The World Loves Melbourne Blog

Mamak is the Sydney sensation now in Melbourne giving us Malaysian cuisine with flair and style and winning The Age Good Food Under $30 award for best cheap eat restaurant. This is not 3 hat dining but Mamak hits the mark in delivering quick, satisfying cuisine in a modern restaurant near Hardware Lane. Strip away the hype and Mamak is an enjoyable experience whether dining alone or with friends.

Every Malaysian friend I've had has been passionate about food. It seems part of the culture. I'm so glad this passion could be shared with Melbourne via Mamak. Mamak exudes a passion and an authenticity, claiming the cuisine is as authentic as on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. I've never been on the streets of KL, only in the airport overnight, but I was impressed by the quality of the food at Mamak.

Baden Powell Hotel is a gem of a hotel in Collingwood that impresses with its gourmet cuisine (some of Melbourne's best pizza), old world fit out and engaging service (headed by Nat Presutto the Manager ex- Boatbuilders' Yard). This is a stellar gastro pub whose kitchen staff have major international experience and who deliver big time on the largely Italian menu. The combination of scout memorabilia as well as sporting memorabilia is compelling - this has to be one of the best and quirkiest pubs in the city. For over 130 years it has been a watering hole and even boasts accomodation upstairs.

Baden Powell Hotel exudes charm with its generous bar and dining spaces, including the main dining area, a side area with large communal table, two attractive outdoor areas for those balmy summer nights, as well as a chic private function/meeting room named Zac's Lounge. Scouting was never this glamourous when I was a lad. I still remember those campfire stews made by awkward youngsters - Baden Powell Hotel evokes the memories of scouting (Baden Powell was the first scout) but brings class to the cuisine.

On November 28, Melbourne Central consumers will be treated to an early Christmas celebration with the centre hosting a fun and interactive One Day Shopping Festival – the ultimate Christmas shopping experience which combines over 150 fantastic retail offers of up to 50% off, exciting events, fabulous street food, live entertainment from local performers and Australia’s first ever holographic fashion show staring model Kate Peck and LA-based skater Corbin Harris which celebrates the arrival of the first Melbourne Central App.  Melbourne Central’s One Day Shopping Festival is set to deliver a Christmas shopping experience like no other.  

The festival will coincide with the launch of Melbourne Central “Destressmas” events which are designed to make this year’s Christmas shopping stress free and easy – think therapeutic three minute massage stations, gift wrapping stations and “destressmas masters” who will provide you with tips for selecting the right gift for your loved ones this year.  

Key events and consumer offers which are part of the Melbourne Central One Day Shopping Festival include: 

• Speed Dating

Melbourne Central will host a Christmas-themed speed dating event in the Butterfly enclosure.

Phat Brats is a dude food haven and is more than your average hot dog joint with a menu brimming with creativity and bang on taste sensations. The sign says "top notch" and not a truer word has been spoken. Phat Brats is arguably the Everest of the hot dog world - although its more about sausage than hot dog. Keen to try some dogs I rocked up after a session at Black Pearl - a great combination by the way.

Phat Brats, the mastermind of Matt and Damo, has a ton of pleasing menu options including the Lamb and Rosemary, Pork and Sage, Wagyu Beef and Black Pepper etc (as you can see in this shot above)... Then see below - the Lamb and Rosemary sausage with mashed peas and cheese... Mashed peas! I felt something primal from my South Australian roots (go the pie floater!) as I devoured this sublime meal. The Seeded sesame bun was just the right bread for the occasion - from a choice of 3 types of Gluten Free, Seeded and Wholemeal.

I went for the Lamb and Rosemary on the waitress recommendation (as I wanted everything on the menu and couldn't decide). Next time I think I'll go for the Chilli Dog - a good benchmark of a star hot dog restaurant performer is their quality of Chilli Dog.

Agent 284 is a great new addition to the dining scene on Smith Street with its standout character and ambience, excellent cuisine at value, and engaging staff. The experience extends to the upstairs Cocktail Gallery as well as another Gallery downstairs that is opulent and attractive for boutique launches and events. Agent 284 connects with a trend to name restaurants after their street address - and also carries a hint of Maxwell Smart Agent 86. I dined there one evening with my wife as a guest of Agent 284.

The fit out at Agent 284 is fabulous with exposed brick walls, elegant artwork, wallpaper imported from Germany, an impressive bar area and funky lighting. The restaurant is spacious with a large indoor area as well as limited outdoor seating. This place pumps on a weekend for breakfast.

Campari, Vespas and the Black Pearl (one of Melbourne's best bars) was my chic Friday night affair on Brunswick Street. My work colleague and I were collected by two Italian models and taken to the Black Pearl on Brunswick Street on the back of red vespas for a cocktail masterclass to promote Campari and aperitivo hour. The tradition of aperitivo hour (5-7pm) is huge in Europe and is about people coming together in community for low alcohol drinks and snacks to prepare for dinner. Campari are setting out to revive this tradition in Australia...

Check out the Campari Vespa... This was not a bromance but the dude allowed me to cling on to his torso as we rode along Brunswick St. Some of the ladies in the office might have desired to trade places... 

Maccaroni Trattoria Italiana is a legendary Italian restaurant in the Melbourne CBD that continues to satisfy and delight. These guys take comfort food to another level. Classic Italian dishes cooked to perfection and a convivial ambience in this smallish restaurant. My boss told me to take a long walk this day and to enjoy some sunshine and food. So I headed for Maccaroni in a laneway off Collins St to imbibe in some pasta and Italian ambience.

Maccaroni offers the Italian classics such as Lasagne, Gnocchi, Canneloni, Ravioli and of course Baked Maccaroni.... I chose the classic home made Tagliatelle with bolognese sauce and parmigiano cheese. What a delight. You could tell this was fresh authentic pasta and the bolognese sauce was quality all the way. The measure of a meal is often how you feel afterwards. This meal set me on a crescendo high for the entire afternoon. I kept thinking, "that was so so good" as I went about my duties in the office. For $13.50 it was a value meal.

PappaRich is a satisfying group of restaurants that brings quality Malaysian cuisine to our city. Having lived with a foodie Malaysian family for a season in my life I am crazy about Malaysian food. The matriach in this family was kind of like a Mamma Rich as she was a great mamma cook and a rich Malaysian property investor. In any case this kind of cuisine is like comfort food to me...

PappaRich restaurants are busy and attract diners for their service, ambience and consistent quality cuisine. This is not 3 hat dining nor is it supposed to be. It's great to be greeted at the door and shown to a table. From there you record your order on the form. The options include rice dishes, soups, roti, noodles, vegetarian dishes and the like...  

Cheap but quality pizza and excellent music. A killer combination. Throw in some ambience and you are set.

For students and hipsters its a great pizzeria come club. I compare it somewhat to Lucky Coq in South Yarra. 

We know about cheap pizza in the CBD - I can source it for $4 in some locations but it doesn't please. Bimbo's has a good reputation over the last 10 years as a Fitzroy icon with decent pizza.

Check out the illustrious Calabrese or the Gorgonzola or the Vedure... These are classic pizzas. Or try the Dogs such as the Mexico Dog or the Aussie Dundee...

MoVida Bar De Tapas is a 2 hatted Spanish sensation that many claim to be better than the food in Spain. This is of course a big call but MoVida does invoke international acclaim. Several years after Frank Camorra's masterstroke in opening MoVida it still wows and is one of the best places to take international guests. The new offering in Sydney is also taking all before it... 

MoVida is a cosy intimate affair with a degree of chic. The long bar area is sensational. One of the best ways of experiencing MoVida is to do what I did and sit at the timber bar and engage the staff. In fact this is one of my favourite things to do in any restaurant. I settled in for lunch on a sun filled Melbourne day...

Oakridge Winery is a magnificent award winning winery and restaurant near Healesville on the Maroondah Highway. The property is spectacular, as you wind along the road past a superb lake up to the winery. Another great place to take out of towners! The cellar door is large and the staff super friendly. Of course the product speaks for itself!

The class and quality is amazing, as are the views, but the ambience is friendly and relaxed! Rustic pleasure! Relax on one of the lounges and take in the sweeping views of the vineyards! Or go next door to the outstanding restaurant and enjoy top class fine dining.

A great option is to grab a platter – either a cheese platter or a chocolate platter. We grabbed both. The cheese platter is wonderful – the two weeks in a row I visited it featured Tasmanian Cheddar, local brie and a blue vein that was sensational. All served with crackers and tasty jam.

 As The Police song goes, “Giant steps are what you take!” Certainly when anywhere near the Yarra Valley this is a must visit foodie haven. Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander is bursting with life including gourmet breads, cheeses, wine cellar door, pastries, condiments and of course a killer restaurant with great food and wine.

Melbournites love to drive out to the Yarra Valley and make a pilgrimage to Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander. And for good reason. This place pumps especially on a weekend. I came here with the family – something here for everyone including a gourmet kids menu. In fact I would have been happy with the gourmet standard of the kids menu. 

De Bortoli Winery and Restaurant is one of my favourite wineries to visit in the Yarra Valley. Here is a great restaurant, great cheese room and excellent picnic facilities.

De Bortoli has an impressive fine dining restaurant serving great dishes in the Italian tradition. The restaurant overlooks sweeping views of the vineyards.

Madame Mango is an conic cafe in Camberwell on Burke Road, pleasing with its ambience as much as its cuisine. I found my experience here refreshing due to the homely yet chic atmosphere and the engaging service from the waitress and the manager.

I walked in and noticed a "cafe with a restaurant tone" with expensive looking wallpaper and lamp shades and the advent of a chandelier in the second room. There's no lack of space here with two rooms and a courtyard, as well as an area on Burke Street. The manager tells me they will open up the courtyard soon in Spring for a couple of nights a week. Yes Madame Mango is about to do evening work.

I enjoyed the leather bench and mango looking orange cushions, old clock on the wall, classic display cabinet and that wallpaper.

Collective Espresso is a standout cafe in Melbourne let alone the eastern suburbs with its uber cool vibe, engaging staff and sublime coffee and cuisine. It's a popular choice for locals but also worth travelling across town for.

In fact Collective Espresso is just across from the Camberwell railway station - so I took the opportunity to dive off the train one morning, engage with Collective Espresso, then dive back on. These tables outside are a desirable place to enjoy your morning coffee and are often full by 8am. It's amazing how many school students frequent the cafes of Camberwell - obviously they've done their homework the night before...

J Cafe is a superb Japanese cafe on Exhibition that thrills with its creative and tasty sushi burgers and salads. The combination of a sushi burger and a fresh classy salad is a sublime option for the hungry office worker. I'd heard about these sushi burgers but it took me too long to pay a visit. Melbourne has several excellent value Japanese cafe restaurants in the CBD which are well patronised by students.

J Cafe Restaurant is popular with students but also with a high proportion of surrounding professionals. I was superimpressed by the care, the quality of cuisine, the healthiness and the value of J Cafe. Oh and the service is great also - attentive, friendly and the meals prepared quickly.

Pellegrini’s, a Melbourne icon, and original Melbourne coffee destination, puts a big smile on my face. It's easy to fall in love with Pellegrini's as it exudes so much charm and nostalgia. Classico! Often misunderstood in a sea of nouveau cafes and restaurants, Pellegrini’s is unique.

It feels like ‘real’ Melbourne with its history and standing. I’ve been there a few times and love it. Where else can you go for such quality banter, home cooking and strong coffee?

I tried entering Pellegrini’s very early one morning and couldn’t get in the door. That’s right! The owner (I think it was), came and unlocked the door and showed me in! That was cool.