Kodiak Club, you made me feel at home. It was 4th of July, and my patriotic side came out. I felt…read morethe need to go somewhere...American. Thus I met Kodiak Club and got swept off my feet. Sippin' on Sam Adams and Founders Brews, when I saw the menu, I admit, I got a little carried away. I legit wanted to order it all. I saw food from home there that I hadn't seen in ages. The smokey BBQ wings were so tasty and cooked just right and not dry, they completely took me back to my favorite wing place in Miami. The mac-n-cheese croquettes fried in squares came out in threes and were crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside. I was just too overwhelmed getting to order classic mac-n-cheese. Yep, I'm one of those girls. And it was fried. Uh extra yasss, I'm all for it. It's 4th of July and you know Americans love us some fried food. To top off the night was a fried Twinkie. Need I say more? Oh- and I love the red, white and blue balloons. Very cool bar, awesome bourbon collection, cool mountain painting and wall art pieces. It's not over done like some places but just nice and easy on the eyes. And the staff were all great. You surprised me. You opened my eyes, expanded my waistline and got me excited and homesick all in one go. Thanks Kodiak Club.

This is my guilty pleasure! Buffalo wings are the best I've had in Melbourne, complimented well…read morewith poutine (cheese and gravy) chips. It is also Melbourne's only bourbon bar. Try the Kentucky yuppie - it's my fav! It's a chilled out place with friendly staff and our go to with my girlfriends because we can't get enough of the wings.

Once again we travel on our hunt around the area for Melbourne's best American BBQ. The last time…read morewe did this was to the Melbourne BBQ Festival at the Victoria Markets where we were immensely disappointed. We were determined on this Valentines Day evening for a Melbourne BBQ redemption, and Ike's did not let us down. We were seated straight away, and our waitress (I think her name was Katie) was an absolute hoot. She had my wife in stitches with laughter. The jokes were just bouncing back and forth until we eventually ordered. I ordered a half pound of pork ribs, whereas the other half went the lamb ribs. Between us, we shared home made cornbread & a salsa dish. I honestly did not have enough time to grab my phone to check in on social media sites, and BANG!!! The food was served. There is no way to describe what sort of party my taste buds were having in my mouth, however this party could have made some serious money on cover charges to this party. The cornbread was nothing like I have tasted before, and after visiting diners in 34 American States which I have visited, this cornbread leaves the rest for dead. The salsa with its secret little ingredients was hard to put down, and then the meat. It just melted in your mouth. When we initially started talking to the waitress she asked if we had been to Le Bon Ton in Richmond as a comparison, where she explained that Ike's is better. Big shoes to fill but they did not disappoint.

The service here is great and I really love it but the food this time round was a slight let down…read morefor me. They had no daily specials so the Brussels sprouts, watermelon salad and corn salad not to mention the bean kimchi accompaniments were all gone. In their place was a potato waffle and chicken gravy which were good but not great and roasted red peppers which I thought was the best thing we ate. Our half pound of pork ribs looked pretty lonely served on some baking paper on a metal lunch tray with some cabbage and I kind of felt a little like I was in jail or a canteen. Whilst it was a bit more practical space wise it really lost it's appeal for me. All in all I had difficulty deciding what to eat from the menu because I don't love the smokiness of ribs and mainly ate the sides which were good just not great. I'd drop it to a 3.5 stars and not too sure I'd be back but my partner gives it a 4 stars.

The manager, a female whose name I don't know, was kind enough to hold our table even though we…read morewere running late due to a tardy tram. This was my daughter's 18th birthday celebration dinner, and the kind manager approached our table, wished my daughter a happy birthday, and asked if she could get my daughter anything special. My daughter asked for apple cider--the first time she has ever tasted alcohol--which the manager gave her on the house. I told the manager that, unlike her friends, my daughter never drank before turning 18, and tonight at Belles, was her first drink. The manager congratulated her, and gave my daughter a fist-bump, which meant so much to my daughter. Thank you for making it such a special night for my daughter.

This was my second time at Belle's as I needed to try the "really f**kin hot" and shared a medium…read moreheat tenders with my boyfriend last time. Came in a group of 8 and the staff were accommodating and got us 2 tables. The tap beer is decent value for money as it's slightly larger than a schooner. Now for the chicken. The wings are actual wings and seems like all the chicken comes in 4 pieces and solid portion of sides. The "really f**kin hot" has a good kick. For me it wasn't melt my mouth hot but still gave a decent chilli sweats. It is heavily coated in the spice seasoning which is rather powdery and sticks to your fingers. The medium is still rather spicy though for those without the desire to die by chilli. The winter is a good side and a slightly spicy seasoning on the fries. The blue cheese sauce was pretty eh. Diffuses the chilli but was more like ranch sauce. I would say it's worth the hype, plus you get to take home any leftovers. Also avoid touching your eyes or sensitive skin after as even hours later my eyes still felt line they were on fire when I took my contacts out

I'm still a fan. I came back and tried the pulled pork sandwich. Yes, it was a little on the zesty…read morespicy side. But it was equally flavorful, and the pork was cooked just right. It wasn't oozing in barbecue sauce, like I am normally used to, but it had enough flavor and kick to it without the extra sauce. And it wasn't dry, some places can mess that up when it comes to barbecue, but obviously they know what they're doing at Le Bon Ton. The drinks menu has a lot to offer and many enticing choices. The cocktail I tried was the Minnie the Moocher; solely for the fact that I've never tried Absinthe before and I knew this was a Absinthe place, so I saw it on the menu and there you go. It was good, and I'd recommend it to anyone else.

Sensational burgers, cocktails were great, atmosphere just right. The chili cheese fries needed…read moremore cheese but I'm not complaining.

We had an absolutely delicious meal at Smith & Daughter. Every dish was full of flavor. I'm a…read moresauce lover, and they have great sauces. We started with the mushroom skewers, which were perfectly grilled. The pole beans were crisp and seasoned nicely...they were thick and hearty. We took a chance on the red beans and rice. One of our favorite food vacations is New Orleans. I will not doubt this chef again..they were delicious... comforting and flavorful. I would definitely get them again. I do wish the plantains were traditionally made though. The star for me was definitely the country fried lion's mane. Crispy, hearty, and so well-seasoned. I've wanted to try lion's mane for a while. This was the best place to try it. I'm not usually a big dessert person, but the chocolate brownie with biscotti-flavored ice cream had me claiming my fair share (my husband usually gets most of the dessert to himself!). The decor was modern but also cozy and inviting. It really made for a great night out. I don't know how we skipped over the bbq brisket. We will definitely be back to try it!

Melbourne's bustling scene of vegetarian restaurants includes one I thought I'd never see: a vegan…read moreSpanish tapas place. Besides having transformed a vegetarian-unfriendly cuisine, they've also managed to do it in a fairly prominent corner, and fill their tables (both the individual ones and the communal table I sat at and the bar) with a very typical-looking bunch of Australians. It is not what one expects of an all-plant restaurant; the mainstream, hipster-ness of it all was quite unique to Melbourne. Like most tapas places, you'll pay a lot of money for a little food and probably like it. I only tried the chickpea soup and some sort of soda, though people sitting next to me ordered all kinds of delicious-looking things that I could only ogle. The soup was appealing enough that I finished a large bowl rather quickly. I would struggle to pay up for it on a regular basis if I lived in Melbourne, but I certainly would want to come with a group and try everything. It seemed like this place was a success.

You won't find a cuter restaurant than Grub. It's located in the artsy and hipster neighborhood of…read moreFitzroy, which is a vibe in itself. The seating is inside what is essentially a greenhouse. There are plants everywhere; standing, hanging, you name it. You can see herbs and veggies growing for use in their dishes. The decor is eclectic. You can look around during your entire meal and keep discovering new things. The food is very pure, made with super fresh, whole ingredients. The flavors and combinations can be very unique. I had the Potato Leek Soup. It was light, flavorful, and topped with freshly-picked herbs. My only complaint is that the portions were tiny. Prices were also high for the portion size. I wanted to order another entree but couldn't justify the price. I think this is better suited for a light snack or a coffee, but the uniqueness factor is worth a visit.

Just off a side street in Brunswick, Grub Food Van is best being swept away from the hustle and…read morebustle main street so you can focus on everything they have to offer. It's eccentric and rustic and different and welcoming all at the same time. There's that shiny silver food truck van outside, so it's very hard to miss. The outside bit would be perfect in a warm sunny day, they have carpets on the ground and astro-turf. Heading inside you get another feel. There's an indoor garden thing happening, plants everywhere lining the walls and wherever they could squeeze. There's a fireplace. The tables are different and all are cosy. There are doll heads and children's toys and bird cages. Things get even better. The menu is very unique and it's just been updated with their new winter items, oh my. For drinks, the Hot Toddy was great for me, boozy on the nose, it was cinnamony delicious. Got to sample the kangaroo tar tare, the mushrooms, avocados, sardines, and octopus among others. The mushrooms are yum, the avocado was good, the octopus was scrumptious, and the kangaroo was tasty. For the main, I was in between the salmon, the quail or the rabbit. I was suggested to go with the salmon, and I was a happy camper. (My neighbors having the beef short ribs and mussels and rabbit all said that is where it's at too!) As far as desserts are concerned, they have baked goodies that are made fresh daily, when they run out, they are gone. I got the sticky date pudding that was topped with vanilla bean ice cream and came surrounded by the lovely sauce. Oh my gosh, thinking about it makes me wish I could teleport there just for it. Wow, my taste buds and belly were in heaven. It wasn't overly sweet, the cake was fluffy and flavorful, the sauce only added to everything going on. It went so well together that each scoop I wanted to fit everything onto my spoon. Cake, ice cream and sauce. I was taking it all in and having a moment with my dessert and I couldn't brag more about how good it was to end my meal and experience here on that sweet balanced note. Oh and the host for the evening, she was from France and such a doll with us, suggestions, descriptions and being ever so friendly with a loud group of foodie Yelpers.

American eats have become so ubiquitous around Melbourne these days, it's easy to forget there's…read moreplaces that do it as well as The Gem does. Beef brisket was *outstanding*, as was the pulled-pork burger. From all reports from mates who have frequented this place lately, it's hard to go wrong with anything you order. (Having said that, I'd pass on the cornbread next time. Didn't stack up to the real thing for me, but it's a small thing!) Beers are a buck or two on the pricey side of things, but even if you are just here for a few drinks that's a price worth paying as the front bar just has a great feel to it.

Well, with something live 35 reviews this place certainly seems to be a really popular place, but…read morethen again I worked that that the few times I've been here - it's absolutely packed, at least in the bar (it seems that there were some seats in the dining area), and the seating out the front is always full. Mind you, that probably has a lot to do with the really friendly staff, the decent beers on tap, and the fact that it is basically pretty cool. Mind you, it is hidden away on the back streets, which basically means that only the people in the know really know about this place, so you are less likely to get random people simply walking in off the streets. Still, it's a pretty cool pub, though I do prefer my pubs to have places where I can sit down.

I don't always eat burgers, but when I do, I prefer Butchers Diner. Their burgers are like a work…read moreof art, if art could be eaten and enjoyed with a side of fries. The patty was cooked to perfection, and the toppings were like a party in my mouth. And the fries? They were like the perfect wingman, always there to make sure the burger looked good and tasted even better. If you're looking for a burger that will make you want to write a poem about it, this is the place.

The food was excellent as was the hospitality of the order taker. This was a new experience for us…read moreand he made it easy. They are open very last we went after seeing the evening show of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (also excellent).

Get smashed on the Smash!!!…read more Sydney's burger game leaves a lot to be desired t so I decided to check out Melbourne's burger game...and sweet mother of mercy I've been missing out! Already kind of full from a meal at Bowery to Williamsburg earlier, I didn't care and split a Smash with my gf along with a side of Mac & Cheese. The Mac & Cheese was good at first but didn't taste as good as time went on...but who cares! We came for the burger... This burger is more on the gourmet burger side than greasy diner burger but with greasy diner burger prices. The meat was tender and juicy, the bun not too sweet and that sauce...DAT SAUCE. Oh man I wish this place could open in Sydney...the burger kind of reminded me of Mary's burger without the veggies. Hnnnggghhhh I want another one

Rockwell and Sons, Collingwood. November 21, 2012…read more Rockwell and Sons brings an interesting juxtaposition to the Smith Street strip, with the food balancing between comforting American soul food and dishes that lean towards fine dining. On the first visit it'll be hard to get past the alluring meats in buns (let's all agree to retire "dude food"), but the rest of the menu is worth exploring, especially as it's designed to share with the whole table. Chef and owner Casey Wall, from North Virginia, by way of some top restaurants in New York (Spotted Pig included) and Cutler & Co, brings an experience and passion of American classics to Melbourne, and it delivers on all fronts. The room goes for the sparse industrial feel with concrete floors, plain wood and open ceilings, which fits perfectly into Collingwood and the homely food. The service is led by Manu Potoi, from Wellington and ex-Attica, and brings a casual polish to the experience. Drinks have a strong beer focus, including some great local brews like the Mountain Goat Triple Hightail, which suits the food, but does feature a short, well-selected list of wines as well (and spirits too). The highlight for me is the Wednesday night fried chicken, which is not to discredit the rest of the menu (which I'll cover another time), but this offers something unique to Melbourne dining. This week's review in The Age's Epicure details the lengthy 3-day process of delivering the perfect fried chicken, and perfection it is. This is the kind of fried chicken that you lie awake at night thinking about- crispy batter, that doesn't ooze grease, which melts into tender, juicy meat. As well as offering a whole fried chicken, the $60 meal comes with all the Southern-style trimmings, which would feed three people easily, or four to five if you want to explore some of the other temptations on the menu as well. Accompanying the chicken are the best biscuits (if you don't know about biscuits, think lighter, fluffier scones and you're almost there) you've ever eaten; soft and delicate inside with a flaky, buttery crust. Made with Myrtleford buttermilk (which I love, and is gracing menus Melbourne-wide) these biscuits are magnificent towers and beg to be torn into. The "mac and cheese" is rich and moreish without being overpowering, and the coleslaw is lively, with a light creaminess. On this occasion the other sides, which change week to week, were grilled asparagus with that sweet char, and pickled vegetables which brought the palate alive amongst the rich dishes. We also had the "hush puppies" as well- crisp, yet fluffy, deep fried nuggets of cornmeal batter served with maple syrup butter. The hush puppies themselves did not blow me away, but with the maple syrup butter it had a captivating balance of salt and sugar. After only being open a few months, Rockwell and Sons is hitting its stride, with fantastic word-of-mouth and great reviews, and it's going to get busy- make sure you call up and book your Wednesday night fried chicken now

I've seen plenty of things about this place so when we went to Melbourne this was a must. While I…read morewish we had the time to see this place in person the rain and bad traffic said otherwise. The food came fast on Uber Eats and while a tad warm since it took the guy on the bike 30 min to get to our hotel it was still poppin. I had the Melbourne madness and my homie had the Easey's cheese. Both were super tasty clean flavor with every nuance from the vegetables to the beef itself shining through. The fries could've been amazing if they didn't sit for that long but the seasoning carried this from cold to good. Overall I'd easily throw this in the rotation for when I come back to Melbourne though something I'd probably do in person. Charrd and Elmo's has an easy run for their money!

We encountered this restaurant on socials, of course. What drew us was the ability to dine in a…read moretrain car. However, when we arrived, all of the train cars were full, and we do not have a reservation, which we were unsure that we could make. We were offered a table on another section of the rooftop restaurant. You order with the QR menu. We opted for a double patty cheeseburger and then we ordered two bacon cheeseburgers and a side of chips as well as a Coke. Super cool funky vibes overall with the graffiti and view. We were able to take a picture of the train car, which is super cool. The food came out rather quick. All of the burgers tasted delicious and had plenty of toppings on them. The fries were also delicious. It was one of our favorite meals while visiting Sydney. Definitely recommend to others.