We came here for lunch. Good prices…read more The Parma was a good piece of chicken but, clearly not of the homemade variety. The salad though, with pickled cucumbers was a treat considering I don't eat cucumbers normally. The calamari salad was nice but the chips were very bland. Decent portions for the price. The waiter was friendly.

This restaurant, cafe and bar may be the highlight of the Ormond Rd strip. With a really great open…read moresetting with a nice bar and friendly vibe, it is a fantastic place to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's cheap, where happy hour (between 3pm-6pm daily) means $2 pots, $3 wines and $4.50 basic spirits, so any afternoon on a nice day is made even better with a cheap knock off! Food wise, it's mostly pizza and pasta where most of the menu is around $10 so is not expensive at all. Is it good? Hell yeah! Even the breakfast menu is cheap but high quality where you can have the cheeky French toast with toffee and pears and its still all under $10. Makes me really happy to find a place that serves up really great food, has a full bar and doesn't charge ridiculous amounts. Probably the best place on the strip!

Coffee here is great! Strong good aromatic. Got lured here by some posts and had to make a…read moredeliberate detour doing errands. A mate and i shared the Louise and mr alex burgers. My expectations were high and given the price point it was on very much the high side!!! Have to say am a fan! The Louise had a spiced mayo on a bed of slaw and the mix of crunch from the chicken was pretty darn good. The Alex burger.. I think is a great all rounder for taste.. w/bacon egg cheese u can't go too wrong here! Here's the kicker imho... both were all about the sauce! Nothing wrong with that. It makes a great burger. Depends if you prefer to taste more sauce condiments or beefy patty. Am a fan of both!! However... WIR? prob not. At this price point I'm expecting gourmet with pricier ingredients. it's a great burger but not at $19!

This place if just around the corner from mine yet it's the first time I've sat down to eat here…read more The meals were tasty and huge! Waiting staff we're friendly, I'll definitely be going back again!

An excellent addition to the sometimes bland end of Elwood Village…read more A nice, open space with a wide variety of clean eating options (including breakfast salads) and a wide variety of drinks including the increasingly hip almond matcha latte. I alternate between the pancakes with bacon (delicious!) and a breakfast salad if I have been going too hard. Always the almond matcha latte. They also have a range of tasty treats for take away like spurilina balls and sugar-free slices. Well worth a visit.

In a town where breakfast is everywhere, this place has a clean atmosphere, great service,…read morefantastic coffee and one of the best breakfasts going. Very relaxed on a Saturday morning

I'm one of THOSE people that read the menu ahead of time, so I deliberately went to Elwood Bathers…read morestarving, so I could try three courses (It's the weekend, ok?). Entering the restaurant, there was the must incredible smell and while possibly heightened because of my hunger, I'm sure it would have smelled as delicious even if I weren't hungry at all. We sat down and immediately realised that the other reviews are right when they mention how loud it is in here. Big floor to ceiling windows and concrete floors don't do much to absorb the sound, so you might need to preserve your voice until you arrive, so you can yell over to the people you're dinning with. The table was very narrow and hard to fit in drinks and water and phones and cutlery and plates etc, but we managed eventually. The food came out really quickly and was presented beautifully. The salmon entree was superb and light, fresh and delicious. Really good. When the main came out, I was a little disappointed. The Fish 'n Chips were great tasting, but there was SO much salt coating it all, that I had to leave a big chunk of it (and remember, I'm still hungry at this point). The batter tasted good, but it was dense and doughy. The fish inside was beautifully cooked and white. Dessert didn't disappoint. Not only was it also very pretty on the plate, but perfect on the palate. I asked for an ice cream flavour substitution and they obliged correctly. It was a delicious chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream and freeze dried strawberries. So yum. The service here was pretty much spot on as well. Our waitress was friendly and nice, and when my companion didn't like their dessert, she offered another at no charge, or to have it removed from the bill. Everyone was accomodating and happy. The negatives were ... Expensive parking. There's plenty of parking, but for two hours, it cost $12. The food is a bit on the pricey side, but that's why you come here for an occasion. The acoustics aren't great. When I say it's noisy, I mean it sincerely. It's loud. But the view of the water is gorgeous and the decor is nice, and overall I must say I will DEFINITELY come back again to try other menu items (and maybe try it for breakfast one day).

(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.

Nick always goes out of his way to make sure that you have a great time at Henry and the Fox…read more The team are also very effervescent and energetic, and really want to make sure that you have a great time when you have beers, wine, cocktails, spirits at Henry and the Fox. I've been coming to Henry and the Fox for well over 6 1/2 years, and it never fails to present an outstanding opportunity to mingle with great friends, enjoy convivial conversation and excellent food. May I say the service is brilliant and I love coming to Henry and the Fox.

It has been well-publicised that Melbourne restaurateur-entrepreneur Paul Mathis is making 2012 the…read moreyear to plant himself firmly in the hearts, minds and stomachs of hungry Melburnians. And it seems likely he'll be successful too, with new outfits spanning genres, budgets and locations across the city and its suburbs. We previously visited his pizza emporium Firechief in Camberwell, liked what he was doing so decided to check out the very different Henry and the Fox, which is hidden down the Southern Cross end of Little Collins Street. First thoughts? It's a little bit quiet for 8pm on a Friday night, but then if Paul decided to open this place in the Paris end of Collins, it would be packed out every single night. Here's a man who likes a challenge - he has made a bold decision to try and tempt customers to travel past the curse of the Elizabeth St invisible barrier. And from what we experienced on our visit, diners have every reason to. Once the good word gets out, we envisage girls' nights out, lazy brunches, pre-footy drinks and nibbles (free snacks with booze you say, we're in) and everything in between - that open decking area out front just screams after-work drinks. Walking through the front door you will encounter a kind of L-shaped space, which moves from marble breakfast bar and open kitchen (where you can see head chef Michael Fox and his team calmly going about their duties) through to intimate dinning and mood lighting - we love the changing colours of the upside-down jam jar light shades. On the evening we visit there is sultry live music, a really nice touch and demands you drink copious amounts of wine while contemplating the small-, medium- and large-share plate and pizza menu. And speaking of wine - they have a comprehensive wine list. We were directed to the last page, which houses a list of end-of-vintage bottles at very reasonable prices. So what to order? We didn't want to fill ourselves up too quickly so steered away from the pizzas. They are cooked in a classic Italian twin deck oven (sitting on the stone floor for a crispy base) at 360 degrees. Clearly, Mathis has decided that what works for Firechief will also work here. We first met Michael Fox at the Stroke Foundation's fundraiser evening Food for Thought, where he served a rich and meaty rabbit terrine. It was great to see him here in his natural surroundings and he helpfully took charge when it came to picking a selection of dishes. Our food odyssey started with the perfectly cooked jamon and manchego croquettes. Piping hot, great crunchy breadcrumbs and an oozing salty filling studded with chunks of meat. The cured kingfish, coriander and fennel seeds, mandarin and coriander shoots was a dish that beautifully combined fresh flavours. It played with a number of different elements but what jumped out was the balanced mix of aniseed and citrus. The coriander shoots also gave it extra punch. A less sour take on ceviche. For those who have a need for a fantastic vegetarian dish - look no further than the goat's cheese, roasted baby beets, pickled shallots, shiso and raspberry vinegar. This was a great earthy dish in which the salty goats cheese complemented the sweet beetroot. For a textural difference the freeze dried raspberries added a nice crunch. The cheese hails from Fox's old stomping ground - Adelaide - we need to source some top tips from him for when we visit - any ideas readers? Seafood pops up all over the menu and our next course was the seared scallops, apple and celeriac remoulade, caper and raisin puree and toasted pumpernickel. As Gordon Ramsey says at the top of his lungs every time we tune into Hell's Kitchen, scallops are very difficult to get right. Michael fox has heeded the warning and ensured there was a nice caramelisation going on, while in inside was just cooked. This was the first time I had tasted the heavy, slightly sweet rye bread known as pumpernickel, and it brought a nice savoury contrast to the dish and anchored the light flavour of the scallop and apple 'slaw'. Keeping with the seafood theme, Moreton Bay bug tails, cauliflower puree with spiced cauliflower. One mouthful had us praising the succulent flesh and the smokiness/curried tones of the cauliflower. The puffed rice again added an extra crunch. There's always a lot going on with Fox's dishes, but it is never cluttered, thoughtless or over-the-top. Rather perfectly complementary components. As much of a chicken fan as I was back in my younger days, I don't often order it when I'm out. But the moist chicken breast cooked sous vide, quinoa, pistachio, fig and sorrel blew us away. This is the antithesis of a boring restaurant chicken dish. The fig was nicely chargrilled and finished with lemon oil to give it some zing. What better way to end the mains section than with crispy pork belly, fennel, dill and orange. The belly was again perfectly succulent. The fennel was used to its full potential - sliced, pureed (cont on blog)

We ended up at Cargo because a nearby cafe was closed (public holiday). I was not expecting much…read morebecause it does have that generic "waterfront restaurant" look but honestly, it was really good! It was breakfast time and I had scrambled eggs on toast - 2 giant sourdough slices with a huge amount of eggs and a hash brown cake. My eggs were custard-y and really good. The Mister had the "big brekkie" and it was HUGE - so huge he couldn't finish it and that's a rare thing. Prices are pretty fair considering the river views, they make a very nice flat white and you surely won't leave hungry!

This is a good place on the promenade for breakfast. Killer views. I got the breakfast burger $15…read moreAus and it was good. Loved their bacon. Docklands in general is Uber pricey and this place is one of the more reasonably priced venues. Check it out.

Dish is a modern and stylish restaurant in the boutique Royce Hotel, on St Kilda Road. Offering a…read moremodern Australian menu with French influences, it hits the mark with dishes such as twice cooked crispy duck leg with endive, hazelnuts and honey & Spanish sherry vinaigrette. The dining room is warm and inviting, with well spaced tables and comfortable seating. Artwork adorns the walls to add a little color and an open kitchen allows for the culinary voyeurs. Overall, an excellent edition to St Kilda Road and a good choice for that special lunch or dinner.

Had a large group dinner function here for work. Service was excellent and the food and wine was…read morevery good. I had an eye fillet that was very nicely cooked, and the snow peas on the side were especially tasty. Oh and the two double scotches were good too! My wife had the lamb and it was good but not great. She thought the oyster entree was the highlight of the meal.