Best Eats in Melbourne

[Eastdog]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Il Carretto on Nicholson Street. Very good quality food and its not too expensive.

[jeemak]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Got along to Estelle in Northcote today for a spot of lunch with my lovely lady who could do a lot better than hang with jeemak but for some reason doesn't.

Absolutely awesome experience. Don't do a lot of the fine dining/degustation type of eating - it hurts the wallet a bit plus we're turning into homebodies when it comes to food (the wine's cheaper) - so if I am lucky enough to get across it from time to time I really appreciate it. The work that went into the food was outstanding and the service was excellent. We ate in the rear courtyard which was super pleasant.

Great afternoon.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Got along to Estelle in Northcote today for a spot of lunch with my lovely lady who could do a lot better than hang with jeemak but for some reason doesn't.

Absolutely awesome experience. Don't do a lot of the fine dining/degustation type of eating - it hurts the wallet a bit plus we're turning into homebodies when it comes to food (the wine's cheaper) - so if I am lucky enough to get across it from time to time I really appreciate it. The work that went into the food was outstanding and the service was excellent. We ate in the rear courtyard which was super pleasant.

Great afternoon.

Thanks for the review Jeemak. I will have a look into them.

I forgot about this thread, over the last few months I've done 2 eateries down in the city. For those of you who like Asian cuisine ,Chin Chin & Coda do well. I wouldn't stand out the front for 2 hours for Chin Chin like happens on Friday & Saturday nights. I'm not a fan of this 'no bookings' phase of eateries.

[anfo27]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Thanks for the review Jeemak. I will have a look into them.

I forgot about this thread, over the last few months I've done 2 eateries down in the city. For those of you who like Asian cuisine ,Chin Chin & Coda do well. I wouldn't stand out the front for 2 hours for Chin Chin like happens on Friday & Saturday nights. I'm not a fan of this 'no bookings' phase of eateries.

Have been to Coda as well and thought the food was awesome. Although i think Coda is French/Vietnamese cuisine. Wasn't a fan of Chinese food but have been to Spice Temple twice and that has changed my mind. The food is a bit spicy as the name suggests but i am a fan of spicy food so it was right up my alley. Overall Spice Temple would be at the top of my list, outstanding. restaurant.

Around xmas time went to Maha which is a Middle Eastern restaurant and that gets two thumbs up as well. Check it out people.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Have been to Coda as well and thought the food was awesome. Although i think Coda is French/Vietnamese cuisine. Wasn't a fan of Chinese food but have been to Spice Temple twice and that has changed my mind. The food is a bit spicy as the name suggests but i am a fan of spicy food so it was right up my alley. Overall Spice Temple would be at the top of my list, outstanding. restaurant.

Around xmas time went to Maha which is a Middle Eastern restaurant and that gets two thumbs up as well. Check it out people.

Spice Temple was a favourite of mine for a while too, but the last time was a bad night from the kitchen so I'm less inclined to do the trip to them anymore. If you love spice, herbs & chilli then Chin Chin is one for you to look into. For me it was right on the edge of my like, heaps of fresh chilli, strong Thai Basil, intense coriander etc. but my wife got their chilli side option with 6 different Chillis which I couldn't do. Very different to Coda, but Chin Chin's no bookings thing means i won't make the trip either.

[anfo27]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Spice Temple was a favourite of mine for a while too, but the last time was a bad night from the kitchen so I'm less inclined to do the trip to them anymore. If you love spice, herbs & chilli then Chin Chin is one for you to look into. For me it was right on the edge of my like, heaps of fresh chilli, strong Thai Basil, intense coriander etc. but my wife got their chilli side option with 6 different Chillis which I couldn't do. Very different to Coda, but Chin Chin's no bookings thing means i won't make the trip either.

Tried Chin Chin at the noodle market last year and was impressed. My wife has been twice to the restaurant with some friends without me and she has talked it up so would love to go. Just have to get there early so don't have to wait in line forever.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Tried Chin Chin at the noodle market last year and was impressed. My wife has been twice to the restaurant with some friends without me and she has talked it up so would love to go. Just have to get there early so don't have to wait in line forever.

I walked straight in 2.30 on a Wednesday. But waiting for up to 2 hours is nuts. I was chatting to a guy the other day who just happened to be in e restaurant world, he was saying there seems to a psychology of 'wanting to wait' was like being one of the cool kids, being social and building up expectation and hunger. That's not me, but interesting as more restaurants are moving to this style with their owners working on enough of the public thinking like this. I can only imagine there's a buck load of advertising and social networking to get the hype to gets lines out the front.

[Greystache]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

For those living in the West you can't do better for a combination of high quality and good prices than Dig A Pony in Yarraville. Modern style tapas.

8 course tasting plate for $55 and most wines are $50 or under. Myself and Mrs Stache and usually get out for around $200 with a few drinks and a good bottle of wine.

[jeemak]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

I have wanted to go to Dig a Pony for a while, but don't get to because of location, timing and the fact it hasn't been open at lunch when I wanted it to be.

As for Chin Chin, I have only ever been on a Saturday afternoon at a wet time of year and had to wait 15-20 minutes for a table.

I generally don't line up to get into clubs or pubs, I have better things to do with my time. Restaurants are no different. Chin Chin is nice, but not so good you can forego 30 minutes of your life before being sat down.

[Greystache]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Thanks for the review Jeemak. I will have a look into them.

I forgot about this thread, over the last few months I've done 2 eateries down in the city. For those of you who like Asian cuisine ,Chin Chin & Coda do well. I wouldn't stand out the front for 2 hours for Chin Chin like happens on Friday & Saturday nights. I'm not a fan of this 'no bookings' phase of eateries.

Been to Chin Chin before and while the food is great I'm not likely to go back. You need a decent size group to try a few things but they make it near impossible to get a table for larger groups.

We went there last week at 5pm as a group of 8 that were arriving soon. They wouldn't let us put our name down for a table until they were full which would be in about an hour, then you have to start lining up to put your name down. We did all of this and when we finally got to the front they told us they don't want tables of 8 and wouldn't seat us. It's a stupid system.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

For those living in the West you can't do better for a combination of high quality and good prices than Dig A Pony in Yarraville. Modern style tapas.

8 course tasting plate for $55 and most wines are $50 or under. Myself and Mrs Stache and usually get out for around $200 with a few drinks and a good bottle of wine.

I hope you're a good tipper Rick. For a top restaurant, including wine, that's not a bad result price wise.

[Greystache]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

I hope you're a good tipper Rick. For a top restaurant, including wine, that's not a bad result price wise.

To be honest I'm not really sure when it comes to tipping. The service is outstanding so I really should figure it out. We go there once every 2 or 3 months, so they sort of know us there.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Been to Chin Chin before and while the food is great I'm not likely to go back. You need a decent size group to try a few things but they make it near impossible to get a table for larger groups.

We went there last week at 5pm as a group of 8 that were arriving soon. They wouldn't let us put our name down for a table until they were full which would be in about an hour, then you have to start lining up to put your name down. We did all of this and when we finally got to the front they told us they don't want tables of 8 and wouldn't seat us. It's a stupid system.

Yep. How did you all take that?

[Greystache]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

I have wanted to go to Dig a Pony for a while, but don't get to because of location, timing and the fact it hasn't been open at lunch when I wanted it to be.

Yeah it's not around the corner for you, and they tend to operate for locals with the hours they open. We live a short walk away so tend to book for a late sitting on a Saturday night. Well worth it if you can convince the Mrs to drive

[jeemak]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

To be honest I'm not really sure when it comes to tipping. The service is outstanding so I really should figure it out. We go there once every 2 or 3 months, so they sort of know us there.

10-15% for highly attentive and high quality service.

5-10% for reasonable quality service.

This of course depends on the size of the group and the price of the meal. If it's a $75+ per head ordeal for instance, and the service is excellent then 10% needs to be the adhered to.

If it's a table for two at $50 a head, and the service is only OK then $5-$10 is about all it needs to be.