Demitri's Feast

richmond review club

It is about time we reviewed this little Melbourne ripper, as it is a regular haunt for our agency.

If you haven't guessed by the name, Demitri's Feast offers a greek menu to its diners and what a versatile one it is:

- Cheap Eats voted it Best Breakfast 2010
- If you want a sub $10 lunch, the meatball wrap is fantastic
- If you want to sit down over a glass of red and be wowed by the day's special then you can do that too

It's all amazing and very well priced, there have been a few occasions where we have felt like paying MORE than the requested price... lamb to die for 16 bucks?

Inventive and cosy surroundings plus service with a genuine smile gets a big pat on the back. We are very thankful this is now on our lunchtime radar.

141 Swan Street
Richmond, 3121
www.demitrisfeast.com.au

The Royal Saxon

richmond review club

The RRC has something on its mind. Something with thinly sliced potatoes, porcini mushrooms, truffle oil and taleggio. Something that Melbourne's oh so now, Royal Saxon does insanely well... the potato pizza.

We can't stop ordering this and the linguini vongole, they're both so good it's hard to explore the rest of the menu.

Sophie

545 Church Street
Richmond
www.royalsaxon.com

Matilda Bay's Big Helga

richmond review club

New to RRC is a beer review... and first up is Matilda Bays brand new brew called Big Helga. I was lucky enough to hit the launch party at Melbourne's famous venues and our local, The Corner.

Apparently the story goes like this, one of the brewers at Matilda Bay, went to Germany for Oktoberfest and fell in love with Helga, a beer wench (can I say that?) and this beer is in ode to her and Munich Larger, and that is her you see at the Matilda Bay brewery.

Anyhoo to the beer, it is a crisp dry larger, it is clean and has none of the offenses that other cheap Aussie largers can have. It's perfect for rocking summer afternoons and a drink that goes down very well, even after the sixth one.

Adam

PS. Who is that stud in the Lederhosen?

Canvas Restaurant

richmond review club

"Would you like some bread to sop up that sauce?" Thats what Moroccan chef Pierre Khodja had asked Jose and I as we slurped our way through his delicious banquet.

Now, under the duress of disclosure, I will admit that Canvas is a client of ours, but those bread polished plates had us raving about their food long before any contracts were signed.

So for some of the most exquisite Moroccan you will ever taste in Melbourne, located in a modern hideaway on Burwood Road, Canvas is the place.

Canvas Restaurant
Level 1, 302-320 Burwood Road Hawthorn
03 9819 2200

Adam

PS - The new Canvas Website is still a little
underdone, but not too far from ready, stay tuned.

» see all canvas

Precinct Hotel

richmond review club

The old Depot has transformed into something far more pleasant. For a sunny Friday lunch it's hard to go past the monster courtyard at the Precinct Hotel.

The food's good too. From a dodgy start earlier this year, they've come on strong with an undeniable Vietnamese influence. Try the special seafood dishes - supa fresh flava's. Especially washed down with an Asahi (on tap naturally).

Scott

www.precincthotel.com.au

Church Street Enoteca

richmond review club

Church St Enoteca has a formidable reputation among Melbourne foodies - ask the Good Food Guide 2009. What you may not know about is their simple but scrumptious bar menu.

How about the best steak sandwich you've ever had (with the obligatory pomme frites) washed down with a glass of Piedmonte red, Provence rose or glass of boutique tap beer for $13.50? Menu changes daily but always a winner.

www.churchstenoteca.com.au

Scott

Gigi Baba

richmond review club

Gigi Baba is the perfect example of 'bar dining' and for me is an instant classic... it's one of those places that you recommend to everyone and anyone.

In each mezze you can taste the love, care and craft behind it; explosive flavours, lovely textures, Turkish goodness.

Space is minimal, but sitting at the bar is very comfy and along with an amazing beer and wine list you feel like you can sit there forever to sample all that is on offer.

PS. Order a Turkish coffee just to test the Baristas timing skills.

Love it, eat there now!
102 Smith st. Collingwood

Adam

EIS restaurant

richmond review club

What is it with the French fondness for Japanese cuisine and vice versa? You couldn't get two more polar opposites; one prefers purity of ingredient and subtlety of flavour, the other a decadent homage to all things artery-hardening.

Eis (pronounced 'Ace') restaurant produces Japanese/French fusion food that works. How 'bout a pumpkin and dried truffle soup with prawn? Delicious. And a perfectly executed sushi entrée? Tick. Add to that a great wine list and excellent service.

Unfortunately the overly spartan modernist interior fails to communicate the warmth of the staff and unique and comforting flavours of the food. However, Eis is a great back up if you can't get a table down the road at Misuzus...

Scott

188 Bridport Street
Albert Park
eisjapaneserestaurant.com

The Appropriately Long Lunch

richmond review club

People seem to walk a little slower when the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is on - strolling the streets on an evening 'passagata' while slowly digesting and contemplating the food and wine just sampled.

With so many amazing events on the Festival roster, it's a tough choice. Well, the peeps at Sommeliers' Australia made it a no-brainer, we were already drooling as we finished off the last-minute menu designs for their aptly-named 'Appropriately Long Lunch'.

The lunch scrambled Melbourne's best chefs and best sommeliers into a battle royale. What a result. Five courses, ten wines, and many, many happy campers. Every course and its complementary wines were an absolute pleasure, but for me special mention must go to Ian Curley's Pork Belly and Liam O'Briens Marlborough Pinot Noir. YUM.

Thanks to all those (and you know who you are) who made a long lunch in to a very, very long lunch.
Adam

Maha Bar & Grill

richmond review club

My usual experience of Middle Eastern dining consists of clutching a greasy paper-wrapped mess at 3am. A meal at Maha was therefore a very welcome change, enjoyed over about three hours instead of three minutes.

Some memorable moments from the soufra marathon:

- Kerkadere, a shot of hibiscus flower tea. Given before ordering the meal. A sweet syrup of deliciousness.

- Chicken liver pâté. I don't even like pâté. A fluffy cloud of deliciousness.

- Marlin with pomegranate seeds. Contrastingly delicious.

- 12 hour lamb rump. Crispy, sticky, heart-failure-inducing deliciousness.

- Turkish delight filled donuts. Say no more (because I'm now in a coma) deliciousness.

Sophie

www.mahabg.com.au

Maha Bar & Grill
21 Bond Street
Melbourne
(03) 9629 5900

Cicciolina

richmond review club

Busy, noisy, cramped and overpriced? Yep, but the consistently excellent food, wine list and service make Cicciolina my favourite restaurant in Melbourne - actually in the world.

Classic Italian dishes such as spaghetti alle vongole and an always exciting specials board compete for what is an extremely difficult meal selection.

You can't book so factor in a 30 to 60 minute wait for a table - but time flies when you're waiting in one of the best wine bars in Melbourne! Enjoy an exotic glass of red and a bowl of lemon-zesty arancini and you won't want to leave. Add an antipasto and a dozen fresh oysters and that's dinner.

Consistency is the key word here, after six years and countless meals, every visit is an absolute pleasure. Popular for very good reason.

Scott

Cicciolina
130 Acland St
St Kilda
(03) 9525-3333

Happy Kappa

richmond review club

Happy Kappa is our favourite lunch joint in Richmond. We ate there almost every day of 2008 and are still not sick of it. The go to dishes are either the Teriyaki Chicken/Katsu Don or Sansai Udon Noodle Soup, depending on which one you had the previous day. Consistently good cheap Japanese tucker.

Happy Kappa
Shop 4/85 Swan St
Richmond VIC 3121

Scott

7 grams

richmond review club

Best coffee in Melbourne? Big call but the bros at 7 grams certainly make the most consistently good coffee I've ever had. The coffee gods seem to think so too judging by the ridiculous amount of trophies and awards lining the wall of the cafe.

Get your buzz on!

Scott

7 grams
505 Church Street
Richmond
Tel: (03) 9429 8505

Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons

richmond review club

The GAS experience will leave a big fat smile on your face. The staff are a bit starchy but it doesn't matter, the menu is so warm & welcoming you'll forget about your award winning surroundings in one olive oily mouthful.

You wouldn't look out of place eating with your hands here - bread, olives & cured meats all served up in rustic bowls with self service olive oil and cutlery in the middle of your table if you feel you must.

We all shared bread, buffalo mozz, warm olives, prosciutto & arancini washed down with a house quaffer in a 1 Litre carafe (when in Rome...). Followed by a lovely Dolcetto & Nero D'avola later on ;)

Mains consisted of rustic pasta staples and some show-stealing home-made pork sausages. Simple happy food shared with friends, they really nailed it. The biggest and best surprise came last - the bill.

Scott

Check out the (current) menu on their website: GAS

Il Solito Posto

richmond review club

A cosy little bistro in the Paris end of Collins St (whatever that means). Always busy and always delicious daily pasta specials.

We dined in the restaurant on a Monday and must say you're better off staying in the bistro! The food was no better, service was worse and atmosphere dull. To their credit they didn't charge for two of the meals after we quietly expressed our dissatisfaction.

That one experience aside, Il Solito rules for a casual and delicious pasta with a glass of red from their incredible wine list.

Scott

www.ilsolitoposto.com.au

Annie Smithers Bistrot

richmond review club

I was treated to a delectable meal at Annie Smithers Bistrot in Kyneton on Sunday, as my family took part in a lunch to raise money for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.

The scallops with mushroom and bechamel gratin and the beautifully presented dessert were of notable mention, although the whole meal was so perfectly structured that it is hard to pick favourites!

I would highly recommend making the journey (by train is best - you can sleep off all the wine on the way home). Have a poke around some of the antique shops while you're there.

Sophie

www.anniesmithers.com.au
www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au

Flavours of Lakhoum

richmond review club

We are always astounded with what our favourite Swan Street barista does with his coffee. Not only does it taste good, Flavours also does a mean kofta wrap and some amazing salads.

BEWARE NEW OWNERS! The jury is out...

Libertine

richmond review club

The Richmond Review Club is not just bound to the 3121 postcode. Yesterday, on Victoria Street North Melbourne, I had the pleasure of throwing away the menu and letting the skillful minds at Libertine take me on a journey.

Duck à l'orange, terrine du jour, chocolate soufflé all washed down with quirky, yet brilliantly matched wines... and you won't be paying much more than at your local pub. YUM YUM french food in my tum.

� go to www.libertinedining.com.au

Adam