BangPop is a nice little spot right on the river in Melbourne. Came here for a quick trip and was…read morecraving Thai. Ended up grabbing a spot at the bar top. I wasn't too hungry so decided on the crying tiger salad and the waitress convinced me to get the sticky rice to go with it due to the sauce goes well with the rice. She was absolutely correct. The salad wasn't too big but with the rice is was a perfect amount. It was tangy, sweet and I added some chilis and it gave it the perfect amount of spice. I ordered a glass of red wine and it was a perfect solo date night! Would come back to this Thai place again. Come early it can get jammed packed.

Our orders were missed and cancelled without our knowledge…read more Food was delayed +++ Not tasty at all , not the best Thai we have eaten We ordered first and we were the last ones to eat. Disappointed

Gayle and I arrived at our Southbank Hotel in Melbourne mid-day after a flight to MEL from…read moreLaunceston, plus the ride into town. We were hungry and it was just a short walk to the many places to eat along the Yarra River. There were lots of folks out on this nice day, but also because the Moomba Festival and Formula One was in town. We walked a bit and randomly decided to try out Bearbrass. On this long trips, the food choices run together, and for our Australia vacation, I remember a lot of fish and chips, burgers, and other casual pub fare. Whatever Gayle and I chose hit the spot, along with beer and wine of course. We both thought that initial service was a little off, but picked up well after a bit of a wait.

We had breakfast at this little gem on Melbourne. Everything was delicious and fresh. I'd eat…read morethere again if I was in the area. Located right on the Yarra River in Melbourne. Give them a try when in Melbourne. Happy eating and Alooooooooha.

Great service, staff were exceptionally attentive and the food was delicious. Highly recommended!"read more

There is truly never anything to complain about when we dine at Taxi Kitchen. Every visit is a…read morememorable experience, from the exceptional staff who make you feel genuinely welcomed, to the outstanding food that is consistently creative and delicious. The atmosphere is vibrant yet refined, the décor is stylish and thoughtfully designed, and the overall experience feels personal and effortlessly enjoyable. Taxi Kitchen continues to exceed expectations and remains a place we look forward to returning to time and time again.

Loved the food here, great atmosphere and service. I chose the Steak sandwich and it was delicious…read more It was nice to have the music on the patio while we ate.

Hi my family and I were over from Adelaide for the weekend. We decided to go to your establishment…read moreon Saturday 20th July @1930. We walked in and walked straight up to the bar and asked the two gentlemen behind the bar if meals were still being served they replied YES take a menu sit anywhere and when your ready to order come back up. Now mind you my daughter was standing next to me with a starbucks drink. We found a table started looking at the menu when another gentlemen came up to the table and said you can't have that in here and moved it away from my daughter, he then lifted it up again and said you can't have that in here because we dont know what's in it. To which I replied my daughter is 13 what do you think is in it, we stood up and walked out. We found somewhere else to go. On returning to out hotel we walked past and I saw a family walking out and at least 3 off them had drink bottles on them that were NOT clear so my question is they were allowed too as adults but my 13 yr old daughter could not. We were so looking forward to eating there because we had heard so many great reviews.

Great ambiance, vibe, and decor. A visual and audible treat. I especially liked the 80's music…read moreplaying throughout the dining room. Service is quick, friendly, and attentive. Good menu with a lot of interesting options. Tried three different appetizers and the winner was the sashimi. Wonderful flavors with king fish. The butter chicken with curry was excellent. Just wish it came with some naan to soak up that wonderful sauce. Cocktails are creative and great. Just a bit measured and small, but I get it. Would dine here again and again.

The ambience was very social. Seemed like everyone wanted to be here as there was a wait list and…read morevery limited seats for walk ins. Make reservations! They also have a downstairs bar too with seating that was also booked and packed. Nice variety of dishes, chef curated plates that were visually pleasing to the eye. The drinks while good and unique were carefully measured and extremely small for the price points. 3 cocktails and I didn't feel buzzed. I feel like Australia is very big on preventing intoxication. One of the few places that had knowledgeable staff and to my surprise actually nice and welcoming. I tried the BBQ Salmon wrapped in a banana leaf, braised beef curry, and a couple of drinks. Rather your traveling or a local who hasn't tried this place, it definitely should be on your radar. I was traveling from California and ChinChin was by far the most memorable dining experience I had.

I have no idea who Polly is, but I will say that she is damn clever. In fact, let's nominate her…read morefor a Nobel-Frickin-Prize and get it over and done with. Fill an intimate space with warm lighting, pack it with natural wines and craft beer, throw in friendly staff and then shove in a tiny open kitchen producing great value and interesting food and you have yourself a winner. I really enjoyed my first experience here. The bread and olive oil is outstanding and a good way to line the stomach. You'll be offered more bread, but show some restraint because you'll want to save room for proper food. The menu is short, inventive and for the most part exceptional value. A slippery jack, liver and coffee dish clocks in at only $17 and is a really terrific combination of flavours and textures. A smoked sweet potato with onion puree was cheaper still and very satisfying even for meat-o-saurs like us. The Wallaby "carpaccio" is mis-leadingly named. It's less carpaccio and more rare steak meaning it's terrific value for those wanting a hunk of protein; the contrast of creamy macadamia nuts a great addition. The cheese plate ($30 for three small slithers), in comparison to these house-made dishes, seemed a tad expensive. Like Stephanie, I thought the glass pour was a little stingy and found better value in the carafe and bottle prices. Most of the wine is natural, which means you'll be trying some very interesting vino if you plunder the entire list. I don't know of any other bottle shop and/or restaurant in Australia that specialises purely in natural wines so I was pretty much in heaven with the selection. Also, did you know that natural wines generally have less/no preservatives added meaning less of a hangover in the morning? If you choose carefully this can be a really great experience. My advice is to stick to things that are cooked in house and drink bigger portions of wine! Pro tips: - This is also a bottle shop so buy something to take home, or just pop in when you want a bottle of something interesting. - Beer lover are also well taken care of with a huge craft selection. - At lunch time they do a $25 lunch special. 2 courses and a glass of wine!

Melbourne is a treasure trove of hidden gems and Clever Polly's is an exciting recent addition…read more Even living in the area, it took nearly six months to notice it. In fact, it took crossing paths with one of the staff, a veteran of the cafe scene, to become aware of its existence. Nestled amongst a block of hairdressers and small bars, Clever Polly's is an interesting concept of a restaurant crossed with a boutique wine bar and bottle shop. Its design like that of a typical cafe with a large communal table, long bar and a scattering of small tables - and it could almost be seen as one on a passing glance if it weren't for the giant wall of wine bottles. Seating on the bar gave an intimate view of the small and simple kitchen, consisting of a few induction cooktops and a toasting oven, and a focal point of the shiny red hand-cranked meat slicer. This is matched by the simple of powerful food menu. There is a selection of cured meats, starters, mains, cheeses and desserts, each with a handful of items. The menu caters for all with a mix of vegetarian, seafood and meat options. On this visit I went straight a main dish and opted for the Saltgrass lamb with beetroot, mustard greens and balsamic juice with a side of kipfler potatoes with chipotle mayo. My eyes have been opened to the world of beetroot. There is not one but three different style of beetroot in this dish - beetroot jam, pickled beetroot and golden beetroot. These unique flavours mix well with the tender and flavoursome lamb cuts, topped with a nice bite from the mustard leaves. The kipflers were a great side, cooked in duck fat and herbs and a spice kick, but not overpowering, from the chipotle mayo. Intrigued by the dessert selection, I finished with the Ginger poached peach on a bed of lavender and honeycomb parfait, topped a slice of burnt honey meringue. Words cannot describe this tantalising flavour combination. The sweet parfait and meringue combined with the still sweet but slight hint of spice from the ginger poaching. Divine. Coming from the children's book Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf - a story about a clever girl who outsmarts a wolf - Clever Polly's really is a testament to its name, with its exciting and smart dining concept.

love this place, always a treat!! great selection of food…read moreavailable, warm and fun atmosphere as well as incredible service. i think i can safely say ive tried most if not all of the menu items by now and nothing ever has disappointed.

Chotto Motto is a really cute new Japanese gyoza & craft beer bar in Collingwood. It's impossible…read moreto walk past and not want to have a look inside. On the outside there's a cool Japanese language inspired black and white mural, and inside there's lots of art, ornaments and fun things to see. Gyoza are the main item on the menu, and there's quite a few different types to choose from. We also loved the fries with tasty sauce and cauliflower karaage with a delicious sauce. You need to order food and drinks at the counter and there's not too many seats available, though we did spot some large communal tables for groups. The craft beer selection is great. Lots of Japanese beers and Melbourne craft beers that fit the theme. You choose which beer you want from a big vending machine and pay at the counter. There's also a "mystery beer" option if you can't decide. The food & ambience were really nice, and despite a few opening hiccups you can tell that they will iron these out and it will be a great addition to Collingwood. It would be great to have a couple more vegetarian options on the menu (maybe one more type of gyoza), table service and some more seating. Despite all that, I'm looking forward to visiting again soon.

This place is seriously great. It's a lovely sake bar with an extensive selection and great…read morespecials on different days. The bar staff are pleasant and willing to suggest things for you based on your taste. The real bonus is that they're connected to the restaurant next door, so you can get a menu and sit at the bar with a mate (you know who you are #wink) and have dinner with your drinks. The food from there has been lovely each time I've gone. Try the edamame. Always a good choice.

A great sake bar in Melbourne for when you need to feel like you're somewhere else, far away from…read morethe usual rowdy Melbourne elbow benders! Ideal for groups of two or four. Dimly lit. Friendly staff. Comfy wooden stools. Tiny courtyard at the back. Nicely designed. Happy hour on Friday nights with a decent $6 house sake (warm or chilled) sets a good tone for the weekend. The food, ordered at the bar but prepared by izakaya chuji next door is decent.