Siganature Pho Viet

Wintery weather in Melbourne calls for one thing - a big steaming hot bowl of Pho. So where do you go to find the best pho in Docklands? Well the answer is simple - Signature Pho Viet on Bourke Street. 

Offering complimentary flasks of steaming hot tea and three (that's right, THREE) types of chill on the table (as well as all the usual condiment-culprits of course), Signature Pho shows how far the little touches go.

Signature Pho's veggie pho is by far one of the better veggie pho's I've had in Melbourne.  Whilst usually a veggie pho consists of tofu, a couple of pieces of old carrot and a piece of broccoli or two if you're lucky, Signature Pho's veggie pho is stuffed to the brim with mushrooms, cauliflower, snowpeas, tofu and broccoli - all of which are covered by a broth which is just punching in flavour.

Cheap, cheerful and great value for money, Signature Pho Viet is definitely the place to go if you find yourself craving pho in docklands.

Food: 4.5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Value for money: 5/5
Total: Love - get around to trying their pho soon

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

 

Miznon

Whilst it's fair to say that I'm well and truly late to the Miznon loving band-wagon, it was definitely worth the wait. Being the sixth Miznon to grace the world's foodie scene (with the first one opening in Tel Aviv in 2007), with its loud music, eclectic fit-out and singing and dancing staff, this Israeli street-food inspired eatery has an undeniable street party meet close family gathering vibe.

Being my first time to Miznon, trying their roasted baby cauliflower was non-negotiable.  Whilst it is undoubtedly Miznon's signature dish, I certainly had concerns going in for my first bite - I mean, how good could a baby cauliflower (and I'm talking JUST a cauliflower) be?  The answer is bloody delicious. Rich and creamy, it was definitely worth the hype.

As a Miznon-virgin, I also felt obliged to try one of their pitas - opting for the Cheakypita stuffed with. a falafel burger, tomato steak, sour cream, chili onion and pickles. Whilst it's a big call, it was by far the best falafel I have ever had and will definitely be a repeat order on my certain return.

The eggplant and the lamb shawarma were also excellent options.  And if you can fit it in, why not stuff all of these ingredients into another pita - with a pita station with all you can eat pitas and condiments on offer inside on the side wall.

When you can walk away from a one-hatted restaurant for $30 a head, it's fair to say that it's a no-brainer.  If you haven't tried Miznon yet,it should definitely be on the list.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Venue: 4/5
Value for money: 5/5
Total: 18/20
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

The Duke of Wellington - The Rooftop

Is it a parma, is it a lasagna, no....it's a Lamargiana.  That's right, The Duke of Wellington on Flinders Street in Melbourne serves up a classic Aussie parma topped with lasagna.  But before we get to this Aussie/Italian creation, first to the venue. Melbourne's iconic Duke of Wellington is spread upon three levels - a casual bar at the bottom, a restaurant in the middle and a rooftop bar at the top.

Being a glorious warm Melbourne night, we decided to hit up the Rooftop.Whilst the vibe up there was definitely buzzing, and the view of Federation Square was quite beautiful, the food itself was a bit disappointing. My fellow diners went with the normal parma which they commented was "okay but not great".  I of course had to give the Larmagiana a try. Whilst the chicken itself was plump and juicy, the overall dish lacked any real seasoning or flavour - indeed, a frozen McCain lasagne has a lot more flavour than what was atop this parma.  I also thought it was a bit steep for $31 when the only real addition to the classic $26 parma was two sheets of pasta and the smallest dash of spaghetti sauce.  

 If you're heading to the Forum for a show on a warm balmy night, or on your way to the footy, the Rooftop of The Duke is definitely worth a drink - but perhaps find somewhere else to eat beforehand.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Value for money: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying the Rooftop for a drink at some point if you heading to the Forum or the footy.

Code Black Coffee - Brunswick

When I first saw that Code Black Coffee had four venues across the city, my first thought was "crap, my friend has asked me to a mildly fancier version of the Coffee Club".  But to my absolute pleasure (and surprise), Code Black Coffee is miles above the Coffee Club - the two aren't even in the same league.

The Code Black cafe (slash coffee roaster) in Brunswick oozes industrial-chic, offering up a drool-worthy menu with the likes of truffled eggs benedict with mushroom duxelles, sausage and black truffle hollandaise on offer.

Whilst perhaps not the most insta-worthy meal on their menu, the Buttermilk fried rockling burger with japlepenos, green chilli mayo, cheese, cos lettuce and dill pickles, was the best fish burger I have ever had. A big call, I know - but the freshness of the fish, the fluffiness of the bun, and the richness of the generously smothered sauce made me eat it SUPER SLOW as I knew I would be sad when my meal was over.

My friend went with the slow cooked lamb shoulder with roasted baby carrots, babaganoush, sumac tabbouleh and poached eggs. Not only did the dish look beautiful - after being allowed a sneaky taste, I am pleased to confirm that it was also delicious.


Oh, and the potato tots are non-negotiable. Crisp on the outside, fluffy on this inside, it was definitely a rookie error of mine agreeing to share.

Whilst the venue was packed to the brim, our meals were quick and the service was friendly - it's is an absolute must if you find yourself in the area.

Food: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Total: 18.5/20
Verdict:The New Fave - put it as number 1 on the To Do list.

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

Tsuta Sushi

With my love of burgers, and my love of sushi, I thought how could I possibly go wrong with trying a sushi burger - that's right, a sushi burger! And that's exactly what's on offer at Japanese eatery Tsuta Sushi on Hardware Lane in the city. 

With a venue that's about as casual as your fast food sushi joints, I was admittedly surprised by the exceptional table service, and the presence of sake and wine on the menu.

Ordering one of their sushi burgers was obviously a must. Whilst the seaweed itself was a little dry around the edges (obviously due to its positioning), once I got into the crux of the burger I definitely became a sushi burger convert - juicy and flavorsome, it's definitely something I would come back for.

Being a cold night, I also couldn't go past trying their katsu curry - and I'm glad that I did - the chicken was crisp and juicy, and the curry was rich and fragrant. And for all of those udon noodle lovers out there - good news, you can also order your curry with udon rather than the classic rice.

If you're looking for some cheep and cheerful Japanese that does not lack in service or flavour, then I would definitely recommend hitting up Tsuta Sushi.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Value for money: 5/5
Total: 18/20
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon