Melbourne Eats Guide

BEAUMARIS

Name: Lobster Cave

Why: Excellent food and service

Pick of the menu: Lobster

Occasion: Anniversary

BORONIA

Name: Stallions Italian Restaurant

Why: Awesome service, fantastic menu choices

Pick of the menu: Lemon Meringue Pie to die for!

Occasion: A great place to break the fast!

BRIGHTON

Name: The Pantry

Why: Child friendly and consistently good food, wide variety to suit everyone’s taste and casual atmosphere

Pick of the menu: Prawn linguini

Occasion: for lunch or dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.

BRUNSWICK

Name: Green Field

Why: Cheap, Quick and Delicious (ad BYO!)

Pick of the menu: Chicken Satay Skewers.

Occasion: Everyday Restaurant – Cheap and cheerful! No frills – but good fresh food.

CARLTON

Name: Il Gusto

Why: Delicious food and there’s a waiter whom greets everyone like you’re an old family friend

Pick of the menu: Filet mignon

Occasion: a nice dinner with your partner or a good friend. Ask for the window seat!

 

Name: DiMattina’s on Lygon Street

Why: Delicious the food is fresh, it has a great atmosphere, great customer service and is clean.

Pick of the menu: Linguine Marinara, bottle of Moscatto and entrée’s

Occasion: catch up with friends, destination to meet up prior to going out that night, romantic night out

Name: Hotel Lincoln

Why: Great English menu and at reasonable prices.

Pick of the menu: Lambs fry

Occasion: Weekly dinner

Name: Abla’s

Why: Exquisite Lebanese cuisine

Pick of the menu: Chicken with rice/tabouleh

Occasion: Catch up with friends

CAROLINE SPRINGS

Name: Westwaters Hotel Bistro

Why: A nice family atmosphere, but still with excellent food. Great food, engaging friendly staff.

Pick of the menu: Steak or their Fish and Chips

Occasion: family night out with a nice atmosphere.

CRANBOURNE 

Name: Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel

Why: I've been to so many fancy over priced restaurant but this place has the most amazing food!

Pick of the menu: The Garlic chicken and Prawn, or The Parma!

Occasion: Anytime!

DOREEN 

Name: Eliza Billie Cafe

Why: Coffee & Cake to die for!

Pick of the menu: Flat White Coffee

Occasion: Every occasion!

ELWOOD

Name: Jimmy Jamz

Why: Nice cheap meals, friendly staff

Pick of the menu: Poached Eggs, with rocket and avocado, Chicken Penne

Occasion: Quiet drinks with friends or family, Breakfast

 

GLEN IRIS

Name: Little Thai Princess

Why: Authentic thai food in such a quaint and personal atmosphere

Pick of the menu: Soft Shell Crab Salad and Black Sticky Rice Pudding

Occasion: Special occasion: anniversary and date night

 

GLEN WAVERLEY

Name: Fedele’s

Why: Food is always perfect & the service is lovely

Pick of the menu: Everything...is just too good

Occasion: Perfect for a special celebration or even simply indulge yourself

HALLAM

Name: Hallam Hotel Bistro

Why: Great service, friendly staff and terrific food.

Pick of the menu: Garlic Prawns

Occasion: Just because!

HAWTHORN 

Name: Rococo

Why: Great tasty food.

Pick of the menu: Prawn Spaghetti

Occasion: Birthday, Date, Work Party

IVANHOE 

Name: Caffe Strada

Why: Great food and lovely friendly staff

Pick of the menu: All the homemade meals and treats. Too many to choose.

Occasion: Any occasion to go and enjoy some delightful food

MELBOURNE CITY

Name: Longrain

Why: Amazing Asian food, fantastic staff who are helpful, friendly and efficient, great atmosphere.

Pick of the menu: Betel leaf, tofu, fish curry, birds nest noodles … something off the Special menu

Occasion: Great for special occasions, but also to treat yourself – the food is amazing – great for date night, with friends or to celebrate something.

 

Name: The Conservatory

Why: The atmosphere and the presentation of the food

Pick of the menu: The Saturday night buffet

Occasion: Birthday dinner

Name: Aspro Ble

Why: The Greek food is absolutely fantastic

Pick of the menu: Prawn Rice Dish

Occasion: Birthday dinner

MITCHAM

Name: Bucatini

Why: Great gnocchi

Pick of the menu: Gnocchi Marinara

Occasion: Friendly get together

NEWTOWN

Name: Sticks and Grace

Why: Great food, fabulous coffee, amazing staff

Pick of the menu: Bacon and Eggs with sides of your choice

Occasion: Always!

NORTHCOTE 

Name: 7 Wonders Cafe

Why: The service is great

Pick of the menu: Club sandwich

Occasion: Mother’s Day

NORTH MELBOURNE

Name: Beatrix

Why: Small and local, great sandwiches and unbelievable cakes.

Pick of the menu: Slow-Roasted pork roll.

Occasion: small weekend lunch or takeaway – it’s tiny! Only a few tables inside.

 

OAKLEY 

Name: Nikos Quality Cakes

Why: Amazing Greek food & frappes

Pick of the menu: Spanakopita

Occasion: Any day, every day!!

PRAHRAN

Name: Franko Choo’s

Why: Authentic Italian, the whole family is slaving away in the kitchen

Pick of the menu:  It’s a seasonal menu so it’s always changing, but it’s whatever is fresh and never fails to impress!

Occasion: Nice cosy feel so you could go any time and really enjoy it!

PORT MELBOURNE

Name: My Sister Says

Why: Best coffee in Melbourne

Pick of the menu:  Coffee!

Occasion: breakfast / lunch

RICHMOND

Name: Friends of Mine

Why: The food and coffee is always great

Pick of the menu:  The “hung” – it’s bacon and eggs with Cheesy toast & avocado…it’s the best

Occasion: Sunday brekkie

Name: Rowena Parade Corner Store

Why: Classic Melbourne Café/Deli and Eatery.  Amazing coffee, food is superb, location and feel very laid back.

Pick of the menu:  coffee and Bacon/Egg Panini

Occasion: Breakfast or Lunch, client meetings or just catching up with friends

Name: Noi’s Thai

Why: Authentic, Friendy and never a disappointment.

Pick of the menu:  The Larb Gai (chicken salad) or the Chicken lemongrass stirfry

Occasion: Great for a relaxing, easy Fri night feast… or really anytime!

RYE

Name: Piknics

Why: Its local, friendly and overlooks the bay

Pick of the menu: Nikkie’s muesli

Occasion: Friendly Breakfast

SURREY HILLS

Name: Old Kingdom

Why: Great Peking duck

Pick of the menu: Peking Duck 3 ways

Occasion: Anytime!

SOUTH MELBOURNE

Name: Near East

Why: Ambience & superb Mediterranean food

Pick of the menu:  Trumpet Mushrooms & the Green Curry

Occasion: Birthday dinner

SOUTH YARRA

Name: Steer Bar and Grill

Why:Best steak on earth. Best house Shiraz on earth (great winelist)

Pick of the menu:  steer charcuterie platter followed by pasture fed, black angus eye fillet steak and Tasmanian truffle potato puree and winter greens. Rounded off with the House Shiraz

Occasion: if you are feeling anemic, want to impress the man in your life or want to be bamboozled by a platter of big slabs of meat

 

Name: Caffe e Cucina

Why: Great traditional Italian food served by Italian waiters.

Pick of the menu:  Linguine di Mare al Cartoccio - Pipis, prawns, mussels, scallops, garlic, chilli and tomato, baked in parchment paper 

Occasion: Special night out.

Name: Squires Loft

Why: Great steak

Pick of the menu: Rib eye, mushroom sauce, with jacket potato and fried onions!

Occasion: Out with the partner – leave the kids at home.

Name: Hunky Dory

Why: Great food, cheap and consistently tasty

Pick of the menu: Chargrilled calamari with Greek salad

Occasion: Casual dinner when you can't be bothered cooking

WINDSOR

Name: Dukes

Why: Really good food in a bustling setting

Pick of the menu: Homemade baked beans and poached eggs on toast

Occasion: Breakfast/brunch or lunch with friends.

YARRA

Name: Watergrill

Why: Great batter on the fish and chips

Pick of the menu: Fish and chips!

Occasion: When you can’t get enough fish and chips!