Food adventures in Melbourne and wherever the tummy goes
I’ve heard of Dans Le Noir for a while and haven’t had an opportunity to visit yet but when I finally found some fellow friends that wanted to experience it with me, I made a booking and locked it in Eddie. Now if you don’t know anything about Dans Le Noir, it’s basically dining in the dark. You can have three course for $89 or a 5 course for $119 and no, you won’t know what you’ll be getting.
Sea urchin or a.k.a uni is delicacy most known for in Japan. I’ve mostly had it in nigiri or sushi and I jumped at the moment when I found out there was a uni specialty restaurant in town. Located in Glen Waverly off the main road sits a warehouse. You won’t miss it since it has a blown up cartoon sea urchin out front. There won’t be any parking at the venue but there’s ample street parking. Uni Boom Boom has been opened for 5 years selling uni and birds nest direct to the public and they have just opened up their eatery for one year and it provides an opportunity to taste some premium uni.
There’s plenty of Colourful Yunnan chains in Melbourne and we hit up the one in Burwood for a friendly catch up. The service was efficient, the staff were friendly and it does get busy so definitely make a booking so you don’t have to wait. Walking in you can smell the amazing soup bases and it really does get your mouth watering. The concept is pretty easy. Individual hot pot and order whatever the hell you’d like to put in it and of course no need to share either!
With so many places in Melbourne to check out we decided to venture a touch away from the city so explore and we made our way to Edwin Wine Bar and Cellar. Chic interior and cool vibe, Edwin is definitely where it’s at. The night started off with a selection of meats and cheese where each 40g will range from $10-$12 per type and yep, definitely worth it and you can get a huge variety.
Selection of meats and cheeses
My old work colleague has been raving on about this Japanese joint that he absolutely adores and I figured why not hit it up on our next catchup. Gaijin is located on Commercial Road in South Yarra, just a bit further out than the other restaurants which means plenty of parking around. A reservation was recommended according to the website and so I followed the instructions, texted them and did not get a response. So my friend made the booking and BAM she got a reservation. Not a great start for me. Now, back to the night, the staff were super friendly and we were excited! One of the specials that night was the cheesy gyozas. I adore gyozas and I adore cheese and together, they were MAGICAL!
Cheesy Gyozas – $15
I absolutely adore Vietnamese food and when there’s a new boy in Brunswick that just opened two months ago, I couldn’t resist. O’Kane Vietnamese Restaurant serves up a variety of food from Vietnamese to Thai to Malaysian dishes which was a touch strange since it states that it’s a Vietnamese restaurant. Anywho, moving along, when you step inside you get hit in the face with a great ambiance, friendly staff and quick service.
Flemington, known for the Melbourne Cup and being super close to Melbourne Zoo, they’re also popping up as a great foodie area too. Pacinos, an Italian family restaurant, known for their pizzas and friendly service is located smack bang in the middle the busy road Epsom Road. Mumsy bear and daddy bear were excited to not have to travel far in the search for a good feed. Plenty of parking in front of the venue and if it’s full, there’s a shopping centre with more parking. The venue is very spacious and feels very homely and cosy. The staff were super attentive and will immediately make you feel welcome once you step your foot in the door.
There’s a new kid in town who moved into Melbourne that serves up Hong Kong style food. With restaurants opening up around the world, they’re bringing their snow buns to Melbourne. Located on the quiet part of Carlton on Queensberry Street, it still gets super busy. The venue is sleek on the inside with beautiful murals painted on the back. The staff were efficient and you won’t be waiting long by the door before you get shown to your seat.
On the long stretch of Burwood Highway sits a Teppanyaki restaurant that doesn’t catch your attention unless you’re actively looking for it. There’s plenty of parking in front and behind the restaurant, so that’s one less thing you have to worry about. Walking in you’re greeted with friendly staff, laughter and loud noise. If you walked in wanting a quiet night, you’re in for a big surprise.
Japanese cuisine is one of Mr D’s and my favourite food and when there’s a place close to home, we couldn’t say no. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to try the teppanyaki side this time but the a la carte side was quite cosy. The staff were efficient, quick yet very friendly.