Darling Harbour has so much to offer for old and young alike. For me its all about the food and drink. Where better to start the gastronomic tour than at Toros, Tapas and Bar.This delightful little waterside restaurant has a great deal going where each plate is $10. For that you get a plate of lightly fried calamari or two seared scallops plus eight other selections. My son and I tried everything on the "$10 a plate" menu and was extremely pleased with serve size and quality of food. The calamari being tender and fresh the scallops tasty and well presented.
Pick a dry night and sit outside and watch the world go by. The wine list is sufficient and bottled wine reasonable in price. All wait staff have a strong accent and ours was from Asia, France and Puerto Rico. This just adds to the sheer enjoyment of being somewhere else and enjoying the best of Australia. OK Darling Harbour is a tourist location but roll with this, don't be scared to pay well for good food and a great time will had by all. Put me down for the $10 a plate deal any day.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
The Meat and Wine Co. - Darling Harbor, NSW
A visit to Darling Harbor on a fine sunny day is a joy to behold. Whether on business, holidaying or just a quick visit as was my case. This is a foodies heaven on earth. There are so many fine restaurants and cafes plus quick take away outlets you could never try them all. Not possible. But why would you want to. Think what excites you when out for a dinning experience and find the eatery which looks the most satisfying. We did.
While meeting up with my son, at Darling Harbor, who was there on business we scoured the banks until we found what looked promising. One night down. While on my own the next day looking forward to a new dinning experience I dropped into The Meat and Wine Co. Thursday for lunch, who would have thought it would be so busy? It did appear to be inhabited by the business community. With hard floors and a full house this modern restaurants with rustic appointments can be awfully noisy. Add to noise of "us" dance music with its "thump, thump, thump" this may not be the place for a first date.
I liked the decor and add to this a view (if on a window seat or outside) of the harbor there is no good reason not to visit. The food being served certainly looked delicious. I stayed with fish and found the lightly battered calamari sweet and tender but the rockling was wet and not at all pleasant. This is a meat house so I would suggest go for the red meat.
The wine and beer list is extensive and the bottom end Sav. Blanc. I was supping was OK. The staff are most friendly and efficient with a desire to make sure you will enjoy your visit. Here is an unusual suggestion I have never made before. You must visit the toilets here. I was so impressed with them I took a photo. Do go. Definitely put The Meat and Wine Co. on your eating list. Apart from the calamari stay with the meat. Next time I will and I'll be back.
While meeting up with my son, at Darling Harbor, who was there on business we scoured the banks until we found what looked promising. One night down. While on my own the next day looking forward to a new dinning experience I dropped into The Meat and Wine Co. Thursday for lunch, who would have thought it would be so busy? It did appear to be inhabited by the business community. With hard floors and a full house this modern restaurants with rustic appointments can be awfully noisy. Add to noise of "us" dance music with its "thump, thump, thump" this may not be the place for a first date.
I liked the decor and add to this a view (if on a window seat or outside) of the harbor there is no good reason not to visit. The food being served certainly looked delicious. I stayed with fish and found the lightly battered calamari sweet and tender but the rockling was wet and not at all pleasant. This is a meat house so I would suggest go for the red meat.
The wine and beer list is extensive and the bottom end Sav. Blanc. I was supping was OK. The staff are most friendly and efficient with a desire to make sure you will enjoy your visit. Here is an unusual suggestion I have never made before. You must visit the toilets here. I was so impressed with them I took a photo. Do go. Definitely put The Meat and Wine Co. on your eating list. Apart from the calamari stay with the meat. Next time I will and I'll be back.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Lilo Cafe - Mornington, Victoria
If you want a casual pleasurable eat, down on the Mornington Peninsula, Lilo Cafe may just fit the bill. This quiet old little cafe has a had a freshen-up inside. There is a theme in the colour scheme which is green. There is a 50s looking, huge image up on the back wall, of a one-piece clad beauty on a green lilo in a pool. Thus sets the theme. Everything is green and anything which was green has been purchased and placed on show here.
The food leans toward healthy. I wanted Eggs Benedict but a butter sauce is not allowed here. To me poached eggs on sour dough really needs something to moisten the plate. Eggs were good and the wild mushrooms well presented and yummy! Those we brekkied with also enjoyed their meal and coffee was good. A great spot to eat with panoramic views but can get noisy with hard floors and high ceiling. Parking is timed out front but side street parking is available. Try Lilo, its relaxed, foods good, staff are pleasant. What more do you want?
The food leans toward healthy. I wanted Eggs Benedict but a butter sauce is not allowed here. To me poached eggs on sour dough really needs something to moisten the plate. Eggs were good and the wild mushrooms well presented and yummy! Those we brekkied with also enjoyed their meal and coffee was good. A great spot to eat with panoramic views but can get noisy with hard floors and high ceiling. Parking is timed out front but side street parking is available. Try Lilo, its relaxed, foods good, staff are pleasant. What more do you want?
Sunday, April 26, 2015
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.
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!!!!
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!!!!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
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.
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.
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.
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