Epic melbourne restaurants for a sydney sider

[opusman]

Bistro Vue is a good alternative to Vue de Monde, if you want good quality French food without the OTT price tag.

 

[Homer]

The OP said "Think bucket list type, similar to Tetsuya's in Sydney” so I don’t think mid-range places are what he’s after.

 

[Edge]

Vue De Monde has a table for 4 - 6 available tonight due to a cancellation. Call 9691 3888 to book. Tweeted about 45 minutes ago so may already be gone.

 

[flyingfan]

I don't think Melbourne does epic dining the way Sydney does. To be sure there are plenty of fantastic venues in Melb but apart from Vue de Monde and Attica, IMHO none have the world-class wow factor that say Guillaume, Aria, Quay, Tetsuya's, Berowra Waters Inn etc have.

Nonetheless my nominations would be apart from VdM and Attica, Flower Drum, Florentino, Cutler & Co, Maha, The Point and Taxi. Plenty of other outstanding joints but a slight rung lower than bucket list in my view.

I hope the OP found somewhere fitting to eat this weekend by now.

Vue De Monde has a table for 4 - 6 available tonight due to a cancellation. Call 9691 3888 to book. Tweeted about 45 minutes ago so may already be gone.

Nice find, I should keep a lookout on this feed next time if I want a table without the months-long wait.

 

[bryanjones]

Thanks so much for your advice and recommendations! I'm currently mid trip but still have a couple of days to go. So far I have managed Stalactites & Movida

Movida - WOW! Where have you been all my life. I sat at the bar and the bar tenders really knew their food & wine. Knew the dishes inside and out, what ingredients were in them, how they were cooked, etc. I thought I was being picky (I am dairy free) and almost fell off the chair when they casually pulled out their DF menu!! I haven't seen this before (a complete menu... most will have some kind of symbol to designate what is DF). Words simply cannot say how great the service and food was here.

Stalactites - by far the best gyro I have ever had. After a lounge run on Friday, needless to say I needed some food in my belly. Amazing food. Enough said

Will fill you in on the other ones I manage to hit. Flower drum & Attica are closed for my stay...

 

[drewbles]

Stalactites - by far the best gyro I have ever had. After a lounge run on Friday, needless to say I needed some food in my belly. Amazing food. Enough said

That's gotta be the first time i've ever heard someone say something good about Stalactites, although you mention it was after a lounge run so that says something

I ate there once, and swore i'd never go back. It's a stalwart of Melbourne, being 24 hour and in the city, do the math heh.

 

[GladstoneTim]

bryanjones, thank you for updating us on your experiences. Too often people post questions and we hear nothing further from them.

 

[boomy]

Movida - WOW! Where have you been all my life. I sat at the bar and the bar tenders really knew their food & wine. Knew the dishes inside and out, what ingredients were in them, how they were cooked, etc. I thought I was being picky (I am dairy free) and almost fell off the chair when they casually pulled out their DF menu!! I haven't seen this before (a complete menu... most will have some kind of symbol to designate what is DF). Words simply cannot say how great the service and food was here.

I'm glad you liked it, it's my favourite Spanish tapas. Now you can enjoy their food more often in their Surry Hills restaurant when you return to Sydney.

 

[bryanjones]

Hit this place up today for lunch on a whim, as just wanted something quick and some variety. China Bar Signature, Melbourne - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

China Bar Signature - not the best asian by any stretch, but at $33 pp for lunch you can feast on a wide variety of dim sum and duck/pork/etc. I know I'm going off topic as I did ask for "epic" restaurants but did think I should post everywhere that I ate. The food in the marriot lounge is "OK", but the drinks are making it better

 

[Febs]

VdM is great, but I highly recommend Attica. Having done every 3 hatted restaurant in SYD/MEL/BNE over the past ~4 years (inc those that are no longer 3 hatted or have closed), I'd rate Attica my second favourite restaurant in Australia, next to Quay.

We went there in late 2011 and I've heard it's since gotten even better.

Mind you it depends on what you're after. While taste is always #1 for me, I am a sucker for inventive dishes (not gimmicky, just interesting / unique / different). Places like Jacques Reymond and Est, whilst excellent, didn't impress me enough to be "must re-visit" restaurants.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Major]

We are staying at the Sebel - Flinders Lane for the next few nights.

Can anyone recommend any restaurants in walking distance? Prefer small bistro type, any cuisine.

 

[runawaytrain]

If you feel like walking, coughulus is at the other end of Flinders Lane. The food has always been great but the last time I went I had a waitress with a terrible attitude. So personally, I don't know when I will be back. I don't know if it qualifies for what you want though. Movida is also up that end as well. Although, I think there is one on Bourke St near the side of the city where you are staying but I don't know if it's open on weeknights.

My Italian friend also likes Pomodoro Sardo on Lonsdale St. I haven't been myself. She also introduced me to Plus 39. Oh man, now you have me thinking of gnocchi and tiramisu!

Other things I like which you might be interested in:

• Ice cream, my favourite place is Helados Jauja in Carlton. It is expensive but considering they don't use premixes etc. I'm happy to pay for their quality.
• Burgers - Beatbox Kitchen - the only burger I crave. Do a Google search and find their latest location on Facebook or Twitter. You can also ask for the burger to be wrapped in lettuce (free of charge), extra patties for a fee etc.
• Chocolate drinks - Chokolait in the Hub Arcade or Emporium...Hub is slightly cheaper.

You might also want to brave the night market at Queen Victoria Market. I think Hammer and Tong have a stall there. I have been to the actual restaurant which I recommend - great food and great service. I have heard great things about the soft shell crab burger. I think that is one of the menu items they serve there. I also think that the guy who won the pizza making world championships serves his pizza there too. I would recommend getting there early though. I haven't been there in years. But I have heard it is extremely crowded. I know not a small bistro type place but perhaps somewhere where you can try to a lot of different food in the one place.

Don't forget you can use the free trams to get you around.

 

[scallops]

Bistro Vue in Little Collins, George should be playing on the piano accordion tonight as well

 

[blackcat20]

Breakfast:
Coin Laundry (slightly out of the way in Armadale but worth it)
Top Paddock
2 Birds 1 Stone
Proud Mary's
Auction Rooms
Minimo Cafe
The European

Lunch/Dinner:
Vue de Monde
Ezard
Taxi
St Crispin
Cafe Di Stasio
coughulus Inc
Caffe e Cucina
A La Bouffe
Steer Bar & Grill (very trendy steakhouse, think STK in LA)
Gazi (replaced the Press Club as a more hip and casual Greek canteen)
Hellenic Republic (another GC establishment)
Izakaya Den
Grossi Florentino
Mama Baba (a trendy alternative to the other Italians on the list)

Was going to say Jacques Reymond but just remembered that it's closed as of late last year (will be re-opened as something else under a new head chef).

Mama Baba is long gone unfortunately as I loved their Sunday yum cha. Was replaced by a Manu restaurant which folded rather quickly. Zumbo is about to open in the space.

 

[amaroo]

ll Bacaro - Bellissimo! Il Bacaro

 

[Sprucegoose]

Florentino 80 Bourke street. Hasn't been around for 70 plus years without a reason

 

[Major]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. We were going up to Little Collins St last night and thought we would try Steakhouse Home

Wow, what a great place. Terrific food, great atmosphere and a really good wine list. The staff were fantastic. I would go back there in a flash

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. We were going up to Little Collins St last night and thought we would try Steakhouse Home

Wow, what a great place. Terrific food, great atmosphere and a really good wine list. The staff were fantastic. I would go back there in a flash

Yep good call. Been there and the food was great.