I was a phene for pho in my university days - my housemate introduced me to my first bowl of…read moresteaming Vietnamese deliciousness at the tender age of 21. How I lived without it for all those years, I don't know. Thank gosh for friendship. Good Days is a hip new Vietnamese eatery in Brunswick that I wish existed in my neighbourhood. It's a cozy and welcoming reprieve from the bustle of the street, and a great mid-week dinner. I was catching up with an old friend, and we nabbed two bar seats which was a good life choice as you can watch the chefs prepare the food as you await your food coma. The menu is short and sweet featuring four Vietnamese classics (pho, rice paper rolls, chicken rice, and noodle salad) but with a point of difference. The impressive twist? Good Days is vegan-friendly and all the meat is ethically sourced - unheard of, I know! The free range pork is from McIver Farm Foods, the free range chicken is from Milawa Farms, the pasture raised organic beef is from Creighton Creek and Australian prawns are from North Queensland. Now for the real 'jump on your chair' moment - they have vegan pho! The aromatic vegetable broth (shiitake mushroom and kombu base) was exceptional, and the grilled and braised Asian mushrooms on top gave a 'meaty' vegetarian touch to the dish. My friend got the pork and prawn noodle salad with homemade rice paper rolls and we both agreed we could drink a gallon of the nuoc cham sauce it comes with. I have a weakness for rice paper rolls and highly recommend the mushroom and tofu vegan entree. The drinks menu features coconut water, Vietnamese iced coffee and jasmine tea. Speak to the staff if you're gluten-free and they will happily help you out. Good Days is an undersell - it's more like Great Nights and life-changing mushroom pho!

Disclaimer: I know Nam personally (the mastermind who created Good Days Brunswick). We went to…read moreVietnamese school together back in the "good old days" when you could get a solid Banh Mi for 2 bucks at lunchtime (sold out of an esky by a little VN granny). Long story short, Nam is a quiet achiever and nothing has changed. Continue to read my food review if you like. As I was visiting from outta town, I just had to skip my usual "benchmark dish" the Beef Pho and went straight to this mysterious Mushroom Pho. I must say I am converted. GDB use fresh succulent mushies. My fav is the innoki and the 2 slices of char grilled oyster mushroom cooked before me. The way it is beautifully presented reminded me of a scene from the 1985 Ramen movie "Tampopo." And just like in the movie, I caressed those 2 slices of oyster mushroom in that beautiful dark kombu broth and whispered "I shall meet you towards the end and eat you". One final note that sums up this dish is "delicate". I am not sure if pho from VN is delicate because of the portion size, the price or the way it is cooked. All I know is modern Aussie pho often lacks the subtlety of its motherland origins. In creating something unique, GDB is actually paying homage to an iconic dish. Pro tip: if you like the whole slow eating concept, I suggest you sit at the bar and kindly ask the chef to blanch your bean sprouts. This will help retain the temperature of your broth and you can savour every last drop, piping hot 'til you hit the spot. I also had the Saigon samurai beer which is ?locally brewed beer on tap. It is a light beer very similar to a 333 or Saigon bia (all it needs is some ice cubes and it's like being back in VN). Finally, I really wish someone else would create their version of this Mushroom Pho dish and battle Nam and his GDB team because then it would actually become something (just like in Japan you have different ramen based on different regions).

My partner is Italian, so I have developed quite a high standard for pizza ;) I quite enjoyed the…read moremargherita pizza. Dough was really nice, not too crispy and nicely chewy. Only bummer was the price. Unfortunately, that seems to be a trend for all decent Italian style pizzas here.

Mother Dough is a fabulous restaurant. The owner is friendly and likes to please. The staff are…read moreaccomodating and helpful.The food is delicious and very fresh.My husband & I like the food so much that we also like to introduce our friends to this restaurant. We have never been disappointed. Ruth L

This eatery is a stand out. Why?…read moreBecause all the dishes are made with excellent ingredients and from first bite you know a whole lot of love goes into it. You can't got past their potato rosti. The deserts are superb and are guilt free. Although this eatery caters for vegan/gluten intolerant people (in which I am not) doesn't mean it's scream boring. It's full delicious treats for everyone. Coffee is consistent and done very well. I return here every weekend to start it right. Customer service is outstanding and you get a full explanation of what they are about and their purpose as well as what your about to order. One word - amazing.

This is the newly-opened sister cafe to the Seedling Cafe on Flinders Lane. Everything here is 100%…read moregluten-free and "paleo inspired" which generally means no grains, no legumes, no dairy, and a focus on fresh, unprocessed vegetables and proteins. As a vegan, usually when I go to a paleo place, I shudder at the amount of meat and eggs on offer -- but Seedling Cafe's not like that. Their menu dovetails nicely with a plant-based diet, offering plenty of vegan options. For breakfast, vegans can choose from smashed avo, blueberry porridge, and four different kinds of smoothie bowls made from coconut milk. They also have a variety of fancy-pants lattes (turmeric, matcha, etc.) and coffee with almond, coconut, or soy milk. For lunch, there's not much on the menu for vegans per se, but check the display case where they have their fresh salads and there are usually a few vegan salads, which you can mix and match to make a nice healthy lunch (that's what I did -- I had a pea thing, a cauliflower thing, and a vegan coleslaw thing. Yes. Thing.) And of course they have some healthy treats by way of raw vegan bars and energy balls and stuff like that. These vary so just check the display case. I had the peanut bar and while it wasn't decadent like peanut butter, I wasn't really wanting or expecting it to be -- it tasted mostly like ground up peanuts and a bit of sweetness and a bit of chocolate. In other words, it tasted healthy, which is what you're after anyway if you're going to this place. Their menu and the food in their display case is clearly marked with vegan, paleo, dairy-free, and nut-free options. V* means vegan, and staff knows what exactly "vegan" entails. (They even know that honey is not vegan, which is impressive because a lot of non-veg restaurants/cafes don't know that one.) In terms of atmosphere, this Seedling Cafe is lighter and brighter and feels roomier than their Flinders Lane location. It's in the Equitable Place laneway, on the corner with Little Collins Street. Not much seating so this place is mostly take-away, but there are a few small tables and chairs.

Found this little cafe 3 days before leaving the city and the food was simply delicious! I ordered…read morethe açai bowl which comes with granola, bananas, coconut and berries. I asked them not to put the granola as I'm allergic to nuts and they offered to replace t with more berries and extra coconut for no extra charge. Also got their lemongrass ginger tea and it was divine. If you're looking for a great meal not too expensive and healthy this is definitely the place to go!

Ethiopian food is my jam. I have tried it in many states back home in the US and I make it my…read moremission to find an ethiopian restaurant and market wherever I travel. Imagine my excitement when I found Saba's within driving distance of my Aussie family's home! As a women-owned/run restaurant, Saba's is full of lovely decor and warmth. Both times we went, Saba herself gave us great recommendations (we are vegan) and the food came out quickly- good thing since we brought along the kids! I liked everything, though many of the dishes were milder in spices than I've had before in the states (usually the kik alicha I've had comes with raw jalapeño slices on the side for example!). I think the only thing I didn't like was the injera. It was much darker and had a very different taste and texture than other injera I've had. All in all we obviously loved Saba's, as we returned only a few days after our first visit!

Saba's Bridging the Cultural Divide-…read more Being caught up in the cyclonic whirlwind of today's technological age is a blessing and a curse in the way that it slowly separates us from core belief systems we are afforded during childhood.The simple pleasures in life.. like the touch from a loved one, having a laugh and sharing precious moments become lost in the daily routine, lessons learn't become background noise and softly fade into the past.But do not fear as"Saba's Restaurant"will help rectify that! Realizing family friends community are all central to living a fulfilling happy life Saba invites us back to a time before we became so self absorbed and disconnected, through the simple act of sharing food.Although this simplicity can sometimes be confronting, especially if you mix in today's"social norms"it is well worth it.So take your social medication! What is Saba's and what's on the menu- Saba's is an Ethiopian restaurant hosting a varied range of food species including Vegetarian Vegan and Meat dishes all gluten free,served inside a woven round wicker basket called a"Mesob".When the lid is lifted off the traditional Ethiopian basket you are presented with the Injera Bread which forms the basis for many of the meals at "Saba's Restaurant".The menu remains constant throughout the year incorporating specials from time to time but unlike the typical specials from a normal restaurant (i.e yesterday's leftovers) these truly are special akin to capturing a rare Pokemon and should be snatched up straight away as to not miss them.The specials sometimes include the most popular meals from Ethiopia; offal based dish called "Tripa" and the Ethiopian version of Steak Tartare the "Kitfo" if you're lucky. Humble Beginnings- The idea of "Saba Restaurant"didn't appear by sheer happenstance,nor did it merly pop into the imagination like a comical light bulb, infact it was a series of events which lead up to the opening of Saba's first Ethiopian restaurant.In the days before "S.R" Saba Alemayoh invited friends to try her mother's cooking all made from her country's traditional recipes,these were such a great hit she decided to sell the main cooking component "Teff Flour"to numerous health food stores,coinciding with the operation of a small catering service.The driving force behind the opening of Saba's was not so much the food in and of itself but the chance to share her proud cultural heritage with the people of Melbourne.With the help from her friend Sebla Afewerk and her mum Tekebash as head chef they started Saba's and the rest is history. We ordered the White Spiced tea as a starter for the night... Spiced White Tea ( )The tea consists of black tea brewed in milk, combining cardamom cloves and cinnamon tasting similar to chi ,but has a skin on the surface similar to one formed on a custard hmmm delicious. Dorho Sebhid )Main component being the slow cooked Chicken that slides so easily from the bone accompanied with a hard-boiled egg.For people who enjoy a V-Hot spicy Chicken Vindaloo esk dish this one is for you(ask for extra heat)it has a very dark satisfying flavor.It is one dish I would gladly come back for. Vegetarian Combination ( ) Vegetarian combo is a selection of 3 separate Vego dishes from the menu.My eating partner found the expierince to be exciting When Saba personally delivered the two treasure trove baskets to our table similar to the traditional Filipino way of eating In using your hands this at first may seem uncivilized but you will quickly adapt and you may also find it stimulating. Teff Brownie( )And then followed up by the final act. One must know their lines before committing their taste buds to the full onslaught of this sticky sweet chocolate devil made from Teff which gave it a heavier feel but adding to the experience at the same time.

We had the pizza Carnivora to start and then we each ordered pasta. I had the carbonara and it was…read moreso delicious! As was the pizza! We actually just had pizza the other day in town from a place that came highly recommended and it didn't come close to this pizza. Our server was great and the restaurant itself was upscale. It was a great experience and food came out quick! Would return if we're ever back in Melbourne.

The food is amazing great selection and service it's a really nice restaurant honestly recommend…read moretheir pizza

Great service, staff were exceptionally attentive and the food was delicious. Highly recommended!"read more

There is truly never anything to complain about when we dine at Taxi Kitchen. Every visit is a…read morememorable experience, from the exceptional staff who make you feel genuinely welcomed, to the outstanding food that is consistently creative and delicious. The atmosphere is vibrant yet refined, the décor is stylish and thoughtfully designed, and the overall experience feels personal and effortlessly enjoyable. Taxi Kitchen continues to exceed expectations and remains a place we look forward to returning to time and time again.

Milkshakes and Poke, only in Melbourne!…read more I made sure I dropped by Naughty Boy during my trip down under, and boy was it naughty (and SO worth it!!) Tried the Berry Cheesecake Instashake, and their Poke Bowl. The shake kinda scared me at first sight, and I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it, but it was love at first sip! The cheesecake on top was light but delicious. The poke was visually appealing but a little too salty for my taste. The shake evened it out though. Ambience: very minimalistic and millennial Location: easily accessible by public transportation (which I took). Didn't see much parking though. Customer Service: Delightful.

Naughty Boy, doesn't it sounds like a convincing place to have your breakfast?…read more Located on the quiet end of Lygon Street, away from the more bustling cafe scenes of Melbourne CBD, you will find humble nook that shook Instagram feed. The interior inside the cafe is rather spacious but felt a little more budget, industrial and rustic thanks to the major applications of " ripped" wall and exposed bricks. Their menu is quite impressive, listing typical big Australian brunch menu (e.g: brekkie roll, fancy toast and hotcakes) as well as their "not-so naughty" menu (e.g: oatmeals, acai bowl, etc.). No matter what you ordered here, you can always count on the pretty presentation! For my first visit, I ordered: * Pavlova Instashake: They have about 3 "Freakshakes" flavors to choose from (the other two options are Chocolate Nutella fudge and Salted Caramel). The presentation was just as naughty as I had hoped - kiwis, berries, meringue and fairy floss on top of coconut and almond milk. Taste-wise, I was expecting it to be a jar load of sugar, basically a diabetes in a jar... as an art form, but it actually was very subtle and tasted healthy! I was almost disappointed that it doesn't taste as sweet as it looks, lol. * Red Velvet hotcakes: The presentation was orgasmic to the eye; brightly red color, decorated with vanilla mascarpone, berries and sprinkle with popping candy. Almost crazy, but yet still delicious, with the hot cake being mildly sweet and fluffy and the popping candy adds an interesting sensation with each bite. I must say, Naughty boy is as naughty as the name suggest. The food is utterly gorgeous and whimsical. The prices were a little steep with the Instashake costing $12 and the hotcakes $18 but I guess it was worth every dime just to be on the naughty side... once in a while :)