Lenny

It’s a tough world out there for Melbourne cafes - not only do you have to offer incredibly delicious food and drool worthy coffee, but it seems that must also offer insta-worthy dishes that could easily form part of a new exhibit at MONA. Luckily for Lenny 3206 on Victoria Ave in Albert Park, it hits this high mark.

With items such as eggs benny served on a potato hash with crackle dust, and Japanese inspired okonomiyaki with a poached egg, Lenny’s breakfast menu ventures from your standard brekki fare. On this occasion I ordered the smashed avacado with grated broccoli and ricotta salata ($18). Fresh, healthy and delicious - as a lover of smashed avacado this interesting (and refreshing) take on the dish certainly didn’t disappoint.

Tasty food, friendly service and exceptional coffee - Lenny is definitely worth checking out for brunch if you find yourself in the area.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value for money: 3/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 15/20
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

 

Shanghai Street

It’s no secret that my favourite place for dumplings in Melbourne’s CBD is Hutong, but my favourite dumpling dish is a whole another story. Whilst chili wonton’s are far from a stranger to the dumpling scene, Shanghai Street’s pork and prawn chilli peanut wontons take it to the next level - the rich and creamy nutty sauce paired with the spice of the chili oil will makes it hard for you to stop to going back for more.

What Shanghai Street unfortunately doesn’t excel at though (well at least on this occasion) is their xiao long bao. The dumpling wrappers stuck to the baskets and broke to smitherreens the minute we tried to move them - meaning that all the delicious soup stored inside was quickly lost to the bamboo basket.



With Shanghai Street having four locations across the CBD, it’s definitely worth popping in to give their chilli peanut wontons a try.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Value for money: 5/5
Total: 15.5/20
Verdict: love - get around to trying their chilli peanut wontons soon

 

Belluno

Situated at the bottom of Collins Square on the cusp of Docklands, and serving up a range of wines by thr glass, cocktails and boozy affagatos, Italian inspired restaurant Belluno was born for the long business lunch.

On this occasion I tried the Spaghetti Aglio Olio with garlic, chilli, bacon, parmesan and pangrattato ($18). The pasta was cooked to perfection, which worked well with the simple flavours of the dish. The bacon was too fatty for my liking, but otherwise a tasty dish. 

The affogato with frangelico was definitely a highlight of the lunch - so simple, but yet so effective, it’s a surprise it doesn’t appear on more restaurants’ menus. The service was also a highlight - friendly and attentive, it made our lunch all the more enjoyable.

 Tasty food, friendly service and aperol sprit’s on offer, it won’t be the last time I visit Belluno.

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Value for money: 3.5/5
Total: 14/20

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