Souvlaki in an actual restaurant. Yes, that's right. No longer the post-pub 2am food of shame,…read moreJimmy Grants has made eating souvlaki a legitimate life choice (thanks George Calombaris). I don't really know much about Jimmy Grants but I think this Ormond one is relatively new and I was excited to head there for dinner. You can book online (for this restaurant only) and the space is really interesting - kind of bright and futuristic which isn't really what I'd expect a souvlaki place to look like but that's ok. We were seated at the back and my only complaint was that the table & bench seat made it a little hard to get in and out of, but then maybe I need to stop eating all Melbourne's most delicious foods. The menu is simple - souvlakis, sides/dips, salads, a couple of plated options and desserts. I was excited to eat ALL the things so ordered: Taramasalata - served with a couple of pieces of pita (four would be better for the amount of dip) it was lush, creamy and the perfect flavour. One of my favourite dips in the world (I got hooked on it from trying it at The Press Club bar years ago!) Dim sims - OBVIOUSLY. Why isn't this delicious food available in the UK? It's kind of like a dumpling but bigger, and eaten with lashings of soy. These were pretty damn good but I like the old school ones with thicker pastry. No big deal, I'd get these again. Chiko roll - I know, by this point I was in Aussie-food-nostalgia heaven. Chiko rolls are only on the menu here in November. When they arrived there was actually two in the portion which was exciting, I was giddy enough to think that for $8.50 I was just going to get one. They weren't fat like a normal chiko roll but had the right taste. If you're wondering what a chiko roll actually is, it's an Aussie version of a spring roll and the pastry/skin is quite thick and chewy. Yum. Chicken souva - the main event. I can't remember the last time I had a souvlaki, I suspect it was around 2006 on Smith Street. So as you can imagine, this one was always going to be amazing. I don't know why but it's a George thing to put chips in the souva (I think they do this at Hellenic Republic too) and I really like it - sure, it's weird but it works and who doesn't want extra carbs?! The only thing I didn't love was the mustard aoili so I might get a different souva next time instead. (A souvlaki is a pita bread with a filling of lamb/chicken smothered in some delicious Greek sauce). Service was a little slow and haphazard but we were catching up with friends so it didn't bother me too much. I did want to get dessert but as I said, service was all over the place so we didn't bother. My only other complaint is that the loos are unisex - please Melbourne, stop doing this. It's just not ok. Prices were good - about $70 for two with some wines and all those dishes so I would definitely go back.

After hearing over and over how amazing Jimmy Grants was and never being able to make it to any of…read morethe other locations, I was super excited to hear that it opened up down the road from my work! We opted to get a whole bunch of stuff to try and share to get the full experience. I started with the Nonna Maria which I the chicken souva with mustard aioli and I can honestly say that if they are all as yummy as this one, I can't wait to try the other ones! The souva was jam packed with chicken AND chips and finished off with that lovely mustard aioli! The one thing I was disappointed with was it was gone before I realised because they are so small BUT at least it was jam packed with flavour! The next thing I tried was the grain salad which had the right amount of crunch and flavour to make it worth the purchase! The chips with feta on top were good but I was expecting a bit more feta on top (based on the photos but we all know that it never ends up like the photos)! The sim sim however was definitely not the best that I've had. I wasn't too fond of the flavours in it and there was a bit of crunch on there that o just didn't expect and really didn't like much in a dim sim! All in all, I can't wait to try more!!

This place had been on our list and we are so glad we finally made it. It's a beautiful space, warm…read moreand inviting. Great for special dinners. We started with the fresh bread, which is not normally warm but we asked for it toasted. We ordered the ribeye and the beef short ribs with chips and the rocket salad. The beef short ribs were the favorite. They were super flavorful and tender. The ribeye was tender and cooked beautifully but not as flavorful even with the chimichurri sauce. We enjoyed the rocket salad. The chips were fine but probably wouldn't order again. The most unexpected treat was the sticky date pudding. We were set on the chocolate cake as we had never tried sticky date pudding but our server suggested otherwise and wow!! So glad we listened...he did not steer us wrong! Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience with excellent food, generous portions and great service. We would happily return.

Incredible 40+ day bone in ribeye. So much marbling makes 500g way too much of a serving if not…read moreused to such rich food. Guarantee extra trip to bathroom that night. Better to share and get something else as well. I prefer to dip in coarse ground salt. The truffle butter didn't add anything for me. Fried cauliflower and broccoli a good accompaniment.

Looking for somewhere for dinner on Saturday night we decided to try hardware lane, and as we have…read moretried most of the other restaurants in the lane we gsve vons a shot. We left satisfied, but not blown away. I chose the Spanish paella which resembled more of an italian risotto with chorizo and seafood rather than a paella, and i found the serving size quite small considering it was one of the more expensive choices on the menu (although i am a tall young man, so most servings i find are too small). But overall i would give the mean 8/10 My partner ordered the creamy mushroom gnocchi, which again i found to be a small serving size (although she was unable to finish it). I thought it was quite bland from what i tasted, although she seemed to enjoy it. I was pleased that we were able to walk straight in to a table on a saturday night, and the service was spectacular especially when our trio of dips was given a slight discount for an unknown reason.

Satisfyingly full but not the greatest experience. Sadly we had to sit inside where due to there…read morebeing no heating the temperature was cooler than outside under the heat lamps. The service was okay, a mix up with the drinks was quickly corrected. Strangely my napkin was removed after the main course & not replaced when the desserts were served. I had a pasta dish with chicken & pumpkin sauce, it was a little bland. Thankfully the sautéed vegetable were delicious & helped to make the dish more of a meal. My dining companion had steak & asked for it to be served with the seasonal greens...he was a little disappointed to find that just 3 asparagus spears constituted said greens. The choice of desserts was enough but we didn't feel it reflected the Mediterranean/Australian theme of the restaurant. However, the sticky date pudding was hearty & warming & the creme brûlée was tasty but appeared to be a child's sized portion.

To be honest, I am more a fan of progressive cuisine and this is the complete opposite so maybe it…read moreis unfair to compare but, if I look at the worlds best 50 I prefer Gaggan (Bangkok) or Andre (Singapore) any day above Dinner. That being said, the 5-course lunch was executed well: it had some unique elements and the service throughout the experience was excellent. The stand-out dish of the day was for sure the Meat Fruit, I was kinda hoping for the mandarin but that day they served the plum. The pate was super delicious, one of the best I ever had! The first dish of the day, Hay Smoked Kingfish was also flawless, it showed restraint and was perfectly balanced. The entree, Chicken with Lettuces was very tasty but I found that the garnishes were better than the protein itself. That being said, I found the Meat & Flesh on the salty side and for a 38$ appetizer I find the amount of meat, two tiny pieces about the size of my pinky nail, unacceptable. In addition, I asked the sommelier for a cocktail suggestions and specifically stated that I did not want a sweet cocktail. He suggested the Mint Rickey which was way too sweet for my taste. Overall a good experience, would go back for the Meat fruit and the atmosphere was excellent but I wouldn't call it a flawless experience and isn't that what you expect for this type of restaurant?

Dinner by Heston was a fantastic evening. I have been to The Fat Duck in the UK but preferred it…read morehere as the food was more to my liking. The room is gorgeous and the kitchen is walled with glass so you can see all the action. The service is impeccable and the staff were all friendly and knowledgeable. We started with the Meat Fruit which is this cute dish that looks like a mandarin, but is filled with chicken parfait. It was amazing and the best parfait I have eaten. Next up was the Chicken and Lettuces (don't let the name put you off) and the Beef Short Rib. I loved the chicken (my dish) and it was so moist and lovely. The beef was slow cooked over 56 hours and it was still lovely and pink in the middle. Dessert was out of this world...so much so we indulged in dessert followed by the ice cream trolley. We selected the Tipsy Cake and the Lamington. The Tipsy Cake is the signature dessert and it was my favourite of the two. It is a brioche that is cooked in a delightful alcoholic custard and we were told that one chef has the responsibility of constantly spooning said custard over the cake while it is cooking. It kind of reminded me of an amazing doughnut type cake as it was so light. The Lamington is the dessert that Heston made for his Australian restaurant and it is layer upon layer of delight with a jammy centre. The ice cream trolley is worth getting purely for visual spectacle alone. Liquid nitrogen ice cream that is prepared at the table with a choice of yummy toppings served in a delicate handmade cone. Dinner by Heston is not as expensive as you would think and I would not hesitate in returning. I can honestly say that it was the best meal and overall experience that I have had.

We read good reviews on Yelp and decided to go there for lunch in a rainy Tuesday afternoon. There…read morewere two other tables in the restaurant when we arrived. We were greeted and seated right away. Overall the food was good and the service was very good. Quite pricy for what it is. The dish that stood out for us was the Canard a L'orange. The duck breast was perfectly roasted. Tender, juicy and went very well with the orange sauce. The escargot was also very good. Served classic French style in their shells with a garlic herb butter. We also really enjoyed the Charcuterie. An assortment of house made terrine, pate and cured meats. On the rich side from the pate and terrine. The Onion Soup had good flavor but we found it to be on the thick side. We prefer it more soupy and cheesy. We thought the Quail Confit stuffed with pate. The quail was on the dry side and a bit too gamy for our taste. The Bouillabaisse also missed the mark for us. The darker brown colored broth had a strong shrimp,flavor with a hint of saffron. We're more accustomed to a lighter tomato based bouillabaisse based sauce. We thought this dish was quite over priced at $44. Loved the atmosphere of the restaurant with its hardwood floor and high ceiling. Follow my food adventure on IG @ tazebudshawaii.com Happy Eating !!

Rough entry process but I think that's down to Covid and new staff more than anything which isn't…read moretheir fault, as soon as we were quickly seated it was fantastic!Staff and management are lovely and courteous. Beautiful food, absolutely stunning, you will not be disappointed. You must order the citron tart and the crème brûlée. We ordered the French onion soup for entree, beef bourguignon and Duck confit for main, all amazing. The bottle of French Sauvignon Blanc was delicious and the French martini's are made with love. Thank you for a beautiful night.

(Drank 12/16/24 MO @ 11:30am): We were certainly south of things but no dining on our first visit…read morehere! A friend and I were on Day 3 of our 12-Day Southern Australia Explorer cruise with Princess Cruises, we took the local train into town, and after some initial morning exploration, we finally took a break at Pure South Dining. Located at one end of the Evan Walker Bridge, we've already been roaming Melbourne's downtown area for a few hours now and needed some refreshments before we continued. The location and morning crowd instantly drew our attention, so we decided to give it a shot. Now, the question was what were we going to have. Was this pure bliss at this dining establishment!? PURCHASE Moo Brew Tassie Lager Pale Beer 425ml Draft ($12.00AUD): Golden amber color, light hoppy malty aroma, light body, light earthy hoppy malty flavor, crisp finish, and light hoppy malty aftertaste. This was a nice morning beer! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=pOaKXxioignZa4YpAe7RRw SERVICE We were immediately greeted by a friendly young hostess who easily sat us at a table close to the bar with a view pointed towards the windows that faced the Yarra River. We were handed both breakfast https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=VrokqUzZG2vQCALVhQQ8tQ and drinks https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=ATKEhvX04l--ZBZuWyyBIA menus, respectively, and given glasses of water while we perused our options. We (with my urging) both decided on a morning beer which seemed to take our server by surprise. Nonetheless, our beers arrived quickly as we settled in. Soon enough, we finished our drinks, asked for our checks, and headed out for our next adventure as the place got busier, and I'm sure they wanted to utilize the space we took up - cheers! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) There was paid basement parking within the Southgate Centre. There also appeared to be a decent amount of parking on all surrounding streets (please note any posted signs), onsite parking at the nearby Federation Square, and of course the wonderful public transportation such as the tram system which we conveniently took and then walked the rest of the way - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE Located within the Southgate Business Centre https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=tl0oyMEs1_TQkyxjlVLg0g on the banks of the Yarra River, this 2-level eatery (I never saw the 2nd level) had a very clean modern feel perfectly situated for all passerbyers to see. Its 1st level had an expansive floorplan filled with chairs/tables and a central bar area https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=iv40miJZUzj-s8-tj731QA that immediately caught my attention. There was decent natural lighting that entered through the many surrounding windows while an assortment of electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were several TVs throughout while the voices of conversations were heard in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=L7UN5cQ6DpBu_XOA_q0Xpw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I enjoyed the location, look, and feel of Pure South Dining and would love a return to actually have a full experience. My local beer was nice, but their minimal tap beer selection https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=kJkjes82wpSywzBhwgHS4A woefully needed some help. The food aroma was tantalizing, so I only imagined it tasted wonderful, too, and the lunch/dinner menus were probably even better. The prices seemed comparable while the service was fine. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $12.00AUD / $7.50USD BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

100% recommended - especially if you're paying in $USD…read more We made a late reservation, but still able to get a table. Note: There are 2 Pure South - street level and upstairs. We ate upstairs. Had more of a formal vibe, but still smartly casual. We opened with a nice drink, then after a menu review, decided to go with the six course meal for $135 AUD. Add another $80 AUD for wine pairing and there you have it. All of the courses were gourmet portions, but that leaves room for you to taste and savor and not jam it in. My favorite was the steak - perfectly cooked with the perfect sides. Great service as well. Our waiter was a pro - to include appropriate table service / cutlery changes as the meal progressed. You can tell the chef puts effort and care into their work. highly recommended while in the South Bank of MEL.

The food was all pre made and not well cooked. The pizza was lackluster with a very thin floppy…read morecrust and burnt edge. The pasta was over cooked and sauce was similar to sloppy Joe mix with carrots. The wait staff was was trying hard but came across a genuine but inexperienced. The drinks were good. Ambiance was comfortable however another customer has so much perfume on that it was distracting from my meal.

My wife and I have been meaning to try here since it opened. Thee was only a few people dining but…read morethat's acceptable for a week night. The mains came out promptly and were very good. My wife had the gnocchi and it was home made and freshly cooker. I had the beef burger with fries. The patty was good size and not too greasy. The onion chopped fine and sautéed well. The chips were hot and crispy. The deserts too ages to come out and the cheesecake slice was too small. For negatives, the seating is not very comfortable and the placemats had been used before us.

The ox tongue was quite flavorful. We sat at the bar area and had a good server. The ambiance was…read morenice and dimly lit. Overall good dinner spot.

Good spot for dinner. More of an intimate vibe than the other restaurants nearby. It's a basement…read morelocation, but they do a good job with the space you forget that you're in a basement. They have great service and lots dishes to share. I recommend the pork/prawn spring rolls, yellow fin tuna and pineapple fried rice. All very tasty dishes. Prices are a bit on the high side, but the quality of the food is good.