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.

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

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".

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 selection of choices for a 3 course dinner is great value at $55.00. For my entree I chose the…read morepan fried scallops with black pudding. I can't recall ever trying black pudding before but our waitress recommended this dish and she was right as the flavours were definately complimentary and the presentation was spot on. For main I chose the linguini marinara, which was served with generous pieces of prawns, mussels, calamari and pieces of fish. If souffle is on the menu for dessert I like to choose that as I think it's something special & delicate to end a meal. This particular souffle was a delectable combination of raspberry and mint with vanilla ice cream alongside. There's such a large cheese selection that you could also just come here for a delicious cheese platter if that takes your fancy.

WOW. What a wonderful afternoon we had at Two Tall Chefs yesterday. Living just up the road, my…read morepartner and I had been intending to go for YONKS but simply could not find the time. We strutted in on a Sunday afternoon and were directed to their outdoor seating, which happens to be in the carpark next door. I'll be honest, it was a bit of a strange sensation to be sitting in a half-empty carpark and with only the faintest of music playing. I felt a bit pervy as I was so clearly able to hear the other guests conversations. If I'm honest, we were really worried about our venue choice. But suddenly, the tables were turned. A very tall chef came out and said hello, recommended some beers and wine to us and explained how the cheese platters worked. As soon as the cheese landed on our table we were won over. The four cheese platter contained a perfect selection of brie, blue, cheddar and a fourth cheese that was so incredibly delicious that I am still dreaming about it. This included crusty bread, Lavosh crackers, pear, quince and grapes. All this for only $24. What more do you want? While the wine selection is large, they only do one by the glass and it changes every day, so be sure to ask what's on offer. They also do lunch and dinner but due to the quirky interior (there's not many tables), I definitely think this is more a place for a casual wine and cheese session.

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.

Dr Morse, you have made a fan out of me. I've got mad love for this place…read more Came in for Saturday morning brunch and with the decent weather, decided to sit outside. This place has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating we snagged a table outside without issue. With the outside bar, we ordered and paid at the counter then endured the short wait for coffee and food. Now my latte was a bit more on the milky side, but today I was totally ok with having a milder coffee. Then brunch came. Now I was expecting greatness but was hesitant as to whether these guys and gals could deliver. But they did! I ordered the Dr Morse Benedict with bacon. I was totally not expecting the chilli, coriander and spring onion to compliment the panko-crusted eggs, roti and bacon. But holy toledos it was divine! The fresh chilli added a nice heat with each mouthful without being overwhelming, the cilantro added a nice subtle flavour without overpowering the dish. The spicy hollondaise had a lightness to it that complimented the saltiness and heaviness of the bacon. Oh and the roti. Never in my life have I enjoyed such a flaky and crisp roti and I'll never forget it. My meal was just perfection. I'm almost sure the eggs were supposed to be poached, in which case they were totally overdone but I actually preferred it more. Sadly, my partner wasn't too crazy about his poached eggs and sourdough with added heirloom tomato and bacon. The tomatoes were underseasoned and it was questionable whether he received a sourdough bread. I also got a chai latte to go which was delicious. Highly recommended, there seriously ain't nothing better than an epic brunch in the sun to fill a happy belly and put a smile on your face, and this place nails it.

I tend to show up to Dr Morse for cheeky drinks. Tough day at work? Let's meet at Morsey's. Long…read moreweek? We end up at Morsey's. Just not ready to deal with the train traffic? Morsey's! Gotta admit though, I've never actually been here for food. I've just come to know it as my cheeky drink place. It helps that it's right in between Victoria Park station and my current workplace. If you walk in an L-shape that is. The drinks at Dr. Morse are always spot on. The cocktail options always change. The beer is always crafty and top notch. Extra kudos for having 'Tight Arse Tuesdays,' 'When in Ramen,' taco days and bbq's. Oh and the retractable roof in the back courtyard. I cannot imagine a better investment for this unnatural Melbourne weather.

From the outside it may not look like a pumping a cafe, but head on in and a charming environment…read moreawaits. Go further in and find the green oasis in the courtyard at the back - perfect on a sunny day. Feeling a little worse for wear? Grab a Bloody Mary or some strong coffee from Seven Seeds. The fresh OJ is delicious, but at $6.50 the "large" wasn't all that generous. It was mostly ice and foam. The bircher is legit. Oats mixed with with almonds, nutmeg, loads of berries and rosewater spiked yoghurt. The $12 pricetag and pretty pink hue makes me want to eat it every day. The smashed avo on sourdough ($11) comes with the option of an additional tomato salad or broadbeans/ goat cheese combo for an extra $4. We went with the broadbeans in attempt to get more roughage, though it was more cheese than broadbeans. Oh well, it's the thought that counts, right? With a great booze list and loads of brunchy options available until 3pm, I can imagine this as a great Sunday session location when you need just a little more than a hair of the dog.

Oh Carolina! A group…read moreof colleagues and I ducked in here for a quick work lunch recently and there were no regrets! It's a funky little venue with nick naks on the walls to keep you occupied while you wait for your meal. The food was fresh and vibrant. Between us we sampled the Fritters, Vietnamese chicken salad and the Avocado toast. Service is friendly and efficient and the overall vibe is relaxed.

Tiny little quiches. Tiny little square of chocolate mousse. Victorian environment. Baroque music…read more Perfect service. Cute place unless you are very hungry.

The historic interior of this building (one of Melbourne's oldest banks) is the real drawcard here,…read morewith soaring ceilings and ornate touches everywhere you look. But the food isn't bad either, not bad at all. In fact, it's pretty good. They've got a $20 lunch menu that includes a drink (house wine, beer, cider, or soft drink), which is a pretty good deal considering the portion sizes here are on the larger side. I came here with some former colleagues of mine and we all enjoyed our meals. I love that this place offers not one but TWO vegan options, and both are clearly marked on the menu -- the zucchini and macadamia burger, and the quinoa and black rice salad. I'm almost always in the mood for a burger over a salad, so I went with the burger. You have to specify vegan, so they'll take the cheese off and put it in a pumpkin-seed vegan bun ($2 extra -- their regular buns are not vegan). The zucchini and macadamia burger was delish. I really enjoyed it and would happily go back and order it again. Not wild about paying $2 extra for a vegan bun, but given the owner of this place also owns Father's Office and their vegan burger didn't even COME with a bun (sorry lettuce wrap, I require carbs) -- really, I didn't mind paying the extra two dollars. Staff was knowledgeable and accommodating, but the food was painfully slow to come out. That's my only real gripe with this place. The atmosphere is amazing (thanks to the historic charm of the building), the food is tasty, the service was nice enough, but the food was way too slow to arrive. Not great if you're in the middle of a work day and just wanted a lunch that would take around an hour or less. This lunch took closer to an hour and a half, and I'd say the restaurant was about 60-70% full, not completely full. So I wouldn't advise coming here when you're in a hurry to get back to the office. Other than that, though, we really enjoyed our meals and the experience. I'd definitely recommend it.

Located in a restaurant filled alleyway. This place is one of many. I'm glad we stopped by…read more Beautifully presented food and tasty! The bloody Mary was so good. Just the right taste of spice. I enjoyed my brekkie plate. The pancakes were nice and crisp with a gentle sweetness. My partner enjoyed his soup as well. I am obsessed with Affogatos so this one certainly hit the spot.

This is another one of those really charming cafes that happen to be hidden down one of Melbourne's…read moremany laneways. I should mention that it is best to get here pretty early since I have discovered that it does get quite packed with all of the morning workers swarming through here. However, it is a pretty cool place to grab some breakfast, and they also have some really nice options on the menu as well. Oh, and the staff are also really, really good.