24 Jan

China Spice is tucked on the corner of Little Lonsdale on Sutherland St, so could easily be missed on the way to the little sweets oasis that is Shortstop, N2 and Raw Trader.  It doesn't seem to garner rave reviews online, but sometimes ratings are misleading. My parents and a number of our family friends like it here so I was brought along for lunch one day. I noticed some menu items were more Malaysian, which was a bit odd. Perhaps the chef is Malaysian, but in any...

13:36 / China Spice / Chinese / Food / Melbourne CBD / Restaurants
16 Jan

Thai food seems to have earned a special place in the hearts of Melbournians of late. Since 2013, The Piano has been serving contemporary Thai cuisine with a touch of finesse, brought to us by ex-Longrain chefs Tommy and Arte. Taking its place near the entrance is the eponymous German vintage piano, left behind by previous tenants, The Qualia Lounge. Not just a random fancy, the piano also pays homage to the site adjacent to the restaurant, which was operated as a piano maker in the 1800s. Like the piano,...

21:22 / Food / Restaurants / Richmond / Thai / The Piano Restaurant & Bar
08 Jan

Owner Martin Pirc and head chef Daniel Schelbert from Punch Lane have ventured eastward to Richmond to set up their bistro and wine bar. It's a laid-back space where you can savour Australian and European wines and nibble on snacks, or have a proper meal. Named after Saint Urban, the Bishop of Langres in France during the 4th century, and a patron saint of wine makers, you know their wine is something they take very seriously. Ingeniously designed wrought iron arch windows, worn woods, handmade blue tiles and rustic,...

13:46 / Food / Modern Australian / Restaurants / Richmond / Saint Urban
04 Jan

Bright red neon lighting  make it pretty hard to miss the entrance to Sarti - a necessity given its location in a laneway off Bourke St. Walking through the otherwise understated facade and up the stairs, we enter one of Melbourne's favourites to treat ourselves to Sarti's modern Italian cuisine. Its slick dining room is dark inside, though somewhat disappointingly, the hard floors made soundwaves bounce around a bit like a ball in Pong. There is a terrace to enjoy the sun, and it would likely be quieter...

22:50 / Food / Italian / Melbourne CBD / Restaurants / Sarti
03 Jan

Rice Paper Scissors has been making waves since it opened and I've been wanting to try it for the longest time. We arrive for lunch, specifically so that we can book a table. We arrive just before 12pm and there are already people being told they'll have to wait for the second seating at 1:30pm. We take a seat at the bar, which is perfect for two people. The high stools are well spaced, and the counter area is relatively deep, making it easier to fit our order...

12:17 / Food / Melbourne CBD / Restaurants / Rice Paper Scissors / Thai
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