We found Jason- post busy dinner... as we headed out for a kid free wine! Jason was knowledgeable…read moreand charming. Wines on point! Serious choice- all small batch. Also a good selection of craft beers available. Live music on Fridays and Sundays! A special find! Highlight of our Melbourne jaunt. Well worth investigating!

Nice crew, and the simple eggs on toast well cooked and tasty!…read more Ambience feels great, might need to come back here for a vino or two one evening.

Well lucky me... looks what opened a short stumble from home!!…read more Milton is based in a cosy little shop. The first thing you see is the large communal table surrounded by walls covered in all sorts of delicious looking bottles. There's a couple of window seats and clever little tables along the side. But, walk past the main bar and there's a small little room that can host a couple of small groups with an open fire. Keep walking down the hall and there's a lovely outdoor area, which is going to be excellent in summer. Milton is already warmer than my apartment and has access to delicious wine so I may as well just move in. Find me here a lot.

Quite nice interior design but the wines simply were not great for $15-$17 a glass…read more They have 20 wines by the glass out of hundreds of bottles. We ordered 2 different reds and were not impressed with either.

This place has always intrigued me. It's tucked away in a mini stretch of stores right near a…read morecorner of a tight intersection of two busy roads, but due to the end of the tram line, for some reason, you couldn't be blamed for missing it. Anyway, I've noticed it before, and have wanted to try it for a while. Many reviews say the service is very friendly and food is great, but a bit overpriced. I can now give my own opinion on this. Yes, the service is good. The food all came out within good time, and the wait staff were friendly (though I don't love staff touching my back when they fill up my water or something. It's my personal space, and I don't love it though it happened several times during the course of the meal). One thing they do which surprisingly a lot of places don't, is they wait for all at the table to be finished with their meal before clearing away the plates. I like that. It's good service and polite and diners don't feel rushed. The entree was heaven. I ordered the fried buffalo mozzarella sandwich. It was light and cheesy and beautifully presented. Everyone else ordered different items, but they all loved what they got, and were also presented well. They were out of a couple of items, which I don't think is good for a restaurant of this caliber, but I guess these things happen. For main, I got the spinach and ricotta gnocchi in a four cheese sauce and WOW. It was so good. Soooo good. I don't really think they needed to even wash my plate, as it was completely mopped up by the time they came for it. Dessert, though not needed, was the chocolate mousse tart, raspberry compote and a spiced mascarpone. As you can see, it was beautifully presented and plated and I didn't want to really start into it. For my liking, the compote was a bit too tangy, but everything else was lovely. So ... value. Yes, it is a little pricey. It definitely is. But this isn't the kind of place you come to often on a casual night. It's more like a bit of a treat. I mean, I ordered a coke, and it came in a can, but one of the mini cans, and it was $4. The mains were maybe a bit high, but then again the quality is great. Overall, I really would recommend trying it here. There's a great selection of beautiful wines, and a good choice of meals on the menu. Parking isn't too hard, and there's beautiful ambience and a lovely interior design. I will come back again for a birthday or something for sure.

My first time dining at Riserva and it was an amazing night out. Great food, service and atmosphere…read moreI will definitely be back again very soon!

It's rare to find a sophisticated bar outside of the CBD these days, and it's even rarer to find…read moreone that won't break your weekly drinking budget in one night. Hawker Beer and Wine Bar is located in the suburb of Highett just 30mins from Melbourne CBD. The bar is named after Harry Hawker, a local of the area. Harry George Hawker, was an Australian aviation pioneer. He was the chief test pilot for Sopwith and was also involved in the design of many of their aircraft. After World War One he co-founded Hawker Aircraft, the firm that would later be responsible for a long series of successful military aircraft. The bar itself is small and is directly across the road from the Highett train station, which seems to have some type of train passing through every 15mins. The fit-out is minimalistic, with large windows that give you a great view of the comings and goings in the area. What is great about this bar is the large cocktail list. With mostly original cocktails with a few traditional with a modern twist. The service is friendly and attentive, and I get the feeling if I lived in the area this would be my local. Apart from the great cocktails it has a good selection of beers and wines. It also had a pretty awesome snack menu, being provided by Typhoon, the Vietnamese restaurant next door. If you live in the area chances are you have either visited Hawker or know of it. If you haven't been do yourself a favour and pay them a visit, it won't disappoint.

This is another one of those really cool cafes that I sort of stumbled across as I was wandering…read morearound the place one day. It is sort of one of those places that has taken up residence in an old warehouse, and these places can actually be pretty cool. Well, that is the case with this place, and they also service a pretty decent cup of coffee as well. However, despite it being on a side street, and the middle of the week, this place certainly does attract the crowds.

Really nice brunch place south side in the Gardenvale area. We had an awesome lunch here of bloody…read moreMary's, eggs, smashed avocado, calamari and a breakfast bun. All was really good, service was great, and the space is really nice too. I'd definitely return if looking to meet someone south side for a nice casual breakfast/brunch/lunch.

This new hidden cocktail bar is already one of my favourites. Entering through a side door down a…read morelaneway, and climbing the stairs, opening the door as if to a house and being greeted so politely. The choice of the cocktail bad, whiskey and cigar room or the rooftop, delights me and caters or all your needs. The cocktails are strong, creative and use spirits and aperitifs in the most unique ways to deliver the most perfect cocktail. There are so many liqueurs, sprints and aperitifs that you wouldn't have even heard of. All the food sounds Devine, and the chocolate truffles are a slice of heaven. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Having recently taken the plunge into the world of wine, I stumbled along this venue by lack and…read morehaven't ever been disappointed amazing service, great knowledge from the staff. I have visited here many times bring friends who have all waljed away raving. The reason i was initially hooked however, was being new to the industry i walked in not know where to look and found great advice here with no pretenious attitudes just very welcoming and most of all an endless selection of amazing wines. Constantly being introduced to some unique and amazing wines

Fantastic little wine bar , very friendly service , great wine selection and a great spot for an…read moreafterwork drink for locals who can walk home come the bar. Tastefully decorated and has a great feel to it.

Visiting pubs is cool, but visiting themed bars is even better. I ended up here one day when I was…read morenot working and had just been to the cinema in Brighton, so I was making my way home and decided to visit some places that I hadn't normally visited - and this was one of those places. The name really does suit the place, or more so the place really does fit the name. There are a few rooms about with some lovely, and quite comfortable, chairs. In fact, it is the rooms that really give this place it's charm, including the outdoor area out the back. Okay, it was pretty quiet when I visited, but that also adds to the charm.

I don't know why I allow this quaint little bar slip out of my mind so often when I think of places…read moreto go out for a nice quiet drink with a couple of people or hold a small function. Antique Bar has a beautiful sophistication in the air and fine cocktails, wine and beer in the glasses. The décor will take you back to an age where everyone wore a suite just to go to the corner store. I think I have just talked myself into where I will be going tonight for a couple of quiet drinks.

This is the place you want to know from inside out. It just…read morelooks like any other shops in the neighborhood until you walk in and discover the hidden backyard garden. That's the wow moment when you don't want to sit outside neither are fond of the dim-light inside space. They offer good selections of wine and beer. Backyard offers the atmosphere for a fresh and delightful conversation with your friends meanwhile it he inside space provides a bit of magic for romance. It's a good place to drop-by without being too ambitious.

A much needed wine bar in Hawthorn - more please! With three spaces including a small but homely…read moreoutdoor space it appeals to a slightly more mature clientele than the local uni hotels. A rotating selection of wines by the glass and considerably more by the bottle, the team is more than happy for you to take a sip before you buy and pass on their recommendations. I haven't ventured further that the paprika spiced fries when it comes to food but they have a share plate concept with loads of seasonal tastes. Open Tuesday and Sunday and they welcome functions any day of the week!

This is somewhere I pass by many times, yet never stopped in. I finally tried it recently, and…read morefound it to be nice and enjoyable, but would I rush back? Read on ... The premises themselves are nice and modern. Everything is clean and sleek, and each table has a cute vase of flowers on them. However when the menus came out, they were just A4 sheets of paper. Nothing flash, and some quite dog eared and a bit dirty. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and it came on a potato rosti. I was very disappointed in the rosti; it was congealed and gluggy and had an oily taste, but the eggs were cooked well, the salmon fresh and the hollandaise quite tasty. Everyone else at my table liked what they ordered too. Everything came out in reasonable time, and items were well priced. The staff were friendly and attentive as well. The one thing that bugged me, but to a degree is somewhat out of the hands of the owners, is that the fresh flowers seemed to attract unwanted attention from fruit flies and little bug thingies. One even flew into my hollandaise and died there. I know they can't help little flying bug things, but it was the flowers and subsequently the food they were after and it is annoying eating while shooing away pests. Having said that, this quaint little spot is definitely worth a try at least once. I'd go back again if a friend in the area wanted to meet, but otherwise would maybe look to choose somewhere else.

Located on Waverley Road in Malvern East, Little Oak Eatery is a friendly neighbourhood café that…read morehas been around for about a year now. But last month, a new management has taken over and has bought about quite a few changes to make it the perfect neighbourhood and family friendly café in the area. We walked into Little Oak Eatery rather late for lunch, around 3pm. As we entered, one of the staff informed us that they would be able to serve us only coffee as the kitchen has closed for the day. We were a bit disappointed as the timings of the café said they were open till 4pm. She apologized and said that coffee, pastries and similar accompaniments were available but since we hadn't had lunch, we stepped out saying that we will return at another time. Within seconds, the owner of the café came out and invited us back inside saying that he can serve us lunch. He said that the kitchen was just beginning to close and since they hadn't put anything away, they can still accommodate our orders. And so we were back inside and seated for lunch. Loved the customer service, the friendliness of the staff and their willingness to go that extra mile and serve us with a smile. The café has a very inviting ambience; large windows ensure that the area is well lit. With plenty of space inside and outside, it is the perfect place to relax and stretch out your legs. A great space for families and also to catch up with friends over coffee. Soon the drinks and lunch menu was bought out. Normally, I would try out the coffee but this time I was in the mood for something lighter and refreshing so ordered the Lemongrass and Ginger tea. And I was glad for it because it was a good quality tea brewed to perfection. Little Oak Eatery has an all day breakfast menu that is served till 3pm daily and also a lunch menu. There are also daily specials depending on the fresh and seasonal produce available. They also have a small kids menu which has all the familiar comforting classics that you wish to see in your neighbourhood café. So the little fellow ordered Egg Soldiers; nothing gets him more excited on a weekend than runny eggs. The dish arrived in style; two perfectly done eggs placed on an egg carton and a few pieces of good quality toasted sour dough bread, the whole thing placed on a rustic wooden board. Apart from it tasting delicious, I loved the fact that an everyday breakfast dish was presented in such a beautiful manner that even a child would appreciate it. My choice was the potato rosti with smoked salmon and pickled mustard served with two poached eggs. Loved everything about this dish. Clean flavours and good quality ingredients; a fine example of not much cooking required when you have good produce. The rosti was crispy outside and soft inside and paired deliciously with the heat from the mustard and the smoky saltiness of the salmon. And perfectly poached eggs to elevate it to a hearty meal. And the hubby chose to have the crispy grilled salmon with assorted veggies and salsa verde. The salmon was cooked beautifully; crispy skin with soft flaky flesh (would have preferred a slightly bigger portion though). Really fresh veggies cooked to perfection and the tangy, herby salsa verde to tie it all together. Overall, it was a delicious and highly satisfying meal. The owner mentioned that he was still adding more dishes to the menu to cater to a wider audience. He also said that he was planning on getting a liquor licence so that the café could operate on weekend nights too (that would be really great). If you are taking a look at their menu on the website, it reads rather limited but the in house menu has much more to offer. We would definitely go back, especially on days when we just want to relax and indulge in simple yet delicious comfort food.