Allan Campion & Michele Curtis - Australian food and wine website

Australian food and wine website
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Eating Out
There is no doubt that Australia has some world class chefs and restaurant experiences. We are extremely lucky in that we get to travel around many parts of Australia each year and always make a point of eating out as much as possible. This is not always the most expensive places mind you. We often travel with our children and that means searching out value for money dining rooms, and despite what many people say about the cost of eating out in large cities such as Sydney, there's still plenty of value out there. Here then is a listing of some of our favourite places, in all price ranges.

Sydney

Tetsuya's - 529 Kent Street, Sydney 02) 9267 2900
Tetsuya's is something of a legend in Sydney. A brilliant mix of modern-Australian-Japanese food and ingredients that's difficult to pin down. It could be ocean trout confit with kombu, scallop sashimi with foie gras or double cooked de-boned spatchcock. The 12 course set price menu at $150+ per person surely sets this as a 'big night out". It canalso include boned rack of lamb with miso sauce on eggplant, While we adored a recent visit here, the final few sweet courses were not to our liking. It was difficult to tackle a huge serving of a chocolate terrine after such delicate and creative savoury dishes. Still, it's a beautiful restaurant with top class service and a stunning collection of modern Australian art, both paintings and sculpture, with views over a traditional Japanese garden. Voted restaurant of the year by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2002.

Bathers Pavilion - 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral 02) 9969 5050
We were lucky enough to attend a friends wedding here not so long ago and boy was it good (the wedding and the food). Balmoral beach is a picture perfect cove looking across to Sydney Heads and Manly, and an incredible setting for some incredible eating. We loved the entire experience and it proved to us why chef and co-owner Serge Dansereau is regarded as one of Sydney's best chefs. More recently we caught a water taxi across the harbour as the morning mist slowly lifted. The place was really bustling for breakfast and hardly surprising with a delicious array of bircher muesli, baked ricotta with poached peach and Serge's dads beans on offer. Yes it was all delicious, and the water views made it even more memorable.

Longrain - 85 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills 02) 02) 9280 2888
Now this is definitely one of our favourite Sydney dining experiences, even if we only have an hour or so to spare we always head to Longrain. We love the open-air feel, the shared tables, the impeccable service and mostly we love the food. Typically modern Thai-Vietnamese-Chinese dishes which demand to be shared. Feast on caramelised pork hock, braised beef shin, deep-fried whole fish with a hot and spicy sauce, or the betel leaf of the day. Chef Martin Boetz's handling of Asian flavours and textures, in particular his stir-fried rice noodles with snow pea leaves, barbecued duck, chilli and ginger, is wonderful. The yellow curry of chicken with crisp egg noodles and pickled mustard greens is another winner. He is also one of the few chefs we've come across who can produce Asian inspired desserts in a modern Australian manner. If you get an opportunity to visit you must order the dessert platter and you'll see what we mean. Wash it all down with choices from a list which could have been written with the two of us in mind. We love it, hope you do too.

Billy Kwong - 3/355 Crown Street, Surry Hills 02) 9332 3300
Billy Kwong always hits the spot for us - delicious modern Chinese food in a deliciously modern Chinese setting. On our last visit we had huge trouble choosing between the crispy skinned duck, the steamed silken tofu, the delicious scallops and the king george fillets with ginger and shallots. So we gave in and ordered the banquet, which at less that $60 a head is excellent value for money. A real treat for lovers of beautifully prepared Chinese food.

Pino's 2B Clarke Street Crows Nest 02) 9439 3690
Pino’s is your classic Sydney café spot, barely room to move inside and a pavement packed with tables and chairs for customers. On the food side they offer simple fare, toasted pide bread for breakfast and better than average pasta at lunch. But it’s the coffee that always draws us here, rich, aromatic and expertly made. If you’re ever in this part of town it’s well worth a visit.

Bill's 433 Liverpool Styreet Darlinghurst 02) 9360 9631
Bill Granger has become a very recognisable name in recent times with many beautiful cookbooks to his name and a TV series for Foxtel. Well this dining room in Darlinghurst is where it all began, with Sydney-siders enjoying breakfast at Bill's. You may well have to queue outside to get a seat, but it'll be well worth the wait. Once inside order a sunshine drink (fruit juice, honey and yogurt) while you choose from the menu - perhaps the bircher muesli, ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycombe butter or his sweetcorn fritters? A trip to Sydney just would not be the same without a least one breakfast here.

BBQ King 18-20 Goulburn Street, Sydney 02) 9267 2433.
BBQ King is a place adored by young and old. We love climbing the staircase to the packed dining rooms so we can have our fill of crispy skin chicken, Peking duck (Mia’s favourite), roast pork and any number of noodle and stir fry dishes. We always leave feeling completely full to the brim and planning our return visit.

Fu-Manchu 249 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst 02) 9360 9424.
Fu-Manchu is a funky little eat-in/take away in Darlinghurst that we adore. Mostly because of the authentic, full flavoured dishes but also because its seems appropriate to be elbow to elbow with other diners as we rush in for our san choy bao, chilli salt cuttlefish and any other number of soups and noodle dishes.

Canberra
A recent trip to Canberra had us whizzing out emails to those in the know for tips on where to eat in the nations capital. One of the tipsters sent us to two gems. The first was called The Chairman & Yip in the heart of the CBD. The dining room decor may be a bit of an unusual mix, but all is forgiven after enjoying slow cooked five spiced beef shin, Portugese spiced cirn-fed chciken and wok-tossed Balmain bug tails with wonbok and ginger. Desserts were a real highlight here, which is a rare thing from an Asian inspired kitchen. The deep fried cheesecake icecream was loved by all at the table, however it was the caramelised eggplant on the mango mousse that provided the dish of the night. No real idea of how it was created, but it was a taste and texture sensation. 108 Bunda Street, Civic, 02 6248 7109.

Our second great foodie experience was at the Turkish inspired Ottoman Cuisine. The restaurant is set in a park and the building has been tastefully decorated with beautiful rugs, oriental furniture and a marvelous ceiling in the main dining room of stars shining in the night sky. We decided to go with the degustation menu and have listed here just a few of the highlights; dolma vine-leaves filled with rice, pine-nuts, currants - sigara borek fetta cheese pastries - karides king prawns with shitake mushrooms, baby spinach & shallots - dana kulbasti tender slices of veal with mild spices served on eggplant & baby spinach with tangy lemon sauce - dessert platter of Turkish pastry, Turkish delight & chocolate cake. Fantastic value at just $60.00 per person. Have to comment on the excellent staff and service too, it added that extra professional touch to the evening. Cnr Broughton & Blackall Sts, Barton, 02 6273 6111.

Also really enjoyed a trip to Silo Bakery which offers fantastic sourdough breads (i.e. real bread), pastries both savoury and sweet, plus filled rolls and the like. The bakery has a real industrial feel to it with concrete walls and huge lights overhead, they also have a small cheese room. We finally fought our way through the Saturday morning crush, pointed to a host of goodies and fled to the calm of Lake Burleigh Griffin for a picnic. Well worth a visit in our opinion. 36 Giles St Kingston, 02 6260 6060, Tuesday to Saturday 7am to 4pm.

Melbourne
Arintji Federation Square City 9663 9900 Daily 10 am-late Melway 1B P11
This is Jacques Reymond's more casual eatery, with Daniel Wilson at the helm. Wilson steers the food towards small plates, ideal for sharing and exploring the menu in depth. Dishes such as Spanish croquettes, Asian-style pork over coleslaw and chilli-salt calamari go down a treat before the larger main courses on offer.

Becco 11-25 Crossley Street City 9663 3000 Lunch: Mon-Sat noon-3 pm; Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-11 pm Melway 1B T5
After eight years Becco remains one of the city's best restaurants. Italian in essence, it can be relied on for exceptional service, food and wine. Stars include Fiorina's stuffed olives and the house drink, Becco Macchiato, as well as duck with muscatels and grappa.

Beetroot 123 Hardware Street City 9600 0695 Mon-Fri 7 am-5 pm Melway 1A J2
If you're out doing a bit of retail therapy, or just need an excuse to escape from the office for five minutes, head down to Beetroot, for a quick, cheap and healthy lunch. Everything is made on-site, and with nothing over $9.50 you'll have plenty of spending money left.

Brasserie by Phillip Mouchel Crown Entertainment Complex Southbank 9292 5777 Lunch: Mon-Sat noon-3 pm; Sun noon-4 pm; Dinner: Sun-Thurs 6-11 pm; Fri-Sat 6 pm-midnight Melway 1A H12
The long-awaited return of our favourite French man, who charmed us at both Langton's and Paul Bocuse, is a welcome addition to the dining scene. Expect to see lamb rump roasted in cocotte with braised fennel and orange, or more traditional French fare such as beef tartare and crème caramel on the menu.

Chocolate Buddha Federation Square City 9654 5688 Daily noon-11 pm Melway 1B P11
Specialising in ramen (noodle soups) and donburi (a rice dish with a side of miso). The meat is organic where possible and the service is fast and efficient. Before too long you'll be tucking in to authentic Japanese food and watching life go by on the main stage in Fed Square.

Ezard @ Adelphi 187 Flinders Lane City 9639 6811 Lunch: Mon-Fri noon-2.30 pm; Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10.30 pm Melway 1B P9
Any excuse to eat at Ezard is accepted with anticipation. Where else do you get to eat such an exciting and intriguing blend of mod Oz food? Expect to see all your favourites on the menu plus a new masterpiece from time to time.

We love getting out and re-visiting a few of our favourite places. We recently had a chance to drop in to the Gertrude Street Enoteca which has been opened by Brigitte Hafner (chef and food writer for The Age Epicure), her partner and wine importer James Broadway along with Rosa Mitchell. As the name suggests this is the type of place to drop into for excellent coffee, perhaps a toasted panini at lunch and an antipasto place in the evening, with a glass of wine virtually anytime. They also offer a well chosen selection of wines, plus a smattering of food books and food-lovers ingredients. 229 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 3065 (03) 9415 8262.

The Graham in Port Melbourne is an old corner pub renovated to contemporary standards and operating as a smart dining spot. A lunch there a few weeks ago was an absolute delight with excellent service and food to go with it. This duo's award from the Age for Service Excellence is well deserved. The menu skims from Middle Eastern to Asian inspipred choices effortlessly under chef Rodney Nevin. Corner of Graham St and Esplanade West, Port Melbourne, tel 03 9676 2566.

Grossi Florentino 80 Bourke Street City 9662 1811 Lunch: Mon-Fri noon-3 pm; Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-11 pm Melway 1B T5
Whether it's a drink at the cellar bar, one of the best lunch deals in the Grill, or the experience of Guy Grossi's Italian food in the mural room, don't miss Grossi Florentino. Like the murals hanging on the wall, Guy creates Italian masterpieces using the very best regional Australian food.

Mecca Mid-level Southgate Southbank 9682 2999 Lunch: noon-3pm; Dinner: 6 pm-late Melway 1D T3
Chef Cath Claringbold has feathered a few more nests in the last year, running the kitchens of several modern Middle Eastern eateries. This remains our favourite, for dishes such as bastilla, mezze and tagines, all with flavours of pomegranate, cumin, coriander and harissa. The sister restaurant, Livebait, at NewQuay in Docklands, is also worth considering for a big night out; it has a seafood-based menu and city views.

mecca bah 55A NewQuay Promenade Docklands 9642 1300 Daily 11 am-11 pm Melway 2E E4
A more causal version of Mecca, this is ME food for the masses. The pizzas are legendary; the boat-shaped doughs with roast pumpkin, chilli, pomegranate jam and feta win most people over. Throw in kofte, boureks, kataifi and felafel with a twist and the deal's done.

MoMo Basement, 115 Collins Street City 9650 0660 Lunch: Mon-Fri noon-3 pm; Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10.30 pm Melway 1B R8
Just off George Parade you'll find the sultan of modern Middle Eastern cooking wooing his customers. Greg Malouf, aided by Kurt Sampson in the kitchen, turns out magical creations flavoured with sumac, pomegranate syrup and coriander. Malouf's cooking talents are legendary and well worth a visit by all foodies.

Vue de Monde Normanby Chambers 430 Little Collins Street City 9691 3888
Chef Shannon Bennet has made the big move to the city and gained a beautiful space in which to present his critically acclaimed food. Diners can appreciate his modern French inspired dishes in a variety of ways from his set price lunch to the degustation menus. A must for all Melbourne food and wine lovers looking for the new 'big night out'.

MoVida 1 Hosier Lane City 9663 3038 Lunch: Mon-Fri noon-3 pm; Dinner: Mon-Fri 5-10.30 pm; Sat 4-10.30 pm; Sun 5-10 pm Melway 1B Q9
There's none hotter than this current darling of the Melbourne foodie scene. Roll up for empanadilla (pies), piemienatas de piquillo (stuffed smoked peppers) and croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes). There are two sittings a night, get in early or be prepared to wait with a glass of dry sherry at the bar.

Red Emperor Level 3, Southgate Southbank 9699 4170 Yum cha: Mon-Sat noon-3 pm; Sun 11 am-4 pm; Dinner: Daily 6 pm-late Melway 1D S3
A firm favourite amongst locals for its yum cha, which is offered at every lunch. The full menu has an interesting variety of Cantonese dishes such as steamed barramundi (fresh from the tank), BBQ beef fillet with Sichuan sauce and local produce such as crocodile and kangaroo.

Red Mullet is jointly owned by footballer James Hird, his wife Tania and John and Helen Stamoulis, formerly of the award winning Clarendons in South Melbourne. Now they're back in game with a bright and funky dining room/fish and chip shop, decked out in red and black of course. The menu covers all persuasions from traditional flake and chips to deep-fried whitebait, seafood dim sims, steamed mussels and salt and pepper squid served with mayonnaise and a rocket salad. Take away is available if you're too late to get a table. A great addition for fish and chip lovers. 210 Glenferrie Road Malvern, 03 9500 9338.

Shark Fin Inn 50-52 Little Bourke Street City 9662 2681 Yum cha: Mon-Fri noon-3 pm; Sat 11.30 am-3 pm; Sun 11 am-3 pm; Dinner: Mon-Fri 5.30 pm-1.30 am Melway 1B C4
Shark Fin Inn has delighted legions of customers since it opened it doors in 1980. Many come for the yum cha, many come for late-night suppers, but all enjoy this authentic Chinese food. Though there are several restaurants in the group, the original remains the best.

Shira Nui Sushi Restaurant 247 Springvale Road Glen Waverley 9886 7755 Tues-Fri noon-2.30 pm; Tues-Sun 6 pm-10 pm Melway 71 C2
Without a doubt one of Melbourne's best Japanese restaurants. Sushi is the name of the game, order up big and sit back and relax. We loved just about everything we ate here, but the sushi with seared salmon and wasabi and the rare beef pumped up with pepper were outstanding.

cafe a taglio 157A Fitzroy Street St Kilda 9534 1344 Daily noon-10 pm Melway 2P B4
Melbourne's original Roman-style pizzeria offering trays of super-thin pizza with a variety of toppings. Make your choice and it's whisked away then returned hot and ready to go. Just about every classic combo is covered from margherita to potato and rosemary and leek and gorgonzola.

Cafe Sweethearts 263 Coventry Street South Melbourne 9690 6752 Mon-Fri 7 am-3 pm; Sat 8 am-3 pm Melway 2K C1
Settle in and soak up the atmosphere of Coventry Street and the legend that is Sweethearts. The egg dishes are the stars of the menu; the cafe offers free-range, and they come every which way (boiled, fried, scrambled, poached or as omelettes) with your choice of accompaniments. Lunches are just as good, but often overlooked.

Greasy Joe's 68 Acland Street St Kilda 9525 3755 Daily 7 am-10.30 pm Melway 2P A8
The success of this St Kilda stalwart relies partly on the people watching and its location, but overwhelmingly it's the burgers that keep us coming back. Go classic with the Manhattan, or try the tofu, Cajun or tandoori chicken. Chips are a must, too.

Asiana 181 Victoria Avenue Albert Park 9696 6688 Lunch: Sun-Fri noon-3 pm; Dinner: Sun-Thurs 6-11 pm; Fri-Sat 6-11.30 pm Melway 2J J9
You can order take-away here, but then you're going to miss out on the outstanding wine list. Asiana is an interesting blend of Asian cuisines; the menu reflects many different cultures, but they are unified by the use of quality ingredients and attention to detail. Modern interpretations and service enhance the dining pleasure.
Second restaurant:Azalea, 4 Acland Street St Kilda 8598 9880 Lunch: Tues-Fri and Sun noon-3 pm; Dinner: Tues-Sun 6 pm-late Melway 2N K6

Centro Ristorante Italiano 225 Clarendon Street South Melbourne 9699 5904 Mon-Fri noon-11 pm; Sat 6-11 pm Melway 2K C2
Centro has been offering great dining with an Italian flavour for over two decades. Must-try dishes include the house-made gnocchi and the northern Italian-style braised rabbit. Meat lovers are well catered for with Western District eye fillet, guinea fowl and liver all represented, the locals love this spot for a long lunch.

Circa, The Prince 2 Acland Street St Kilda 9536 1122 Breakfast: Daily 7-11 am; Lunch: Sun-Fri noon-3 pm; Dinner: Daily 6.30 pm-late Melway 2N K6
Definitely a big night kind-of-place, though budget diners may wish to take advantage of the lunch special here for a sneak preview. The kitchen is overseen by culinary mastermind Andrew McConnell. Expect humble seasonal ingredients to be exploited to the max, along with one of the best wine lists in Melbourne.

Donovans40 Jacka Boulevard St Kilda 9534 8221 Lunch: Daily noon-5.30 pm; Dinner: Daily 6 pm-late Melway 2N K9
It's got it all: sea views, service, style, magical wine list, top chef and the Donovans. Dishes on the menu may be the divine smoked salmon and blinis, linguine with Western Australian scampi, a superb and intense organic pork chop with grilled sausage. It all comes together for an exquisite dining experience.

Soulmama St Kilda Seabaths 1048 Jacka Boulevard St Kilda 9525 3338 Daily noon-11 pm Melway 2N J7
Whether it's lunch gazing out over Port Phillip bay, the luscious cocktails or a bowl of the wholesome vegetarian food, you've got to love Soulmama. We love the hot dishes that range from Italian-influenced to Asian classics and the bitey salads. Make your selection to fix into one of the three sizes of bowls on offer and dig in.

Bala's 1E Shakespeare Grove St Kilda 9534 6116 Daily 10 am-10 pm Melway 2P B9
Another popular run-in-and-grab kind of place. The fact that everything is delicious and piping hot, ready to go in the bain-marie, means you get a quick tasty dinner in a flash. Dishes cover all Asian cuisines and there are vegetarian options such as yellow tofu curry and pumpkin or chickpea curries.

Bluecorn 205 Barkly Street St Kilda 9534 5996 Mon-Fri 6 pm-late; Sat-Sun 10 am-late Melway 2P C10
Chef Justin Pola does a remarkable take on Mexican food here. Think modern and enticing, such as the tortillas with chorizo sausage, rice and green onion or spiced roast lamb and eggplant. The burritos and tacos are just as inventive: smoky beef and black bean, spicy chicken, pine nut and spinach.

Chinta Ria Soul 94 Acland Street St Kilda 9525 4664 Lunch: Daily noon-2.30 pm; Dinner: Daily 6 pm-late Melway 2P B9
There's more than one Chinta Ria to sample from, but the original remains our favourite. We come for the laksa, of course, vegetarian mah poh tofu (with green chillies, garlic choy choy and chilli bean sauce), and fried whitebait with chilli.
Also at:Chinta Blues, 6 Acland Street St Kilda 9534 9233 Melway 2N K6 Mon-Sat noon-2.30 pm; Sun noon-10 pm; Mon-Thurs 6-10 pm; Fri 6-11 pm
Chinta Ria Jazz, 176 Commercial Road Prahran 9510 6520 Melway 2L H9 Mon-Fri noon-2.30 pm; Daily 6-10.30 pm

Mikoshi 151-155 Fitzroy Street St Kilda 9534 9559 Mon-Fri 9.30 am-11 pm; Sat-Sun 8.30 am-11 pm Melway 2P B4
A great place for a quick bite to go. The sushi and sashimi are fantastic, the bento boxes represent excellent value for money and the soup-based noodles are exemplary. But you may prefer the more unusual mikoshi cali-dog (sushi shaped like a hot dog) or teriyaki chicken burgers. You choose.

Misuzu's 7 Victoria Avenue Albert Park 9699 9022 Daily noon-3 pm and 5.30-10 pm Melway 2J K7
From the queues to get a table to the endless stream of people checking out the sushi and sashimi on display, Misuzu's represents many difficult choices. We've been big fans of Misuzu's for years; we like the homeliness of the restaurant and its philosophy of using organic produce where possible and the great Japanese food that comes from the kitchen.

The Pound Shop 5, 566 Chapel Street South Yarra 9826 1114 Sun-Thurs 7 am-6 pm; Fri-Sat 7 am-7 pm Melway 2L J6
This urban wonder packs a fair crowd in for breakfast, lunch, dinner and about a thousand coffees in the course of just one day. Go the toasted pide, soups and salads for lunch, or light pastries and muesli for breakfast. Here there's style all the way, with efficient service, a great wine list and a terrific atmosphere.

Spoonful 543 High Street Prahran 9521 5212 Mon-Sat 7.30 am-4.30 pm Melway 58 G7
A perennial favourite for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. With a relaxing ambience, you can discover new friends at the communal table or perch at one of the more intimate spaces. This is one of those friendly, casual neighbourhood cafes that every suburb should have, with shelves of gourmet food to browse through.

The Botanical 169 Domain Road South Yarra 9820 7888 Breakfast: 8-11.30 am; Lunch: noon-2.30 pm; Dinner: 6-10.30 pm Melway 2L C2
The Bot is an institution in Melbourne, recently made over with one of the Commonwealth's best chefs, Paul Wilson, in the kitchen and with Erez Gordon managing, so you can expect great things. The Bot breakfast is impressively huge and tasty, while dinners are more formal and show Wilson's culinary talents at their best.

Jacques Reymond 78 Williams Road Prahran 9525 2178 Lunch: Thurs-Fri noon-2 pm; Dinner: Tues-Sat 6 pm-late Melway 58 F7
The new Jacques continues to impress both regulars and newcomers to this delightful restaurant. You may like to take advantage of the lunch deal, or save up your pennies for a big night out with the degustation menu, complete with all the bells and whistles. The mod Oz menu will delight and there's a special menu for vegetarians too.

Abla's 109 Elgin Street Carlton 9347 0006 Mon-Sat 6-11 pm; Thurs-Fri noon-3 pm Melway 2B H6
Abla's famous classic Middle Eastern food is a national treasure. From dips and tabouleh to filo parcels, pilaf and tender spit-roasted lamb you'll be in raptures. Come Friday or Saturday for the obligatory banquet to taste an amazing array of dishes that just keep on coming from the kitchen. It's BYO too.

Ladro 224 Gertrude Street Fitzroy 9415 7575 Wed-Sun 6-11 pm Melway 2C C11
The wood-fired oven produces some of the most popular crisp-based pizzas in Melbourne. Try the caprese raddichio with tomato, basil, fior di latte, parmigiano and radicchio, or the lazio with mozzarella, carciuga, parsley and lemon. Don't forget to ask about the daily specials and the roast of the day.

Tofu Shop 78 Bridge Road Richmond 9429 6204 Mon-Fri noon-9 pm; Sat noon-5 pm Melway 2G H6
A permanent fixture on our eating journey through Richmond, we always have to stop for one of the Tofu Shop's famous 'soy'valakis: pita bread filled with felafel, salad, tabouleh, garlic sauce and pickled ginger. Tofu lovers have journeyed here for the last 20 years to enjoy the tasty vegetarian dishes on offer throughout the day.

Cafe Zum Zum 645 Rathdowne Street Carlton North 9348 0455 Tues-Sun noon-3 pm and 6-10 pm Melway 2B J2
We're big fans of Middle Eastern flavours and Zum Zum always hits the spot for us. Fresh tastes from the kitchen borrow heavily from Lebanese, Moroccan and Egyptian traditions while managing to find a modern, Australianised Middle Eastern flavour too. A perfect place to order big and share with a group.

Fenix 680-682 Victoria Street Richmond 9427 8500 Mon-Fri 9 am-3 pm and 6-10 pm; Sat-Sun 8.30 am-3 pm and 6-10 pm Melway 2H H2
Fenix is an ever-evolving restaurant that always has something up its sleeve to show off. The river views, dining on the balcony and snappy service are mainstays. Chefs Raymond Capaldi and Gary Mehigan have been exploring molecular gastronomy with great success. A small shop inside sells food products and books.

La Luna Bistro 320 Rathdowne Street Carlton North 9349 4888 Lunch: Tues-Fri noon-3 pm; Sat-Sun 10 am-3 pm; Dinner: Tues-Sun 6-10 pm Melway 2B J3
Adrian Richardson is one of Melbourne's quiet achievers. At La Luna he just gets on with cooking his food and wooing the locals. The menu runs the gauntlet of modern Mediterranean cuisine, with a strong emphasis on the quality of the meat he uses. The specials are worthy of consideration, as are breakfasts on the weekend.

Pearl 631-633 Church Street Richmond 9421 4599 Breakfast: Sat-Sun 9 am-noon; Lunch: Sun-Fri noon-3 pm; Dinner: Daily 6 pm-late Melway 2G K12
Geoff Lindsay's food is inventive, unique and much sought after. His menus journey through South East Asia but with European touches. The bar is a top spot to pass an hour or two away, with food of course, breakfast is extraordinary, and the monthly full-moon mud crab nights are well worth booking in for.

Regional Victoria

Out of town we really enjoy exploring wineries and eateries of the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula. In the Yarra Valley we were recently very impressed with the service and food at Rochford Wines. A few glasses of pinot gris went down very nicely with what they call a Pinot Platter (rare eye fillet beef, blue Tasmanian Brie, fig jam, duck liver pâté, game sausage, marinated olives, and char grilled vegetables) and a Chardonnay Platter (pork rillettes, green olives, ash goat's cheese, Yarra Valley salmon gravlax, marinated New Zealand mussels, duck liver pâté and Spanish anchovies). rochfordwines.com.au/.

P On the Mornington peninsula the outstanding stop was T'Gallant Winemakers where again it was the mix of food and service which we loved. Interestingly enough we'd purposely visited a few 'new' wineries on the way here, but for sheer class they beat the others hands down. Love the Spuntino Bar which is a small courtyard serving up wood fired pizzas, antipasto'ish plates to share, 'crash-hot’ potatoes with crisp herbs, and the best grilled sausages with tomato jam. The wines were particularly good too, especially the whites. Loved the moscato, the 'Juliet' Pinot Grigio and the 'Imogen' Pinot Gris. 1385 Mornington - Flinders Road, Main Ridge Victoria, (03) 5989-6565. T'Gallant Winemakers