St Cloud had a nice ambience as soon as I walked in, it was modern with exquisite styling. The…read moreservice was very good, served immediately as soon as we walked in. Attended us very often to clear plates and refill water. Only one minor hiccup was when the lady reached across the table to serve the beer rather than coming around but this was very minor. The food soon came after ordering and the salads came first. The young papaya salad came first. The flavour was fresh, probably because it was opening day but lacking interesting and exciting Vietnamese flavours although the chilli added a nice spice. Unfortunately a bit boring 4/10. Next came the Vietnamese slaw which came with Grilled Organic Chicken. Both were $8, the chicken only came with 5 pieces which is not worth what we paid for. The slaw was all cabbage and didn't have any fish sauce or lime which are classic vietnamese flavours. The beef and the fish came next although nicely cooked very miniscule. Worried that they might've ordered too less ingredients on the day. The was no pho available, very disappointed. Didn't think the restaurant was ready to open. Also most of the staff was well trained but some seemed clueless and had no idea where they were going. One of the good points was the curry of the moment which had classic vietnamese/malaysian flavours: was very delicious 9/10 and also ample supply of drinks, might've mistaken this for a bar rather than restaurant. Vietnamese coffee also was tasty. All in all this restaurant had spent a lot of money on renovating this shop but to be perfectly honest was very busy and was not prepared to open today with limited supply of ingredients and seriously to run out of pho by lunch time is ridiculous!!! Very disappointed and will not go back in a hurry

East meets, well, the East at Hawthorn's newest all-day dining destination. St Cloud prides itself…read moreon its honest, healthy, fresh and home-style Vietnamese food. St Cloud's design is sleek. The white painted brick exterior carrying through to the interior with its contrasting white ceiling, black concrete floor and black tiled bar and counter areas. The furnishings also follow a white/black mix. Hanging light bulbs and large folding windows fill the space with light, though just enough light to keep the lower level intimate. The restaurant is split across two levels; the downstairs dining space with small tables and benches and the main bar, and the upstairs dining space with larger group tables, a second bar and an outside deck with more small tables and a long bench. Hanging and potted plants are scattered throughout to add a splash of colour and the upstairs deck's long bench doubles as a lush planter box. The food menu is split into two halves, lunch and dinner, with each half further divided into various sections. Lunch dishes include street food, such as banh mi, spring rolls and chicken ribs, rice paper rolls, pho, salad and noodle bowls and desserts. The dinner menu follows the typical Asian fusion-style of small dishes and large dishes. Rice paper rolls and salads are also on offer. Small dishes include banh knot pancakes and BBQ scallops. The large dishes are the highlight with giant sharing portions of pork belly, lemongrass beef short ribs and claypot curry. There is a banquet menu option with a random selection of dishes for those that cannot decide what to choose. Dessert options change weekly are not printed on the menu. This visit featured the beef short ribs which were incredibly tender and flavoursome. Carrots, potatoes and herbs are tossed into the large tray that the dish is served in. A selection of small dishes were also ordered and included the prawn and pork spring rolls, chicken wings, banh knot and chicken peanut rice paper rolls. The dishes were all of a good quality with a mix of flavours, however many of the small dishes included the same sides of beanshoots, lettuce leaves and dipping sauce, which felt a bit over-repeated. Dessert on this visit was a little spectacular; lime and coconut panna cotta with lychee, plum and meringue. A wonderful dish with tropical, citrus and sweet mix of flavours combined with contrasting creamy and crunchy textures. The drinks menu is plentiful with a range of beers, wines, cocktails, slushies and juices. Coffee is from St Ali, hot chocolate from Elixir and tea from Larsen and Thompson and Matcha Maiden. Service was great during the Saturday night dinner period, which was surprisingly busy at 6pm. Hawthorn has had quite a few quality openings recently and St Cloud is a welcomed and already popular addition to the neighbourhood.

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!

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.

Don't let the business name or location fool you, these guys are cranking out what is arguably…read moreMelbourne's best Lamb Souvlaki. Opening less than 6 months ago the entire menu has been created from decades of experience. The meat (tender lamb shoulder) is BBQ'd over a mixture of wood and coal charcoal resulting in flavours that highlight just how good Lamb can taste when cooked to perfection. Every souvlaki (yes I've had half a dozen thus far just to be sure) are moist, juicy and guaranteed to leave your tastebuds craving for more.... From the onions to the Tszaki sauce, nothing is so strong as to detract from the beautiful taste of the perfectly seasoned meat...My thanks to the boys parents for passing down not only the 'know how' but also also raising two wonderful guys who are passionate about what they do...

Good selection of gluten-free products. Vegan options. Eat in or takeaway. Spacious and dimly lit,…read morenot very inviting interior but food looks great and there are plenty of frozen goods to choose from.

This event was huge. I never realised there was such a…read morerange of gluten free products available. If you need to cater for those who require a gluten free diet this is an event worth attending. Also the coupons from Coles as part of the entry pack cover the admission costs and then some.

Note: Only one weekend per year, check the website for details…read more Oh coeliacs, here is your helping hand. The Irresistible Gluten Free Show is an expo dedicated entirely to us coeliacs and our inconsiderate stomachs. It really is only when you go that you can appreciate how many gluten free people there are out there. Admittedly, it's not half as exciting as the first year the show was on. Back then the queue stretched over the road and past crown - just to get in - and every single stall offered some new and impressive offering to satisfy our sweet and savoury tastes. Now that gluten free has become more of a buzzword in supermarkets and restaurants alike, much of the food on display has been seen before and there are even non-specialty health suppliers marketing simply because they can (for instance, a chiropractic group). My best tips: take cash, lots of it, green bags, and go on an empty stomach. There are so many things to sample, so many pieces of bread with gluten-like bendiness to marvel at, it's a guarantee that you'll walk out empty pocketed, laden and stuffed.

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.

Lasagna was mush, place was to dark, service had to virtually stand to get attention, Pizza and…read morecoffee was good but food all way overpriced

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.

Love this place. Used to grab pizzas regularly on Tuesdays as they had/have a special on the…read moretraditional ones for a few dollars off their normal price. Staff is great. Lunch is good, too - nice size slices. Pasta dishes are also yum, their red sauce is tasty. I moved away and totes miss them ....

Not sure how I can fault this amazing new find of mine! Set close to my new local area I've often…read moredriven past this little gem and wanted to sample. Friday night was the night! I was searching for some delicious wood fired pizza that also wasn't going to break the budget. I found double 00 pizzeria's website and was prompted to go through menulog for a discounts, $5 off my first order lead me to order a large chicken rustica and an absolutely divine Calzone. I opted for pickup, 15mins compared to 90 for delivery and was happy to only wait a few minutes upon arrival. The ingredients were fresh, the staff friendly and the pizza extremely tasty. The chicken pizza could've had just a touch more flavour but the calzone more than made up for this. Extreme hunger meant no photos were captured so you'll just have to try it to find out! Oh and the price was great, about $8 or so cheaper than my usual joint for similar items.