Palace Hotel, South Melbourne

Like this doublecooked writer, Luke Mangan has returned to his hometown. But unlike this doublecooked writer, Luke Mangan can boast successful businesses in both Sydney and Melbourne. And he can cook. Very well.

It’s a very chilled out place this Palace Hotel. It could be your recently promoted mate’s new decked out pad.

Exuding all the class from the Sydney Glass restaurant, with plates that are unisexually appealing to a standard for the yuppy South Melbourne area without the distraction of being too pretty to eat. Goes down well for the tastebuds, and it hits the right notes on the wallet.











Hearty “gastropub”/bistro food, where the sharing meats shine.


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 505 City Rd, South Melbourne, VIC
What? Entrees $15-20, Mains $25-35

Lava Cafe, Balaclava

This Carlisle Street café is well populated, but I’m not sure why. I just couldn’t get into this place… maybe because I couldn’t recover from the shock at what was charged for seemingly simple breakfast and café plates.



Mushroom Florentine – roasted field mushrooms, grilled tomato, wilted spinach, poached eggs, topped with hollandaise on toasted sourdough. Basically a vertical stack of big breakfast sides.



Ham and mushroom omelette with cheese and onion


Free range poached eggs and bacon.

It makes sense to charge higher prices in times of high demand. But I can’t see the value.

2 / 5 yums!
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Where? 219 Carlisle Street, Balaclava, VIC
What? Around $15

Kam Fook, Doncaster

No issues with squeeziness as you sit in Qing styled bucket chairs and feel like an Imperial boss. This is one glitzy yum cha place that’s more than fit for the newer wing of the sterile Donny Westfield.





Drink tea, eat dim sum… Like a boss.

3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 2/619 Doncaster Road, Melbourne, VIC
What? Around $20

Tokyo Sake, Ringwood North

Move past the Japanese souvenir shop and you’ll find a friendly, relaxed Japanese local doing all the classics.



Seaweed salad



Gyoza – more like the Korean style mantu.



Okonomiyaki



Tempura & cold soba noodles with dipping sauce – refreshing



Generous sushi and sashimi platter



Rolls


3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 174 Warrandyte Road, Ringwood North, VIC
What? Around $15-20 per person a-la-carte

Mrs Parmas, Melbourne

Pub. Beer. Parmas. Flattened chicken or veal in original or other creative choices such as Mexican, Hawaiian and more. As the super parmas boys might say, good plate to meat to plate ratio, and nicely browned cheese.



That is all.


3 / 5 yums!
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Where? 25 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC
What? Parmas around $20-25

Movida Aqui, Melbourne

Next time you’re walking down the street, check out those with glazed eyes and nervous shakes. There’s a good chance that they’ve been to one of the three Movidas dealing the Spanish to Melbourne addicts.



Pincho de Tortilla – egg, potato, onions



Bocadillo de Calameres – a mini sanga of lightly battered and fried calamari with mayo… what’s the legal limit on these things?



Bomba – it really is a Catalan potato bomb filled with chorizo that detonates in the mouth. Silky smooth spud, slightly spicy, creamy tangy sauce to bring it all together.



Romesco de Peix – seafood mix with a deep lobster bisque.



Carrillera de Buey – slowly braised beef cheek in Pedro Ximenez on cauliflower puree.



Sopa Inglesa – strawberry and Pedro Ximenez trifle with crème catalan and candied almonds.

I’m stuffed and need rehab.


4.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 1/500-512 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC
What? Smalls between $4-7, Larges between $16-25