut butter parfait.  A perfectly balanced desert with its salty peanuts, gooey rich salted caramel sauce and sweet peanut parfait - I could easily eat this every night of the week.

All in all it was an excellent night and a restaurant I look forward to returning to.

Service: 4.5/5

Décor: 4/5

Food: 4/5

Total: 12/15

Verdict: Love - rush out and try it soon.