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XO, Narrabundah – a first look at lunch

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XO at the Narrabunday shops is fun dining!

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It’s approachabilty and accessibility remind me of Supernormal and Cumulus Inc. in Flinders Lane Melbourne. The staff are very lovely and the atmosphere is sophisticated, but relaxed.

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While it has great energy at night, it’s also good for a light weekday lunch, cobbling together a few of the smaller dishes like the….

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SHANTUNG BAO $8 each with TWICE COOKED PORK BELLY and CUCUMBER, PICKLED DAICON & GINGER

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GREEN PEAS $10 SNOW PEAS, SUGAR SNAPS TOSSED
IN A GARLIC & GINGER CONFIT

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CHARRED LETTUCE $10 DRESSED WITH A LEMON VINAIGRETTE

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CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA SOFT SERVE $5 CONE OR CUP

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The Bao was very good and I would always have the soft serve cone, but when I head back I think I’ll try the small plates.

XO Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Hotel Grand Chancellor, Lonsdale Street, good CBD base for exploring Melbourne’s best restaurants!

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The Hotel Grand Chancellor on Lonsdale Street near Exhibition Street is great value in the CBD and an easy walkable distance to some restaurants.

Usually around $120 a night, rooms can go down to nearly $100 on booking.com.
The rooms are comfortable with a bath and small balcony.
There’s even a pool!

The European, Spring Street, Melbourne CBD

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The European on Spring Street is number 65 of the 100 Top Australian Restaurants and spoken of fondly by locals.

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Popular for breakfast it had good coffee and fruit toast $9.50

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But it was hard to see why reviewers might have chosen it for the the top100 as the menu and service was similar to many others.

The European Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Embla, Melbourne CBD

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Embla is hot news, having featured in September’s Gourmet Traveller and being listed as number 30 on the list of the top 100 Australian Restaurants.

It matches great wines with simple but successful share plates.

It’s open long and useful hours (but not Sunday’s).

It also has great desserts like the Apple Blossom Creme Caramel $10..

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..and the Anise ice cream with mint and preserved pineapple $10

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Very approachable and unpretentious!

It matches great wines with simple but successful share plates.

It’s open long and useful hours (but not Sunday’s).

Embla Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

Supernormal, Flinders Lane Melbourne CBD

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Supernormal on Flinders Lane is very appealing. It’s also number 20 of the 100 Top Australian Restaurants

Even though I just dropped in to try their Miso and Pink Lady Icecream $9…

….I was warmly welcomed and seated at the bar. This actually turned out to be the perfect position for seeing the passion and dedication of the team. Their attention to detail was impressive!

The simplicity of the menu disguises what are quite complex dishes.

I’m looking forward to returning to try them out!
Supernormal Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

Exploring Melbourne CBD’s Top 100 Restaurants

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Last month I was lucky enough to spend time in the Melbourne CBD. So I set about working through the restaurants on the 100 Top Australian Restaurants list.

While many visits were brief (one can only eat so much) I was impressed by how unpretentious these top eateries are. I was welcomed equally whether I was there for a meal with company or dining alone and dropping by for dessert. I was also surprised at how accessible the prices are, something for every budget.

This week I’ll be working through the list, but here’s a bit of a preview.

#15 Cumulus Inc.

My favourite for breakfast

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#17 The Flower Drum

Not quite so accessible for the drop-in diner

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#20 Supernormal

On my list to return – creating something special

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#24 Movida

Must have the tapas

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#30 Embla

Excellent for a drink

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#34 Chin Chin

Fun dining

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#65 The European

Mmmm…

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And my verdict for the top…

Maha ( not actually on the list, but absolutely should be).

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And I need to add in  a great place to stay for this kind of project….

Hotel Grand Chancellor on Londsdale Street at only $103 a night.

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Still on my dining Wishlist is Ginger Boy!

 

Pistachios, Torrens – perfectly portioned!

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Pistachios Dining Rooms at the Torrens shops still have the best portion sizes I’ve ever had!

The wonderful Tasting Plate of three Entrées $19 and Tasting Plate of four Desserts $19 are still on the menu.

It’s my perfect way to enjoy seven different dishes and still leave feeling comfortable.

This week the Entrees were lovely and featured the ….
Seared Scallops, Black Sesame Seed, Rice Noodle, Yuzu, Avocado, Chilli (my favourite)

Goat’s Cheese Ravioli, Peas, Sage, White Truffle Oil, Smoked Bacon

Red Wine , Braised Lamb Shank Soup, Roast Root Vegetable

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The four desserts were also very excellent ..

Vanilla Brûlée, Pistachio, Almond Biscotti

Chocolate and Hazelnut Blondie,
Dark Chocolate Mousse, Tia Maria Sauce

Apple, Blackberry Compote, Rolled Oat Crumble, Vanilla Ice cream, Caramel Sauce

Maha Sponge, Lemon Curd, Black Sesame, Cream Cheese, Chocolate ( my favourite)

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It’s great value but there’s more…

BYO corkage is $7 per bottle.

Pistachios and delicious bread are complimentary.

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If you have the Canberra Entertainment Card there’s also a 25% discount.

While it’s true that the ambiance is a little faded and with very little effort Pistachios could reinvent itself into a new young thing, it remains worthy of Canberra fine dining.

It’s soft furnishings make it excellent for conversation and parking is easy.

Pistachio Dining at Torrens Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Yogi’s Kitchen – warm hospitality and a great thali in Barton

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Yogi’s Kitchen opened up in Barton in July and clearly it’s a popular spot for nearby workers on a weekday.

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It was hard to pick from the range of great lunch options – but really, it’s a no brainer the $15 Lunch Thali is the best!

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With a choice of two curries, it came with rice, naan, pickle, raita, pappadom and a gulab jaman – perfect on a wet rainy day.

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But the real stand out for me was the service. Nothing was too much trouble. There were no free tables, but I still felt welcomed and like a special guest as I waited.

As tables became free, the best one was worked out for us. The best thali combo was offered with the flexibility to add in a (more expensive) cheese and garlic naan, and then finally…

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…a whole selection of take home containers were provided to pack the remaining delicious flavours for later.

Such hospitality is hard to resist.

But I’m not the only one, so next time I’m going to book.

Yogi's Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Provini, Canberra City – a first look

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Provini is new to the COCU Group that includes other Canberra Restaurants like Little Brooklyn, The Public Bar, Shorty’s and Edgars.

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Filling the vacancy left by La Scala in Garema Place, it similarly specialises in Italian Food.

For a larger group, there is a private room available…

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…and on offer is a $50 per person menu of antipasti with garlic and rosemary flatbread…

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…. Rabbit ragu with Pappardelle

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…and lovely beef steak with radicchio salad.

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The house red is good value at $45 for 1 Litre (or $8 per glass).

Provini Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

La Cantina, Narrabundah – excellent food!

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Narrabundah is overflowing with good restaurants – XO, D’Browes and…La Cantina.

On a Friday night La Cantina’s busy with couples and groups.

The pastas are popular – the review favourites are the Duck Ravioli and Gnocchi.

It’s easy to see why La Cantina attracts so many fans. The setting is stylish but cozy, lighting is relaxed and warm and the hosts are welcoming.

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But I think the real standout is the food – it really is very good.

The Nanatta fritti $14 Crispy, baby white bait with lemon & aioli don’t look amazing, but they are.

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The Beetroot Carpaccio $16 with gorgonzola, green beans candied walnuts & red wine vinaigrette is good too.

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The  Whole Spatchcock flattened, partially de-boned & roasted, served with roast potatoes & spicy lemon vinaigrette $35 has excellent flavours….

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…and is probably only just ahead of the Grain-fed Hunter Valley eye fillet, Paris mash, baby carrots & porcini jus $36.

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The desserts are wonderful…

Panna Cotta $5 Vanilla & orange infused panna cotta, red wine poached pear & crispy house made honeycomb

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And a delcious flourless chocolate torte with vanilla bean gelato and orange and hazelnut soil $15

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But the Cheesecake al Limone $15 Classic lemon cheesecake, with raspberry coulis & raspberry sorbet also looked like a good choice.

And there was also a Rosemary & Sea Salt Focaccia with aged balsamic & extra virgin olive oil $12 at another table that looked like a great way a meal to start too – a large and delicious serve, enough for two.

The only tricky part of dining at La Cantina would be deciding what to have, as the food is all so lovely.

BYO wine is $5 per person – which is helpful for budgeting.

La Cantina Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato