robstein 's Reviews

My expectations on returning to a restaurant are that somehow the staff will know you've been before..& try harder as a result! crazy i know but wouldn't that be great? Unfortunately, as is the norm with the majority of movie sequels I often find that turn number two often falls short of the original. This is true of this Lazy Moe's. Yes the portions are huge, yes its relatively well priced, but quality, care & customer service aren't strong points. If you are crazy hungry & on a budget & dont want an intimate meal...this is the PERFECT place for you...otherwise, look elsewhere!

A diversion from the norm from the tried & tested China Bar formula...well at least for this China Bar old timer, but if our express lunch on valentine's day was anything to go by, this formula has resulted in what many experimental wrongs produce genius! What can I say? Yum! At lunch we had everything on offer barring sashimi & oysters. This meant sushi, dumplings, roast Chinese meats, asian dishes cooked to order etc etc etc. in fact etc is a very apt description. Unlike many buffets where its a lot of food of very little variety, the china bar asian buffet delivers variety with a capital v, taste with a capital t & refinement with a pretty big r!

A well kept course of considerable length, with some tricky holes offset by some wide forgiving holes to keep an occasional hacker like me hopeful. I couldnt get over how well maintained each & every hole was...especially in the middle of a long & unforgiving melbourne summer! the staff were welcoming, irreverent & real. A breath of fresh air for a private course!

Greeted by friendly & courteous staff, we enter into a rustic yet fancy home. The Livingroom immediately set expectations high. Despite its chic appearance, staff assured us how kids are very welcome. Dining with our 4-year-old son, we were instantly made comfortable. This family run business was immediately apparent - the chef with 2 young children. Upstairs they had plenty of toys, books, and crayons, making them well equipped to entertain our often-irreverent child. Now, lets focus on what we came to samplethe food!
Described as modern Italian, the cuisine on offer seemed to expand its territories to modern Mediterranean, with influences from France, Spain, maybe even Greece adding to the predominantly Italian fare. But then again I was told that the menu changes daily, based on produce the staff are able to source. How rustic, how real. The knowledgeable & attentive staff proceeded to take me on a culinary journey even before my first bite, explaining the food in detail. After such a passionate & descriptive detailing of the menu I decided to have the 7 course degustation menu, leaving my night in the hands of the chef.
Home cooked bread with olive oil started the feast. Simple and tasty. The first dish then arrived. A mushroom soup with truffle oil delivers a perfectly balanced beginning. The truffle oil brought plenty of flavour without overpowering the subtle mushroom flavour. Next up we had beetroot cured salmon with horseradish cream accompanied by cucumber preserved in vanilla & lime and capers. Each individual component tasty in its own right but as a combinationstunning!
The third dish, duck terrine, jam & salad on toast, basic in its approach with a burst of flavour that I can only describe as smokey, sweet and complex. This was served the same time as the kids meal of fish & chips. It looked greatso I had to try it! The fish was battered in a light & crispy batter, crisp, delicious, not too oily. The chips were deemed a hitfor once my son decided sauce wasnt required!
Next upGurnard (fish) pancetta wrapped on sauted spinach and cannelloni beans with merlot vinaigrette. The subtle flavours of the fish were complemented perfectly by the saltiness of the pancetta, offset by the tanginess of the vinaigrette. A heavenly combination with every component bringing something to the flavour party in my mouth!

We were then presented with duo of lamb, a herb & mustard crumbed cutlet & slow cooked lamb shoulder with peas in brick pastry & parsnip pure. Speechless, literally as every mouthful sadly drawing me closer to the end.
We were then served the Cheese platter. I didnt think too much of a good thing was possible, but my occasional diet would attest otherwise! Hours of exercise to work off this mea but every mouthful was worth it! The cheese platter had a hard, crumbly, tasty cheese, balanced perfectly with a French blue, quince paste, apple slices & lavosh. A great (almost) end to a perfect mealbut then we had the dessert! Lemon posset with candied zest & almond biscuit, basil sorbet & an iced pedro ximenez parfait sandwich. I literally had a soundtrack of angels singing in my head with each & every bite! This truly was the perfect end to what was more than a superb mealtwas a heavenly experience!

the classic, the institution, with slight changes over the years but overall, Stalactites has kept true to its roots - to deliver good, hearty greek fare at any time at a reasonable price. simple, true - this was the local greek eatery, open all the time. maybe Stalactites is the real definition of true local!

great food served up in stylish surrounds but this is typical of how i used to view Japanese dining - tasty, expensive, left yearning for more...and often requiring a quick stop afterwards to fill my tummy without overloading the wallet. at some point in time, perhaps with the influx of good Japanese eateries over the years, this atypical experience had changed...but not with Hanabishi. The food is yum, but expect to pay, portions are small, but service is big albeit on the cooler side!

for fresh, tasty & conveniently located japanese fare look no further than edoya. a good if not typical japanese menu is delivered by swift but somewhat silent staff. maybe their tact is to let the food to the talking...and if thats the case, edoya is a motor mouth. good food, delivered quick & fresh at reasonable prices.

decentish chinese fare at decentish prices, with standard suburban type offerings available via a lengthy menu...but the name is apt. you are greeted with a smile & the staff are happy. come for the food, stay for the good vibes, leave with a full belly & change in your wallet

pub grub in the CBD. Good burgers, good range of beers on tops, live sports, a seedy come attempt at polished type atmosphere...all in all a good central place for a quick drink & eat whilst catching up on your sports!

elegance, opulence, class, simplicity, poshness - these are the main words I'd used to express the Treasury Restaurant & Bar. A good place to wine & dine clients but not a real casual get together kinda place