Belleville

Situated in China Town, you could almost blink and you'd miss the entrance to Belleville on Globe Alley. However, on climbing a flight of stairs and walking through Belleville's doors, you quickly realise it's not your usual China Town venue.  Set up in an old warehouse, with its graffitied walls, exposed beams, eclectic array of artwork and furniture, and a DJ pumping out the tunes from as early as 6pm, it definitely epitomises Melbourne's laneway culture.

Famous for its rotisserie salt water brined free range chicken, Belleville serves up quarter, half or whole chickens - I couldn't exactly pay Belleville a visit without trying at least a bit of their chook.  To share we ordered half a chicken ($17) with the miso butter glaze.  For the sauce, whist usually a lover of all things spicy, I would highly recommend passing on the "Hot as F*$K" fireball sauce, and going for the medium sauce of coriander, ginger and chilli ($1.50) - whilst not having any spice factor, this sauce is packed full of flavour.

Voted by Urban List as one of the best poutine's in Melbourne, Belleville's poutine ($11) is not to be missed. Smothered with delicious cheese, gravy and hot sauce, it's the sort of dish which dreams are made of.

Aside from the poutine, other highlights of the night for me were the sticky pork hock with red papaya salad ($15.50) which was fresh, fragrant and deliciously sticky, and the lobster mac'n'cheese croquette with Japanese mustard and bacon jam ($4.50) which was rich, creamy and an absolutely decadent treat.

The disappointments of the night were definitely the char grilled lamb ribs ($12), and the beef meatballs stuffed with cheddar ($10). The ribs were unfortunately mostly fat (I think between the three of us, only one of us got a skerrick of meat) and it was like a treasure hunt to find the cheese within the meatballs which were overall uninspiring.

Whilst Belleville didn't necessarily hit a home run with all of its dishes, with its trendy and buzzing vibe, welcoming staff and some superstars on its menu, Belleville will definitely still go on my recommendation list.

Food: 3/5
Venue: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 10.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Globe Alley, CBD, Melbourne
 

Hibachi Japanese Grill

Hibachi on King Street faces some tough competition. Serving up Japanese cuisine, it sits somewhere between the casualness of Takitori and fine dining feel of Hanabishi.

To start with we were served a complimentary dish of beanshoots soaked in what may have been miso? Whilst not exactly a treat on the eyes, it was actually a lot more tastier than it looks.

For the main fare I ordered the chicken katsu curry (which for some strange reason appeared on my menu, but not on the menu of two of my fellow diners). It was actually one of the best chicken katsu curries I have had in a while - the chicken was tender and juicy, the sauce flavoursome and the salad on the side was a nice accompaniment.

 

If you're in the mood for some Katsu Curry, Hibachi Japanese Grill is definitely an excellent option.

Food: 3/5

Venue: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Total: 9/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

Ionio

Looking for the best Saganaki in Melbourne? Well then look no further than Ionio. After the longest run of chewy, rubbery fried cheese, I was starting to think that my idea of a good Saganaki was just a delusion - but then came Ionio, with its deliciously-bitey cheese which was crisp on the outside and oozing on the inside.

Slightly off the beaten track for some, Ionio's is situated in the Westfield shopping centre in Doncaster. Although walking through its doors, you wouldn't think you were situated inside of a shopping centre, with Ionia's having a warm, family-friendly feel.

My number one suggestion would be (well, number two after my suggestion that you have to get the Saganaki) to go on a hungry stomach. The serving sizes are huge and incredible value for money. To eat on this occasion, we were served a 'mini' version of the banquet (although it was hardly small), although the normal size banquet will only set you back $36. As part of our banquet we were served:

Olives

 

Trio of dips and pita

 

Rosemary and fetta chips

 

Saganaki

 

Fried Calamari

 

Spit fired chicken and lamb

 

Grilled haloumi jewelled salad

 

The warm pita, dips and olives were all delicious starters, with the beetroot dip being a clear stand out for me.

Although, as delicious as the dips are, make sure to save room for the main events. Served with even more warm pita, both the chicken and the lamb were incredible tender and juicy, and had a delicious charcoal flavour. The chips were also cooked to perfection  - crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, the sprinkling of fetta and oregano on the top finished the chips off nicely. 

For anyone who says you don't make friends with salad surely hasn't met the grilled haloumi jewelled salad with mixed salad leaves, thyme, grapes and pomegranate. With the tang of its pomegranate, creaminess of haloumi and sweetness of its grapes - this is a ridiculously delicious salad.

The calamari was the only let down of the meal, with some of the peices being quite tough and chewy. But the midly spiced sauce that was served beside it was definitely a highlight.

If you ever find yourself in Doncaster looking for a Greek feast (or any kind of feast in fact) make sure to head to Ionio's.

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Venue: 3.5/5

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre, Level 2, 619 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, Melbourne       

The New Fave dined courtesy of Ionia's
 

Cheerios

Cheerios in Richmond definitely has an air of cheerfulness. With tables out the front to accommodate man's best friends, and filled with regulars who know all of the wait staffs' names, this quaint little establishment definitely has a 'local' feel.

It's  the little touches that sets this venue apart - including offering Aesop soup in the toilets which is always a big tick in my books. Cheerio's is also an ideal place to visit after a big night - within seconds of being seated, I was offered a berocca and was recommended just the breakfast to cure my hangover - the sticky ham hock with fresh Asian herbs, chili black vinegar, tamarind hollandaise and poached egg on sourdough toast - and boy it was good. The ham hock was tender and juicy, the hollandaise tangy and the overall dish was packed with flavour.

Thank you Cheerios for curing my hangover with your delicious and inexpensive food (the sticky ham hock delight will only set you back $16.00) - you have earned yourself the title of The New Fave.

Food: 4.5/5

Venue: 4/5

Service: 5/5
Total: 13.5/15
Verdict: The New Fave - put it as number one on your to do list.

323 Lennox Street, Richmond
 

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 

 

Brae

Brae in a word? Underwhelming. It didn't help that it had just been awarded Regional Restaurant of the Year by The Good Food Guide - I was obviously going in with too high of expectations.  It's not that the dishes weren't technically perfect - because they were - some of them just didn't have much of a wow factor (the hapuku and roasted beetroot dishes were borderline bland) and I was hoping that I wouldn't leave the venue feeling like I could go order myself a pizza.

Situated in the quaint but very charming town of Birregurra,  from the man who once bought you The Royal Mail in Dunkeld, Dan Hunter's venue is modern but homely - you definitely feel like you're miles away from the city as soon as you step through their doors. Priding itself on using fresh and local produce - the menu changes to suit what's in the garden (and indeed, it's quite the vegie patch they have!) The menu on this occasion consisted of:

Brook trout and nut butter crisp

Crimson pearl potato and smoked eel sandwhich

Prawn, nasturtium, finger lime

Iced Oyster with beef tendon and mountain pepper

Beetroot with bone marrow and juniper

Calamari and black lip abalone, broccoli and blue mackerel

Eggplant and salt grass lamb washed with sweet onion juice, fragrant and acidic plants

Hapuku, turnip and mustard greens, fish roe whipped with onion

Crayfish and shitake with Brae farm egg yolk, meat broth and seaweed

Aged pekin duck wood roasted on the bone, pumpkin cream and walnut

Quince simmered with vanilla, sheep's milk and Brae farm honey

Parsnip and apple

The dishes of the day for me were actually the starters.  The brook trout and nut butter crisp, the crimson pearl potato and smoked eel sandwich and the prawn, nasturtium (there was a lot of nasturtium going on) and finger lime parcel were all bursting with flavour. The iced oyster was also a highlight - pushing the boundaries Heston style, the texture was akin to "oyster ice-cream", but it surprisingly actually worked.  

Brook Trout and Nut Butter Crisp, Prawn, Nasturtium and Finger Lime

Crimson pearl potato and smoked eel sandwich

Iced Oyster, Beef Tendon and Mountain Pepper

The Crayfish and shitake with Brae farm egg yolk was my fellow diners' favourite dish, where as I quite liked the calamari and black lip abalone - with the calamari sliced as thinly as rice noodles (and deliciously just as soft and tender).

Crayfish and Shitake with Brae Farm Egg Yolk, Meat Broth and Seaweed

Calamari and Black Lip Abalone, Broccoli and Blue Mackerel

The duck was cooked perfectly - but in terms of flavours and texutres, it wasn't quite in the same league as the duck dish I had recently at Montalto.

Aged Pekin Duck Wood Roasted on the Bone, Pumpkin, Walnut

Unfortunately, the fish and mustard greens were indeed just that - fish and mustard greens which could have done with a touch more seasoning.  The roasted beetroot with marrow, and the quince simmered with vanilla were nice, but were borderline bland and were along the lines of "take it or leave it".

Hapuku, turnip, mustard greens, fish roe whipped with onion 

Beetroot with bone marrow and juniper

Quince simmered with vanilla, sheep's milk and Braw farm honey

The parsnip and apple desert was the much more inspiring desert of the two.

Parsnip and Apple

Unfortunately, $190 later, I was still hungry. On the table asking for another slice of bread each (to try and feel the empty holes in our bellies) you would have thought we asked for another slice of duck! And even after asking two different staff members whether we could some butter with our bread, the butter never arrived.

There were definitely some exceptional highlights to the menu - however it was by no means the new fave. 

Food: 4/5

Venue: 4.5/5

Service: 3/5

Total: 11.5/15

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

4285 Cape Otway Road, Birregurra, VIC

Pepper Lunch

There's something about a sizzle plate which adds an incredible element of theater to a meal - and the  the sizzle plates at Pepper Lunch in Hawthorn are no exception!

Taking patrons food orders at the front counter, the venue feels like a cross between a fast food joint (think McDonalds / Hungry Jacks) and a mid-range Japanese restaurant. The Japanese inspired menu is extensive, offering everything from hamburg to teppan pasta.

The Japanese chicken curry is an absolute must. Served on a sizzle plate, the curry sauce is served on the side so that you can pour it on yourself  - the sizzle plate is also an excellent way to keep your dinner warm!  Sizzle aside, the chicken was juicy, the sauce rich and flavorsome and the corn added a delicious taste and texture to the meal.

But if you're heading to Pepper Lunch, I'd recommend sticking to the sizzle dishes - the teriyaki beef was cold and lifeless and was quite drab in comparison to their Japanese curry.

If you're in the area and craving some Japanese Curry - then I would say definitely head to Pepper Lunch.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 2.5/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 8/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some - but stick with the sizzle plates.

The New Fave dined courtesy of Pepper Lunch