Food lovers’ guide to Rankins Rd, Kensington, Victoria

The wide tree-lined Rankins Road in Kensington is a perfect spot to base some fun, relaxed food-themed exploring close by.

Blessed by a bundle of friendly and interesting eateries on it’s door step, it also has easy access to the culturally diverse and bountiful Footscray Fresh Food Markets and the never-ending choice close in the city.

Two cute, dog-friendly (outside) cafes sit at the corner of Macauley Road…

Cafe on Rankins…

…and Luncheonette…

open 8:00-3:30pm Saturday and Sunday, 7:30am-3:30pm Tuesday to Friday…

and serving breakfast and lunch.

Duck under the railway line through the walkway and you’ll come to the amazing The Premises on Bel Air Street..

…and across Macauley Road, the Joseph Swan Cafe.

If you need more ideas, hop on the train to the City Circle and head to one of the arcades, like The Block Arcade between Little Collins and Collins Streets and Elizabeth and Swanson Streets. The Block Arcade is home to the Haig Chocolate shop, Hopetoun Tea Rooms and the Gewurzhaus Spice House and the narrow walkway buzzes with diners and coffee drinkers enjoying the outdoor tables.

Joseph Swan Deli, Macauley Rd, Kensington, Vic

The Joseph Swan Deli is a new addition to the Macauley Road eateries and an interesting little nook to explore.

Staff are extremely welcoming and accommodating. The feel is casual and relaxed and indeed the deli is aiming to become a community hub for locals. To help this along, it offers filtered coffee for $2.50 with free refills, to go with the blackboard breakfast and lunch specials that include a homemade pie, soup and roll as well as a range of gourmet sandwiches.

The community feel is also reflected in the wooden sculpture wall made from local builds and representing the diversity in the community.

The sweet treats and breads also look delicious and there’s both communal and outdoor seating.

A new venture well worth supporting.
Open Monday to Friday 8-6pm, Saturday 8-5pm and Sunday 8-4pm.

The Premises, Bellair Street, Kensington, Vic

It’s hard not to keep heading back to The Premises with entrances on both Macauley and Bellair.
It has a great décor and atmosphere…..

… friendly service, excellent coffee …

…and an enticing menu and changing specials board.

The sandwiches are especially good, particularly Nana Kath’s Salad Sandwich $14.

The Slow Roasted Pulled Pork $19.50 is open and good to share between two if an extra slice of bread is ordered ($2 extra).

(I’ve also heard the Hot salt Beef Roll $16 is good too).

Breakfast has amazing creations like the Pumpkin Pie French Toast $17.50

…but also an interesting twist on poached eggs in the Bel Air Eggs $18.50

…and some good Poached free range eggs with excellent grain toast for eating light $10.50.

There’s also a cabinet of well-priced sweet treats including a very morish chocolate brownie $4.

Open Monday to Friday 7am-4:40pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm.

Footscray Fresh Food Markets, Victoria

If you are staying west of the city in Melbourne, it’s well worth heading to Footscray to explore the fresh food market.

The market particularly reflects the style of the local Vietnamese population but it’s a favourite across a range of cultures. It’s a whole sense experience – colours, tastes, smells.

There’s also plenty of opportunity to stop for a snacker meal and enjoy some great Vietnamese or Philippino food.

Not far from the market, the world’s cuisines are on your doorstep at a whole list of cheap and excellent eateries.

One of the best is Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant.

Miss Maud’s Pastry House, Perth

Miss Maud’s is a Perth institution and includes several pastry houses (16) and a hotel.

It’s Scandinavian origins and old world charm are evident in the decor, uniforms and menu.

Carillon City Arcade Perth Branch

All a bit of fun to try, but the flood is quite touristy and possibly more cafeteria than cafe.

Norwegian Prawnboat open sandwich

Finlandia sandwich on rye

Take-away options and a range of cakes are also available.

Kakulas Brothers, Perth

Kakulas Brothers, wholesalers, retailers and importers, at 183 William Street, Northbridge, should not be missed by food loving visitors to Perth.

Established in 1929, the Kakalas family has an interesting story.

The family is originally from the island of Kastellorizo which is 2km from the coast of Turkey and 75 km east of the Greek Island of Rhodes.

Their store reflects their origins, but also, like Perth itself, the rest of the world is not far away. Kakulas Brothers stocks products to help you create global cuisines.

Part delicatessen, part spice market, part specialty store, it’s a delight to explore.

Spices especially are cheap, fresh and plentiful.

And do make sure you go away with a coffee.

Whisk Bakery & Patisserie, Phillip – good for a hot pie for lunch

Whisk has delicious flans and cakes, but equally good are their pies for around $5 each.

The pastry is delicate and flaky and the filling full of meat and flavour. A definite winner on a cold day with a coffee.

Whisk also serves a large bowl of hot soup and one of their rolls for $7. On the wishlist for next time.

The Hellenic Club Trattoria, Woden

The Hellenic Club in Woden has range of dining options, that vary in appeal, but one that surpassingly has much to offer as a lunch venue is the Trattoria.

It’s casual and definitely still ‘club-like’, but also friendly, quiet and pleasant.

Some versatile, attractive lunch special options are available for $12.

These are well sized and good for sharing.
Three dishes is enough for four modest appetites.

Add a glass of wine, starting from about $4, and you have the makings of a good lunch get together.

Menu choices include:
zucchinni ribbon, goats. cheese and pine nuts salad with calamari

Pon collo pizza with chicken, bacon and BBQ sauce (very tasty)

Wood -fired lamb and salad on pide bread (excellent).

A good tip is to get the oil/dressing son the side as these can be a bit heavy.

Open 7 days for members and guests.

Membership for one year is $8.80 (seniors $3.30).

My Friend Vietnamese Restaurant, Watson, excellent for families with young children

The great strength of My Friend Vietnamese Restaurant is that it is ideal for introducing young children to the experience of dining out and trying cuisines from other cultures.

To start with, ‘My Friend’ Restaurant has an engaging child-friendly name.

Parking is close by at the Watson suburban shops. It’s easy and convenient even in cold weather, and the decor inside is welcoming and homely. Booking is not necessary.

It looks like a grown-up restaurant but feels very child friendly. Being a family run business, often the family, including other children, are dining too.

It’s not a quiet spot so normal children’s noise is no problem.

The menu includes lots of popular dishes that are easy for children to enjoy like Vietnamese springs rolls, Sate chicken and Honey Beef.

It is also very reasonably priced, making it easy to take the whole family out. Many dishes start at $13.50.

Serve sizes are very generous and easily shared. Two dishes and is enough for three adults, or two adults and several children.

One serve of rice $2.50, is enough for two people.

There’s a range of desserts that are bound to appeal to children , for $5.

Soft drinks are $2. Corkage is only $1 per person.

And if you have a Canberra Entertainment Book then My Friend offers a 25% discount.

Service is incredibly fast, so there’s no long waits for children. Complimentary prawn crackers appear straight away. (If however you’d like a break between courses then it’s a good idea to mention that to wait staff).

Six seafood rolls with sweet and sour sauce are $5.50

The Peanut Beef $14.50 is a better dish than the Chicken with Lemon Grass and Chilli $13.50 which is very spicy, especially for children.

Some of the other dishes that are popular include:

Vietnamese spring rolls $5 for 4

Peanut Chicken $14.50 or Peanut Lamb $15.50

Sate Chicken $13.50, Sate Beef $13.50, Sate Pok $14.50 or Sate Lamb $15.50

Peanut Chicken $14.50, Peanut Lamb $15.50

Curry Chicken/Beef/Pork with Vegetables in Coconut Cream $14.50 or with Lamb $15.50

Honey Beef $14.50

Caramelised Pork $13.50

and Pork/Chicken with lemongrass and chilli $13.50 or with Lamb $15.50

Banquets are also available, but these would be more expensive and more food than you’d need.

Cafe Alibi, New Acton

Cafe Alibi is in a quiet spot in New Acton, in between Marcus Clarke Street and London Circuit. Open weekdays 7:15 am – 4 pm it is well located for office workers during the day.

Interior decor is small and fairly plain, but large open windows make it light and pleasant.

The Breakfast menu is well priced and includes many popular dishes.

The Lunch menu offers lighter meals like salads and bruschetta as well as main meals like risotto and pasta, schnitzel and gourmet burgers with chips. There are also blackboard specials.

Serve sizes are generous and easy to share. Takeaway is also an option.