Just off Little Bourke St on level 1 is a little Latin American bar called Vamos. Dimly lit with…read moresome cosy little fairy-light nooks, coming here early on a Thursday night for a knock-off drink provided a nice casual spot to catch up for a drink. Service is great, the staff were really lovely and helpful. Many of the staff here also teach Spanish at the local language school where I study, which certainly speaks to their passion for bringing their local flavour to Melbourne. The menu is Latin American inspired small plates, so we ordered a couple of bites from the bar snacks portion to share as a group - beef shin empanadas, guacamole and chips, and polenta chips. All were tasty, the guac and chips were spot on and I particularly like the polenta chips as they were quite thin and crunchy rather than the chunky-burn-your-mouth out trying to eat it type. I'd come back and give dinner a go. I wasn't drinking so can't comment much on the booze available, but I did see that they do have happy hour specials going and mulled wine for winter. Probably somewhere I'd come more for a beer or margarita than a wine. They have a lot of shows and events here, their web site features a lot of fun Latin-American inspired music acts from mariachi bands to flamenco and Brazilian performers if you're looking for something more upbeat. If a boozy rowdy night is your style, I'd plan ahead for when something is happening or go on a Saturday night. If you're after a more chilled out spot to catch up with some friends, early weeknights are a good time to go.

Spanish wine tasting on Thursday night with friends. $35 for 5 diff wines and 5 tapas sharing…read moreplatters. Great experience tapas had nice flavours and wines well Rose was our favourite! Was quite loud though could hardly hear my friends. Presenter was knowledgeable with his wines Good evening!!

Tucked down a laneway and then further down a flight of stairs you will arrive in a dimly lit bar…read more There is some outdoor light that fluctuates from the street above. Decor has a mix of art paintings, hanging plants and a giant, decaying mouse. They could work out a better theme. Having arrived for their happy hour from 4:30-6:30 everyday but Sunday, I was excited to try a Pisco cocktail at $12. The mango sour was super yummy. You got real blended mango without any pulp, resulting in a smooth and sweeter version of the original. The original Pisco sour is just as lovely, well balanced and fulfilling. I was very surprised at the food menu prices which hovered all over $20 except for a couple small sides. The best value seemed the sampling platter at $30 but having a craving for ceviche, I went with the recommended salmon. It was slightly high in acid but overall tasty. The chunks of salmon were more than I expected mixed in with slices of cucumber and lettuce. I tried some of the cheese arepa which was also very delicious and came alongside slices of meat and dipping sauce. Overall I would be back for drinks but feel the pub doesn't justify the high prices for food. If they want to charge more then they need to class up the place. Otherwise they do deliver a tasty cocktail.

We came here on Saturday night for some pisco sours and to try the food which had been recommended…read more We weren't disappointed, everything was great. We started with the tasting menu which came within ceviche, empanadas, scallops and the vegetarian causa. For main we shared the Lomo Saltado. The food and service was exceptional.

Unfortunately led astray by Google and TripAdvisor reviews where this place is with a much higher…read morereview than Yelp. Great ambiance and popping spot on a Friday night for dinner, but sadly disappointing food and drink. Service and staff were only saving grace. Corn, onion, and Mozzarella empanadas tasty to start, but then fried broccoli was too heavily battered and lacking much character. Was hoping for maybe tempura or pan fried vegetables that would be more fresh, but alas it was far too heavy. $130 AUD on the Ojo de Bife Ribeye was sadly a lost bet as it was certainly not worth the cost. Cooked pretty well with good external char flavor but the cut of beef was not nearly tender enough at that price point when cooked to medium. The standard accompanying fresh salsa and chimichurri were also not nearly vibrant enough to save it with both being relatively muted in flavor and freshness. The carrots and potatoes as sides were both excellent. Finally the drinks were just ok as well. The Pisco sour was tasty and made well, the Jardin Botanico was the best of the lot with interesting flavors and refreshing, but then the El Brasero was a disappointing old fashioned. The Brasero was far too sweet (and I like sweeter old fashioneds typically), and without enough agave and smoky flavor coming through. All in all if a friend booked this spot I wouldn't make a fuss, but I would not seek it out or recommend it at the cost. Perhaps the even higher priced Wagyu and finer cuts might be different, but I can't say I'd take that chance for the cost. Fun evening spot for drinks and company, with excellent waitstaff and friendly atmosphere where food unfortunately missed the mark.

TWO Words guys: Fucking Delicious!…read moreThanks St in Elmo's.keep Up the good work. The service was excellent, the food was delicious and parking! How many more carparks do you need, at the end of the lane. Once you get there you will know what I mean!

Who would have thought little old Gembrook could host such sophistication? Built in half the old…read moregarage and preserving a lot of the fittings, this place is a standout in every way. The food is interesting and hearty. Many people would prefer to share a meat/ fish platter and add sides or entrees. Loved the crunchy chicken and the potatoes but my dream dish is the chocolate trifle with meringue, berries and crumbled dark chocolate.The wine list is extensive and interesting. There is a long list by the glass too -both Argentinian and Australian. Service is tight and friendly. This will not be my only visit. *specialises in gluten free and other dietary restrictions.

Amazing restaurant ! Amazing chef! Amazing food!! Great garden outside and kid friendly. Great…read moreatmosphere, not too noisy! Cuisine caters to everyone! Our guests were half vegan and half non-vegan! The FOOD was spectacular! Well done to the chef, Mauro, who come and welcomes his guests and explains the cuisine! Fabulous!!! I will be back:)

I've driven passed True South heaps and heaps of times, and always wanted to try it, yet never did…read more... until tonight. I am kicking myself that I never came sooner. It was really, really good. The restaurant has a great vibe about it. For some people, they'd love to come in summer when out the front there are tables on the footpath and on the inner outside there are bar stools to sit and drink while watching the world go by. Inside, the restaurant has a clean, industrial feel to it. It was busy, but not overly loud. We were seated right away and your placemat is the menu, so you dive right into looking for things that grab your taste buds. Many - if not all - dishes are great for sharing, so we started out with Chipas (mini cheese rolls, mandioca flour, cheddar and parmesan) and the Croquetas of the day, which were chicken and corn. Before those came, we were served up a mini bread roll each with an olive and ricotta dip. Very delicious. The entrees came out and they were heavenly. The Chipas were amazing and I could have just had several serves of those as my meal. The were like mini warm cheese scones. The croquetas were good; had a beautiful crumbing on the outside, but the inside was nice, though nothing to rave about. For the main, I ordered my own Caviche de Salmon. It came with mango, cherry tomatoes, onion and plantain crisps. I didn't much care for the plantain crisps, and I hated the fact that there was coriander in the dish without it being listed on the menu. I would have asked for it without it, as I can't stand coriander. Yuck. Of course, there was something that really stood out to me on the dessert menu, so I had to order it. It was a chocolate fondant, with banana and caramel ice cream. That sounded incredibly appealing and tasted really, really good. My only minor complaint about it, was that it was truly ICE cream. That almost ruined it, but the flavours were everything. There was just a few things I didn't like about True South. One was the tables felt sticky. Two was that you could smell cigarette smoke from outside, even though it's illegal to smoke right outside an eatery. And three, because of the open shutters, it allowed for flies to fly in. Small things I guess in relation to how good the food and service was. Yes, the mains came out slowly, but they were really busy and food was continually leaving the kitchen. Would I go back again?? YES, YES, YES. I really enjoyed the meal and it was something different to usual here in Melbourne. How authentic it is, I don't know. But if you want a great spot with good atmosphere, great food and reasonably priced meals, then this is the place for you. It's worth the drive.

Nice birthday meal with family. Good food, the porterhouse steak was the winner. Cooked to…read moreperfection. The broccolini was the best I've ever had. The jalapeno margarita was underwhelming. Good coffee, friendly service. Would definitely come back for the steak and oysters alone.