La Belle Miette

A macaroon lovers paradise

7/10

30 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

La Belle Miette is a very simple and small shop, serving only macaroons and coffee, tea and lemonade. The shop itself obviously attempts to invoke an elegant Parisian store, and it is a nice addition to the sometimes tacky establishments that line Hardware Lane. La Belle Miette uses a simple formula that is winning many fans, and you only have to visit at around lunch time to see how popular the tiny store has become.

And herein lies part of the problem, as on many occasions recently I have popped in for a mid-morning or afternoon macaroon fix, only to wait in an incredibly slow moving queue, eventually giving up in frustration and returning to the office minus my sugar fix. The shop is so small that it can only fit two staff behind the counter (and that is probably pushing it) meaning that if there is a crowd, service can be slow. Last time I attempted a macaroon run, one staff member was busy making coffees and the other was stuck serving an incredibly finicky woman who was buying about 7,000 macaroons and constantly changing her mind about which flavours she wanted. It went something like, ‘I’ll have 17 pistachio … no wait … make that 15 pistachio and 13 lemon blossom and sake … no wait …’. It was painful to say the least and I left frustrated and empty handed.

BUT if you do manage to visit at a quieter time and snag yourself one of their macaroons ($2.50 each, unless you opt for the Cocoa Single Origin Venezuelan Chocolate, which is $2.80), you won’t be disappointed. The macaroons themselves are tight little packages of loveliness, and I have sampled the rose, violent, raspberry and caramel to name just a few.

The flavours seem to change on a regular basis, but the quality of the macaroon itself remains the same. That said, the macaroons are not the best you will get in the world, or even Melbourne for that matter. The macaroons at Hardware Society, not far down the road, pack far more of a flavour punch and come in a more generous size. Of course, at Hardware Society you can’t get the lovely little boxes that La Belle Miette can provide. A box of La Belle Miette macaroons would delight any self respecting grandparent.

Only time will tell if the macaroon craze will last or fade away into obscurity, but La Belle Miette is a welcome new addition to the Melbourne CBD.

Chin Chin

Asian taste sensations in a funky space, but bring ear plugs

9/10

125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au

Only opening in May this year, Chin Chin has forged itself big reputation. Like Mamasita (which really could be viewed as Chin Chin’s Mexican sibling) the place is full on a week night by 6.30 pm. And this is another Melbourne restaurant adopting the no bookings policy, which can create some stress around dining at Chin Chin.

Luckily we arrived at 6 pm and were seated within 5 minutes, although 5 minutes waiting on a freezing cold evening on Flinders lane can seem like a long time. Another note is that with the layout of the tables at Chin Chin, a group larger than four people would probably struggle to get a table without a long wait, so I advise visiting in groups of four or smaller.

The space itself it very “cool” – it has funky wallpaper and clean shiny surfaces. It feels a little upmarket without being stuffy. The place buzzes with people at the bar waiting for a table, waiters rushing around and diners chatting. In fact, combined with the music (which on my visit weirdly included music from that glorious 90s band All Saints) and the constantly ringing phone at the front desk, you almost need a paper and pen to write down what you are trying to say to your dining companion. But with atmosphere this good (and I haven’t even started on the food yet) it doesn’t really matter. I just wouldn’t recommend taking your parents/grandmother/the hearing impaired here, as they would hate it.

The wine list is ok – not a great selection by the glass, but I really liked the house wine options of a pinot gris or a pinto noir. At either $6.50 a glass or around $20 for a small carafe, they were both good quality drops at pretty reasonable prices. They also serve ice cold Beer Lao, possible the best beer in the world (in my opinion anyway). But the food really is the reason why people shiver outside on Flinders Lane waiting for a table. The entrees average around the $8 - $12 mark and the mains around the $22 - $30 mark. Sharing is encouraged, and why wouldn’t you to ensure a maximum array of amazing flavours. The spun egg rolls with crab and coconut were indescribably good. The twice cooked beef short ribs were fall-apart-tender on your fork. If anyone knows how to make meat this amazingly tender, please tell me and I will worship you. The crispy barramundi with pork was another highlight, although I must admit the pork was a little fatty. The beef salad with cherry tomatoes and PLENTY of chilli was eye wateringly hot, but loving spicy food I was happy. Oh, and even the rice is exceptionally good at Chin Chin. I have no idea what they do with it, but wow, it was delicious. My dining companions and I didn’t talk much as we all fell in love with what we were eating. And when we don’t talk, something must be up.

The service at Chin Chin was also spot on. The waiter was a little over familiar at times, but I couldn’t fault the pacing of the food or the drinks service. I even liked the little touches, such as the wine waiter wearing an apron that said “wine guy” or not being made to feel guilty about wanting tap water instead of paying through the nose for bottled.

So, with good reason, Chin Chin takes its place as one of the cities most popular restaurants. Per person our lovely meal (plus two glasses of wine each) came to around $45. For the quality of the food and service, plus the location and atmosphere, I think that is bang for your buck. The Melbourne CBD needs more restaurants like Chin Chin, that feel a bit special, have amazing food, but don’t leave you weeping at the sight of the bill. Chin Chin,I promise I will return.

HuTong Dumpling Bar

Beautiful dumplings at decent prices. Shame about the service …

8.5/10

14-16 Market Ln
Melbourne

http://hutong.com.au/

I have now tried both HuTong restaurants (Prahran and the city) and the hands down winner for value and food is the city restaurant. But hands down for service goes to Prahran. I think it has something to do with the whole attitude that sometimes develops in china town restaurants in Melbourne, where no matter the level of rudeness and disdain that is handed out to customers, people will return. Which they (and I) invariably do. Case in point – I have been to HuTong twice in the city despite receiving pretty darn rude service. And I plan to go back. Because unfortunately, with food that good and fast, and prices that low, and BYO to top it all off, it simply cannot be beaten in Melbourne. The Prahran branch has to compete a little more with the surrounding restaurants, so probably can’t afford to adopt it siblings attitude to customers.

Although, as a side note, the original HuTong restaurant in the city win the rudest staff in China Town award. No, that coveted prize goes to Shark Finn Inn, where I was once told that I could not have a glass of water “because there was a drought”. Seriously, I am not lying.

Moving back on track, so why HuTong pulls in the crowds and attract endless blog posts? First, the décor is modern and a step up from its neighbouring restaurants. The tables are nicely spaced, the lighting dim and it isn’t too noisy. Second, the food is fast, fresh and seriously good. Their famous Xioa long bao (delicate dumplings filled with a soup) live up to their reputation, but I thought that their steamed scallop dumplings were the stand outs for the night with their delicate encasing and sweet scallop centre.

The "famous" xioa long bao

The chilli wontons were also delicious, but the let downs were the spinach dumplings due to a slightly stodgy dough. All plates of dumplings hover around the $9-$10 mark, and to feed four people you shouldn’t need to spend more than $25 a head. If you have bought along a few bottles of wine, this makes for a merry and reasonable Friday night dinner. I haven’t yet delved into the other menu options at HuTong, as I am still mildly obsessed with the dumplings, but I hear the claypots are worth the journey. In terms of desserts, I went for the childhood favourite of banana fritter, which was delicious but disturbingly phallic due to the unfortunate placing of two balls of ice-cream.

To finish, I want to make clear that the problem with the service at HuTong does not lie with the younger staff, who are all courteous and efficient. Rather, it is the management who scowl at customers and talk down to those who dare ask questions, that need to be reminded of a few simple customer service principles. If this improved, HuTong would be a real winner in the Melbourne dining scene. This said, considering that it take two weeks to get a weekend booking there, I don’t think they are too worried.

Mamasita, fresh and fabulous Mexican, if you can survive the queue

Level 1, 11 Collins St, Melbourne

9.5/10 (half a point deducted because of the stressful process of securing a table)

I’ve put off going to Mamasita for a while, put off by the hype, but now I am a true convert. The only bad thing about Mamasita is the difficulties that you have to endure in getting a table. Everything else about this truly unique restaurant is fabulous. I am hard to impress, and went to Mamasita with high expectations and left with them exceeded. It truly was a great dining experience, as good (or better) than many of the top Melbourne restaurants, at a fraction at the price.

So what is so good about Mamasita? Well, of course, the food is the star of the show. Fresh, light and perfectly balanced Mexican food, like you have never had before. It sticks to the traditional soft taco/quesadilla path, but includes beautiful homemade salsas (truly to die for), fresh seafood, herbs, spices and all things wonderful in the world of food. And the cocktails! Don’t get me started on the margaritas. At $60 a jug, they are not cheap, but as a long time hater of tequila (from several bad tequila shots related incidents), I was blown away. The mix of fresh lime, quality tequila, ice and the salted rim was worth every cent. They sure packed a punch, and after half a glass my companions and I were giggling away with rosy cheeks. After two glasses I was three sheets to the wind. I opted for a glass of wine after that, afraid that I would topple off my high stool if I downed another margarita.

The deal with getting a table with Mamasita is simple - arrive early. This will involve you heading out for dinner at a “nanna” time. I went on a Friday night, arriving at around 5.30 pm and I still had to line up for twenty minutes to get a table. The queue was already extending down the stairs and onto Collins St. The queue remained that long (and even longer at times) throughout the night, although by the time we left it had started to shorten. So arrive very early, or very late, to avoid having to stand awkwardly on the steps staring down those who have a table to try to make them eat faster and leave.

The queue at Mamasita - 5.30 pm!


But once you are in, the fun begins. You would think that the service at Mamasita would suffer because of the constant turn over of tables and amount of people hanging around wanting a seat. I have worked in extremely busy places like this, and believe me, it is exhausting never getting a breather between tables. However, the service was fabulous and the staff were friendly and efficient. Our table of five people ordered a range of food to share, and it was brought out at well spaced intervals. We started with two types of tostadas (small crispy tortillas), the first topped with lime cured fish, guacamole, nasturtiums & serrano chilli ($14), the second with sweet corn, black beans, epazote, jalapeno salsa & queso fresco ($12). They were both tasty, but the lime cured fish was the stand out. We then had two kinds of soft tacos, the first with grilled fish with lime, achiote paste & red onion salsa ($16), and the prawns with habanero chillies & chipotle almond salsa ($18). They were served with an extra salsa on the side that when combined, took the tacos to another level. Less impressive was the quesadilla of mexican truffle, mushrooms, roasted corn, epazote & queso fresco ($14), which, whilst pleasant tasting, just didn’t have the punch of the other dishes. But this food, mixed with the previously mentioned magnificent margaritas, equalled one of the best meals I have had in a long time. Combined with the buzz of the restaurant and the great service, it was a truly wonderful eating experience. I left a bit drunk, full, happy and ready to go back straight away. Although, I am not looking forward to that queue again!

Maha Bar and Grill - Good but not great

21 Bond St, Melbourne

7.5/10

I have wanted to dine at Maha for quite some time, after hearing many positive reviews from multiple sources. I was a little bit concerned however, as I had heard similar things about the Press Club (and Maha is owned by the same people) and eating there was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have had in Melbourne (and the $400 bill that went with it made the experience even more painful). With this sense of worry hanging over me, my meal at Maha did start inauspiciously, although through no fault of the restaurant, but by way of my own clumsiness. Sitting in Maha’s bar for a pre dinner drink, I somehow managed to spill the majority of my glass of champagne all over myself (and this is before I had more than a few sips of alcohol). Mass panic ensued (as I was wearing a pink silk top that now resembled a wet rag) but the staff at Maha were quick to respond with a bottle of soda water and a clean cloth to soak up the stain. Feeling slightly sheepish, Husband and I decided to start dinner a bit earlier rather than risk me flinging another drink across the room in the bar.

First impressions of Maha were good - the layout is open and the colours warm and inviting. The space feels a bit plush but not over the top, as some middle eastern restaurants can do. Booking was also a breeze at Maha, with my email enquiry quickly followed up by the restaurant. Although, I must say that I was surprised to see Maha only two third full on a Friday night, so perhaps booking is not as essential here as I imagined.

Husband and I choose the four course soufra ($75), which was the perfect amount of food for a Friday night where you cannot be bothered to navigate a menu and would rather the chef decide for you. To drink we choose individual wines by the glass (as the standard white or red debate between Husband and I often prevents us from ordering a bottle). I first had the Kreglinger sparkling from Pipers Brook ($14) and then went for the Ten Minutes by Tractor sav blanc, also a steal at $14.5 a glass (I hope you sense the sarcasm there). Husband drank a Chatneuf de Pape at $20 a glass (which according to him was “delicious”). As you can see, drinks are not cheap at Maha, perhaps to push people into having the wines to match at an extra $55 a head.

The first course is a mezze plate of “cold dishes”, which really just means bread, dips, olives and a little glass of soup with a meat ball sitting on top. Simple, but tasty. The second course were “hot mezze”, a mouth-watering small plate of pork belly on a bed of skordalia and another small plate of “prawn toast”. Both were the dishes of the night, especially the pork belly, which is such a fad at the moment that I think every restaurant in Melbourne, be it French, Thai or Japanese, seems to be cracking it out (excuse the pun). Despite the proliferation of pork belly in the streets of Melbourne (oh, all those poor pigs!), Maha’s belly most definitely stands out. It was moist, sweet and full of flavour.

The main courses, or the “sahen kbeer”, consisted of slow roasted lamb, green olive tabouleh, garlicky potatoes, and a barramundi dish. The tabouleh was the best I have ever eaten (sorry Mum!) and the potatoes were a perfect mix of garlic and butter. They were taste sensations. The lamb and fish were good, but not incredible. They didn’t lift up beyond the “good” level, when really, you would expect for Maha’s prices and reputation that I would be raving about the lamb like it was my long lost child. Deserts were also “good”, but not amazing. The Turkish delight filled donuts were tasty, although the dough wasn’t as light and airy as I expected. They didn’t match up to the bobolinos at Becco, which will always hold a little candle in my heart.

So the food at Maha walked the line between good and very good, but didn’t quite hit the heights I was hoping for. The service was also a little terse. Yes, it was very efficient, to the point that it seemed like there were too many staff for the amount of guests. But it didn’t feel as warm as you would like for what is meant to be a “rustic” experience (as the waitress described the food to me at the beginning of the meal). I felt like telling the waitress at one point that a smile wouldn’t crack her face. Although, perhaps she looked so serious because she was trying not to laugh at my champagne stained chest.

My final niggle is that I also felt as though the four courses came out a little too soon on the back of each other, with the whole meal being over in under an hour. A bit more time to linger between courses and to savour our overpriced glasses of wine would have been nice. But I do wonder if it was an unusually quiet Friday night for Maha, meaning that the food was being flung out of the kitchen at a quicker than normal pace.

So, after our fast paced meal, Husband and I headed off into the not-so-black night (it was only 8.30 pm and twilight was still lingering), and we were tucked up in bed nice and early.

The verdict is that Maha is a good restaurant, it just isn’t great. But one thing is for sure - it was a hell of a lot better than the Press Club!

Ladro, a little piece of pizza heaven

162 Greville St, Prahran

8/10

I should first admit that I have never been to the Ladro original on Gertrude St, so this review is based solely on my experience of it’s Greville St sibling. And, after reading many negative reviews of the Greville St eatery, I was a little scared of what I would encounter on a busy Friday night. Most reviews savaged the slow and too-cool-for-school service as well as the noisy environment, with only a handful of reviewers giving positive comments. Well, it just goes to show that sometimes you need to experience things for yourself, because I found Ladro very pleasant overall.

Of course, as with anything, the evening wasn't without its hiccups. I had booked a table for two online that day, and was surprised that I was able to get my preferred time of 7 pm. I was expecting Ladro to be already booked out or to be relegated to the ‘nanna’ session of 6 pm. When I arrived alone, first impressions were good. The décor is simple and stark, but somehow still feels inviting and warm. It has a decent sized courtyard out the back and a good eating area on the street. But I had to stand awkwardly in a line of other new arrivals for a good five minutes before finally speaking to a waiter about my reservation. And then I learnt what booking a table last minute at Ladro for a Friday night gets you – the ‘crap table’. Wedged in between two large tables of South Yarra parents and their ‘bubs’ (I have to use that word because there is no other way to describe designer wearing two year old terrors in $1200 prams) was our ‘cosy’ table for two. Really, I would’ve needed ear plugs to sit there. Hardly relaxing after a full week of work when all you want is a large glass of wine and some good conversation. The waiter noticed my horror, and said that everything else was booked. In desperation I asked if I could sit outside, and the waiter said of course, even going so far as to recommend which table was most protected by the wind. So, once seated outside (under a very effective outdoor heater that meant I had to remove several layers of clothing), things got a lot better. Husband finally arrived, and we ordered some excellent glasses of wine. We choose the Italian white by the glass and the Italian red by the glass. At $12 each they weren’t cheap, but both were lovely well selected wines (apologies that I can’t remember what varietals they were, as the wines by the glass change regularly and there is no wine list I can refer to). By the time we ordered I was still waiting for some hint of snootiness or rudeness from the waiters, but the service had still been nothing but prompt and friendly. And there was no pushy ‘up-selling’ of extras as I had read in other reviews. In fact, I had to call back the waiter to ask for a salad with our pizzas.

But of course, the star of the show must always be the food. After arguing with Husband about his pizza selection, I relented and he ordered the Pomodori Verde ($23) a pizza topped with bufala, pickled green tomatoes, garlic, chilli and basil. On paper, the combination of ingredients didn’t excite me. But – my god – on the plate it was pure heaven. The pickled tomatoes were akin to jalapeños that had been soaked in lemon, and their lovely spicy zing combined with the soft cheese and chilli was a masterful combination. The pizza base itself was thin and crispy, without being dry. The true test of a great dish is whether I get a little weepy when eating something. And I did mist up a little bit when eating the Pomodori Verde. Less spectacular, but still tasty, was my pick of the Salami pizza ($21) which came topped with tomato, mozzarella, good quality salami and basil. My only criticism is that it lacked a little punch, and could have used some chilli or extra spice to take it to the next level. We also ordered a radicchio, rocket, chicory, fennel and witlof salad ($9.5), and the leaves were fresh, crunchy and lightly dressed, finishing off the whole meal nicely.

Another slight hiccup was the difficulties we experience in paying the bill, where we had to eventually get up and pay at the counter. Why, oh why, do restaurants not seem to care about letting customers pay the bill at the end of a meal? It’s not a problem that is isolated to Melbourne, but it really is ridiculous when you have to wait longer to pay the bill than for your food to arrive. I do also see how some reviewers struggled at Ladro when they had to sit in the main dining area. It was loud and packed very tightly, and I am not sure I would rush back there for dinner unless I could secure an outdoor table or one of the few tables for two along the window at the front of the main dining area. But overall, I was impressed, and Husband and I left with full bellies and big grins. Just the way it should be.

Dumplings Plus, 269 Swanston St, Melbourne

6/10

There is one thing that Melbourne does NOT have a shortage of, and that is cheap Asian eateries. But this oversupply of cheap Asian cuisine means that it is difficult to distinguish the “great value and delicious restaurant” from the “terrible and MSG filled impostors”. I have been attempting to broaden my range recently, so that when my friends try to force me to eat at the abhorrent Cami’s (the infamous Shanghai Dumpling House) I have somewhere else to suggest. I used to be a fan of North East China Family on Flinders Lane, but that relationship went down the toilet when they served me dumplings that tasted like dish water and were actually inedible.

So, my new regular is Dumplings Plus, a rambling restaurant off Swanston St. It has two levels plus a strange backroom (in front of the toilets, so avoid sitting there unless you like the smell of urinal cakes with your dinner). I will say in advance that Dumplings Plus is not that amazing. It is a place to go on a night where you want something quick, easy and not too pricey. So Dumplings Plus will do until I discover another cheap, easy to get a table at and semi-decent dumpling place.

The décor is on the upper end of the niceness scale for a cheap dumpling restaurant. There are pretty lanterns hanging from the ceiling and carved wooden furniture. It gives the place a warm feeling, unlike many of the brightly-lit, plastic table restaurants in the China Town area. The staff are also efficient and pleasant, although a weird incident did occur recently when my dining companion, who was feeling uncomfortable with the waitress intently watching her eat, had to ask the waitress to stop staring. The incident was a little odd (I suspect the waitress was just bored) but certainly not a deal breaker. So unless you have a deep seated fear of someone watching you eat, Dumplings Plus is certainly a decent option, and you won’t be left chasing the staff around in an attempt to get another beer or order your food (which can be the norm at many other China Town restaurants).

Another “plus” (he he, see what I did there?) is the hand made dumplings, which you can watch being efficiently formed by the chefs through a glass partition. The steamed dumplings are fresh and soft, and the fillings range from relatively ok (the vegetarian) to border line delicious (the meat variety). The “plus” in their name relates to all things Chinese, but I have only sampled the chive pancakes (if I was you, I’d give them a miss as they are overly fried and tasteless) and the morning glory (which I would also avoid, as it came covered in a gloopy, clear, unidentifiable sauce that gave it a unpleasant consistency).

Last time I ate there the bill came to $30 with drinks for two people. Not the cheapest option for China Town, but I would rather pay a few extra dollars and not have to endure establishments like Cami.