Showing 1-12 of 12 results
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Ay Oriental Tea House
Yum cha (dim sum) minus the trolley, Ay is about eating lots of little Shanghainese and Cantonese dishes in succession - perfect for sharing. A slick, split-level fitout sees diners pincering seaweed salads and soy duck among packages of tea and other for-sale items on sleek display about the place. There's also an extensive tea menu and separate wine list to look after the liquid side of things.
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Bhoj
You'd be excused for being confused: your taste buds are saying 'frenetic India', but your eyes are seeing only sleek surrounds - all plumped banquettes and snappy linen, with nary a wayward cow in sight. Cool off a curry with a dab of raita, mop up a dhal masala with some charred naan and throw back a few Kingfisher beers - a meal that is worth braving the Docklands' bleak industrial chic for. And all at in-India prices.
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Camy Shanghai Dumpling Restaurant
The best fast food in the CBD. Wait a few minutes for a table, help yourself to plastic cups of tea that taste of urn, order a variety of dumplings - in broth, fried or steamed (don't go past the chilli oil variety) and some greens - and in 10 minutes you'll be facing a feast to make Mao weep. Fact: dumplings from Camy's prevent hangovers.
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Chocolate Buddha
Slurping organic soup noodles, or sharing gyoza (dumplings) and steamed edamame (fresh soya beans) is a cheerful way to enjoy the vibe of Federation Square. Chummy communal tables, wireless waiters and a mechanised ordering system make the place feel like a futuristic uni caf. It could be the location or the organic ingredients, but Buddha's always busy.
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Don Don
Students, retailers and city kids storm the door come lunch at this uptown Japanese outlet. From the counter, order quality bento boxes and bowls of curry and noodles; vegetarian options are also available. Join the throng at this extremely well-priced informal eatery to wolf down a lunch at an up-tempo pace. There's also another branch in Little Lonsdale St.
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Flower Drum
The Flower Drum continues to be Melbourne's most celebrated Chinese restaurant. The finest, freshest produce prepared with delicate professionalism keeps this Chinatown institution booked out for weeks in advance. Sumptuous, yet not exaggerated, the ostensibly simple food is delivered with the slick service you'd expect, in elegant surrounds. You may be there for only a few hours, but the experience is lasting.
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Kenzan@Gpo
The casual kid sister of posh Kenzan (03 9654 8933; 56 Flinders Lane) makes the best sushi rolls in Melbourne. Yes, there's spicy tuna, but it also ups the ante with soft-shell crab, intriguing sesame-coated inside-outies, and a range of inari. All come pre-wrapped for lasting crunch. There are sashimi, rāmen (noodles), lunch sets and tea, too.
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Kuni's
Prop at the bar for fresh-made sushi and sashimi, or order from the breezy dining room. Kuni's does culinary classics with the same steadfast reliability as a Japanese-made car. Noodle dishes are typically uncomplicated and delicate, and the shumai (prawn-and-scallop dumplings) are as soft as clouds. Kuni's is licensed and BYO (wine only).
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Old Kingdom
Inner-city duck fans flock to this unassuming Chinese restaurant for three courses of duck-licious fun. The owner is a one-man show of witty repartee and comic asides that keeps the room abuzz. While other tasty dishes are on offer, most tables indulge in the speciality from which three courses are created; Peking duck, duck and beanshoots and duck soup. If you plan to order duck, mention it when booking.
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Supper Inn
No-one minds queuing on the stairs to wait for a high-turnover table in this inglorious upstairs dining room (especially as downstairs is cramped and clamorous). Bored waiters dressed in black and white, and dated décor detract nothing: you're here for the food. The lengthy menu lists high-quality and exceptionally well-priced dishes. Open late, Supper Inn is also a favoured after-drinks stop.
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Yu-U
The sign is the size of a postage stamp and the doorway nondescript, so it's easy to miss, but try not to. This sparsely decorated basement restaurant does smart Japanese fare, artfully presented and assuredly delivered. Go for the set-lunch menu of bento boxes, soup and noodles. Dinner is a progression of small dishes that substantiate your sake intake. Book for a seat at this coveted city eatery.
Showing 1-12 of 12 results
