Zurouna is a stylish Lebanese restaurant located on the equally stylish South Yarra stretch of…read moreToorak Road. It has a balcony out front with seating for a dozen or so people, and as it was pleasantly warm I ate out there. In a cocktail sort of mood so started with a Tides of Beirut - Arak, Cointreau, Ginger ale and lemon juice. Very refreshing and the Arak gave it a real licorice kick. Good value at $14. I'm definitely a grazer when it comes to food so rather than ordering a main I opted for two entrees. First up was kibbeh which is one of my favourite Lebanese dishes - delicious little footballs made from minced lamb, cracked wheat and pine nuts served on a bed of rocket with a side of yoghurt. Wrapped up in a piece of pita bread, this makes for great finger food and with three pieces for $12 good value to boot. Next was Zaa'ter calamari, grilled and served on more rocket with fresh pomegranate. This was quite good but nothing out of the ordinary. I was hoping for something a little spicier. Generous serve for an entree and I wasn't able to finish it all. Overall, good value for money, good location and the lady who served me was attentive and friendly. Worth a five minute detour from Chapel Street if you're in the mood for Middle Eastern cuisine.

For several years now, I've been hoping a proper Arabic restaurant would open up in my area - one…read morewhere I can get not just snacks like kubbeh and falafel, but actual lunches and dinners like the ones I'd prepare with my family. As of this month, my prayers were answered in the form of Zurouna, the newest Middle Eastern addition to South Yarra. In a word, Zurouna is sensational. It is authentic, diverse (representing Levantine but also North African cuisine as well), elegantly but accessibly fitted out with Middle Eastern lamps and mosaic patterns, and accented with really lovely staff. A rundown of what we ate: Moutabbal - smooth, smoky eggplant dip perfect for scooping up with the fresh and fried Arabic bread that is constantly replenished. Za'atar calamari - coils of tender, za'atar-sprinkled grilled squid, with rocket, simple lemon and olive oil dressing, and fresh pomegranate seeds. Perfectly cooked, not a hint of chewiness. Ma'anek - lean Lebanese-style lamb sausages with olive oil and parsley. Not greasy, gristly or gamey at all, just how they should be. Lamb shank with freekeh and yogurt - there was no shank that day, so we had shoulder instead which was sensational. Exceptionally tender lamb with nutty toasted freekeh (green wheat) and garlic yogurt. Middle Eastern home cooking at its best. Chermoula prawns - four chargrilled king prawns, marinated in North African chermoula (a beautiful garlic, coriander, parsley and cumin sauce) topping an equally aromatic cous cous salad. Chicken tagine - tender chicken breast simmered in a spicy harissa tomato sauce with plump olives, chick peas and peppers. Served with almond rice on the side, this was my husband's and sister-in-law's favorite of the night. Baklava, turkish delight and fairy floss, plus mint teas for dessert. They have very authentically added a cinnamon stick to each glass of mint tea, a classic flavor combination of North Africa. Let the mint steep in the pot, then swirl your cinnamon stick around gently for a minute to infuse. Remove and drink. I was NOT expecting this when I saw the "coming soon" sign a few weeks ago. Traditionally this particular property has been filled and abandoned by lackluster restaurants. Zurouna is beautiful and here to stay, the kind of place that makes me so proud of my culinary heritage.

Brunetti is always a fan favorite, it has cases of pastries and endless cakes/treats when you first…read moreenter the cafe. You take a number then order, you'll be given your pastries there but if you order coffee you will wait at the coffee bar just next to the bakery. It was lovely summer evening so I opted to sit outside. I wish the outdoor tables had napkins and condiments on them, they were bare so I had to walk all the way back in to grab stuff I needed. It's a bit pricey for what you get but it's the environment you pay for.

Melbourne institution We always visit Brunetti when we come…read moreto Melbourne and we feel that this is the best outlet! We love the old style service, marble counters and displays!

In my honest opinion? It was the blandest biryani I've ever had. Lamb itself had some flavor, but…read moreno flavor added in the rice. Is this how it's supposed to be? If it is, my apology. I'm relatively new to biryani and "authentic" Indian food. Portion was good for big eaters like me and price was reasonable. Lots of place are closed in this area and I find it convenient that this place is open on Sunday.

Horrible experience with taste of food , cleanliness, portion and service. I don't recommend this…read moreplace

Mama Rumaan is a brand spanking new and rather hip restaurant which has just opened up in…read moreDocklands. Mama serves up traditional Middle Eastern fare with a modern twist. We ordered quite a few dishes (possibly too many!) between the three of us and were not disappointed! Standout dishes included the Djerj w'Toum (spiced chicken) and the Lamb Tekka (grilled lamb skewers). The Mezze dips were also delicious -- especially the baba ghanoush. One thing that could be improved is the beer range which was a little standard, although they did have Efes.

Exelent service and food! Midle eastern/Egyptian/Arab food. Not too expensive and a lot of…read moredifferent options on the menu. Went for the 5 corse, and would defiantly recommend it to

Such delicious cakes and slices. I really want to eat them all!! So sweet, perfectly rich and in…read moregood proportion, I have just found my new favourite cake shop!! I happened to hear about Beatrix from a colleague who mentioned wonderful biscuits they made according to the Beatrix cook book. Quick to look the business and pay a visit, I certainly was not disappointed. The brownie was superb, with a hint of espresso and chocolaty rich as it should be. Luckily the shop is a little bit of a stroll away, otherwise you might find me there every day.

3 years... It took me 3 years to get here. I read an article about this place back then and only…read morechecked it out early last year. All that time I could have been enjoying wonderful, delicious cakes. This place has an older fashion vibe that feels like you're at grandma's place. The back wall is covered in old beaters (the kind before electricity), simple furniture, quiet neighbourhood, and everyone is friendly! Even the customers are really friendly to other customers. It makes for such a good community feel. They have such a great variety of cakes on offer, all made on site. Some are hard to find though. They usually have a list on the wall near the till saying what's on offer. Two things to look out for: Glim Glams and vanilla slice. The Glim Glams are their (better) version of Tim Tams with 24c gold leaf, hence the name, and they are amazing. The vanilla slice I often describe as the best vanilla slice on the planet. Better than my mums! I've had them from Aussie bakeries to French patisseries but no one is as good as Beatrix. The pastry is the perfect balance of flaky, buttery, and stability. The custard is the perfect texture and the passion fruit icing is genius! The right amount of sweetness but with delicious sourness that cuts through everything. Damn they are so good! If a paragraph just on their vanilla slice wasn't enough to make you want to go then I'll eat your vanilla slice for you!

Wow beyond words best hostess and bar staff amazing meal the service impeccable and the menu…read moreamazing and I highly recommend.

Tim Tam ice-cream. That is all…read more Well that wouldn't be much of a review would it? But really that is all you need to know to be tempted by this ice-cream haven. When iconic chocolate biscuit marries ice-cream its a match made in heaven, forget Brad and Ange this is the perfect union. Creamy chocolate ice-cream with hits of biscuit, think giant chunks of Tim Tam. This place has the best ice-cream in not just Ivanhoe but all of Northeast Melbourne. Yes, I know big call right? But the ice-cream parlour has a fantastic range of flavours filled with quality ingredients. The lemon sorbet tings with rightness...and lemon of course. All the classics are here, gelato and classic ice-cream flavours but also a revolving door of interesting flavours that work. I should reassure you that the Tim Tam flavour is always there.The waffle cones smell amazing and as well as ice-cream cones and tubs you can get drinks( although why you would when there is ice-cream to be had befuddles me.) If one cone of Tim Tam ice-cream isn't enough then get a family size tub to go. You will thank me! Note: Closing hours vary depending on weather. Please call Cosi Duci to find out more.

This place is the perfect treat for Ice Cream lovers. On a warm evening we'll stroll up the…read moreIvanhoe strip heading for Cosi Duci. All the flavours are great, but personal favourites are the Coffee and the Honey Comb. Never disappoints after many, many visits over the last few years or so.

Baker D has been a favourite carb heaven for many years, but I love it especially more at Easter…read morewhen they bring out their hot cross buns. Dense, fruit-packed with some decent spice, these are always a crowd pleaser with the grown-ups at Easter time. While you may need to take out a second mortgage (you'll need $20 to buy a half dozen) they're well worth the investment as they'll last for several days on the bench in their bag waiting for someone to say "is it time for a cup of tea and a hot crossie?"

I'm am proud to say that this is my local bakery. Friendly staff, wonderful bread and pastries. So…read morefar I've tried their sourdough, caneles, pain au chocolat - and the best, ever Christmas fruit mince pies. Can't have enough of those mince pies.