mid-range

HOT: Poultrygeist, The Commoner, 122 Johnston St, Fitzroy

February 8, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment

As a regular reader of this blog you’ll know that (a) I love movies and (b) I love food. So when one of my local favourites The Commoner invited me to the launch night of their first movie-inspired multi-course menu I could hardly say no. And the theme was chooks! Roast chooks! In the form [...]

HOT: Mama Baba, 21 Daly St, South Yarra

January 22, 2012 ⋅ One comment

Another day, another George Calombaris restaurant opens. That man (along with Andrew McConnell and Chris Lucas) is taking over this town! But that’s ok, when he’s able to bring consistently excellent food and service to the four corners of Melbourne. He’s got it all covered – north, south, east, central…the only place missing is west (and [...]

HOT: Gorski & Jones, 304 Smith St, Collingwood

January 12, 2012 ⋅ One comment

I’ve been eye off the maroon meat slicer in the window of Gorski & Jones since it opened about 2 months ago. It’s a big, shiny, impressive beast atop a long white marble bar and it announces the restaurant’s Italianate roots with no need for dinky red gingham tablecloths and an accordian player. Gorski & [...]

HOT: Giant Steps Innocent Bystander Winery, 336 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

November 25, 2011 ⋅ One comment

A sunny weekend saw us taking a trip out to the Yarra Valley, armed with a recommendation for lunch at Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander. Unlike most of the other wineries in the Yarra Valley, Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander isn’t located on an expansive piece of green land – it’s just a straight turnoff from the Maroondah Highway [...]

HOT: WLG Wellington Pop-up Restaurant, 153 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

November 20, 2011 ⋅ One comment

For the last week I’ve been watching the corner of Gertrude and Napier Streets with interest. WLG stamped on the walls. Brightly coloured metal chairs lining long tables on the pavement. A dude with an enormous 19th century handlebar moustache working the tables. The answer? The WLG Wellington pop-up restaurant has landed in Melbourne to [...]

HOT: Bento Lunch, Taxi Dining Room, Level 1 Transport Hotel, Federation Square, Melbourne

November 13, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

Out of all the dining venues in Federation Square, my favourite is the Transport/Taxi/Transit complex. Transport is great for a quiet riverside drink (though it can get rowdier on weekends), I often take visitors to experience the slick food and expansive Yarra views at the high-end Taxi restaurant and we even arranged our post-wedding drinks [...]

HOT: Town Hall Hotel, 166 Johnston St, Fitzroy

October 16, 2011 ⋅ One comment

The Town Hall Hotel is a handsome gastropub where you can expect fine dining quality of food and service, without having to wear your best frock or bear the fine dining prices. The bistro menu has a heavy Italian focus and spans small, medium and large plates to cater for any appetite (they also have [...]

HOT: High Tea at Lobby Lounge, The Westin, 205 Collins St, Melbourne

October 4, 2011 ⋅ One comment

I can think of no better way to spend a cold, rainy afternoon than in front of an open fireplace drinking tea. Better still, drinking tea, eating cakes and lounging around reading an Evelyn Waugh novel. I recently indulged in my perfect rainy-day afternoon scenario with High Tea at the Lobby Lounge of The Westin [...]

HOT: Queen Margaret, 356 Queens Pde, North Fitzroy

September 25, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

The pizzeria Queen Margaret is not named as a reference to QEII’s sister, but to Queen Margherita of Savoy, the first Queen of the united Italy and for whom the magherita pizza was named. Queen Margaret boasts eighteen (!) pizza varieties on its chalkboard menu, spearheaded by not just one but three riffs on the [...]

HOT: Ilona Staller, 282 Carlisle St, Balaclava

September 22, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

I can’t cope with Melbourne’s growing trend for restaurants that don’t take bookings (too uncertain, too impatient, too hungry). But I really wanted to have dinner at Ilona Staller. What to do? Answer – dispatch my Balaclavan friends R and A to plonk themselves at the bar at 6:30pm on a Saturday night while I [...]