Best Eats in Melbourne

[jeemak]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

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

I'm in Caulfield these days (need to update the profile), though work on Footscray Road in West Melbourne so Yarraville is very close and probably the only place to go for a decent coffee during the day (Milking Station is my go-to).

[Greystache]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Yep. How did you all take that?

With my usual grace. I pointed out a number of their shortcomings in life and departed

Ridiculous system though.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

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

5% 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.

Second this. I work with 10% in mind before and take it from there. Places like Attica and Neil Perry restaurants charge 10% service charges for groups (tips).

[Greystache]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

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.

Thanks. Yeah that's about what I work off, basically I just chuck a $20 on the tab.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

With my usual grace. I pointed out a number of their shortcomings in life and departed

Ridiculous system though.

Could not agree more.

One thing I've learned is if you want an early dinner at late notice, line up before 6pm at Rockpool (line starts around 5.40) you can get a seat at the bar. The bar being 12 tables within the restaurant, exactly the same ones booked out. What they don't say on the phone/online is that you can order from the full menu not just the bar menu as they state. Anytime I wanted a Rockpool fix at late notice I wouldn't bother with staff telling me there's no tables, we'd just turn up at 5.40, head the line, get one of the 12 tables and have full food & wine menu access.

[jeemak]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Talk about first world problems. I didn't think Bulldogs supporters suffered from the hoity toity stuff that the good folk from the East did.

[KT31]

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.

Is this the old Bluestone in Ballarat St ? Is so I have had a couple of mates rave about it.

The other pub converted to a restaurant they speak pretty well of is the old Spotswood Hotel.
The Spotty has had a few transitions over the years (went down hill for many years as a strip bar ran by the same two blokes who had the Buck in Footscray ) it now has a good name.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

I'll second Maha.

Also good to support Shane Delia who is a Doggies supporter. Gotta help out the members of the pack.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Second this. I work with 10% in mind before and take it from there. Places like Attica and Neil Perry restaurants charge 10% service charges for groups (tips).

Went to Attica in a group of 4 recently and there was not a service charge included, only been to Rockpool with 2. I don't mind tipping but on a meal that cost close enough to $400 a head, I don't like that the servers there somehow deserve 10 X more the tip then a meal that cost $40 a head. + at decent restaurants you feel that you are already paying for amazing service.

More staff yeh, less covers potentially, but tipping expectations at expensive restaurants annoy me.

[LostDoggy]

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.

Really like it there St ache, me and the young lass stumbled across it before a movie at the Sun recently and we're really impressed, food was fantastic and a beautiful old building.

My girlfriend lives in South Yarra, no shortage of great eats around there. My faves are Kong (line - up usually), Miss Chu, Borscht Vodka and Tears is brilliant. For incredible Breakfast and lunches, your can't beat Two Birds one Stone, Top Paddock (soft she'll crab burger is epic) or Tall Timbers.

[Greystache]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Is this the old Bluestone in Ballarat St ? Is so I have had a couple of mates rave about it.

The other pub converted to a restaurant they speak pretty well of is the old Spotswood Hotel.
The Spotty has had a few transitions over the years (went down hill for many years as a strip bar ran by the same two blokes who had the Buck in Footscray ) it now has a good name.

Yep that's the one. It's apartments now, with just the bottom corner a restaurant.

I've been to the Spotiswoode a few times. It's quite nice inside but the food is pretty average even for pub grub, and there's no atmosphere if you just want a few beers. The staff overall are very friendly though.

The Blarney Stone FINALLY went and has now re-opened in its original name The Railway Hotel. Looks a lot better, with a better class of patron (not that it would be hard!), and more focus on food rather than the TAB. Haven't eaten there yet, I might do later this week.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

Went to Attica in a group of 4 recently and there was not a service charge included, only been to Rockpool with 2. I don't mind tipping but on a meal that cost close enough to $400 a head, I don't like that the servers there somehow deserve 10 X more the tip then a meal that cost $40 a head. + at decent restaurants you feel that you are already paying for amazing service.

More staff yeh, less covers potentially, but tipping expectations at expensive restaurants annoy me.

Sorry, I was unclear. I meant to say their groups of 10 person bookings have that service fee added, so it's a simple guide. I tried to book this year for our anniversary and I couldn't book tables of 2, the booking system would take tables of 4, but not 2. So we're not making it a annual anniversary thing now. The better half found a Japanese tasting menu place with a chefs hat in Daylesford so we are doing that.

[Bulldog4life]

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.

Ditto BT. The last time I did that was over 30 years ago at Robs carousel.

[azabob]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

On the flip side when you can book at places such as San Telmo, Bomba, neu amsterdam you only get a two hour to two and half hour sitting.

[Bornadog]

Re: Best Eats in Melbourne

On the flip side when you can book at places such as San Telmo, Bomba, neu amsterdam you only get a two hour to two and half hour sitting.

A lot of places are now doing two sittings with the first one shorter.