child-friendly

NOT: Afternoon Tea, Sofi’s, The Sofitel Melbourne, 25 Collins St, Melbourne

February 21, 2012 ⋅ 3 comments

It’s my not-so-secret mission to taste test every high tea available in metropolitan Melbourne within the time of this blog. I think that’s an entirely doable goal – so far I’ve hit Stranger’s Corridor, The Langham Melbourne, The Westin and now The Sofitel. Sadly, the weekday high tea at Sofi’s, the lobby lounge of The [...]

HOT: CERES Organic Cafe, CERES Community Environment Park Cnr Roberts and Stewart Streets, Brunswick East

February 10, 2012 ⋅ 2 comments

CERES Community Environmental Park is arguably Melbourne’s hippie hub. CERES stands for Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies and it’s a not-for-profit, sustainable urban farm located on the banks of Merri Creek in East Brunswick. But whether you wear hemp fisherman’s pants or carry a designer label handbag, I think everyone would enjoy [...]

HOT: Carolina, 11 Nicholson St, East Brunswick

February 1, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment

Carolina is a new cafe in East Brunswick where pram-pushing mums, bike riders and hip young things collide (or sometimes, in my case, I like to think I’m all three). What was a former Italian shoe store called ‘Invicta’ has been transformed into a casual cafe with all the right elements to appeal to their [...]

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: St Katherine’s, 26 Cotham Rd, Kew

January 22, 2012 ⋅ One comment

So George Calombaris may not know about the calculation of penalty rates for his waitstaff, but he does know how to run a good quality restaurant. PM24, Hellenic Republic, The Press Club and now St Katherine’s all get my whole-hearted recommendation. St Katherine’s showcases mid-priced, relaxed, high quality region-influenced food and I think this Greek/Turkish/Middle Eastern hybrid [...]

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: Backstreet Cafe, 152 Kerr St, Fitzroy

January 11, 2012 ⋅ 3 comments

In Fitzroy, it’s another day, another new cafe…. Backstreet Cafe is the new project from the people behind Birdman Eating and it takes some of what’s great about that Fitzroy stalwart and extends it beyond – or more precisely below. More on that later. The cafe is located in a corner spot in amongst residential [...]

HOT: Huxtaburger, 106 Smith St, Collingwood

January 10, 2012 ⋅ One comment

Thanks to the folks at deliciously excellent Huxtable, Smith Street now boasts its own American-style burger and beer joint. It’s a small space across the road from the mother ship with a few outdoor tables and continues the Cosby Show theme with the moniker Huxtaburger. Cute! The menu is short and straightforward – there are [...]

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: Wye River General Store, 35 Great Ocean Rd, Wye River

November 8, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

With summer arriving my thoughts turn to the beach and the coast. To be exact, my thoughts are turning to where to eat at the beach and the coast. And one of my recommendations is Wye River General Store. As the name suggests, it’s a general store which operates for the citizens and visitors of [...]