Little Ox, Brighton

You could be walking onto the set of a scene from Gossip Girl.

Little Ox is not the place for velvet trakkies or jackets with phrases such as “PHAT” or “Bee-YATCH” in diamante studs. The food is serious breakfast and lunch, a nod to the el Bulli and other such books from the restaurant elite on display.



Grilled leg ham on corn fritters, tomato relish, avocado mash and added poached egg.



Baked beans, poached egg.



Smoked salmon tartare, potato roesti, beetroot relish, poached egg.



Special of grilled barramundi and beetroot risotto.



White chocolate, pistachio brownie.

XOXO


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 452 New Street, Brighton VIC
What? Around $10-20

Simon’s Peking Duck Restaurant, Box Hill

Probably once known as that eccentric, yet very personable dude from Old Kingdom, Simon, has discarded his teammates much like the boxer mush shed roll after roll of sweaty, useless, disgusting flab, and opened a restaurant with his own title. And hell yeah there’s Peking duck.

Opening in a suburb bordering Asian heartland is a smart idea.



The duck is as good as ever, skin thin and crispy, carved generosity with meat attached.





And the other stuff ain’t bed either.

4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 197b Middleborough Road, Box Hill, VIC
What? Ducks around $55

Ladro, Prahran

For too long I’ve admired from afar. Now that there’s a 2nd branch in Prahran there was no excuse.



Minimalist, yet edgy with distressed brickwork makes this joint a class act.



Peas and prawn – sweetness from both. Marvellous.



Meat ragu with peas – deliciously rich yet not overwhelming. Peas are awesome!

Ladro where have you been all my life?


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 162 Greville Street, Prahran, VIC
What? Around $20

Misty’s Diner, Prahran

Pure American 1950s cheese.

Well not that they put 1950’s cheese into any of their meals. Well I certainly hope they didn’t. Not that I had any problems with the porcelin god after.

Misty’s (American) Diner takes a step back into time, where slicking your hair and dusting off that Pink Lady’s or T-Birds jacket would not be out of place. Prior food training is required though, because the all American menu takes no prisoners.



A&W Root Beer Float – done properly with vanilla syrup



Misty’s Homemade Mozzarella Sticks



Bucket of Pork Ribs and Buffalo Chicken – sweet marinade on the ribs, punchier sauce on the wings.



Dipping sauces. Not as fiery as they make it out to be.



Would you like fries with that? Yup.



Chicken Caesar – that offsets that badness right? Right?



Misty’s Brownie – that Caesar just became meaningless.

Grease lightening it certainly is for the arteries.

3 / 5 yums!
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Where? 103/105 High Street, Prahran, VIC
What? Entrees around $10, Mains around $15-25

RaRamen, Box Hill

Those fearing they’ll start convulsing and frothing in the mouth because their cheap as, crispy based dumplings fix from the old favourite Tempura and Dumpling House has gone, need not worry. RaRamen (also in Glen Waverley) is basically a jazzed up version that’s now dominating the space next door as well.



They’ve added a delightful free slushee machine.



Ja Jiang Mien – springy fat noodles topped with a savoury pork meat sauce.



Beef Brisket soup noodles.



DUMPLINGS

Newer place, more space, familiar taste.


3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? Centro Box Hill Market, Box Hill, VIC
What? Around $10

Fazio’s, Hampton

Everyone’s got a smile on their face at Fazio’s. I can only put it down to one of two things. Either there’s a little packet of joy with each serving. Or it’s laced with LSD.



Regardless of the drug, it’s a bustling local Italian offering pizzas that are traditionally thin based, topped with simple, but on the more generous side, flavourings.



Calamari



Pastas are good too, again minimal ingredients but enough to satisfy.



Although the generosity this time with the cream in the gnocchi was enough to fulfil the calcium quota for the day.

Legalised food for the soul where everyone leaves happy.


3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 462 Hampton Street, Hampton, VIC
What? Pizzas and mains around $15-25

Food Lourve, Jakarta

Grand Indonesia’s Food Lourve provides a good induction system for the Indonesian uninitiated by taking a collection of street style food vendors, throwing in a few Japanese and Korean joints, putting a bow tie on each and plonking them into a nice little food court.



Java Kitchen’s offerings were decent, although as with most bain marie ayam gorengs they dried out for a full jaw workout.

Still though, you could have hours of fun trying to find something decent in here.

2.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? Jl. MH.Thamrin 28-30, Plaza Indonesia level 3 no.91, Jakarta Capital Region 10350, Indonesia