Great bar! The sandwich was fine, but nothing like a steak you would get in Philly. Roll was way…read moreoff from our bread. Steak was the best part but not enough of it. Orange sliced cheese is non existent in Phila sandwich shop, this was like McDonald's cheese galavanting as whiz. Onions were cut too large so the ratio to meat was wrong. Again, I enjoyed the sandwich, it's just nowhere near authentic. If you're from Philly like me, don't get your hopes up.

I'm so excited that I finally got to cram one of Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks creations into my…read moremouth. Doubly excited that they have an entire wall devoted hot sauces and condiments for said creations. Triply excited that, despite their name sake, there are vegetarian options on the menu. But just because it's vegetarian, it makes no pretense that it's healthy. That fried tofu sandwich comes topped with vegetarian chilli and gooey, guilty-pleasure American cheese. Plus the option to have it all seated on top of a big pile of fries. You can save money for more beer at the Catfish bar on Mondays, when the cheesesteaks are only $8 or $10 with fries. Order and pick-up at the back hatch. Then add a little heat with things like the chipotle bbq sauce and tomatillo & jalapeno, or just play it safe and stick with the basic tomato sauce & yellow mustard. There is no way you're walking out hungry after one of these.

This restaurant was amazing. The wait staff made the experience until the food arrived. Their…read moreservice was put into second place purely because of how amazing the food was. If I get a chance, I'd fly to the US to find this food again

I recently visited my brother in the Melbourne area. Since he had been taking me to try different…read moreAussie cuisine, he decided we should try some "back home" food for lunch since he not had any for over a year. We decided to give Mason Dixon a try. We ordered the Reuben Supreme, the MD Reuben, french fries, Dr. Pepper and A&W Root Beer. The sandwiches are individually crafted and made with great care. When our order was ready, we were quite pleased. The sandwiches were HUGE and outstanding! The New York style pickle was very tasty. The only small correction that needed to be made was that there was a little too much cajun seasoning on the fries. It sure was nice to get some Dr. Pepper and root beer to go along with our food. We spent quite some time talking with the owner, who is a terrific guy. He has created a wonderful menu with lots of great choices. If only we had come a little earlier, we might have tried the Seattle Bagel! If you are looking for an American-style sandwich for lunch, give Mason Dixon a try. You won't regret it!

If you have a hankering for BBQ with real smoky flavour and goodness, Up in Smoke is the place to…read morego. From the outside, it doesn't look full of promise, being set next to an old tyre/car repair shop. However, upon entry you'll notice a nice set of tables outdoor and a clean, open space inside. The high ceilings help to ventilate the smoky goodness wafting from the smoker room. Take a peek and see where all those delicious meats are cooking. There is a very decent beer selection listed (and cool bar at the back), although we managed to find two beers from the menu that were not in stock, along with another that was not good for serving. The waiter comped another similar beer with no hassles. Clearly this isn't their first rodeo. Coming with a large group that included children, I noticed a theme during the late afternoon. Many families enjoyed this establishment because it was pram-friendly, catering to more of the singles crowd queueing up as we left later into the evening. They were quite patient with our extended use of the table. The noise level seemed reasonable for a crowd of that size and tables were filling fast. Then came the food! Having to sample a bit of everything, we ordered the Big Tray, featuring spicy sausage, pulled pork, beef brisket, milk buns, two types of pickles and sauces, one sweet and one spicy. This also came with your choice of sides, which we selected the mac and cheese, and chilli mayo slaw. In addition we got a side order of hot wings. I would say the only surprise was the hot wings, as they were more of a smoky, mellow taste than spicy. Still really damn good. Stand outs for me were the mac and cheese with crumbles on top and the pulled pork. I enjoyed having some spicy bites and others sweet. A really great combination. Lastly, the finishing touch, which I didn't feel ready for but went for it anyway, the ice cream donut. What looked like a bagel was cut into two sweet, soft slices with a layer of real vanilla bean ice cream in the centre. It was so good that I immediately regretted my decision to share it. The perfect ending to the meal. I would definitely return to try more off the menu. Other guests in my party had yummy sandwiches and tacos. I could go for the smoky ribs, melting off the bone. There are plenty of choices and a good reason to return soon!

After much anticipation, Up In Smoke finally opens its doors to the public however there's…read moredefinitely room for improvement. We had no trouble getting a table-for-two however after being seated and given ample time to look at the menu, once we were ready to order it was only then we were told that there were 4-5 items on the menu that were sold out. I think it would be preferred service etiquette if the wait staff advised the customers in advance. "The Big Tray" feeds two people for $42. You get 3 meats (beef brisket, pulled pork, sausage) you don't get to choose these but you do get to select the 2 sides. We tried the fries and chilly mayo coleslaw. You also get 2 milk buns, pickles and sauces. My favourite was the pulled pork. The portions were decent but my disappointment would have to be in the sauces and seasoning. With the sharing plate you get 2 sauces that are served in mini silver deep dish bowls but check out my photos and you'll see you barely get anything. Pretty much the size of sweet n sour sauce you get from Maccas. I love BBQ sauce and that's what I love smothering my brisket in but generous they are not with their condiments. The sauces aren't as sweet and flavoursome as other smoke houses I've tried in Melbourne. I don't particularly like spicy foods but it was my mate's choice to try the coleslaw and she said that there wasn't enough mayo. Finally the last variable that made me give up a star on my review was that I was saving room for dessert. The menu said "banana cream pie" which isn't common so I couldn't wait to try it. Unfortunately when I was ready to order I was told that they hadn't released the dessert menu yet. This is game changing information. I would've been more forgiving if I was told beforehand. I think the business and staff need to communicate this with a billboard upon entry or at the very least tell patrons when seating them. Up in Smoke goes down in flames. =(

Delicious barbecue. Can stand up to even the barbecue in the southern US states. Beautifully…read morepresented and very flavorful.

I'm a Native Texan and this place is nothing short of amazing!..... seriously I live in Austin…read moreTexas home of such BBQ legends as Terry Blacks, Blacks, Coopers, La BBQ & Franklin Bluebonnet is hands down my favorite- truthfully I was in Melbourne for just over a week total and ate here 3 times! Honestly it's not just the amazing food but the amazing people as well..... especially the bar tenders Josh & Ellen- they are superb! Bottom line..... If facing a firing squad and forced to pick my last meal; I'll take Bluebonnet. I'll even say their brisket is better than Franklin BBQ of Austin Texas.... yeah I'm going on the record with that statement.

In my 5 years of living in Australia, I never had pizza that wasn't sub-par. On my trip back last…read moreweek to visit friends and family, Leonardo's finally changed that for me. While expensive, this place actually knows how to do pizza right. Sauce was flavorful, ingredients were fresh and high quality, and the whole vibe is just right. If I wasn't the only American at our table of 10, I would have forgotten I was in Melbourne! Seriously though, this place is great. I'd recommend getting there early to get a table as we had to wait more than an hour for a table for a large group, but it's worth it!

Anchovy pizza and broccolini salad are really good. Also this is the only place in melbourne that…read moreserves bud light

X is the new kid on the burger scene.. and I have to say I'm a fan. Ordered the the Big D... The…read moreslaw used was a mix of Asian Thai fusion and the pulled meat (pork n beef brisket) was done to perfection. Topped off with a light brioche bun... amazing! If ur wanting something a bit different.. This is the one. The Big D burger is a standout ... The combination of infused slaw with pulled meat works! and is definitely "that" taste journey I will return for! Also tried their KFC as well.. bit salty for my liking..

When you walk into a place and think "oh yeh another burger joint" but you are pleasently surprised…read morethat the brioche is about where all commonality ends. Ok yeh, Maccas does Brioche now but do they do it with amazing cut meats or southern fried chicken? I was confused as to what to call this place as it serves up an array of Americana type dishes with interesting add ons. What you can say is Dexter pulls off a very unusual offering while still being casual enough to not feel you need a PhD to understand the menu. I ordered the Big Dexter. Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket.... wow it was yum. I usually do the half way swap with the wife so we can experience more of the menu but there was no hope for this one. This was accompanied by Shoe String Fries finished with a BBQ Rub. .... Hold up. I can't forget... I actually started with a can of Tecate and Burnt Siracha Corn. Which was a great introduction to a lazy Sunday at Dexter. Can't wait to go back! Apparently the meat donuts are in high demand

Bit noisy win the 'comedian' on stage on a Friday night. Friendly staff and really good all around…read morevibe. I love the real hole in the wall joint that the spot has too, very different from most spots here in Australia. Prices are reasonable for servings, bar prices even more so. Flavour wise, the base is alright, a little watered down from the real thing and not as hearty as the original but still a decent copy as you're able to spice it up with the green or red Tabasco that's provided. I ordered the single crab boil with no chorizo. Staff are great about substitutions as they have a varied menu including vegetarian and vegan options. I'll be back to try more of what's on offer.

This joint gets unconditional praise via social media so naturally I wanted to judge for myself…read more The play by play of my impromptu visit to the Crab Shack is as follows: 1. Parking right out front - any Melburnian would know that this is a first world win considering it's Fitzroy! 2. Restaurant dining area all to ourselves (even though it was peak time) - thanking Stakes Day for this. 3. Servers always greeted you with a smile and also accommodated our request for a candle on our banana split (celebrating a b-day). 4. Ambience is very chilled, no loud music polluting your conversations and the distance between tables is considerate so you don't have strangers invading your personal space. 5. Food was plated quickly and it was a beautiful looking spread. Ironically I'm allergic to shellfish so I had their signature fried chicken with mash and waffles. Final verdict: I gotta say after all the publicity the chicken gets on Broadsheet, Instagram and general word of mouth, I felt that it didn't live up to the hype and I was underwhelmed. Overall I still rate my Miss Katie's Crab Shack experience very close to top marks because I really enjoyed the side dishes like the watermelon salad, fries + blue cheese sauce, cornbread (with actual kernels inside) and the dessert specials! I'm definitely not going to penalise them for my inability to eat crustaceans. My mates raved about the soft shell crab sliders and the seafood broils which was a visual feast itself. Extra points for the trendy bibs!

The manager, a female whose name I don't know, was kind enough to hold our table even though we…read morewere running late due to a tardy tram. This was my daughter's 18th birthday celebration dinner, and the kind manager approached our table, wished my daughter a happy birthday, and asked if she could get my daughter anything special. My daughter asked for apple cider--the first time she has ever tasted alcohol--which the manager gave her on the house. I told the manager that, unlike her friends, my daughter never drank before turning 18, and tonight at Belles, was her first drink. The manager congratulated her, and gave my daughter a fist-bump, which meant so much to my daughter. Thank you for making it such a special night for my daughter.

This was my second time at Belle's as I needed to try the "really f**kin hot" and shared a medium…read moreheat tenders with my boyfriend last time. Came in a group of 8 and the staff were accommodating and got us 2 tables. The tap beer is decent value for money as it's slightly larger than a schooner. Now for the chicken. The wings are actual wings and seems like all the chicken comes in 4 pieces and solid portion of sides. The "really f**kin hot" has a good kick. For me it wasn't melt my mouth hot but still gave a decent chilli sweats. It is heavily coated in the spice seasoning which is rather powdery and sticks to your fingers. The medium is still rather spicy though for those without the desire to die by chilli. The winter is a good side and a slightly spicy seasoning on the fries. The blue cheese sauce was pretty eh. Diffuses the chilli but was more like ranch sauce. I would say it's worth the hype, plus you get to take home any leftovers. Also avoid touching your eyes or sensitive skin after as even hours later my eyes still felt line they were on fire when I took my contacts out

This is your guilty pleasure comfort food, so greasy and amazing!…read moreSome of the best burgers I experienced in Melbourne. Really cool retro decor and upstairs/rooftop patio & they're open late! I overindulged by ordering "The David Chang" which included premium Australian beef, streaky bacon, fried egg, sliced beetroot & tomato, American cheddar cheese, butter lettuce and their special mustard seed burger sauce! I swapped it out on a lettuce bun but you can also get it on the regular brioche bun! Accompanied by their delicious oozing cheesy fries, and a salted caramel, maple bacon and bourbon milkshake!

Visited multiple times, best burgers I've experienced in Melbourne…read moreDiverse range of burgers Good service Cool/rustic venue The dessert menu is reason enough to go ORDERED MAINS The Ivan Drago 3.5. $18 Premium Aussie beef patty, American cheddar cheese, streaky bacon, black Russian tomato, sliced beetroot & McDowell sauce on a toasted brioche bun CB1 2.9. $10 Premium Aussie beef patty, American cheddar cheese, diced shallots & pickles, American mustard & tomato sauce on a toasted brioche bun (Small burger) Atomic 3.5. $18.50 Premium Aussie beef patty, American cheddar cheese, caramelised onion, chilli cheese kransky, streaky bacon, BBQ sauce & truffle, cayenne mayonnaise on a toasted brioche bun DESSERT Waffle Sandwich 3.5 $13 Fresh house made waffle stack, freshly whipped cream, fresh strawberries & drizzled with Nutella sauce. Choices of parfait are: OREO PARFAIT: Garnished with crushed Oreo's and edible flowers Churro Icecream Cup 3.0. $12 Hot churro cup with assorted ice cream, garnished with crushed hazelnuts Oreo Beigent. 2.7. $8.50 Mini doughnuts filled with Oreo, powdered icing sugar, drizzled with Salted Caramel sauce and topped with crushed Oreo's

Quite disappointed given the rave reviews. My steak came well done, I ordered medium. It had a…read morebitter taste I wasn't expecting, and was anything but tender. The mash was so dry, and very heavy. It was chewy, and certainly not light and fluffy as it should be. Frankly it tasted like they just added water from a packet. Don't get me started on the water like, bitter peppercorn sauce. Awful. I didn't finish the meal in the end. Getting the attention of the wait staff was nigh on impossible, pleasant as they seemed. It's rare that I don't tip staff but I didn't interact with anyone beyond someone dropping the food in front of me and never coming back. Food did come out very quickly and the onion rings were ok, crispy, but still very greasy. The ambience in here is a bit weird. Families, work groups, noisy, dark, and decor like you're visiting your auntie Kay in her front room. I've not been checked on in thirty minutes. Might be something to do with the awful table tucked against a wall.... I definitely wouldn't recommend eating here. Maybe two years ago it was good, maybe I got it on a bad night, maybe it just sucks. I'm going with the latter. There are plenty of other options sound Melbourne to eat. This one definitely wasn't worth the $30 taxi ride out here from the CBD.

This was actually a pretty decent pub, particularly with the choice of beers they had on tap (being…read morea number of decent craft beers). It seems to be more focused on being a restaurant than a pub, though the front section is more of a bar (though they tend to have high tables and stools, which I'm not all that fond of). There is also a nice beer garden, and it looks like it has been recently done up, which is also pretty cool. Mind you, the beer garden is designed mainly for smokers so unfortunately there is no food out there (though that may have changed). However, I still quite liked this pub, though it did sort of lack a uniqueness that sets it apart from a great pub.