Turf Bar, Melbourne

Heavily reeking of a typical British pub, you’d bet the sticky floorboards of sport fan’s armpit and spilled booze could recite Liverpool’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” if you rolled it through a musical box. White collar corporates by day, rowdy British backpackers by night, the stodgy fare requires a coldie to wash the grease down.



Pizzas with that charred taste.



Cajun crumbed chicken strips won’t save your expanding hips.



Same for the well greased batter encasing the fish and chips.


2 / 5 yums!
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Where? 131 Queen Street, Melbourne, VIC
What? Mains around $15

Earl Canteen, Melbourne

Earl Canteen’s product is probably Melbourne’s pinnacle in the one hand meal. Baguettes, sangers and wraps aren’t meant to be this good. But they are when they are stuffed with fillings that could scraped from the bread, plated and served at a fine bistro.



Pork Belly: crisp skin Otway pork belly, apple, cabbage & fennel coleslaw, wilted silverbeet



Sticky Lamb: braised lamb, peas, cauliflower, cheese crumble

With others such as gorgonzola pumpkin, wagyu meatball and lime poached chicken, one trip to the Earl won’t be enough.

4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 500 Bourke Street (enter via Lt Bourke), Melbourne, VIC
What? Baguettes $12-16

Shira Nui, Glen Waverley

Glenny is probably more known for it’s Asian cheap feeds than a culinary destination. Yet there is one place that’s managed to outlive KFC on the Siberia strip of Springvale Road. It is Shira Nui, a modest Japanese restaurant with a master sushi artist at the helm of an open sushi bar which stages the construction of tasty parcels that will be delivered to your mouth.



Cod, Lemon Juice, Fish Roe



Grilled Salmon – a peppery, herb mixture lightly coats the red flesh



Marinated Mackerel



Grilled Beef – a typically Japanese salty-sweet marinade flavours the meat



Arc Shellfrish, egg yolk vinaigrette



Spicy Tuna Tartare, avocado, Fish Roe



Seared Tuna Steak



Marinated Kingfish Belly



Oyster mornay



Black Sesame Crème Brulee, Green Tea Ice Cream

I wouldn’t count on exactly the above being served the time you visit, because the fun thing about the bar is that it is a chef’s selection and you tell him when to stop the savouries (subject to dietary requirements). If only I was a bottomless pit.


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 247 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley, VIC
What? Chef menu at least $60