Greca Street - Oakleigh, Victoria

  When out and about we swung by the main food street in Oakleigh. Portman Street is the main drag for fine Greek food and restaurants. We have eaten here a few times but not for years. Greca Street  is one fine, new looking and extensive restaurant. The decor is modern, clean and fresh. Floors, tables and chairs are all beautiful timbers and there is a long bar. Dine in or out or in a glassed cabin on the street. 

The menu is very enticing with many shared plates then their traditional Greek meals. This is where I chose from. There are also Greek wines by the glass or bottle plus many other wine selections. The food was absolutely delicious and plenty of it. Both of us struggled to complete our means and though full, had us thinking when we could come back. 

There is free parking at the end of the street and its only short walk to Greca. I’d book ahead though the restaurant is large it filled quickly and we were lucky to get in. Not overly expensive and with delicious food to live for, easy parking and a beautiful establishment, there is NO reason not to go. Make it a date. 

Bouzy Rouge restaurant and bar - Richmond

 The wife was required to see a specialist at an Epworth clinic (nothing too serious). Figuring it was right on lunchtime she looked up a restaurant nearby. We booked, arrived early and for a while had the restaurant to ourselves. The decor at Bouzy Rouge cannot be described it has to be seen. An eclectic collection of interesting items, very large and small from all over the world. I believe the owner is French and food is Mediterranean influenced. I wanted two courses but we were pressed for time so a main is all we had time for. 

You may feel you are in France or Spain the surrounds are so foreign and elegant to what we would expect to see in Oz. And there is sooo much you just can’t take it all in. The food is good, very well priced and the service prompted and friendly. Parking could be tight but go when quiet in the Richmond area and you should be OK. We are already planning our return and will be taking friends who I know will appreciate the unique spectacle that is Bouzy Rouge. 

Thai Orchid - Christchurch, New Zealand

 Staying at the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch and not being a big fan of the restaurant at the hotel, we looked further afield for dinning. We didn’t have to look far to find Thai Orchid within a short walk from our hotel. It was recommended by our Ola driver that day on our way back to the hotel. Glad he did because we had an excellent Thai meal. In fact it was more than a meal with enough food to feed another two adults. No scrimping on food quantity here or food quality both were well covered. 

Cocktails were excellent also and service very good. The ambiance is Thai though the music was soul. Both entree and main, for my wife and myself, were delicious and almost too much. We should have shared those well presented fried king prawns. Absolutely no complaints here, all-in-all a great dinning experience. Should we be back in Christchurch we will definitely eat here again. 

Mac’s Steakhouse - Rotorua, New Zealand.

 Searching on a cold wet night for somewhere to cocktail and eat and found Mac’s in a covered street called Eat Street. One all under over street has many restaurants and bars covering many food styles. Lets get down to it; at Mac’s not only was the three courses delicious and generous - for both my wife and self - but extremely well presented. The kitchen knows its craft to a “T”.

From onion rings to steak to creme brulee and throw in a few cocktails, everything and I mean everything was perfect. Well maybe not the Syrah wine, it was awful but not the fault of the restaurant. I would love to break every meal down but I would have to get flowery and it would become tedious. We both even added extras to our mains which was no problems for the kitchen. The extras, in my case sautéed mushrooms, again were perfect and a big generous serve to go with the steak and all its trimmings. Just go. Nuff said. 

Bistro Gentil - Wanaka New Zealand

Eating out big at lunch then backing up for a big french meal is not what I like to do. We are leaving Wanaka and we really wanted to try this local french restaurant. Careful menu selections meant three smaller meals but did leave us feeling we had over-dined for the day. Regardless the food here at Bistro Gentil was excellent. Its unfortunate we may never be here, in Wanaka NZ, ever again. The place, people and food has been excellent. 

The establishment may need a freshen-up but the food is undoubtably french. I would liked to have tried more from the menu but was really satisfied with my selections. Would I go back again, hell yeah! Would I choose the same from the menu, no. I’d like to try other dishes but I know it would all be supper tasty and make me hungry for more. Definitely put thus tasty spot on your list. 

Cardrona Distillery - Wanaka New Zealand.

 We expected a lot from this distillery way out in the middle of almost nowhere but only 30 minutes from Wanaka. The tour was not what we went for but the food was. A window seat in the quiet restaurant area was all we needed plus a menu. We had wanted local oysters since the day we landed but lucked-out where ever we went. Not today and oysters are not on the menu. You arrive for lunch and if lucky the oysters have arrived also. 

The plates are for sharing and a dozens “bluff oysters” and the gin - “Source” - made onsite offered the accompaniment. Vinaigrette was drizzled over each oyster before and a sip of gin after. Then onto the venison medallions with beetroot in about four different ways. And of course desert. 

Cardrona Distillery is a modern clean establishment on beautiful expansive grounds. A tour can be had but it costs, just go for the food and ambience. Staff are friendly and there is plenty of parking but be prepared for a short uphill walk. Pricing is about right but not cheap depending on food and drinks ordered. Definitely worth a visit even if you don’t eat there but you’ll miss some fine food, rare gin and cocktails. 

Trout Cafe, Restaurant and Bar

Always when OS we are chasing good good eating and hoped to be wowed whenever we dine. OK if we pull into the local cafe and by a pie we may not expect to be knocked off our feet. Though we were in Te Anau with a pie and sausage roll from Miles Best Pies. Both were jammed with succulent meat and gravy and served just at the right temperature. Hard to believe a sausage roll full of chunks of real meat. 

With a restaurant called “Trout” you would expect it to be all about fish. But not so, equal balance of other protein, salads etc. For me the baggers and mash had me at first glance and my wife the prawn salad. Three big home made gourmet sausages in a rich dark sauce with bacon, onions etc. and sitting on a firm mash. Very, very lovely and very filling. 

What a great surprise though we were out for lunch we didn’t expect to be so “treated” to such very good food. Nice modern surroundings with dine in or dine out choice and easy parking. Reasonably priced food with a good selection of local beers and drinks. Staff helpful and friendly also. Trout is one cafe you must try if in the area - Wanaka NZ - and if you are nearby do make the effort to visit. Can’t imagine you could ever be disappointed regardless of your meal choice. We were both thrilled.