Melbourne - The Eating Thread

Old May 23, 2019, 4:03 am
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Melbourne - The Eating Thread

Theres a Sydney where to eat thread. Think its time for a Melbourne thread. And Im from Sydney!

So here goes:

Cutler & Co
Maha
Tipo 00
Supernormal
Cumulus Inc
Coda

In the cafe category:

Hardware Societe
Higher Ground (though not tried since it changed hands)
Fifty Acres (Richmond)

Coffee:
Market Lane
Industry Beans
Sensory Lab





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Old May 23, 2019, 4:48 am
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Who's doing good Chinese these days? I'm down there on business next week, wouldn't mind a nice Chinese meal. Doesn't need to be fancy, just tasty.
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Old May 25, 2019, 10:36 am
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Melburnian here - I like this thread

+1 to all of JClasstraveller's suggestions. Below are some more of my favourites in the CBD and surrounding areas (feel free to ask me if you want any suggestions out in the suburbs). Will check back in regularly to add more to this post over time...

Mid to High End Restaurants:
  • Al Dente Enoteca and Sapori - this place started life during Covid as a pasta delivery service, when the owner-chef (a native of Italy) was stood down from his job. Some of the best pasta in Melbourne, but their offering now goes well beyond pasta. Their best-known item is the cacio e pepe tortellini.
  • Arbory (IMO, this is the most "Melbourne" spot in Melbourne. Outdoor restaurant/bar built on a disused rail track. View of trains whizzing through Flinders Street station on one side; view of the Yarra River on the other side. Fantastic seasonal food and drinks. Highly recommended!)
  • Arbory Afloat - if you are here between mid November and late March, the Arbory has a great floating restaurant/bar on the Yarra River. The theme changes every year. This year is Spain; in previous years they've done Miami, Italy, French Riviera.
  • Henry Sugar (one of my absolute favourites in Melbourne - hidden gem just north of the CBD. Degustation or a la carte. Really interesting flavours and extensive use of Australian native ingredients.)
  • Kisume
  • Makan
  • Mongkok Tea House - in Camberwell, still easy to reach by public transport. Another of my all-time favourites in Melbourne.
  • Osteria Ilaria (run by the same people as the superlative Tipo 00)
  • Vaporetto Bar and Eatery - in Hawthorn, also easy to reach by public transport. Incredible, seasonal, modern Italian food. Also an all-time favourite. (There is a lot of good food in that part of Hawthorn, should you find yourself out that way).
Casual Restaurants and Cafes:
  • Alimentari
  • Austro
  • Bossa Nova Brazilian Cafe
  • Bowery to Williamsburg
  • DoDee Paidang
  • El Toucan South Central - authentic Colombian food
  • Hector's Deli
  • Italiana Delicatessen - in South Yarra. Great place for a relaxed meal, dessert, wine, cocktail, coffee. Very authentic; I felt like I was back in Italy, and it is frequented by Italian customers.
  • Jinda Thai
  • Journeyman
  • Kantan - incredible Malaysian food
  • Kelso's Sandwich Shoppe
  • Killiney Kopitiam
  • King & Godfree
  • La Tortilleria - authentic Mexican
  • Little Africa - one of the best Ethiopian/Eritrean places in town
  • Mabu Mabu - Indigenous Australian cafe
  • Miznon
  • Manchester Press
  • Naked for Satan
  • Nico's Sandwich Deli
  • Paik's Bibim
  • Pellegrini's Espresso Bar - a longstanding Melbourne classic. Primarily an espresso bar, but they also serve pasta, dessert, other drinks.
  • Pondok Rempah - excellent, good value Indonesian food
  • Saluministi - Italian sandwiches
  • Saporito Taquito
  • Seoul Toast Bong
  • Supper Inn
  • 8bit Burgers
Coffee:
  • Dukes Coffee Roasters
  • Industry Beans
  • Padre Coffee
  • Proud Mary
  • Seven Seeds
  • St. Ali
Bars:
  • Beneath Driver Lane
  • Caretaker's Cottage - a very unique bar housed in the caretaker's cottage behind the Wesley Uniting Church
  • Denmark House
  • Freddie Wimpole
  • Gin Palace
  • Kirk's Wine Bar
  • 1806
Japanese food (giving this its own category because I love Japanese food. These are the fantastic, authentic places which I frequent - with Japanese chefs and/or owners):
  • 279 (specialises in musubi)
  • Chotto Motto
  • Coppe Pan Japanese Bakery
  • Hanabishi
  • Hareruya Pantry
  • Hinoki Japanese Pantry
  • IMA Japanese Cafe
  • Kuu Cafe
  • Leonie Upstairs ("secret" sake and snack bar located directly above Hareruya Pantry)
  • Mr Ramen San
  • Neko Neko
  • Papirica
  • Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar
  • Tamura Sake Bar
  • Udon Yasan
  • Yoku Ono Ramen + Sake Bar
  • Yukitei Tempura Bar
Vegetarian/Vegan:
  • Smith & Daughters
  • Smith & Deli
Dessert and Cheese:
  • Agathe Patisserie
  • Gelato Messina
  • Jock's Ice Cream & Sorbets
  • Kariton Sorbetes - gelato inspired by Filipino flavours
  • La Belle Miette (great macarons)
  • LuxBite
  • Maker & Monger at Prahran Market (fantastic cheese shop which also serves gourmet cheese toasties and other cheese-related dishes)
  • Milk the Cow
  • Mrk Chocolate Brew House - the place to go for hot chocolate, and also a small selection of Swedish-influenced pastries
  • Piccolina Gelateria
  • Shortstop Coffee & Donuts
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Last edited by FlyingJoy; Oct 6, 2023 at 10:14 pm Reason: October 2023 update
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Old May 25, 2019, 11:08 am
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Originally Posted by bensyd
Who's doing good Chinese these days? I'm down there on business next week, wouldn't mind a nice Chinese meal. Doesn't need to be fancy, just tasty.
My two cents' worth as a Melburnian of Chinese heritage...

No-frills restaurant: Supper Inn in the CBD (open until 2:30am)
Upmarket, but not fine dining: Lau's Family Kitchen in St Kilda

If you like noodles, Lanzhou Beef Noodle Bar is quite the rage here right now. If you like dumplings, HuTong Dumpling Bar is very popular. For hotpot - Dainty Sichuan is great. And we also have Tim Ho Wan and Din Tai Fung branches here, if you like those. There is also a Gong De Lin branch here (excellent Chinese vegan restaurant which I have often dined at in Hong Kong and Shanghai).
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Old May 27, 2019, 4:26 pm
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I can't recall the places my relatives took me too when I spent 4 days in Melbourne in the late summer, but they were ALL BRILLIANT!! I ate so much that on the morning of my departure we were supposed to have a farewell brunch but I'd gotten the food sweats overnight from too much good food and had to cancel. I grabbed a sandwich at the airport which was the worst thing I'd eaten in Melbourne and the next thing was the airline meal on Cathay which was rather tasty, but obviously not as good as a proper feet on the ground meal!

I wish I could remember the names of the places I went, but Market Lane for coffee does ring a bell! Very good!
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Old May 27, 2019, 6:21 pm
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Originally Posted by FlyingJoy
My two cents' worth as a Melburnian of Chinese heritage...

No-frills restaurant: Supper Inn in the CBD (open until 2:30am)
Upmarket, but not fine dining: Lau's Family Kitchen in St Kilda

If you like noodles, Lanzhou Beef Noodle Bar is quite the rage here right now. If you like dumplings, HuTong Dumpling Bar is very popular. For hotpot - Dainty Sichuan is great. And we also have Tim Ho Wan and Din Tai Fung branches here, if you like those. There is also a Gong De Lin branch here (excellent Chinese vegan restaurant which I have often dined at in Hong Kong and Shanghai).

I'll give the Supper Inn a go. I've been to Lau's, it's also quiality.
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Old May 27, 2019, 8:19 pm
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Highly recommend TGIFridays by the Crown
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Old May 30, 2019, 3:35 am
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Enjoyed an early dinner on Saturday at a new place called Ginger Olive in Manchester Lane opposite the Novotel on Collins. Only opened a couple of weeks apparently, atmospheric dining room and an interesting menu, really well priced too.. Very impressed.
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Old May 30, 2019, 7:51 pm
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Originally Posted by bensyd
I'll give the Supper Inn a go. I've been to Lau's, it's also quiality.
Supper Inn was great. Exactly what I wanted. No fuss just tasty.
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Old May 31, 2019, 3:23 am
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Adding a few more joints:

Chez Dre in South Melbourne

Clement Coffee in South Melbourne

Everyday Coffee in Collingwood and CBD

+1 to Proud Mary and St Ali

A friend highly rates Patricia Coffee though Ive never been.

Philippe is good for traditional French food (notwithstanding it lost its hat in the Good Food Guide awards)
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Old Jun 7, 2019, 9:33 am
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We were wined and dined by relatives and got overly stuffed and happy by the time we left for Sydney.

Let me add:
Stalactites on Lonsdale St
Wagaya on Bourke St

I had less luck with coffee discovery, found few places like Padre that make my kind of smooth 'n simple lattes. That said, there are some cheap and decent coffee kiosks in the CBD.
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Old Jun 24, 2019, 9:09 pm
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Not really Melbourne, but a bakery in Kyneton has won pie of the year. And who doesn't love a pie, especially this time of year.

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au...lias-best-pie/
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Old Jul 14, 2019, 12:25 am
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Ok, Im going to Melbourne in a couple of weeks and finally going to give Flower Drum a go.

Need a suggestion for Saturday morning brunch - still deciding. Probably CBD or Carlton, Collingwood or Fitzroy
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Old Jul 14, 2019, 8:51 pm
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Originally Posted by JClasstraveller
Need a suggestion for Saturday morning brunch - still deciding. Probably CBD or Carlton, Collingwood or Fitzroy
You'll be spoilt for choice. I like Archie's, and it is pretty centrally located to all those spots. If it's full or it doesn't look like what you are after, there are heaps of other options nearby.

For quirky and different I like Naughty Boy Cafe, but it's on more of an island, probably harder to get to and not many other alternatives close by.
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Old Jul 15, 2019, 5:04 am
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If you're wanting to stick to the CBD, I really like these places for brunch (some of which are already on my list upthread):
  • Grain Store
  • Operator25
  • Bowery to Williamsburg
  • Arbory
  • For something a bit different: Colombian style brunch at Cento Mani Cafe
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