Vanilla Lounge - Oakleigh, Victoria

What an excellent eating precinct Oakleigh has become. With its strong Greek community "all things Greek" are centered right in the main street - Portman Street. There is a main mall off Portman called Eaton, well worth a walk down if chasing some more Greek flavoured food or fashion. The atmosphere in Omonia Square (main square in Greece) Australia is friendly, both busy and laid back at the same time. Cafes and restaurants, generally Greek in nature, line the main street and and malls. But this is a good thing because, I would guarantee, if you drop into any of them you are in for a great eating experience. There are plenty to choose from.


 We were booked into Vanilla Lounge for brunch at 11:30. This massive restaurant is in Eaton Mall and is two storey. You  are greeted at the door by an impressive array of fine and very colourful cakes. Don't be tempted until you have eaten main. Meals here are big. It is hard to comprehend the size of the ground floor without the thought that there is a second floor??!!?? It is busy and a little noisy and may not be the best for the quiet romantics amongst us.

There are plenty of waiters to seat you, get you coffees, take your order and clear your table. All are friendly and efficient. Food quality is high but not sure it is all real traditional Greek. That is not to say you will not enjoy the food because you will. Coffee is good too and as mentioned above, there is the devils pantry full of eye popping and mouth watering cakes. For a serious meal or just cake and coffee Vanilla Lounge will fit the bill. Speaking of the bill, it is not over-priced particularly when you consider meal size. This Vanilla is not bland its more of a hot chocolate with feta cheese on top.

Eurobites - Oakleigh, Victoria

Do want some Greek food? Do want some really good, no, really, really good Greek food? Do you not care about the ambiance, decor and furniture. You just want REAL Greek food as our Greek friends eat it.  Then there is but one place to go - Eurobites. Great Greek food right in the heart of Oakleigh. Park at the station and walk back past Eaton Lane down Portman Street. You may miss the restaurant so look out for it.

Take your appetite because the meals are a good size. You’re a big eater? Then park yourself here and order up. Everything on the menu is great. Service is OK but you didn't come here for service you came here for great Greek food. And when you just can't eat any more take a look at the cakes. Great cakes and finish it off with a few short blacks.

This is not the only great restaurant in Oakleigh, in fact, the whole of Portman street and lanes and malls off it and are busting at the seams with great restaurants. But at Eurobites you may well get the very best of Greek food the very cosmopolitan town of Oakleigh has to offer. Its Greek and it's Great!!!!

Hellenic Republic - Kew, Victoria

What experience fine Greek food but don't want to travel to Melbourne or a main city to enjoy it. And you may want easy parking and a nice inner suburb like Brunswick or Kew. The Hellenic Republic may just be for you. These excellent restaurants are owned by George Calombaris so you know you are about to enjoy something really special. There is a cafe section if you want a more casual feed. There is only one kitchen and therefor food quality consistency. 

The wine list is extensive with lots of Greek wines up for the taste. The Red I had was light and delicious wand married well with the slow cooked shoulder of lamb. Yum! I want more! Dips were rich and full flavored and the breads perfectly made. The kitchen is open to all for viewing, these guys are hiding nothing and giving you the best they can. All meats are available and as well as veggy dishes though the carnivore in me was chasing red meat delights.

It would be hard to imaging you could ever experience a bad meal here and my dining mate, Bill, eats here regularly. The staff know him by name. He says the food is always exquisite and worth whatever they ask for payment. It is not over-priced but right priced. Staff are friendly and food served in a timely manner. For lunch you can just arrive and take a seat but I would imaging dinner seating may be at a premium. Go and enjoy what George sees are tradition, beautiful, Greek food. His vision will have you wanting more. I do. Highly recommended. 

Roti Boti Indian Restaurant - Hampton, Victoria

I have had the good fortune to dine at Roti Boti on two occasions and both occasions have been a great dining experience. The decor is modern with some Indian notes. There is both a downstairs and upstairs area and the restaurant can cater for large groups.

At both visits the staff were friendly and professional and nothing was too much trouble. Big bonus; its BYO. On our second visit we left the ordering up to our waiter who may have just been part of the family. He ordered us traditional Indian and in the manner which the Indian patrons would normally order and eat it.

The food is delicious, simply delicious and there is plenty of it. You will not go hungry. Start with dips and bread and work your way through a few mixed dishes. Disappointed is off the menu. Book because, though this is a large restaurant, at both our visits the place was full. Upstairs is a lot quieter but even downstairs will accommodate a quiet dinner for two. Go, enjoy. Great food.

Squires Loft Steakhouse - Melbourne, Victoria

There many steak houses in Melbourne and surrounding inner suburbs. Some good, others great and some not so good. Some, like The Grill Room and Squires Loft Steakhouse , serve a CryoVac  steak with barbecue lines and sauce to go. I find this style of cooking treatment leaves the steak dry and tasteless. Also the steaks are tenderised prior to other preparations again causing the steak to dry out more during cooking. Also you may find your medium to rare more medium plus than rare.

Squires loft is a two story establishment in the heart of Melbourne with hard floors and high ceiling. The Thursday I was there the place was very busy and quite noisy. If this is your thing it is a good place to get it off! Staff are friendly and efficient and the surrounds are very early Ozzie. What would you expect from a loft? Wine list is sufficient and the red I shared there with a friend was pleasant.

If you are a hard core steak aficionado this is not the place for you. But for a catch-up with friends (though you may have to raise your voice across the table) over a reasonable meal and right in the heart of Melbourne - try it. For me, it’s all about the steak and I’ll go elsewhere. 

Epicurean - Red Hill, Morington Peninsula

Epicurean sits with a group of other restaurants and stores at a major “T” intersection in Red Hill. The Long Table is on the same grounds. This area and indeed Red Hill itself is packed full of nice eateries. You must try all of them including wineries. But Epicurean is huge compared to most other smaller or even boutique restaurants.  It is like a massive barn with an exceptionally high ceiling. Broad, wide, open and airy. Not only are you confronted with one very large main eating area but there are a number of other more private areas. These can be hired out for weddings, parties and anything.  And each has its only little feel and character.

The quisene is basically Italian\European and very good. We ordered pizza and a seafood linguine plus a bottle of red wine. All meals were absolutely first class and the bread which accompanied the meals was delicious. Our waiter, Giuseppe, was cheeky and fun and could take it as well as he could give it. The staff is efficient and friendly and nothing was too much trouble and there is plenty of parking.  The whole dining experience was fun, satisfying and ensured we will be back. Even if it’s just to say hi to Giuseppe!

tides - Caloundra, Sunshine Coast

You would like to think that a restaurant which carries a number of local awards for food and service would be good. Well you are right in the case of "tides" in Caloundra. Perched up on the second floor with a view of the water, this modern styled, classy eatery put on a real performance. This multi-award winner restaurant served us and wined and dined us with gourmet seafood treats.

Service was warm and friendly and with a few others to serve, was also timely. Both my wife and I had supped well on the Sunshine Coast this trip. Wherever we ate we were always very impressed with the quality of the local seafood. Tides just took the whole experience of good food, location, ambiance and service one step further. Food was delicious (as you have gathered) wines were fine (with good selections) and the total experience very enjoyable. Need I say more?