Brooklyn Depot

Shop 4/399 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Brooklyn Depot is a casual restaurant and bar which was inspired by old Brooklyn. They serve a variety of hand-crafted burgers, hot dogs, salads and desserts, as well as boasting a fully stocked bar and great bar food.

 Brooklyn Depot

 Fun guyi $14.00

Coney island $13.00

I chose to try one of their hot dogs, as the last time I visited Brooklyn Depot, I had a horrible burger experience. The Coney Island dog was actually a pretty basic chilli dog when compared to other establishments. Although I did describe it as basic, this is not always a bad thing, as some dishes are better off being basic instead of unnecessarily flashy.

Apart from my somewhat mediocre experiences at Brooklyn depot, my friend had quite a few good things to say about his mushroom burger. Other than the food, the service was also friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed. Brooklyn Depot would definitely make a great place for a hangout and some drinks, but I may think twice about returning only for the food.

Food Rating 6/10

Overall Rating 6.5/10

Good Heavens

Level 2, 79 Bourke Street, Melbourne

As one of many rooftop bars scattered around Melbourne's inner city, Good Heavens boasts a beautiful view of the city skyline. Located directly above Fancy Hank's, we visited Good Heavens to share some drinks and snacks while we waited for our table at Fancy Hank's to be prepared.

View from the rooftop

Oysters with green tobasco

I absolutely adore oysters, they are one of my favourite things to eat and I love discovering what different flavours can be enjoyed with them. So while the oysters at Good Heavens did not have many negatives, they really had nothing to make them stand out from the crowd.

Nachos, brisket mole, queso

The nachos with the brisket mole and queso was possibly some of the best nachos that I have ever tried. The dish had all the positive points of a nacho dish without the negatives, such as the mixture of textures and flavours, as well as being an amazing dish to share with drinks. 

Fries with BBQ seasoning

The fries were also done quite well, with a lovely crunch and even distributiion of the BBQ seasoning. These were a treat to go with the rest of the dishes and set up our appetite for the main course.

Although we only came to Good Heavens to wait for our table at Fancy Hank's, the atmosphere and offerings were quite different. I will definitely be returning to Good Heavens, whether or not we intend to visit Fancy Hank's.

Food Rating 8.5/10

Overall Rating 8.5/10

Platform 3

Box Hill Central, Shop 48, 1 Main Street, Box Hill

Platform 3 is a cafe, bar and restaurant located inside the busy Box Hill Central shopping center. They offer a little bit of everything, from a brunch menu to a dinner menu as well as being one of the only bars in the Box Hill area. Their location near major public transport hubs, such as the Box Hill bus and train stations, as well as the 109 tram makes it very easy to drop by for a visit.

Platform 3

Bar area

Affogato

Long macchiato 

Overall the coffees were prepared well, the ice cream for the affogato was sufficiently cold and the milk foam to coffee ratio in the macchiato was good.

Snow White

I ordered the Snow White, as it was an incredibly hot day and I am a huge lover of coconut. The rich coconut milkshake by itself was extremely refreshing, and the layers on top were great treats which added some extra dimensions to it. I especially enjoyed the texture of the toasted coconut that was added to the top.

Spicy squid rings

The spicy squid rings were the first dish that was served to us, which was perfect as the crispy morsels of squid were a light snack to get our appetites going. Although the dish itself was delicious, I felt that a dish which is presented as "spicy squid rings" should have more of a kick behind it.

Flying pigs

The flying pigs were the most intriguing item on Platform 3's menu. The dish consisted of chicken wings that had been de-boned and stuffed with Japanese kurobuta pork. Although the concept behind the dish was interesting, I don't feel like the pork added very much to the chicken and that although the dish was not bad, it was a little gimmicky.

Calabrese linguine

The calabrese linguine, although simple, was my favourite dish of the meal. The linguine, which is the most important part of the dish, was cooked to a perfect al dente, which left the pasta with a firm but pleasant bite. The sauce and toppings for the dish were also very well balanced and seasoned excellently, which made for a great main dish.

Similarly to the linguine, the lamb was also seasoned very well and radiated an amazing flavour. The lamb skewers themselves were very tender, but just slightly overcooked, causing them to be a little dry. This was not a problem though, as the flavour and quality of the dish more than made up for it.

The staff at Platform 3 are also quite friendly, accommodating and were very helpful during our visit. While I have overlooked Platform 3 in the past while visiting Box Hill, their food and service definitely warrant more visits in the future. If you are in Box Hill looking for something different, then Platform 3 may be worth looking in to.

Food Rating 8/10

Overall Rating 8.5/10

El Rincon

69 Victoria Street, Melbourne

El Rincon, literally translating to "the corner", in reference to the location of the restaurant by Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market, is a small Spanish restaurant, cafe and bar which has recently opened in the CBD.

As well as boasting one of the largest collections of sherry in Melbourne, the restaurant is uniquely Spanish in regards to the different aspects of the restaurant, ranging from not only their food, but also their decor and even the tiles.

The chef and owner of El Rincon comes from the southern part of Spain which is close to the border of Gibraltar, which is where a lot of his traditional recipes draw inspiration from. On the night I was dining here however, El Rincon had a guest chef from San Sebastián, which is not only known as the gastronomic capital of Spain, but of the entire culinary world.

 Selection of wines and sherry

 Running Bull Sangria

El Rincon is the home of Running Bull Sangria, which is an alcoholic drink of Spanish origin. Found only at El Rincon at the Queen Victoria Markets, the sangria is made from a traditional family recipe and is absolutely lovely and refreshing.

 Salmorejo and Ana's Tortilla

Salmorejo and Ana's tortilla are two dishes that are usually served separately. The soft tortilla made with eggs, potatoes and onions was a delightfully light dish, which was a nice way to start off the tapas.

Salmorejo is a dish which originates from Andalucia in the south of Spain, very close to where the chef and owner of El Rincon comes from. The base of the dish is tomato and bread, which is also used as a base in other Spanish dishes. The dish itself was seasoned well and expertly made use of contrasting textures to give a very pleasant mouth-feel.

 Spanish croquettes with Jamón serrano and chorizo

The Spanish croquettes contained both Jamón Serrano and chorizo, which I thought would be very salty. Although the first bite was indeed quite salty, it was quickly counterbalanced by the rest of the dish, which left a delicious and complex flavour, as well as lovely texture.

 Sardinas fritas

As the dish arrived, the Sardinas fritas was described to me by our host as an almost out of body experience. With a sense of excitement, as well as a beautiful dish placed in front of me I could not resist. As I took my first bite I was suddenly filled with satisfaction and realised what she had meant. The dish itself was a perfectly fried sardine which had been stuffed with potatoes, marinated capsicum and bacalao, which is known as a type of dried and salted cod. The combination of a lovely crisp coating with the tender fish and potato was elevated with the salty distribution of the cod. The sauce brought everything together and the addition a fried, crispy and slightly fishy treat was a good finisher. A truly ethereal experience.

 Albondigas

The Albondigas was the last savoury item we tried. Unfortunately for the Spanish meatballs, the preceding dishes all had depth and character to them, which made them special experiences. Although the meatballs were cooked nicely, the flavour was slightly one dimensional. By no means a bad dish, however it was eclipsed as the mediocre dish in a lineup of great dishes.

Spanish flan

To finish of the meal we were served their Spanish flan. Although the dish was not particularly complex or special in many ways, the light sweetness was a great finisher for the meal.

El Rincon is a great place to visit at any time of the day. The atmosphere was absolutely lovely and the unique Spanish flavour made me imagine spending an entire morning here with nothing but a coffee and a book to read. Whether you have just finished shopping at the Queen Victoria Markets or have a Spanish tapas craving, El Rincon has something for everybody and I would definitely recommend everybody try it at least once.

We were invited and dined courtesy of El Rincon.

Food Rating 8.5/10

Overall Rating 8.5/10

Belleville

Globe Alley, Melbourne

Belleville is a restaurant and bar which specialises in their signature rotisserie chicken. Before heading to Belleville I was given high expectations from a friend, which described their chicken as "the best roast chicken in the city", which is very high praise. The entrance itself is hidden down Globe Alley in Melbourne's Chinatown and even after I found the entrance, I still had some trouble finding my way up to the restaurant.

Belleville - Globe Alley

Quarter rotisserie chicken $9.00

Unfortunately, as I was hyped up about the chicken at Belleville, I left with some disappointment. The miso-butter glaze worked quite well, but the chicken was overcooked and dry. A large amount of the skin had burnt to a char so it was hard to discern the flavours. For the sauce, I chose the "HOT AS F#@K" sauce also known as the "Liu Kang Fireball". The sauce itself packed quite a punch and was extremely spicy, but the flavours were still pronounced. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Tony Jaa taco $7.00

Named after legendary Thai martial artist Tony Jaa, the Tony Jaa taco had char-grilled octopus and prawns with freeze-dried mandarin, nam phrik and an "Ong Bak herb salad". Ong Bak is one of Tony Jaa's most well known films and in a way can be used to describe the fragrant yet aggressive Thai flavours of the taco.

Lobster bomb $4.50

The lobster bomb was a tasty treat on its own, however as it is supposed to be a dish based on lobster mac and cheese, the cheese was very overpowering. The Japanese mustard was a good touch and lifted the dish up a little.

The experience was fun with helpful and friendly staff, however even though most of the food was good, the roast chicken which they are known for was a little disappointing. I quite enjoyed myself there so hopefully it was only a once off problem, as I would like to return to try more of the menu.

Food Rating 7/10

Overall Rating 7.5/10

Yuzu at Church Lane

480 Collins Street, Melbourne


Named after one of my favourite fruits, the yuzu fruit, Yuzu Cuisine is a popular restaurant for business lunches and drinks on Collins Street. Although the address is noted as 480 Collins Street, the entrance of Yuzu is actually on Church Lane, which is reflected in some places which refer to the restaurant as Yuzu on Church Lane.

Church Lane

Extensive bar area

Separated dining area

Yuzu mocktail

Yuzu iced tea

I personally love the citrus fruit know as yuzu and take any opportunity to order something flavoured with it. So when I saw the drinks menu at Yuzu Cuisine I was delighted and instantly ordered a drink. Although the drinks were quite expensive I absolutely adored them, as they contained the lovely flavour of yuzu while not being overly sweet.

Miso soup

Wafu eye fillet beef set $20.90

I chose to have the wafu eye fillet beef set because I wanted something slightly more substantial, as I was quite hungry. The quality of absolutely everything in the set was amazing. Not only was the beef tender, flavourful and well seasoned, but none of the other elements were looked over as well, such as the tender and crispy chicken karaage, the sushi and sashimi or even the rice. 

Chirashi zushi $20.90

My friend chose to have the chrashi zushi as they were looking for a lighter meal in terms of both flavour and size. I have personally tried chirashi zushi at a number of different restaurants around Melbourne and would have to say that this one tops them all. The beautiful arrangement of fresh fish on top of a seasoned bed of sushi rice was elevated to a higher level with the addition of small amounts of mushroom, which added an earthiness to the dish.

Yuzu Cuisine is a great place for a lunch, whether you are passing by or working in the city. The only thing I could find wrong with Yuzu Cuisine if I were nitpicking was that the serving sizes were quite small and the price was high, although that is definitely reflected in the quality of the food and drinks.

Food Rating 8/10

Overall Rating 8/10

Mamasita

1/11 Collins Street, Melbourne

As one of the most well known and popular Mexican restaurants in Melbourne, Mamasita is notorious for being difficult to find a table during their dinner service. Their long queue times are not the only thing they are known for through, as they are one of the leaders of the Mexican restaurant expansion in Melbourne and boast an impressive range of tequila and mezcal.

Specialist tequila & mezcal bar

Tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa $10.00

We started off the night with some of their tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa, as well as some tequila and mezcal by recommendation of their mezcalier. The guacamole was nice and creamy but the salsa was slightly watery. The recommendations of their mezcalier were spot on though as we thoroughly enjoyed our first taste of authentic mezcal.

Street style corn $4.90

Corn on the cob is a popular street food in Mexico and has been adapted to many popular restaurants in Melbourne, each with their own twist. The corn at Mamasita has received many good reviews and praise so I definitely had to try it for myself. Unfortunately the corn that I was served was extremely mushy and did not have the natural sweetness I would expect. Ultimately all I could taste from the corn was the toppings.

Pork taco & Campechano taco $14.00

I couldn't decide which taco I wanted to try so I ordered two different ones. The campechano taco had beef cheek and the inclusion of cactus in it, however it did not stand out against the other taco. The second taco had pibil style pork hock with chicharrón and pickled red onion with pineapple on top, which had both lovely flavour and texture, albeit a bit heavy.

The food had some highlights as well as some disappointments to it, however most of my experience from the night was based solely on the service. The service for the night started out magnificently. The person who I believe was the mezcalier gave us a basic run through of tequila, mezcal and the differences between the two, after which he asked us about our preferences which he used to give us more information and recommendations for drinks. We were really happy with this service and I personally was prepared to give Mamasita a high rating for their service alone. However, our food was served by another waiter who simply slammed it down onto the table without even looking at us. When we were ready to pay, the same waiter who slammed the food onto our table took our bill. I paid in large notes as I did not have any change, but the waiter simply assumed all of it was the tip (it was a sizable amount) and did not offer any change, which I thought was extremely rude. To be honest, I was having a good night until the end of it and after I left Mamasita I was left in a sour mood.

Food Rating 6.5/10

Overall Rating 5.5/10

Heirloom

131 Bourke Street, Melbourne

As a modern style izakaya and sake bar, Heirloom offers many differing types of Japanese dishes as well as one of Australia's largest collections of Japanese whiskey. As sister restaurant to Shoya, one of Melbourne's most recognised Japanese restaurants, I was excited to try their more modern variations on traditional Japanese cuisine.

Melbourne's Bourke Street

Red and black interior tones

Oysters with tosazu foam & tobiko / Yuzu jelly & chopped wasabi $16.00

The oysters on offer had flavour combos which sounded absolutely lovely, which made it hard to decide which I wanted. To my delight the waitress informed me that I could simply choose to have both of the flavours. However, although the concept behind the dish was great, the execution was disappointing. The oysters were huge and lacked the fresh and sharp flavours which I expect. This problem was only amplified by the sheer volume of the ingredients added on top, which masked the flavour of the oysters and also made it quite hard to eat.

Hokkaido crab croquettes $8.00

The Hokkaido crab croquettes would have been a great dish if they were just served on their own. The addition of the orange and balsamic reduction gave it a strange and bitter flavour, which completely overpowered the delicate crab croquette, as well as ruining parts of the crispy coating.

Swordfish yuuanyaki $28.00

The redeeming factor of the entire meal would have to be the main dish of swordfish yuuanyaki. The yuzu soy marinade emanated a lovely sweetness that danced on the palate, while the light acidity of the yuzu pickled daikon helped cut through some of the fattiness.

The food at Heirloom had a lot of ups and downs. Although the concept behind a lot of the dishes seemed to be well thought out, the execution left something to be desired. The saving grace of the night would definitely have to be a combination of the swordfish main as well as the impeccable service throughout the night.

Food Rating 6.5/10

Overall Rating 7.5/10