Melbourne Restaurants

No restaurant guide would be complete without mentioning The Flower Drum. I've never dined here, mainly because I'd have to empty my bank account just to afford an entree. I've heard that the waiting list is apparently several months, and your name is unlikely to move up the list unless the manager has heard of you.

Another rumour I've heard about The Flower Drum that puts me off a little is that the head chef is very sensitive and will come out to ask why you didn't like his food if you don't completely empty your plate. Portions in Aus are almost as big as in the US, and I'm tiny. I'd have a problem, even with my disproportionate appetite.

(Image by Missy Red Boots)

The Flower Drum is a Cantonese restaurant, so if you want to taste beautiful regional Chinese cuisine at a reasonable price, I recommend The Dragon Boat. Their beef and chicken meals melt in your mouth. The Dragon Boat is a little noisy though, as it caters for families, so choose a late sitting if you want a romantic dinner. The view is lovely though, as it is situated beneath the new Crown Palladium hotel on the "wrong" side of Southbank.

For utter elegance and romance, you can't go wrong with either Silletto's in Exhibition Street, or The River on Southbank, although with the latter you get an extra view of the Yarra River thrown in. Silletto's is just around the corner from Bennett's Lane Jazz Club, so a pre-performance meal is very convenient. And the medium-rare Atlantic salmon is to di(n)e for.

Cafe La on the 35th floor of the Sofitel Hotel in Collins Street is another restaurant with spectacular views, although the best view is seen from the floor to ceiling windows in the bathrooms.

Another restaurant I've heard good things about is Sails on the Bay in Elwood Beach, St Kilda, with a beautiful view across Port Philip Bay.

(Image by Paul Anderson)

Along Southbank, restaurants are shoulder to shoulder, and there are often tables free or bookings being taken in the morning for the same evening. Walk around and ask. Don't forget to explore the upper level - here the restaurants have better views because of the elevation. They also tend to be quieter than the noisy atmosphere below. The River Restaurant mentioned above is on the upper terrace.

E' Gusto is a fun Spanish restaurant located on the lower terrace. There's not much room to move, and it's loud, but a great atmosphere - better for a group booking than a romantic meal for two.

(Image by Kevin Connors)

Lensmaster Darby suggests Victoria Street as a really good place to sample Vietnamese cuisine, and I agree. Victoria Parade and Victoria Street run from Richmond along the edge of Melbourne CBD, and you'll find Vietnamese shops and restaurants one next to the other for blocks. The Age Good Food Guide recommends Thanh Phong in Victoria Street.

I've also heard good things about Saigon Inn, which is in Liverpool Street, off Burke Street in the CBD.

For very upmarket Vietnamese dining, try Viet's Quan in the exclusive Toorak Road location of South Yarra.

(Image by Daniel Tan)

The whole of Lygon Street, and also the surrounding streets such as Rathdowne, are long strips of restaurant after restaurant. Rathdowne restaurants tend to be a little cheaper, as the Lygon Street location pushes the costs up. You can pretty much rock up, walk around, and pick one you like the look of. Friday and Saturday nights might be booked up, but if you scout around during the week, you might get an opening.

If you fancy sampling cuisine from one of the many other cultures that make their home in Melbourne, walk around these streets - you'll find everything from sweet and cake shops, coffee shops and cafes, to elegant restaurants.

The Greek Precinct runs along Lonsdale Street.

China Town is in Little Bourke Street.

The Italian Precinct is found in Carlton, along Lygon and Rathdowne Streets, and the surrounding areas.

You'll find a smaller Turkish Precinct in Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Visit the Vietnamese Precinct in Victoria Parade and Victoria Street, Richmond.

(Image by Clara Natoli)

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I've already mentioned Sails on the Bay. Another highly regarded St Kilda institution is The Stokehouse.

St Kilda is also shoulder-to-shoulder with cafes and coffee shops, and is worth a wander around before you decide where you'll dine. Again, with so many available, it is often possible to arrive and find somewhere to eat without booking, especially during the week.

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The Killim Restaurant in Victoria Street, Richmond, offers the full Turkish experience complete with tent-style decor and belly dancing. The Killim is recommended by The Age Good Food Guide.

Another suggestion from Lensmaster Darby is a visit to Sydney Road in Brunswick where you'll find a number of Turkish Restaurants tucked among the Italian Restaurants.

Give Alasya Restaurant a try, or go for the dining and belly dancing experience at Golden Terrace, both in Sydney Road.

(Image by Burak Bican)

My favourite Eastern Suburbs restaurant is Mickel's on Springvale Road. Don't let the location put you off: it's set back from the road and is very quiet and romantic. You'll receive quality attention from the owner/maitre' d, unless you're deep in romantic conversation with your dining partner (as my husband and I were on my birthday), when the service becomes discreet and unobtrusive. The food is beautiful, the wine list excellent, and the dining experience just perfect.

If you're in the Boronia area and looking for a good Thai restaurant, I can recommend Siam Terrace on Dorset Road, which has only recently opened. The food is excellent at an exceedingly reasonable price, the decor is very elegant, the staff friendly, and the wine list is good too.

And now I have bad news for you: the most fantastic restaurant on Philip Island is no longer open to non-residents of the attached hotel. I've only had the pleasure of dining at Boyle's Restaurant once, and now only those booked into The Castle Hotel may dine there. Like Mickel's, Boyle's offers personal attention from an owner, great food and wine, and elegant atmosphere. My hubby and I dined at Boyle's for a wedding anniversary - hoping initially for a quick meal before seeing the penguin parade, but Boyle's got us hooked and we ended up spending 4 hours dining there. The service was impeccable: we mentioned our hurry and they whipped us through the starter and mains. During the mains, when we changed our minds, the service changed too, to keep perfect pace with our needs.

Finally, if you find yourself in Williamstown, you'll have the same dilemma as in St Kilda: which enticing cafe out of all these in a row do you choose? You'll just have to stay longer...

Phil (Lensmaster mn3guy) asked whether Melbourne has anything similar to the "Meat-and-Three" restaurants that are popular in Nashville. I understand "meat-and-three" to mean plain, home-style cooking, rather than cuisine dining, and/or a special offer where you pay a certain price for more than just one menu item.

Phil, I think you'll find meals similar to the meat-and-three concept in any pub or tavern that serves food, and many of them would have a special offer - perhaps it includes a free half-pint, or a free dessert. Over here, these are usually called a "Counter Lunch" or "Counter Meal". However, it is very likely that there will be fewer than three vegetables served with the meat ;-)

You'll also probably find something similar at a Steakhouse, where you'll likely have a choice of vegetables or salad with your grill. The Hogs Breath Cafe franchise is my favourite for a really good "surf and turf" grill with a nice selection of veges. They have a specialty of super-tender steak, which is slow-cooked for 18 hours (and served medium-rare).

There is a steakhouse in Richmond called Vlado's that prefers to ditch the vegetables completely and offers just meat and one type of dessert on a set menu. It's rather pricey, though.

Popular with a number of inner city restaurants is the "Mains plus glass of house wine for (say) $15" special offer during lunch time. This type of offer attracts a lot of business lunches, and workplace birthday and farewell celebrations.

(Image by Clint Rankin)

Okay, actually there are a lot of great restaurants in Sydney.

The knock-out one for me, though, is Doyle's on Circular Quay. We dined at Doyle's for my birthday one year, and it was very special, with a view of both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the two windows either side of me.

Food, dessert, wine, and service are all excellent. If you're in Sydney, don't miss this one.

But - hey! Why not try some of Alice Doyle's recipes for yourself, wherever you are in the world. There are dozens of fish and shellfish recipes on Doyle's website, as well as her tips for cooking seafood. Alice, we bow to your expertise and thank you for sharing these recipes with us :-)

(Sydney Opera House on Circular Quay. Photographer Peter Neal)

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