Port Phillip Estate - Red Hill, Southern Vic.

Port Phillip Estate is a most unusual building. It looks military, industrial or simply YOU feel you are on Mars and about to join the colony. I like it! Industrial architecture was been in vogue for sometime but its not until you experience it that it really strikes home. I can imaging the older set (yes there are some older than me) not getting all that excited. I'm happy to move with and be moved by the times. Industrial is here!

We had a dinner date with this very expansive estate which meant we had no view from many meters of roof high glass. It was pitch black outside. A concrete building, inside and out and concrete floors with the merest of furnishings doesn't give you a look to ogle. One very good thing about our night, apart from one loud table a table or so away, was it was quiet. Lately every where you dine is loud and noisy. Also it appears grownups have forgotten their inside voice. Music was well suited (for once) to the environment.

To get to why we were here then let's talk food. Three courses for $68 and $60 for a nice bottle of wine. In the scheme of things the wine may have been the best value. Valentines Grenache - 2017- was fragrant and delightful. The food was fine but my main was well short of a serve. Even in three courses, with a prima pasta, I felt a little ripped off. If it had not been so expensive and we expected it to be so, meal size may have been acceptable. My pork was very good but half the size I would expect. Dessert was far better value. The pasta had an extra $15 surcharge. Pasta? Go figure.

 If you ordered the beef and you don't want it rare when you say "medium" then ask medium to well done to expect a genuine medium. It was so rare my wife could not finish it. Even I struggled and there were parts in this good size serve which were un-cooked fat and inedible. Sides were very good, service was first class from a knowledgeable young waitress.

If, as leaving, we feel we would not return it means the experience really didn't shake us. At the fine dinning end of the meals spectrum we must be moved to vow to return. No vow made!

Sacrebleu - Rye, Mornington Peninsula

As the name suggests - French. A small café on the main street opposite the beach and tucked in with many other cafes and shops. Just a little unassuming and not really a place you would remember if the eating fare wasn't that good. The menu is short and they do have lunch specials. So soup and main is the way to go. And they throw in a glass of bubbly.

The wine list does contain French wines as it should. What of the food? This is where this little non-descript café comes into its own. French all the way, delicious and simple. I get the feeling they are not over complicating the menu or what they serve. They want to get the food out to you in quick time though I never felt rushed. Keep it simple, keep it decidedly French and get it out hot and in good time. I would image many drop in here for a quick (but pleasant) lunch while visiting this beautiful area. A stroll down the mains street and in for lunch then back on the pavement. Why not do it with a French twist. Sacreblue - definitely worth a try.

Monkey Business - Dromana, Victoria

When you go for a drive to chase up some brekky you just never know what new eating house you are going to end up at. Take the challenge and stop going to your absolute fav. or the café just down the road or in the local shopping center. See what you can find. We did and it certainly paid off for us.

Monkey Business on the highway, Dromana is a fresh good size open café. Eat in or out or sit up front inside with the big double glass doors open. No excuse not to find a seat? Well I have a good one not to sit inside. Bloody noisy. One large table of people and still way to audibly distracting to try and eat. Simple fix, move outside. Concrete floors, no soft furnishings and high ceiling creates a bad acoustic.

Now the food which is really why you are ready this blog entry. Lets start with "heart on a plate". Add to that "respect of product". Now finished with "generous and balanced portions". If you think I like this place then you are right. Food to live for. Next time I go back, which will be soon, I'm trying something else. So many good sounding dishes to choose from and all looked as good as mine.

Presentation is big of the list of not what people want but what chef wants. Prepare it right, cook it right and serve it better. If you weren't hungry when you got there, when you see your gorgeous food served as a great presentation, you will be. Delicious, creative and inspiring. Chefs not always going to be at this café. Get in early; breakfast, lunch or dinner. Just pick a day when you can sit out. All the foodie stars will align all in the one place and over your meal. Really - ENJOY!!

Ristorante Fra' Crudi & Cotti - Polignano A Mare, Puglia, Italy

Stumple on a gem, plan the best meal out ever, toss a coin and land it on a map. You may still pick a "dud" restaurant. Our finding of this knockout little eatery in the Puglia region of Itally is even more bazar than any of the above. We had booked a $260 a head (three of us) restaurant in the same region (two courses no wine) which hung above a raging ocean on the night. Due to the gale which was blowing and the excessive price, we jumped ship.

The Puglia maffia (they really were) shuttled us back to our parked car 15minutes drive away. BUT on the way and near our car we noticed and really top looking restaurant. You now have three starved (but still wealthy) individuals. Ristorante Fra' Crudi & Cotti welcomed us with warmth, relaxed decor, fresh fish and sweet wine.

Lest's get this out of the way now. In the region, go there. Why? Best fish meal, pasta meal and just bloody anything meal you will have at a better cafe price. Good service, relaxed environment, absolutely the best fresh fish served any way you want, great sides (bullshit, excelled sides) top wines and it won't dint the wallet.

They have the fish selection, on display, out on ice. Pick you swimmer, tell them how you want it, take a whole fish or they will fillet it and enjoy with sides. If you get the feel we three had a great nights dining you're right. We may never return but you may get the opertunity, take it!

Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restuarant - Dubrovnik, Croatia

One of the biggest restaurants in the old city Dubrovnik is the Arsenal Restuarant . It spans from two large outdoor eating area inside the old city through to a number of huge inner sections to large outdoor undercover eating area port side. The port side has a spectacular view of the port and small craft reaching into the hills to the side. Dine here and you feel like a movie star in an exclusive Monaco Michelin star restaurant.

What you get is Mediterranean style fine dinning with a view to kill for. Absolutely professional service from informative, highly experienced staff and fine food to live for. Not only is the food fine dinning quality and presentation but good qualities for the big eaters amongst us. My wife said the best meal she has ever had. Now that's a bold statement considering we have both eaten at Michelin star quality (chefs hats in Australua) restaurants.

The number of table and bar staff, seating staff and mangers is a sight in itself. From the moment you enter from either of the two main entrances you are looked after with care and responsibility. All staff are there to ensure you have a great dinning experience. The food menu is not extensive but there is plenty of choices for all. A good wine list and beers to chose from. Both the house whites and reds were very good.

In Dubrovnik you must eat here. It maybe a little pricey compared to other good restaurants but when you add up what you get, even in just food quality alone, it is value for money. You may find yourself confessing; "best meal I have ever had". It's that good.

Trax Cafe -Bonbeach, Vic.

Not a bad place to drop in for lunch or dinner with a friend. Or maybe just drinks and nibbles. Food is OK cafe quality so if you are critical about food, move on. There are some good beers on tap and a host of food selections. The wine menu should satisfy most and then there are spirits.

Staff  at Trax are warm and friendly, parking is available but pick your time to visit. Décor is modern\hip\smart. A big front window will provide people watching over drinks or coffee. I went for lunch so no live bands and chatting was easy. I understand when bands are on it gets loud. Depending on what you want pick your time. A romantic lunch or dinner? - why not but pick the quiet times. A bonus is Trax are right opposite the Bonbeach station. Intend to drink? then take the train.

L'Auberge French Cafe - Lilydale, Victoria

Sometimes you just have to stumble on a restaurant to find something really special. Drive down any main street of any city or country town and an array of cafes and restaurants will clearly come into view. Drive down some back streets, only a block or two back, to sometimes stumble on a culinary gem. Well I let the internet do the stumbling for me. I wanted to find a fine little café or restaurant in the Yarra Valley region. I wanted a drive, dine and eat. Fortunately, electronically, I stumbled onto L'Auberge.

Off the main drag of Lilydale lays a quaint little church built in 1888. Over the years this classic building has been a few different restaurants and has been used for other purposes. Thank God for now it is a great little French Café. Inertia still displays a lot of how this building was back when it was a working church. There is ground and mezzanine floors and you can dine on either. Through winter a massive fireplace. For us we finished our drinks on the couch in front of the fire.

Food is French of course with some good selections. French onion soup heads up the menu with vegan and vegetarian options. Not for me, French Algerian sausage on my plate, merci! Both my wife and myself thought the food delicious and meals I saw going out looked equally as inviting. The wine selection is limited but enough and the sparkly and Merlot I had were good. The meals are of good size and there is a selection of sweets and cakes for afters or just cake and coffee. Coffee was also good.

My biggest complaint with most restaurants is choice and volume of music. French café - French music, Spanish café - Spanish music. But how many, even fine dining establishments, play loud rock\pop from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Please! Not here, classical music filled the air though it may have been just at touch too  loud.

Want to take the wife or lady friend out for a romantic lunch after a drive in the country. This is the place to do it. Its nice and quiet with good service, easy and free parking and pleasant, relax décor and surrounds. Small period rooms are open for hire for special occasions. I have already marked in my diary when to return and this time with friends. Bon appetit!