Pop Restaurant
63 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
We trained and trammed into the city on spec in search of tapas. Tried Movida Aqui, but it was too busy. It looked very funky and Melinda and Mark gave that knowing look to each other that said “We’re coming back here”. A short walk up Little Bourke Street brought us to Hardware Lane. An institution in Melbourne that is incomparable to anything in Sydney. Perhaps a close comparison would be the restaurants opposite Gladstone Park in Balmain, but with just as many restaurants on the other side of the footpath.
There are spruikers at each establishment, ala Italian Forum, and we went for the old grey fella in front of Pop, where loads of laughter was emanating from upstairs, and there was the promise of tapas. There was a Melbourne Comedy Festival show on upstairs that had seating for about 30 people. These little shows are on in all sorts of venues throughout Melbourne. We didn’t see the show, but the clientele coming down the stairs about halfway through our meal, looked like they had a good time!
After the meal we wandered up Little Bourke St, through China Town and then over to the top of Bourke St where we indulged in coffee and dessert at Florentino Grossi, before training it home.
The eloquently titled tapas we selected were:-
Otway free range twice cooked pork belly with romesco - tender
Tortillas of potato manchego and green herbs with gribiche - bit bland
Croquettes of jamon and potato with wholegrain mustard - touch of nutmeg
Bitterballen of braised lamb shoulder with mushrooms and spec - tender and flavoursome with an interesting paprika sauce
Braised asparagus and baby leeks with goats milk fetta- we had to have some vegies
Oven roasted quail with lentils and sherry- typically fiddlely, but nice flavour
Jamon Iberico “Gran Reserva Josilito” with fresh bread cornichons- best selection, sweet Spanish prosciutto with a salty tang
Fries- average
Given the up-market title of the dishes, the price was quite reasonable and the service attentive, even if the Czech barman required a wink to get the next order while the waiters were trying to fit the upstairs patrons on to tables to eat.
Rating: 7/10
And then we moved on to Florentino Grossi for coffee and dessert. Melinda couldn’t forget her Italian experience and had to have a glass of Proseco, while coffees and hot chocolates were ordered along with tiramisu times 2 (to share) and Lauren had mango and chocolate gelato. They made room for us outside on the footpath along with all the other overflow diners. There was quite a nice atmosphere outside, and the service was excellent, so no one felt like 2nd class citizens. A very pleasant experience really, and the coffee and hot chocolates were great.
Rating: 7.5/10
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tai Pan Restaurant
Tai Pan Restaurant
239 Blackburn Rd, Doncaster East
This week we all decided to try out our new local Yum Cha restaurant, and Melinda heard through a friend that the Tai Pan in Doncaster East was the place for it. The Tai Pan serves over one thousand people every Sunday, with sittings at 11:00, 12:15 and 1:30. If you are not familiar with the workings of Yum Cha, you sit at your table and waiters bring trolleys around for you to choose from. We are all used to the friendly service and vibrant food at the Regal in Sydney, so we had high expectations this week.
We were all very hungry, so we didn’t “hold back” this week and ordered a respectable 16 dishes. Here is a sample….
Pan fried noodles with tahina and hoi sin sauce.
This dish was delicious and the noodles were perfectly cooked, with both the sauces going well with them.
Deep fried calamari.
The calamari was a bit oily but still tasty, even though it was the tiniest bit rubbery. There was a hint of Chinese five spice.
Steam Dumplings.
The steam Dumplings were mediocre, a bit dry.
Pork Dumplings.
Well cooked pork and crispy pastry, a good dish.
Deep fried spring rolls.
Small but tasty spring rolls, another good dish.
Jelly cubes and Mango custard.
The jelly and mango custard are two separate dishes, but they were both delicious. The mango custard was the perfect consistency and the jelly was too sweet (almost).
Overall this restaurant was just too bland with small differences that added up to an experience that didn’t compare with the Regals buzz. Instead of chandeliers there was a disco ball, the staff were not friendly and the food just wasn’t anything special.
Rating -- 6/10
239 Blackburn Rd, Doncaster East
This week we all decided to try out our new local Yum Cha restaurant, and Melinda heard through a friend that the Tai Pan in Doncaster East was the place for it. The Tai Pan serves over one thousand people every Sunday, with sittings at 11:00, 12:15 and 1:30. If you are not familiar with the workings of Yum Cha, you sit at your table and waiters bring trolleys around for you to choose from. We are all used to the friendly service and vibrant food at the Regal in Sydney, so we had high expectations this week.
We were all very hungry, so we didn’t “hold back” this week and ordered a respectable 16 dishes. Here is a sample….
Pan fried noodles with tahina and hoi sin sauce.
This dish was delicious and the noodles were perfectly cooked, with both the sauces going well with them.
Deep fried calamari.
The calamari was a bit oily but still tasty, even though it was the tiniest bit rubbery. There was a hint of Chinese five spice.
Steam Dumplings.
The steam Dumplings were mediocre, a bit dry.
Pork Dumplings.
Well cooked pork and crispy pastry, a good dish.
Deep fried spring rolls.
Small but tasty spring rolls, another good dish.
Jelly cubes and Mango custard.
The jelly and mango custard are two separate dishes, but they were both delicious. The mango custard was the perfect consistency and the jelly was too sweet (almost).
Overall this restaurant was just too bland with small differences that added up to an experience that didn’t compare with the Regals buzz. Instead of chandeliers there was a disco ball, the staff were not friendly and the food just wasn’t anything special.
Rating -- 6/10
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Mr. Wolf
Location: 15 Inkerman Street, St. Kilda
Melinda has had a “cooking crush” on Karen Martini for some time and this was our first opportunity to taste her food for real. It was a memorable evening and not just because of the food. The company also added a new dimension. This week we were joined by Sydney-siders, the Borgese family (Tiff is one of Lauren’s best buddies) and a gaggle of kiwi chicks lead by our friend Sue Geare (visiting from Auckland on a four day shopping safari). So our review panel expanded considerably this week with Anthony, Oliver, Dylan, Tiff, Sue, Nickie, Michelle 1, Michelle 2, Deidre and Ikuko, joining the Huggins clan to give their views.
Mr. Wolf is a pretty cool spot, combining a family diner in one half (full to the brim with patrons under 10 when we arrived at 7.30 pm) and a bar with a cellar function room, next door. Given the size of our group, we were shown to the downstairs cellar. A three course set menu had been ordered. Being removed from our fellow diners was a blessing given the volume of the conversation – mostly from our kiwi shoppers who were making the most of their weekend away.
Starters
We started our feast with a lovely selection of antipasto (very nicely accompanied by proseco and birra). Large platters of cured meats were shortly followed by generous dishes of pickled vegetables and mixed olives. The tiny ligurian olives were sweet and just irresistible. No 1 pizzas then made their entrance and wow – what a combination. The base was covered with black olive paste and salt with a large dollop of ricotta infused with rosemary, served in the centre. The contrast of the salty olives and the smooth ricotta created a taste sensation (the Huggins children are not usually olive eaters but this one they could not resist). Our last starter was far more popular with the adults than kids – eggplant chips – long fingers of eggplant lightly crumbed and fried, served with a light mayonnaise. Yum!!
Mains
Three styles of pizza and two sensational salads were the fare for mains. The incredibly thin and crisp base was a great starting point and the toppings were sensational.
Good old margherita – tomato, buffalo mozzarella, parmigiano, oregano and basil. Very popular with the kids – they disappeared quickly.
Calabrese – hot salami, peppers, chilli, olives, tomato, mozzarella and parmigiano. Loved by the adults – too hot for the kids, so lingered on the table a little longer.
Funghi – porcini and roast garlic paste, roast mushrooms, thyme and mozzarella. Loved by most of the adults and voted as the best mushroom pizza ever! (I would drive the 25 minutes to St Kilda just for this). Did not go down well with the kids.
Karen Martini does wonderful salads and these did not disappoint. Shredded cabbage with parmigiano, radish, peas, parsley, mint and a lemon juice dressing was divine. So was the combination of chopped cos lettuce, spring onions, mint, cucumber and creamy feta.
Desserts
Servings of three different choices arrived for us to share. Chocolate mousse – served in a glass with a generous sprinkle of cocoa and a cigar of dark chocolate. This contrasted well with the most delicious panacotta served with strawberry jelly and fresh strawberries. Then there was the gelato – rich chocolate and a very tart lemon. What a combination. Zambuccas and coffee followed. (A noticeable increase in volume followed).
Service
Friendly on arrival and while we enjoyed a pre dinner drink at the bar, the service became hot and cold once we moved down stairs. At times we needed to check the progress of the next course.
Value for money
The freshness of the ingredients, quality of food and generous servings made the $50 per head for the set menu, good value. Drink prices were on par with other Melbourne restaurants and seem better value than many Sydney locations.
Rating
Adults – 8/10
Kids – 6/10 (the kids only liked the margherita pizza and got a bit bored away from the main scene and atmosphere upstairs). Next time with a smaller group, we’d enjoy the streetscape upstairs.
Melinda has had a “cooking crush” on Karen Martini for some time and this was our first opportunity to taste her food for real. It was a memorable evening and not just because of the food. The company also added a new dimension. This week we were joined by Sydney-siders, the Borgese family (Tiff is one of Lauren’s best buddies) and a gaggle of kiwi chicks lead by our friend Sue Geare (visiting from Auckland on a four day shopping safari). So our review panel expanded considerably this week with Anthony, Oliver, Dylan, Tiff, Sue, Nickie, Michelle 1, Michelle 2, Deidre and Ikuko, joining the Huggins clan to give their views.
Mr. Wolf is a pretty cool spot, combining a family diner in one half (full to the brim with patrons under 10 when we arrived at 7.30 pm) and a bar with a cellar function room, next door. Given the size of our group, we were shown to the downstairs cellar. A three course set menu had been ordered. Being removed from our fellow diners was a blessing given the volume of the conversation – mostly from our kiwi shoppers who were making the most of their weekend away.
Starters
We started our feast with a lovely selection of antipasto (very nicely accompanied by proseco and birra). Large platters of cured meats were shortly followed by generous dishes of pickled vegetables and mixed olives. The tiny ligurian olives were sweet and just irresistible. No 1 pizzas then made their entrance and wow – what a combination. The base was covered with black olive paste and salt with a large dollop of ricotta infused with rosemary, served in the centre. The contrast of the salty olives and the smooth ricotta created a taste sensation (the Huggins children are not usually olive eaters but this one they could not resist). Our last starter was far more popular with the adults than kids – eggplant chips – long fingers of eggplant lightly crumbed and fried, served with a light mayonnaise. Yum!!
Mains
Three styles of pizza and two sensational salads were the fare for mains. The incredibly thin and crisp base was a great starting point and the toppings were sensational.
Good old margherita – tomato, buffalo mozzarella, parmigiano, oregano and basil. Very popular with the kids – they disappeared quickly.
Calabrese – hot salami, peppers, chilli, olives, tomato, mozzarella and parmigiano. Loved by the adults – too hot for the kids, so lingered on the table a little longer.
Funghi – porcini and roast garlic paste, roast mushrooms, thyme and mozzarella. Loved by most of the adults and voted as the best mushroom pizza ever! (I would drive the 25 minutes to St Kilda just for this). Did not go down well with the kids.
Karen Martini does wonderful salads and these did not disappoint. Shredded cabbage with parmigiano, radish, peas, parsley, mint and a lemon juice dressing was divine. So was the combination of chopped cos lettuce, spring onions, mint, cucumber and creamy feta.
Desserts
Servings of three different choices arrived for us to share. Chocolate mousse – served in a glass with a generous sprinkle of cocoa and a cigar of dark chocolate. This contrasted well with the most delicious panacotta served with strawberry jelly and fresh strawberries. Then there was the gelato – rich chocolate and a very tart lemon. What a combination. Zambuccas and coffee followed. (A noticeable increase in volume followed).
Service
Friendly on arrival and while we enjoyed a pre dinner drink at the bar, the service became hot and cold once we moved down stairs. At times we needed to check the progress of the next course.
Value for money
The freshness of the ingredients, quality of food and generous servings made the $50 per head for the set menu, good value. Drink prices were on par with other Melbourne restaurants and seem better value than many Sydney locations.
Rating
Adults – 8/10
Kids – 6/10 (the kids only liked the margherita pizza and got a bit bored away from the main scene and atmosphere upstairs). Next time with a smaller group, we’d enjoy the streetscape upstairs.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Pireaus Blues
Pireaus Blues
Location: 310 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Once you have gone Greek it’s hard not to go back. At least that’s what the Greeks say. We were recommended Pireaus Blues by a couple of foodies, so we went for it, even if the weather bureau recommended everyone stay home after a wild hail storm shut down half of Melbourne.
Pireaus Blues is smack bang in the middle of the busy, eclectic and popular Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. An original and typical older Melbourne suburb where the street has church spire sentinels at each end, and the pubs have names such as “Perseverance” and “No Pain No Gain”.
The restaurant is a friendly and welcoming family run affair. Luckily we arrived at 7pm before it filled up with loads of groups, many obviously regulars. The walls were filled with photos of Australian diggers and family, featuring an inspirational Great Aunt who died in 2003 aged 96. The restaurant is very proud of its strong ties to the past, and stays true to traditional fare and cooking methods, not to mention that at least two generations are involved in running the show.
The staff confirmed the advice provided by our foodie referees, so we limited the dishes ordered and shared goat, lamb, mousaka, hand cut chips, and of course a greek salad.
Mark wondered what Greek beer was like, and the waiter helpfully informed him that 12,000,000 German and English tourists annually convinced the Greeks that making their own beer was essential. Melinda had a “dry and light as the sun” Greek white wine.
The Food
Hand Cut Chips – disappeared very quickly into hungry mouths. Delicious, being lightly oiled and subtly herbed. We actually haven’t found a bad chip in Melbourne yet.
Roast Kid (not the human variety) – yummy, very tender, slow cooked on the bone with potatoes and a tasty sauce. A strong lemon flavour, with hints of fennel, dill and wild asparagus. Very interesting.
Baked Lemon Lamb – tender and tasty, but we reckon our version of slow roasted shoulder ranks just as highly.
Mousaka – Kids loved it - little did they know how good eggplant can taste. Greek lasagna with layers of eggplant, potato, and lamb mince, topped with cheese. There was also wilted fennel or dill leaf in the sauce too which gave this dish a nice flavour. And yes, the adults liked it too.
Greek Salad – Well a Greek restaurant should know how to make a decent Greek salad, and this one does. Simple, fresh, crunchy and a tasty dressing. No more, no less.
Dessert
We shared the combined dessert plate:
Baklava – traditional greek puff pastry with layers of honey and crushed nuts
Loukoumades – golf ball sized doughnuts, freshly made with honey, cinnamon and crushed walnuts. Tori said “If you didn’t like the donuts, you came here for the wrong reason.”
Halva Ice cream – Vanilla ice cream blended with halva and sesame seed with cocoa. Not a morsel was left.
Service
Very friendly and helpful. Not over the top, and gave some helpful hints about where to go in Greece. Apparently Rhodes is the island to go to.
Value
Good value and a very good experience overall. Family friendly and we would return.
Rating: Kids 7.5/10, Adults 7.5/10
Location: 310 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Once you have gone Greek it’s hard not to go back. At least that’s what the Greeks say. We were recommended Pireaus Blues by a couple of foodies, so we went for it, even if the weather bureau recommended everyone stay home after a wild hail storm shut down half of Melbourne.
Pireaus Blues is smack bang in the middle of the busy, eclectic and popular Brunswick Street in Fitzroy. An original and typical older Melbourne suburb where the street has church spire sentinels at each end, and the pubs have names such as “Perseverance” and “No Pain No Gain”.
The restaurant is a friendly and welcoming family run affair. Luckily we arrived at 7pm before it filled up with loads of groups, many obviously regulars. The walls were filled with photos of Australian diggers and family, featuring an inspirational Great Aunt who died in 2003 aged 96. The restaurant is very proud of its strong ties to the past, and stays true to traditional fare and cooking methods, not to mention that at least two generations are involved in running the show.
The staff confirmed the advice provided by our foodie referees, so we limited the dishes ordered and shared goat, lamb, mousaka, hand cut chips, and of course a greek salad.
Mark wondered what Greek beer was like, and the waiter helpfully informed him that 12,000,000 German and English tourists annually convinced the Greeks that making their own beer was essential. Melinda had a “dry and light as the sun” Greek white wine.
The Food
Hand Cut Chips – disappeared very quickly into hungry mouths. Delicious, being lightly oiled and subtly herbed. We actually haven’t found a bad chip in Melbourne yet.
Roast Kid (not the human variety) – yummy, very tender, slow cooked on the bone with potatoes and a tasty sauce. A strong lemon flavour, with hints of fennel, dill and wild asparagus. Very interesting.
Baked Lemon Lamb – tender and tasty, but we reckon our version of slow roasted shoulder ranks just as highly.
Mousaka – Kids loved it - little did they know how good eggplant can taste. Greek lasagna with layers of eggplant, potato, and lamb mince, topped with cheese. There was also wilted fennel or dill leaf in the sauce too which gave this dish a nice flavour. And yes, the adults liked it too.
Greek Salad – Well a Greek restaurant should know how to make a decent Greek salad, and this one does. Simple, fresh, crunchy and a tasty dressing. No more, no less.
Dessert
We shared the combined dessert plate:
Baklava – traditional greek puff pastry with layers of honey and crushed nuts
Loukoumades – golf ball sized doughnuts, freshly made with honey, cinnamon and crushed walnuts. Tori said “If you didn’t like the donuts, you came here for the wrong reason.”
Halva Ice cream – Vanilla ice cream blended with halva and sesame seed with cocoa. Not a morsel was left.
Service
Very friendly and helpful. Not over the top, and gave some helpful hints about where to go in Greece. Apparently Rhodes is the island to go to.
Value
Good value and a very good experience overall. Family friendly and we would return.
Rating: Kids 7.5/10, Adults 7.5/10
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Demitri's Feast
Demitri’s Feast
Location: 141 Swan St, Richmond
This week we decided to go out for breakfast to Dimitri’s Feast, a Greek restaurant which was very favourably reviewed in “The Age” in a feature article on cheap eats.
This restaurant has an energetic vibe and a strong line up of regulars heading through to doors for morning coffee. Demitri’s is situated near East Richmond station with trams, and parking handy. We were instantly welcomed, seated on stools made from olive oil tins and given menus (made of box cardboard to continue the recycling theme) listing favorites like French toast, or Greek gems like Rizogalo (Greek rice pudding).
We started with fresh OJ’s and coffee. They only serve regular size, so dad had to have a second flat white.
Lauren had Baclava French toast with walnuts, thick Greek yoghurt and orange honey syrup. She loved it, and was very disappointed that the final portion was whisked away while she was visiting the Ladies. Not the waiters fault, as he did ask if it was still going to be eaten, but mum and dad made an executive decision based on Lauren’s history. Next time they will wait to confirm.
Tori had Semolina Pancakes with rose jam, pistachios, thick Greek yoghurt and orange honey syrup. She thought the pancakes were spot on, being light and fluffy, and the edible rose petals and crushed pistachios were delicious. The orange honey syrup also went very well with the slightly sour yoghurt. Overall a very well balanced dish with just the right amount of different flavors and textures.
Morgan got the Rizogalo (Greek rice pudding) with spiced pear of top. This was excellent and the spiced pear went really well with the pudding, even though it flirted between sweet and savory.
Melinda had the Zucchini Fritters with dill and feta, bacon and baby truss tomatoes which were pretty delicious but the fritters were a little underdone and the dish needed some tomato relish.
Mark had Omeletto with potato, pork sausage, goats cheese served wth toast. It was well cooked and quite filling. This dish also needed some tomato relish. The head waiter said they had sourced some home made relish from a Greek grandma, and would soon have it on the menu.
Service
The staff were friendly and took on the feedback about the relish well. They had no hesitation recommending other restaurants for us to try, and we now have a restaurant known for its duck dishes situated in Collingwood on our list to try. The atmosphere was friendly and had a good energy, but there wasn’t a lot of space and is not set up for large groups. The food was good, freshly prepared and plentiful.
Value for money
Good value and a pretty good experience overall. We would return.
Rating: Kids 7.5/10, Adults 7/10
Location: 141 Swan St, Richmond
This week we decided to go out for breakfast to Dimitri’s Feast, a Greek restaurant which was very favourably reviewed in “The Age” in a feature article on cheap eats.
This restaurant has an energetic vibe and a strong line up of regulars heading through to doors for morning coffee. Demitri’s is situated near East Richmond station with trams, and parking handy. We were instantly welcomed, seated on stools made from olive oil tins and given menus (made of box cardboard to continue the recycling theme) listing favorites like French toast, or Greek gems like Rizogalo (Greek rice pudding).
We started with fresh OJ’s and coffee. They only serve regular size, so dad had to have a second flat white.
Lauren had Baclava French toast with walnuts, thick Greek yoghurt and orange honey syrup. She loved it, and was very disappointed that the final portion was whisked away while she was visiting the Ladies. Not the waiters fault, as he did ask if it was still going to be eaten, but mum and dad made an executive decision based on Lauren’s history. Next time they will wait to confirm.
Tori had Semolina Pancakes with rose jam, pistachios, thick Greek yoghurt and orange honey syrup. She thought the pancakes were spot on, being light and fluffy, and the edible rose petals and crushed pistachios were delicious. The orange honey syrup also went very well with the slightly sour yoghurt. Overall a very well balanced dish with just the right amount of different flavors and textures.
Morgan got the Rizogalo (Greek rice pudding) with spiced pear of top. This was excellent and the spiced pear went really well with the pudding, even though it flirted between sweet and savory.
Melinda had the Zucchini Fritters with dill and feta, bacon and baby truss tomatoes which were pretty delicious but the fritters were a little underdone and the dish needed some tomato relish.
Mark had Omeletto with potato, pork sausage, goats cheese served wth toast. It was well cooked and quite filling. This dish also needed some tomato relish. The head waiter said they had sourced some home made relish from a Greek grandma, and would soon have it on the menu.
Service
The staff were friendly and took on the feedback about the relish well. They had no hesitation recommending other restaurants for us to try, and we now have a restaurant known for its duck dishes situated in Collingwood on our list to try. The atmosphere was friendly and had a good energy, but there wasn’t a lot of space and is not set up for large groups. The food was good, freshly prepared and plentiful.
Value for money
Good value and a pretty good experience overall. We would return.
Rating: Kids 7.5/10, Adults 7/10
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Afghan Village Restaurant
Location: 329 Burke Rd, Camberwell
A work colleague of Melinda’s recommended we try this restaurant that cooks northern afghani food and we’re very pleased we did. Once again we made a last minute booking and fortunately they were able to squeeze us in. Afghan Village is a small softly lit restaurant with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The gentleman at front of house made us feel very much at home and the energy was relaxed, despite the restaurant being full with a couple of large tables.
Food
The food was simple and delicious with delicate and subtle flavours. We shared a number of dishes. Chicken Khandahari is the house speciality and we know why. This flavoursome dish reminded us of butter chicken but was ten times better with yoghurt rather than sour cream as the base. The Lamb Korma also went down well – small chunks of lamb that had been stewed in a light sauce until it was about to fall apart. The Afghani Dahl was thick and chunky, resembling mashed potatoes and was incredibly hot (Melinda burning the roof of her mouth). Morgan’s choice was a chicken and beef kebab, incredibly tender marinated meat cooked on a sizzling plate. This was all accompanied by Palau Rice, an afghani staple cooked with bachlani rice along with yoghurt, mint and cucumber sauce.
Dessert was also scrumptious. The kids all had Firnee, a white custard with rosewater and cardamom flavouring. Mark choose Shirpera, a sweet slice with hints of orange and rosewater. Melinda had her favourite Bachlava, three small pieces with generous amounts of honey.
Value for money
Afghani Village is BYO and with the bill coming in well under $150, was great value and we’ll certainly return again.
Rating: 8/10
Interesting facts
Afghani food is often seasoned with lots of spices including samok (dry baby grapes), dill, fresh mint and cardamom.
A work colleague of Melinda’s recommended we try this restaurant that cooks northern afghani food and we’re very pleased we did. Once again we made a last minute booking and fortunately they were able to squeeze us in. Afghan Village is a small softly lit restaurant with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The gentleman at front of house made us feel very much at home and the energy was relaxed, despite the restaurant being full with a couple of large tables.
Food
The food was simple and delicious with delicate and subtle flavours. We shared a number of dishes. Chicken Khandahari is the house speciality and we know why. This flavoursome dish reminded us of butter chicken but was ten times better with yoghurt rather than sour cream as the base. The Lamb Korma also went down well – small chunks of lamb that had been stewed in a light sauce until it was about to fall apart. The Afghani Dahl was thick and chunky, resembling mashed potatoes and was incredibly hot (Melinda burning the roof of her mouth). Morgan’s choice was a chicken and beef kebab, incredibly tender marinated meat cooked on a sizzling plate. This was all accompanied by Palau Rice, an afghani staple cooked with bachlani rice along with yoghurt, mint and cucumber sauce.
Dessert was also scrumptious. The kids all had Firnee, a white custard with rosewater and cardamom flavouring. Mark choose Shirpera, a sweet slice with hints of orange and rosewater. Melinda had her favourite Bachlava, three small pieces with generous amounts of honey.
Value for money
Afghani Village is BYO and with the bill coming in well under $150, was great value and we’ll certainly return again.
Rating: 8/10
Interesting facts
Afghani food is often seasoned with lots of spices including samok (dry baby grapes), dill, fresh mint and cardamom.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Rococo
We ventured to St Kilda for the first time to find an eating spot on spec. A busy and disjointed Saturday meant we missed lunch so we decided to do ' dunch' (as opposed to 'brunch') - a late lunch/early dinner, arriving at St Kilda just after 4 pm.
St Kilda has tones of San Souci and Bondi with a touch of Kings Cross. The bay (what were they thinking when they called it St Kilda Beach?) is flat, open and windy, the local residents represent the full section of life and traditional eating spots are intertwined with cool wine bars and restaurants.
We chose Rococo, an Italian bistro and wine bar. Sitting inside, you look up and see trams flashing by at such speed, it takes us newcomers to Melbourne by surprise.
Location: Rococo - 87-89 Acland Street, St Kilda
Food
We started our meal with garlic bread that was pretty delicious, probably because we were ravenously hungry. We chose different meals for main.
Tori enjoyed her choice of Gnocchi Bolognese. The gnocchi was soft and moist while the sauce was like the stuff we make at home, rich and tomatoey. Lauren's Margarita Pizza had a crust that was deliciously crisp and crunchy although the topping had too much cheese and was slightly oily. Morgan's Pizza Veneto was excellent although again, just slightly over oiled. Not the best pizza he's ever had, but still good.
Melinda and Mark shared a blanco pizza with a topping of prawns, zucchini and mozzarella with a touch of lemon and chilli oil, which they both enjoyed. Although the base was thin and crisp, it lacked that yeasty taste that separates 'ok' from 'really good' pizzas. They also shared a rocket, tomato and feta salad that was passable, the rocket being a bit stringy. The matching wine was excellent.
The service was sporadic depending on who you got to deal with. Some staff were friendly and willing to go out of their way. Others were on rote. They also shoved us down the back even though we asked to be closer to the front so we could get a better view of the trams and people.
Value for money
It was a little on the expensive side so not sure we'd be rushing back. We did spy Karen Martini's Mr Wolf Cafe and Wine bar around the corner in Inkerman Str and we will definitely return to try this one. Karen is one of Melinda's cooking heros and the Good Food Guide has given Mr Wolf an excellent review. The roast garlic pizza sounds like a must try. Karen also runs the Melbourne Wine Room close by in Fitzroy St. We are waiting for Tim and Michelle to visit so we can try this strictly grown up venue out with them.
Overall rating: 6.5/10
After dunch we ventured down to the beach?? seeing the Melbourne version of Luna Park?? and the famous Palais Theatre (bring back Hunters & Collectors) on the way. We also spotted the national surf kiting championship - what a scene.
Walking back along Fitzroy St we found Fitzgerald's Icecream and the pannacotto with raspberry was too delicious for words.
St Kilda has tones of San Souci and Bondi with a touch of Kings Cross. The bay (what were they thinking when they called it St Kilda Beach?) is flat, open and windy, the local residents represent the full section of life and traditional eating spots are intertwined with cool wine bars and restaurants.
We chose Rococo, an Italian bistro and wine bar. Sitting inside, you look up and see trams flashing by at such speed, it takes us newcomers to Melbourne by surprise.
Location: Rococo - 87-89 Acland Street, St Kilda
Food
We started our meal with garlic bread that was pretty delicious, probably because we were ravenously hungry. We chose different meals for main.
Tori enjoyed her choice of Gnocchi Bolognese. The gnocchi was soft and moist while the sauce was like the stuff we make at home, rich and tomatoey. Lauren's Margarita Pizza had a crust that was deliciously crisp and crunchy although the topping had too much cheese and was slightly oily. Morgan's Pizza Veneto was excellent although again, just slightly over oiled. Not the best pizza he's ever had, but still good.
Melinda and Mark shared a blanco pizza with a topping of prawns, zucchini and mozzarella with a touch of lemon and chilli oil, which they both enjoyed. Although the base was thin and crisp, it lacked that yeasty taste that separates 'ok' from 'really good' pizzas. They also shared a rocket, tomato and feta salad that was passable, the rocket being a bit stringy. The matching wine was excellent.
The service was sporadic depending on who you got to deal with. Some staff were friendly and willing to go out of their way. Others were on rote. They also shoved us down the back even though we asked to be closer to the front so we could get a better view of the trams and people.
Value for money
It was a little on the expensive side so not sure we'd be rushing back. We did spy Karen Martini's Mr Wolf Cafe and Wine bar around the corner in Inkerman Str and we will definitely return to try this one. Karen is one of Melinda's cooking heros and the Good Food Guide has given Mr Wolf an excellent review. The roast garlic pizza sounds like a must try. Karen also runs the Melbourne Wine Room close by in Fitzroy St. We are waiting for Tim and Michelle to visit so we can try this strictly grown up venue out with them.
Overall rating: 6.5/10
After dunch we ventured down to the beach?? seeing the Melbourne version of Luna Park?? and the famous Palais Theatre (bring back Hunters & Collectors) on the way. We also spotted the national surf kiting championship - what a scene.
Walking back along Fitzroy St we found Fitzgerald's Icecream and the pannacotto with raspberry was too delicious for words.
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