Well, the service here was outstanding, but it does actually go beyond that to being one of my…read morefavourite bars in the area, not that I actually come down here all that often. Yet, in a way this bar really does have a lot of charm about it, as well as some great beers as well. In a way it was the rooftop that I really liked, but then again you can't go past a good rooftop bar, and there are some pretty good ones around as well. Yeah, this is one of those great bars that you can spend some time at on a nice summers evening, noting that it doesn't open until about 5:00 pm. Yeah, this bar was pretty awesome.

We were looking for a bar in Ormond for a pre-dinner drink and this seemed to be the only place…read more Right on the train line, it's styled a bit like a trashy rock bar (that's not an insult) and is a very relaxed, chilled out place. When we walked in there was a couple of folk in the main bar area, and to be honest, I wasn't entirely sure the place was even open. Thankfully it was, we got a couple of drinks as well as some Twisties (yay) and the bar guy even topped up my cider when we were paying for our drinks after I'd had a sip which I thought was super nice. We headed upstairs to the rooftop beer garden which again, had that kind of run-down vibe that might be offputting but I really like, and chilled out for an hour or so. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really liked this bar. The bar guy says the food is really good too but we already had plans to go to Jimmy Grants nearby so maybe another time.

Had very high expectations for this place based on all the reviews, but ended up pretty…read moredisappointed. The food was OK, but not nearly amazing as we'd expected. Possibly that's because we ordered their vegetarian options, which were all side dishes -- maybe they're more known for their meat options? Either way, they should really up their vegan and vegetarian game! We went for my boyfriend's birthday -- so, yeah, it was a special occasion, which made our experience even more disappointing because our expectations were set so high. For starters, even though we'd made reservations two weeks ago, we were squeezed into a tiny little table with four patrons on either side and very little elbow room. We could hear all of the conversations of the two tables next to us and they could hear our conversation. Didn't make for a romantic birthday dining experience, that's for sure. On the plus side, the service was very attentive -- a French girl who knew exactly what was and wasn't vegan. She pointed out the various sections of the menu and our various options. My boyfriend started with a drink (arak gantous/abou raad), a strong aniseed-flavored liquor. He enjoyed it but I stayed far away based on the smell alone, haha. Then for our entree we ordered: - taratoor (almond and tahini dip) - hummus dip - crudites (fresh veggies to dip in the tahini and hummus) - pickled veggies to dip in the tahini and hummus This was probably the highlight of the meal -- I really loved the taratoor and the hummus was good too, although the flavour got a little repetitive compared to some hummuses (hummi? lol). The portion sizes of the entrees were good so we were actually starting to fill up. So next we ordered: - 1 serving of crunchy potatoes seasoned with garlic and coriander - 1 serving of rice pilaf - 1 serving of freekeh None of these wowed us. The crunchy potatoes were very very dry and honestly needed a sauce of some kind. My boyfriend ate three potato cubes and flat-out refused to eat the rest, leaving me with a very bloated potato-belly at the end of the evening because I hate wasting food so I had to eat the rest of them :/ The rice pilaf was nice enough with barberries and pistachio, a traditional Persian sort of dish, but like the potatoes, it was very dry. The freekeh with pomegranate dressing and almonds was just not very nice. My boyfriend ate most of it and I avoided it. Ultimately I think the problem is this is the type of restaurant designed for share plates, and the vegan options were all side plates to share, not mains. And as side plates they didn't go together well as a cohesive whole. There were literally no vegetarian mains available (much less vegan mains) and I think this is a real shame. It forces veggos to select these side dishes that don't really form a complete meal, and everything ends up tasting very dry and odd together. Rumi should definitely make more of an effort to come up with a vegetarian (preferably vegan) main so that nobody misses out. So. Yeah. Probably avoid this place if you're vegan or vegetarian. We spent $86 altogether and for that amount of money (and a birthday celebration dinner!) we expected to be much happier with our food and experience.

Bear and I came here because we had seen Anthony Bourdain's visit. Though the food here was good,…read moreeverything felt incomplete. Like we ordered the lamb and got a delicious lamb shoulder, completely on its own. Who just wants to munch on red meat? As a Middle Eastern, may I make a quick suggestion? Please add back in the flat breads, the rice, the potatoes. They are needed. We ordered the: Crispy fried school prawns - Delicious, needed more sauce 'Batata Harra' - Really good, needed a (any!) sauce. Advieh marinated lamb shoulder - Needed something to accompany it. Shaved Cabbage Salad - Really underwhelming. Don't recommend. I can't remember the rest. It's a shame because the potential is definitely there, but it definitely misses the mark. Ambiance and service could improve too.

Very nice restaurant. Stopped here for an impromptu dinner with local fans of the restaurant. I…read morehad the beef cheeks which were absolutely superb. The serve was extraordinarily generous and well composed. Best of all, it was exceptionally tasty. (A bouquet too for the excellent Brussel sprouts, a great vegetable in my view.). The wine list was good and the service calm and affable if a little uneven at times. All in all a very good experience and I wouldn't hesitate to return.

We're so lucky to have such a great restaurant in the 'hood…read more The mains menu is a mixture of Italian and some modern Australian staples but the highlights are really with the entrees and desserts. So many choices and so much of it is delicious. They also have a fantastic bar staff. The cocktails are classic and the wine list is well-researched. A couple of years ago they served the best breakfast in Melbourne. They're always trying something new and it's worth going back regularly.

This is another one of those really cool cafes that I sort of stumbled across as I was wandering…read morearound the place one day. It is sort of one of those places that has taken up residence in an old warehouse, and these places can actually be pretty cool. Well, that is the case with this place, and they also service a pretty decent cup of coffee as well. However, despite it being on a side street, and the middle of the week, this place certainly does attract the crowds.

Really nice brunch place south side in the Gardenvale area. We had an awesome lunch here of bloody…read moreMary's, eggs, smashed avocado, calamari and a breakfast bun. All was really good, service was great, and the space is really nice too. I'd definitely return if looking to meet someone south side for a nice casual breakfast/brunch/lunch.

Heads up, if you're jet lagged don't go here, a waitress named Emma may sternly tell you to not…read moredrop your drinks as you carry back from the bar, then tell other bar tender to cut you off. Apart from that great food, vibes, etc. Wish i could've stayed longer.

Well, it certainly took me a while to finally get around to visiting this place. Well, not quite…read morebecause I had been here a few times in the past, but it was only recently that I managed to get around here while there was still some daylight (so that I could take an outdoor photo of the place). Well, all I can say is that this pub is awesome. A huge range of beers, some really friendly staff, and a pretty awesome beer garden out the back. Oh, and there is also a pretty nice retro feel about the place as well.

I'm very impressed with this place. I've only had a drink here in the past and I can't remember…read morewhat put me off coming back. The pub itself had a good amount of space (inc a dining area) and a semi covered outdoor area. The beer selection is excellent ranging from Hargreaves Hill to Hawkers Pale Ale as well as the rubbish beers for those who don't know better (Carlton etc). Whilst he was disappointed that they were out (?!) of fish and chips he had the fish off the special board and loved it. He said the crispy skin trout with leek purée was fantastic; perfectly cooked. I had the beef bourguignon with sweet potato mash and garlic green beans it was excellent. Every bite was awesome. My only disappointment is that (as all Victorian venues) smokers pollute the outdoor space and as this is a popular venue lots of people are eating outdoors.

Went to the Union tonight for the first time with some girlfriends. Lovely interior, patrons ranged…read morefrom kids with parents, uni students right up to oldies. Pub menu was delicious. Really nice food. I had a beef & bacon pie with mash & friends had the burger & chicken parma. They both were very pleased. The Union has an awesome outdoor area too. I will almost certainly go back to this place as it close to my work, not wanky & staff were very friendly.

A new boy/girl on the block. These guys are a shining light. They'll be to ensure you have a fun…read morenight. You go there for the wine/beer. It's very good. Although don't get your hopes up too high. Sure, it's good, but it won't blow your mind. The menu caters for all. If you want a bar snack, share plate amongst friends, or a "get the f away from my food", you're bound to find something you will love. Food Service

The 'Piggy in the Middle' Wednesday special seemed appealing, along with a (may I say, delish)…read moreglass of Pe Tinto), however, with this I was left quite underwhelmed - the pork was nice, but the crackly was rubbery. Why the 4 starts then, you ask? My wine was beautiful, maybe that swayed me? Oh perhaps just a little. Annnd, my friends food did look (and tasted) nice. But what swayed me more was the interesting detail in the decor - you must see it. Every table is a little different and my friends & I were left wondering what style it was. Perhaps a little texan-medieval (?)

Half Moon is up there with my favourite businesses in Coburg. I first ventured here to try the…read morefelafel and have been a regular ever since. The felafel are made fresh to order and you can have three of these plump, hot, gently spiced babies stuffed in a pita bread with a combination of vegetarian items. There's six options to choose from, but why you'd get anything other than the "Half Moon" with chilli sauce I don't know. Think crispy felafels, salad, olives, pickles, hummus... wrapped in a warm pita and weighing almost the size of a small child. This whole thing will set you back a mere $8. Other than the fact that the food here is delicious and cheap, the owners and staff are really what make this a worthy experience worth crossing town for. Run by a family for the last 12 years, they're super lovely and really care about their customers. The "father" is so kind and will make a point of walking around the tables outside to check that his customers are happy, that they have enough napkins and that they're looked after. I love chatting to him and if I time my lunch break right I might be able to sit with him while he has his lunch break in the late afternoon. Customer service doesn't cost anything, yet there's not many places that get it right or enjoy it as this family does. 5 stars.

I was left a little underwhelmed by the Half Moon Cafe. Maybe it was the glowing reviews, or maybe…read moreI was expecting something more authentic because it's Coburg. We arrived one busy lunchtime, and joined the line of people ordering kebabs. I went for the eponymous Half Moon sandwich, which was with falafels and salad. The woman taking our order at the counter asked us to take a table outside and the other would be brought out to us. I thought she was clever to be able to remember which order went where without any table numbers or tickets. It turned out she didn't have a clue, and our order was bounced around between 4 different tables before it was given to me. At one point, she even gave the order to me, then took it away, and then returned to hand it to me again! The sandwich itself was good value at $8, but no where near as large as others have suggested. I finished it without a problem, and I wouldn't consider myself to have a bigger appetite than most guys. The salad and sauce was nice, but the falafels were ordinary. I'd have preferred them to be crunchier on the outside and soft inside. The other disappointment was that they used packet pita bread rather than baking their own, as any proper restaurant in the middle east would do. Even so, if I were in Coburg again, I would return to Half Moon Cafe for lunch.