Pho Tam
One-upmanship is rife amongst diners: 'Oh yeah?! You want the BEST pad thai? I KNOW the BEST in MELBOURNE, BY FAR! You don't.' I could never complete: for the first half of this year I liberally imparted my knowledge of a secret place called St Jerome's: 'They practically didn't want me to know it's there.
Greenhouse by Joost
Joost Bakker is without a doubt one of Melbourne's most resourceful men, creating incredible industrial flower displays, furniture, installation art and other mind-blowing pieces from detritus he finds out and about in his daily travels.
His Greenhouse project is a self-sustaining event venue built to operate for a short period down in Fed Square.
Match Bar & Grill
Walking into Match on a Tuesday afternoon I found it hard not to imagine the place on a Friday night, teeming with types I cross the road to avoid, but one cannot judge a venue by its potential crowd (especially not a Friday one). You can judge it by the layout, the menu and the staff, though. The space is massive and the decor relaxed, with a sea of leather couches and a separate dining area.
Burger Monster
You shuffle out of Caledonian Lane full of cheap Coopers on a Thursday evening, and you need it. Something greasy. In your mind, you know you shouldn't, but who's to stop you? Jerome? Heh. And Ronald's den is just there in front of you on the corner. Before you know it you're inhaling one those plastic looking cheeseburgers, and a little part of you has died.
Mitte Café
You know how it happens: you light some candles, pour another glass of red wine and before you know it you're standing on the street watching the fire brigade hose down your rental property. That's what happened to the tenants of number 76 Michael Street in 2007. Happily, Mitte has risen phoenix-like from the ashes, bringing with it tasty breakfast and lunch treats.
Concorde Crepes
Bored of Bagels?
Sick of Sushi?
Pissed off with Pannini?
As Melbournites, we are blessed; we have some of the best food, the best coffee (no wonder all those Star*ucks are closing) and best bars. Problem is, even with all this abundant goodness sometimes the hungry hipster needs to find something new to try.
Cumulus Inc
It is said that there is a point in anyone's success when your formula is known (1). Seinfeld in season 7, The Simpsons since Homer stole Bart's limelight (2) or Alex Perry having his sunglasses surgically implanted on his head (3).
Chef Andrew McConnell is certainly en route to such success, based on a foundation of undeniably fabulous food served in designed spaces courtesy of wife Pascale Gomes-McNabb (who was clearly christened with profession in mind).
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