Briagio’s – Niddrie, Victoria

Niddrie is one of those suburbs in Victoria I would never drive to not for any reason.  I can’t even remember ever driving through it. In this case we had been invited out for dinner. Our hosts had already established the eating venue where they were meeting others. We were on the road over that side of town so it was a definite yes.  Italian style food is one of our favourites, followed by Indian, Greek and the list goes on.  In the main street of Niddrie shopping centre you will find Biagio’s. Parking spots are around just lookout for them.

A double shop front greets you as you approach this big, open, spacious, modern restaurant. Though Italian food chokes the menu a number of large wall posters are of French printed text. This seems odd, why not Italian verse? We arrived at 6:30pm to find the restaurant packed so on popular nights a reservation is a must. Tables can be arranged to accommodate large groups so think about Biagio’s for your next big function should you live nearby. With hard wooden floors and high ceilings and no sound baffling, on busy nights it gets hell-loud. Be prepared. Unfortunately on the night we were there there was a large table of young girls a few of which felt there stories should be shared with the rest of the diners.

Service is prompt, efficient and friendly and the food is excellent. This is one food venue worth a drive to. If you’re not up for dinner or lunch they do a great cake and coffee. Our table of six all enjoyed their meals and all commented how good the food was. There are plenty of selections and portions good size. Save some room for dessert. Our “home made” tiramisu was disappointing and for an Italian restaurant was way off the mark. Other desserts, at the table, did look good so our choice was just a bad one.  But your choice will be a good one should you venture to down town Niddrie. Yes you should.

Moravia Restaurant – Camberwell - Victoria

Buried in the heart of the Camberwell shopping strip, on Bourke Road, is Moravia Restaurant. This long thin cafe extends to an upper eats area. A walk through to parking makes access easy.  If you can’t get a spot here, behind the main shops there is three hour parking and unlimited from 1pm on in other areas. Moravia is more of a large cafe than a “classy” restaurant. It is licensed and has a good selection of beers and basic wine list. The general feel is European or Italian. In fact most of the staff had strong accents. I like this it adds to the atmosphere.

I would drop in for a lunch while shopping in the area but wouldn’t make a special trip just to dine here. In my case it was to catch-up with old friends. Being near the Camberwell station it can make for a convenient meeting point for those who like to train or even tram. Where some cafes are so noisy you struggle to hear your own thoughts this was not the case here. The general ambiance being on the quiet side.

Service was efficient and the food OK. The four I eat with all enjoyed their meals. Pricing is reasonable and if you are budgeting you will come away feeling satisfied and not worried about deeper credit card debt.  The cake selection is excellent. I would make this the place to drop into for that cake and coffee you have to have while out shopping.  They do make a good coffee.

The Herb Farm Restaurant - Lilydale - Victoria

While on a Sunday drive through the Yarra Valley, on our approach to home, we stumbled on the Herb Farm Restaurant.  It was 3pm and we were quite hungry and looking for some where to have a late lunch. Shocked to find this delightful establishment still serving lunch at this late hour we tired-up the horseless carriage and parked our hungry butts at a window seat. There is plenty of parking right in the restaurant.

The view from the restaurant is elevated and pleasant with plenty of trees and being on the corner of two major roads, lots of cars whizzing past.  The eating area is open, quiet and extensive and you will have no trouble finding window seats or romantic a nook. Attached to the restaurant are two gift shop rooms, one having hundreds of delicious coffees and herbs for sale. Take a look.

Service was prompt and friendly with an extensive and very yummy food and wine list. There were too many choices for my wife who took quite some time to make her food selection. The sparkling wine I sipped as a palette freshener was excellent and the white with the Garlic Prawn Fettuccini was perfect. You will have no problems finding something you like, both on the menu and the wine list.

Restaurants of South America.

On a five week eating adventure through South America we visited not only many very interesting places but dinned in some exquisite restaurants, cafes and hotels.  Of course we had our share of bad food even a little food poisoning but on the whole the gastronomical adventure was very pleasant. Countries/Cities visited were : Dubai, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil (Rio only).

The countries we really enjoyed were Argentina, Chile and Peru.  One meal I was chasing was an Argentinean steak. This proved harder than it seemed until I realised I had to order “fillet”. My first two encounters with Argentinean steak resulted in in-eatable meals. Finally in Lima Peru I had my first quality steak. OK it wasn’t Argentina but it was South America and the steak was worth the wait.  Let’s start in Lima (capital of Peru) and Mangos, Larcomar Plaza.

Mangos – Mira Flores - Lima - Peru

I had struggled all over Argentina  to get a good steak with no luck at all. I had had some excellent pasta meals but no steak. My first satisfying steak was enjoyed in Lima. I order Filet Mignon with trepidation (which is not a source). It was absolutely delightful and though a good serving, I just did not want the eating experience to stop.

For the steak we sat outside under the stars on a mild night. Mangos is a huge restaurant with both inside and outside dinning, a huge bar and an up stars area. The whole restaurant is built on the side of a cliff and through the day has excellent views of the ocean. Mangos is a great place to eat with excellent service fine outdoor areas and magnificent view.

La Bomboniere – Lacomar plaza - Lima - Peru

Also at Lacomar plaza is La Bombonaire. Though we didn’t have a meal here we did drop in for cake and coffee. For me the Creme Broulee I ordered was gorgeous with a few short backs. The coffee good too. The Broulee was just a touch runny according to my wife but this did not detract from the experience.  While sipping your coffee you look out across the Atlantic Ocean.  Service is good and the cafe has a French feel about it.

Bodega de la Trattoria – Miraflores - Lima - Peru

Not far from where we stayed in Lima, the Lima Wasi Hotel, is Bodega de la Trattoria. This is a new looking very elegant restaurant with high ceilings, a bar and open spacious eating areas. I love my pasta and when in an Italian restaurant what else would you have? The pasta was perfect, service first class and the wine was good also. It can be a little pricy and though the food is good you are paying for the decor.

Mojsa – Puno - Peru

Our wonderful hosts at the Kuntur Inn in Puno suggested we try Mojsa Restaurant in Plaza De Armas (the town square). It was only a short downhill walk from our hotel. Mojsa looked good from the outside so we so we went in. There are steep steps up to the restaurant on the second floor so you must be able bodied. Mojsa is pleasant inside but not overly decorated. There is a wood fired pizza oven at the back, a good place to be on cold nights. If you are early or lucky you may be able to get a table on the balcony which is enclosed. There is a great view of the street and plaza from here.

The food is beyond reproach and reasonably priced. Luckily food in South America is cheap at most places even the better eat houses. Order anything you feel like from the menu here there is almost a guarantee that you are going to like it. Entree and main is the way to go which suited my savory palette.  We had the chance to visit other good restaurants but didn’t because the food a Mojsa’s was that good.

Service is OK but not off the planet but you can’t eat service it just adds to the experience. What you must experience is the food at Mojsa. From pizza to trout and a selection of the local beers the experience was delightful. Mojsa is the place you must try if in Puno, Peru. Try for a balcony table.

El Galeon – Mercado Central -  San Diego - Chile

One of the better restaurants we visited was El Galeon. This is long walk from de Armas Square but an extremely pleasant one.  As the name suggests its main fare is seafood.  The restaurant is long and thin, much like a ship, with the bar and kitchen upfront. The kitchen area is visible from the street and also from within the eating area. Pressing yourself against windows from the outside will allow you to see the kitchen in action. Don’t like what you see, don’t go in. Not only is the food unique in style and variety but it is served in a shallow clay bowl.

Preparation of the meal may start on the kitchen bench tops but that’s where it stops. The meal is constructed in the clay bowl then cooked, served and eaten in the bowl.  This way it stays hot and all the complexity of the juices is delivered straight to your table.  Service is friendly, wines and beers are plentiful on the menu and the ambiances congenial to a great eating experience. This IS the place for two. Not the cheapest place to eat but the food is seriously delicious with plenty of variety. When in town make it date.

Cerberus Beach House - Half Moon Bay Black Rock

Living on Port Phillip Bay certainly has its advantages even if, like me, you never visit the beach. We have a number of cafes ad restaurants which are situated right on the water’s edge.  These always provide stunning views of the bay and at the setting of the sun, gorgeous horizons. There is just something special about dining while looking out across blue water. In the warmer weather the sun lovers provide additional amusement.

Cerberus Beach House, right on the water’s edge at Half Moon Bay Black Rock, is a two storey affair with floor to ceiling glass doors showcasing some of the best bay views. There is plenty of parking but be aware some is for cars with boat trailers only and a ticket is required until 8pm. What’s left of Cerberus is still visible and there is a jetty for an after lunch stroll. Add to this the views of the beach and brightly coloured cliff face. Wow!

The cafe area is not overly large and a booking would be best to ensure a good seat. Book early and ask for a window seat. The folded glass doors open to bring you closer to Mother Nature. Service is good and staff and very friendly and informative. The menu is gourmet and fig and goat’s cheese bruschetta is a fine way to wake-up the stomach. The chilled muscles are a must.  There were four of us for dinner on a Sunday and all our meals were excellent.

The wine list may not be as extensive as other cafes but you should find something you like. Buy by the bottle for the cheapest way to hydrate unless you are by yourself and want only one glass. There are some inexpensive wines which should lessen the pain of a non-BYO dinner.

On Sunday night the cafe had a one man guitar and vocal show. What started out as a quiet song and strum soon became an annoyingly loud noise which table dwellers had to shout over to communicate with one another.  Unfortunately most entertainers inflict this treatment on their audience and believe if you like what they do quietly you will like it more LOUD! WRONG.  What could have been a perfect meal and evening with friends soon turned into a sore throat. Pity really. But don’t let this stop you from going. Find out when they DON’T provide entertainment and book.

Mosskito - Clifton Hill

In and around the city of Melbourne there are many fine restaurants and cafes. Lygon Street holds some of the trendiest and on any given Sunday you will struggle to find a park to be a part of the action.  Up near the top of Hoddle Street (Clifton Hill) is a very large restaurant, night club and bar called Mosskito. I have eaten here a few time and both times pasta dishes.

Mosskito advertise to come hungry. Heed this wise advice the meal sizes are generous. The food style is Italian and quality is high. The drinks menu is sufficient without being extensive and the service is relaxed but efficient. I have only ever been here through the day for lunch so I can’t comment on what the night club is like. Toilets are modern and clean not something you see at every restaurant.  You can eat inside or out or stretch out on a Chesterfield leather lounge in front of an open fire during winter.

If you live in the area or are driving through fly in and take a bite at Mosskito the whole experience should be excellent. The inertia is modern and spacious and there is plenty of car park space. The building and some of the surrounding buildings are Art Deco. You get the feeling this is an old part of greater Melbourne and the Italian influence seeps through to make a pleasant time of it. The Buzz is high.

Morning Star Restaurant - Mount Eliza

Mount Eliza, on the Mornington Peninsula, has many quaint and interesting homesteads, farms, vineyards and restaurants. It also has history and some notoriety with the multi-acre homesteads of Sir Reginald Ansett and the Coles family. I, in a working capacity, have visited both properties and have seen first-hand their size and grandeur.  

One other property, which has intrigue around it, I did visit was Morning Star Catholic Boys Home in Sunnyside Lane.  This was first established in 1932 and extended in 1944 by the Franciscans.  The boys were not always treated well and some, being locked in cells for punishment, did not survive. I did see the cells before the whole complex was first transformed into a grand domestic home and later restaurant, vineyards, accommodation and reception center.  Rumor has it that some boys still roam the buildings and grounds. I have seen boy’s names penciled in nooks and crannies around the buildings.

Morning Star Restaurant and complex has some of the most beautiful gardens and grounds you will see anyway. Not only is it a large vineyard but also has a gallery on the grounds. There is lots of good reasons to visit here and give yourself the whole day to do so. My wife and I have eaten here a few times the most recent was early in 2012. We sat with a long table of a ten or so and enjoyed a two course meal while looking over the beautiful gardens. This was a Sunday afternoon and the restaurant was nearly full. Book ahead.

The food quality is high and in inverse proportion to the portion size. An entree of scallops is three scallops.  I will say it again the food quality is high and the scallops were excellent. All at our table enjoyed the meals but most commented on the size. The wine list is extensive and supports local produce. Table service may depend on your waiter on the day. On our table service was OK and a little humorous. If you are a big eater or don’t like expensive meals Morning Star may not fill your needs and you might be better satisfied at some of the Mornington pubs which are excellent. If fine dining, a stroll in the magnificent gardens and delicious food are what makes you smile, book a table at Morning Star, the experience will be no apparition.