I've been looking forward to my adventures in Melbourne not only for the urban vibes, diverse…read morehistoric architecture, and surrounding ocean scenery, but the FOOD. I prepared a collection of must-try stops during the month of my visit, and from my research, Daughter in Law made the list. It also happens to be around the corner from my hotel so it ended up being the first restaurant I tried after arriving at the hotel and getting settled. I wanted something comforting and guaranteed to be a delightful food experience and Indian food never disappoints for me and my cravings. Daughter in Law went above and beyond all expectations of the every day delicious Indian restaurant. You'll know it from first glance as you approach the restaurant and see the colorful tables and neon sign. Everything about the ambience took me back to our Mama Speaks hotel in Rome...my absolute favorite for the fantastic indulgent, maximalist, colorful decor. Everything about the space says party with a sophisticated twist. The second time we went here, there was a birthday happening for a grandma with her large family there. This place is a gem. All I can say is hopefully I get to have a birthday here someday. It was a party and we were all smiles. We ordered the Hiramasa Kingfish Ceviche You won't regret this choice It was heaven in a clamshell. I could have eaten several of these as a meal. It was a fresh as fresh gets scallop ceviche with the perfect Indian spin of flavors. I don't know how I didn't get a picture of it except to say most likely because we ate it too fast for pictures. We followed this with the Ball of Happiness (Gol Gappa). A crisp hollowed out orb served with a layered shot of the classic mint, tamarind, and chutney flavor sauces that are meant to be poured into the orb and popped into your mouth for a flavor explosion. It was fun and delicious but I personally would have gone for another scallop en croute in place of this. Though it's worth a go! For drinks, I ordered a Passionfruit Spritz. I was worried it may be too sweet but it turned out to be just right and very refreshing. The little mermaid was a fun touch and my daughter wanted to take her home. The Mango Lassi was perfect, authentic, and not too sweet. There was only 2 of us, so as much as I wanted to try the Rogan Josh, we shared the Chicken Tikka Masala instead. It was delicious phenomenal. So rich and flavorful, with a brightness and tang to it that made it hard to stop eating. Incredible flavor! The garlic naan was of course, woodfired crisp and perfectly soft where it should be when pulled apart. Daughter in Law is going to be a regular spot for the next couple of months and anytime I'm traveling here in Melbourne!

As a Indian food lover I had to absolutely try some in Melbourne while I'm here. Went to Daughter…read morein law last night. Now not your typical Indian restaurant. This was kinda upbeat, trendy hipster a little bit. I did enjoy the music very much while there. Service was good. I would say it was a very solid 4 stars . More closure to 4.5 Just not the insane depth of flavors like I've had in many other places but good non the less. Had the lamb Rojan Josh. And we did the naan Bread and condiments sampler.

With a casual bar in the front, a lively open kitchen in the middle, and a fine dining atmosphere…read morein the back, Cutler & Co has it all! This is a place for a nice date or evening out with friendly service and requisite menu prices. At each table is a fresh taper candle that's lit as soon as you sit down, and soon after ordering, we received an amuse bouche of a parmesan crisp with fromage blanc and mustard, as well as bread service--sourdough with two kinds of seasoned butter! To start, we shared the assorted greens (lettuce, radicchio) in buttermilk dressing, which was fresh but nothing too spectacular. We continued with our mains: the snapper with pureed eggplant, oyster sauce, watermelon radish, and purplette onion was creative and tasty. But my favorite was definitely the mushroom pithivier, a lovely mushroom "pie" made of layers of duxelles, kohlrabi, and Comte cheese in a flaky, crispy pie crust! Absolutely divine--the filling was rich with umami, but light at the same time with the kohlrabi. The dish came with a light frisee salad on the side and a mushroom ketchup, which added a hit of acidity to every bite of the savory pie. We were told that the pie would take 30-40 minutes to prepare after ordering, but it was totally worth it! We decided to skip dessert, but to finish off, we were given small complementary bites of a jelly and a salted chocolate truffle, which simply melted in your mouth! Overall, this is a lovely place to come for fine dining, though it does get expensive quickly.

"I just rescued some wine. It was trapped in a bottle."…read more Why try just one wine bar when you can do two from the same group? Another stunner with its solid energy, jovial conversations and relaxed feel in a contemporary setting. Wine is king here. New and dynamic wines from up and coming producers to DRC's and Australia's very own Henschke Hill of Grace. 30 wines by the glass, 600+ by the bottle. All at very reasonable prices. Food is a big part of the wine loving experience and Cutler and Co delivers. Ingredients are fresh and seasonal. The menu changes regularly to reflect this. Standouts included: Donuts with sour cream, salmon roe and chives - Not a donut in the American sense, this one, more like a pate a choux puff. Mix up the accompanying sour cream, salmon eggs and chives then spread it on, the slightest hint of yolky brininess in the otherwise mostly sour cream spread and a sip of a racy red; ahhhh. Taco of suckling pig, salsa verde, anchovy and rocket - A simple white corn tortilla with chunk of crispy skin, juicy and tender suckling pig, a smear of a creamy salsa verde backed by anchovy and a peppery, bitter rocket leaf. Add a squeeze of lemon and the flavors come together while begging for a sip of wine. Zucchini flowers, fresh cheese, pickled radicchio and pistachio - A true celebration of summer. Vibrant, fresh, colorful. A kiss of citrus sweetness from the zucchini flowers, texture from the young zucchini themselves. A zesty vinaigrette brings it all together. You guessed it, more wine please! Service is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Prices are good with many selections 60AUD - 80AUD. Markup for top wines 1.5x - 2x auction prices. A worthy visit. Just remember, be a good visitor to Australia, "save water, drink wine".

Well this was all just a little bit fancy! Or maybe it was just a bit fancy for this…read moreGeelong-born-and-raised gal. Regardless, I liked Bar Liberty and I liked it a lot. After one or two cocktails at Panama, I strutted down to Bar Liberty to find my dining companion waiting with a bottle of deliciously salty wine (seriously) in a moody back corner of this relatively new venue. With a menu designed to share, we indulged in all of the things. We started with the salt and pepper vegetables, which were incredibly delicious and entirely moan-worthy. They were deep-fried (but not too much, and in a classy way, y'know?) and very, VERY salty. We next tried the Burrata with Soured Cucumber (watch my video - it was crazy good and very gooey.) We also knocked back the Fried Potato & Fermented Chilli and come carpaccio. While I am definitely more of a loner when it comes to food (I'm not a huge sharer, I like a dish to myself) I would definitely recommend Bar Liberty for a fancy night out with your parents or even a date with someone you're trying to impress. There are lots of cosy corners for intimate conversations.

Melbourne is suddenly awash with small-ish venues serving up a dainty menu of punchy shared plates…read moreand massive drinks lists. I'm glad because it's my favourite way to dine and I love being able to pore over a drinks list while I eat and drink. Bar Liberty is only a week old, taking up the awkward shaped building that was once home to La Condessa. This part of Johnston Street in Fitzroy was pretty dead for a while but it feels like it might become the new "it" street once Smith and Brunswick fill up to the rafters. It's very much welcome for those who live nearby. The experience here at Liberty is a good one, and in time I think it will be great. There's a short menu of delicious things to eat, though items are on the pricier side and I wish there was a little more cohesion in the dishes. Tomato and plum salad, beef tartare and pippies with XO were all tasty but they didn't really work well in terms of progression through the meal. I felt like we were jumping all over the world, rather than staying in one particular region. Though perhaps that's the point here at Liberty? The drinks list embraces everything from weird and funky beers, boutique spirits, cold drip coffee and even house made kefir on top of an eclectic mix of wines. I don't know if this means they're trying to be all things to all people, or if they're taking a literal approach with their name. It's an interesting and exciting concept and there's lots of fun surprises to be had, but think of this more of a rollercoaster ride of tastes and textures, rather than a comforting embrace of food and wine. Pro tip: sit in the front bar to enjoy the drinks trolley display.

I've been a regular here for many years and I'm glad to see it still here amongst the trendy…read moregeneric cafes that invaded Fitzroy. The place is as funky as its always been with its mismatched old furniture and good music, often spun by a DJ later in the evening. There have some simple but nice things too eat. The coffee is good too. Add to that they have beer and other alcoholic drinks. Last but not least there's a nice outdoor space.

Now this is one awesome bar, and certainly fits quite well into the Brunswick Street bar scene. It…read moreis a shame that I don't find myself down here as often as I like, but then again there are so many cool bars here that I would probably end up spending more money that I really should. Anyway, this is basically a hole in the wall bar with one of those incredibly laid back atmospheres. While there is an outdoor area it is basically seating out on the footpath, though this area has been done up to give it quite a bit of character. The staff are pretty awesome, and the place is really laid back, and certainly a bar that I really should visit more often.

Nice and chill spot for brunch on the harbor. The food is tasty. I tried the cheese pastry and the…read moreSkewers. Everything was delicious.

Nice warm night. The beers and food came fast! Ambiance was great! Nice spot to chill.read more

Had Wednesday steak night with a friend recently, absolutely brilliant - excellent food and…read moreservice. Fantastic atmosphere and very attentive staff. Highly recommended for locals and tourists. ​

It's still got the ambiance. Mac's for the 2020s. Good drinks selection, decent menu.read more

I came here with a large group and everyone was satisfied with their meal, having a selection…read morebetween different cuts of beef, chicken, fish and lamb. What was most impressive was the entrees and sides to choose from - we went with the garlic butter prawns, delicious and fragrant; fried onion rings with side of aioli, crunchy and fun; mushroom aranchini balls, chewy and flavourful; and side of hot chips which were pretty standard. Complimentary bread is also served. There is a chart in the menu to help select the right cut of beef for you. This was useful and the mid-range organic selection of scotch fillet I chose was a very large serve. In fact, I only got through half of it and shared the rest. It was flavourful and rich with the garlic butter topping, although I noticed that the longer the meat sat, it became more chewy. I would have preferred the texture to remain tender. You get a choice of hot chips, creamy mashed potatoes or salad with your meal. Most fine dining establishments would make you pay extra so that was a nice perk. Prices overall are not cheap but this is a good place to enjoy a steak in a less formal atmosphere. There were colourful paintings and natural lighting that enhanced the meal. Lastly, staff were attentive, ensuring we had drinks at all times. I don't think we ever had to call anyone over, so it was a good experience overall.

Get out your suits and ties people. This place is fancy…read more...... Rare steakhouse is a high end steak house with white linens and professional waiters. They offer the finest cuts of meat, all organic and sourced in Australia. In addition for those who dont care for steak, they have seafood, chicken, pork and top quaity Australian lamb. Not the best place for a vegetarian, but for everyone else you are sure to find something you will love. For the ambiance, the quality of food and the service, you will pay a price. So for me, this is a special occasion- only place. If you are trying to impress someone, take them here, and remember your table manners!

A trainer restaurant for Australian Natives, serving Australian cuisine, I was very excited to try…read moredishes that I've never experienced before as well as be part of a good cause. Overall a definite recommend, as we had an overall great experience with some hiccoughs. Food: Food here was amazing. My wife had the wallaby and everything about the dish was fantastic. For myself I had the emu, and it was just good. The meat itself was a bit chewy, but never having had emu before I wasn't sure if it was normal (although it could also have been because it was cooked a bit more on the rare side--who knew Emu was red meat!). It was juicy, and the accompanying sides with the meat (salad and polenta) were great (I don't think I've ever left a plate so clean). The fries we also had were great as well. There was very little to complain about for the food. Drinks: They had an okay beer selection. Nothing to write home about. The cocktails were all very expensive as were the desserts which I'm lumping here as well. We passed on the last two. Ambience: Very nice. Small restaurant, and they put lots of space in between the tables which is nice. Not sure if it's because they are low staffed (more on that below) but they put a lot of space between their reservations and the restaurant was half empty most of the evening due to this. Service: Our main server was very nice and very knowledgeable about everything as well as attentive about all of my wife's allergies. However with only him, another server and then the manager to oversee a dozen tables (several with parties of 8+) it sometimes took way too long to get someone's attention, our fries were forgotten about and we had to remind them halfway through the entree (they ended up coming significantly after we were finished with our entrees). I had also expected that at this caliber of restaurant, they would have comped the fries due to their mistake, as was the case at another Aussie restaurant we went to, so I was a bit disappointed by that but I'm also not sure if that's custom as it generally is at American restaurants. Overall: The service was enough to deduct one star from the but it did not subtract from the overall experience at Charcoal Lane. I think if they add one more person to help out, and improve their table turning it could help their business even more since their food is already absolutely delicious. Definitely recommend.

We came in on a Saturday evening for dinner. For the appetizer we ordered the mango prawns and…read moreanother dish that I can't remember. The prawns were very delicious and cooked well. My main entrée was the pan fried emu. Cooked medium rare. It was quite tender but could use a bit more seasoning. To finish, I had the wattleseed crème brulee. I found it to be a little grainy. I don't think they fully mixed in the sugar for a smooth crème. I applaud this place for giving underprivileged kids an opportunity for real life work experience and I'm assuming the evenings meal was prepared by those kids. For a cook with no formal culinary training, I think it was a good meal. I think with a little more polish these dishes would be right up there with those high end restaurants.

Fantastic contemporary Australian cuisine! Our Aussie friends suggested this restaurant for our…read morefirst night in Melbourne. Service was friendly, everything was delightful and the wine selection was fantastic!! Great introduction to Melbourne dining. The roast lamb for the table was particularly memorable!

Host appears to have too many additional duties causing delays being greeted and seated. Asked for…read moreand received a different table as the one offered was in an awful location. They rush your choices for drinks/food evidently to turn the tables on time. As requested we gave our full order at once. I don't want to have my food start appearing before my cocktail is finished! Long delay between a couple of the tapas style courses. Limited dessert options and overly high priced wines, especially by the glass, although the list is quite extensive. The food is very good. The atmosphere is very loud and slightly chaotic. It's worth a meal but with so many options I doubt we would return.

I probably shouldn't judge this place by the views, even though I did actually quite like them…read more Well, this place is a cocktail bar, but the thing is that they do more than just cocktails, particularly where I am concerned since I do prefer beers, and they certainly were able to help me out in that regards, since they did have a rather nice selection as well. I actually found this place to be rather laid back and relaxing, especially the back area, and the service was quite nice as well. As for the views, well, it was on the railway line, but then again, that is something that I actually do rather like.

I organised a cocktail class for my girlfriends hens party at Maeve Fox and was really blown away…read moreby the quality of the event. Our group had such an amazing time. We got to jump in the bar and learn to make yummy cocktails. The gentleman that ran the course was very passionate about bartending and incredibly knowledgable - but didn't take himself too serious and still able to have a laugh with the group! The food included in the course was yummy but I would recommend you order a few additional platters if your friends like to drink as much as mine! If you are looking for something different for a hens party or even a work function. Maeve Fox is well worth looking in to.