Oh My! A thread on Melbourne restaurants and eateries??? Here are a few of my faves in town:
High end dining
Cutler and Co
55 - 57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy.
This is right on the edge of the city and can be walked to or is a quick taxi ride out to.
Three-One-Two
312 Drummond Street, Carlton
Drummond Street is parallel to Lygon Street.
Lots of tourist eat on Lygon Street now but I used to hang out a lot at Lygon Street when I was at Uni. Can't recommend anything there now.
Cummulus Inc
45 Flinders Lane Melbourne.
I've eaten breakfast here a long time ago. I understand that the food is still okay but the service can be variable.
The above 3 are run/owned by Andrew O'Connell. I love his style of food.
If money is no object:
Vue de Monde - but go to the Restaurant and have a degustacion. You're looking at about minimum $150 plus per person.
430 Lt Collins Street
In the same building, there is also the Vue Bistro and the Vue Cafe. I've been to the Bistro, which is okay but the restaurant is an experience in molecular gastronomy. There is no menu for the restaurant. You tell the waiter how much you want to spend, if you have any allergies or food dislikes and how many courses you want to eat. They may ask if wine is included/excluded or talk you up a little bit more based on what is on offer in the kitchen. Then they bring out food...
At Crown, I like No 8. I've eaten at Rockpool once. Gordon Ramsay has opened a new restaurant in the new Crown Tower called Maze. I haven't tried it yet but it's on my hit list. If you want Chinese dining at Crown, then Silks is the place to go - pricey, but nice.
Cafe Greco is great for cakes!!
Other options
At Southbank, I like:
La Camera (Italian). It's always a good serve and a good meal for a reasonable price. Other people prefer Scusami - but I don't like Scusami as much as I like La Camera (just a personal preference).
Red Emperor is okay for Chinese and for Yum Cha - a little bit on the pricey side.
If you are at Southbank, my preference for coffee is at Tutto Bene.
For a 'cheaper'/cafe style meal, Blue Train is always popular. The sister restaurant, Automatic, is at Crown. I'm always guaranteed of bad service at either places.
At Federation Square, I like Arintji (2 Swanston Walk). I go there and have the "tapas/appertisers". I've had their main meals once but prefer to order more appertisers to share.
If you prefer proper Tapas, then Movida is the place for you. It's at 1 Hosier Lane. They take bookings for up to a table of 6.
ChinaTown, Little Bourke Street (sorry, I previously had the wrong street)
For Yum Cha, my favourite for this year is Westlake. It's been there forever but the yum cha seems better this year for some reason. It's at no. 189.
The alternative is Shark Fin Inn at no. 50. It's all the way down towards Spring Street and there is Shark Fin House at no 131. I prefer the Inn to the House.
Otherwise, DragonBoat is at no 203. I loved them last year but they renovated recently and I'm not sure if the food is as good this year.
I have lunch at least once a fortnight at Old Town Kopitiam (no 195). They do Malaysian food. They also have a branch at the QV, but don't go to the QV shop. It's pretty bad.
Alternative eats
I still go to Gopal's restaurant (it's upstairs) at 139 Swanston Street. It's the Hare Krishna restaurant and the food is in "bain maries". However, it is really good for vegetarian meals! Love the lasagna and I'm convinced that there is something illegally addictive added to their vinaigrette salad dressing.
The best Vietnamese pho close to town is in Victoria Street (updating to include Richmond, not in the centre of town). But if you don't get there, then the best one in the city is Pho Dzung at 234b Russell Street (near the corner of Lonsdale street).
If you are interested in Chinese BBQ meats and rice, then I like Pacific BBQ House on 213 Lonsdale Street.
There are a number of Shanghai Dumpling places in Tattersall's Lane, off Lt Bourke Street. Pick the one that looks the least shabby to you.
If you like crepes, then my preference for French crepes is the French Crepe and Coffee (Roule Galette) at Scott Alley, 241 Flinders Lane. I love their crepes.
For more fun crepes Japanese style, try Harajuku Crepes, which is at Melbourne Central - in Knox Place. You can enter Knox Place from Swanston Street; but if you are in Melbourne Central complex, ask at Information.
Food courts
The food court in the Target centre (crn Swanston and Bourke Street) has some chinese noodle bars and BBQ meat and rice. The fish ball noodles in the chinese noodle bar is the cheapest in town (and it's not bad). It's about $7 for a big bowl.
The food court in the QV is a good place to go to for cheap breakfast. There is a bagel shop there and in the mornings, they will sell bagel and coffee for about $5.50. You get one topping with the bagel - cream cheese, honey, butter etc. There is also a shop down there that will sell English muffins and coffee for about $5.50. The muffins will be filled (like a McD muffin) with scrambled eggs and something e.g., chorizo sausage, spinach, tomato, cheese.
The food court at the bottom of Southbank has the pancake place. It's been a while since I've been in the area for breakfast but they used to do 2 buttermilk pancakes and maple syrup for $3 in the morning.
I occassionally head to the food court at the bottom of David Jones in Bourke Street to get food. I go get a sandwich from the carvery.
Thirst quenchers
Brother Baba Budan is one of those roast their own coffee places in the City. They are at 359 Little Bourke Street. Look out for the chairs.
Their big brother is St Ali, which is in South Melbourne. 12 - 18 Yarra Place. Yarra Place is an alleyway...but don't be scared off. The coffee is EXCELLENT here.
If you are in South Melbourne, my favourite breakfast place is Cafe Sweethearts 263 Coventry Street. I go here every fortnight for breakfast and then head to St Ali for my coffee.
At the QV, the coffee I get is at Squisito 24 Artemis Lane. The QV is a bit of a rabbit warren but if you are a coffee drinker and like your coffee strong, and you're in the neighbourhood, then it's worth looking for it.
Koko Black specialises in Chocolate. They are located at Royal Arcade, which runs between Bourke Street and Lt Collins Street. Go upstairs and try get a seat near the New York style windows. It's great having chocolate (hot or iced) and looking down into the arcade.
At QV, Max Brennar's is there; should you want chocolate.
At the Vic Market
Doughnuts from the van. You'll find this van at the back of the meat market (between the meat market and the tourist market).
Churros van. The Churros van is at the Queen Street end - the furthest end of the market from Elizabeth Street. You'll find this behind the touristy side of the market. Churros are great from the van, with hot chocolate dipping sauce....
I've assumed that you're not going to wander too far out of town. If you're heading to the burbs, let me know where you're going to.
Update
Shushh - if you like churros, then there is the chain of San Churros shops in town. There is one on Swanston Street, as part of the QV. It's near the State Library. I prefer the Churros van at the Queen Victoria market (yes this is different to the QV shopping precinct).
