The foodies thread 🦞🍤🍕🥞

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Town Mouse, Drummond street Carlton.
For a while I thought this was the most interesting restaurant in Melbourne.
I found out that it is being sold and thought I had better get back for old times sake.
I shouldn't have left it so long!

I've always appreciated the way that this place manages to successfully to blend a casual wine bar feel/layout with food that is close to fine dining quality.

The service has always been friendly and laid back.

All shared plates between three.
Smaller: Sourdough with house churned butter, smoked duck liver parfait, and straciatella with peanuts and beetroot.
Larger: Roast cabbage covered in parmesan, Soft egg with broccoli and comte, crisp brussel sprouts and pecorino.
Dessert: buttermilk pears with roast white chocolate.

I won't bother trying to describe the dishes, needless to say they were all fantastic, the straciatella being the standout. I didn't think that cabbage or brussel sprouts could taste that good.... Surprisingly the low light was the duck liver parfait.

The wines were average, but that was my fault, the list seems fairly good.
Cheaper than I expected.

If you have the chance to get there in the next few weeks while the current team is running the place, do so, it's definitely worth it.
 
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Blue_Ninja said:
Hope it's alright. I'd be interested to hear how it goes. I've never been to Gradi at Crown.
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We ended up going to Lucky Chan. It was yummy!
 

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Estelle Bistro, High street Northcote.
Party of two.
Until yesterday I hadn't been since the latest renovation and since it has become Scott Pickett's casual restaurant, with the fine dining operation being moved into ESP, next door.
I really like the renovation, understated tones that work really well for what it has now become. It's previous two incarnations were not to my liking.
Three course set menu roast lunch, I believe they only offer it on Sundays. It comes with a free glass of their own label wine...not sure if I would take them up on the free glass next time....fairly average....but that's to be expected I guess.
Entree was wagyu bresaola with wagyu tartare. Main was roast beef and veggies. Dessert was pear tart served with pear ice cream.
It was about as inspiring as it sounds. Nothing bad, but nothing really very interesting. The high light were the spuds roasted in duck fat, actually they were pretty special. I probably shouldn't have gone into the lunch with such high expectations, but my other experiences at Scott Pickett's ventures have been really pretty special.
The wine list tries a bit too hard given its size, but there are a few winners on it.
The 2013 La Spinetta Langhe Nebbiolo I drank was pretty darn good and was fairly good value.
Overall it was fairly good value (food about $65) and was pleasant without being great.
It won't stop me from heading to ESP in the near future!
 
Blue_Ninja said:
Haven't been there in a while.
Should should probably go back.
My memory of the place is that the food is Hellenic Republic-ish, but a bit of an upgrade...sound about right?
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Pretty much. It has a nice vibe to it as well
 
Just had a solid nosh at Parlour Wine Room in Canberra. Simple food, quality ingredients, well done.

Also The Sir George pub at Jugiong just off the Hume Highway. They've spent a campaigner load of money, and still going. Best highway stop 'tween Melb and Syd.
 
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Flower Drum for lunch today, an oldie but still a goodie.
Others have probably caught or even surpassed it now.
Hasn't changed a bit in all these years, if it ain't broke why fix it I suppose.
They do service as well as anybody out there still.
 

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Jeremias said:
Just confirmed a reservation for White Rabbit when I'm in Moscow next year.

23rd best restaurant in the world. Fair to say I'm excited.
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I would be too J. Bucket list for sure.

My niece received an amazing surprise on her 25th Birthday by her hubby whilst they were overseas for 6 months.

Dinner at Eleven Madison Park in New York.

She still talks about it.
 
Etta, Lygon Street East Brunswick.
I've been heading there quite a bit recently. Probably my favourite 'Mod-Aussie' in Melbourne at the moment. Really good mid point between casual and fine dining. It has a well manicured wine list, not extensive but obviously well thought out with some fairly interesting options. As far as I'm concerned the price point probably comes in a bit under expectations.
I'd put this in the 'should try' category.
 
MEB_ said:
Further to this, my in-laws have quite a few young nieces and nephews, so whenever it's a birthday we have to catch up at one of those bistros with a playground. Shittest food.
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Yeah, pretty much my experience last night MEB.

My expectation is zero when I go to these type of places, but to exceed these expectations is pretty special.
It’s why I ordered a chicken caesar salad.
You simply can’t completely **** this up unless you have zero skill or care, or in this instance, a combination of both.
As for the playground, I’m all for these type of venues having somewhere to entertain the kids.
But the playground confines shouldn’t be expanded to include the entire venue just because it has.
The lack of supervision of parents to their children was terrible. It was dangerous for elderly people to move around without being nearly knocked over by kids running rampant throughout.

I know it could sound like I’m coming off as a food snob or anti-family even, but this isn’t the case.
I’ve had young children, I have younger family members still.

But, if you want to charge bistro prices for your food offering then you assume the responsibility to ensure the food offering is of the standard you are charging. If it’s not, then that isn’t acceptable.

If you want your children to enjoy themselves at a “family friendly” venue then you assume the responsibility to ensure that the venue is family friendly for everyone, not just your little Johnny or Mary.
Your childs behaviour is still your responsilibity and not differed simply because the venue has a playground.

Or, it simply could be because I’m getting old and grumpy.

Or a combination of both !!!!!
 

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