I probably shouldn't call this place a pub, namely because it happens to be a bar, but it is a…read morerather nice one at that. Like a lot of bars, it is rather narrow, but it does have a couple of levels, including a couple of rooftop decks up above. Also, they have a nice lounge area there as well, something that a lot of pubs seem to be missing. Oh, and it also has some nice beers on tap as well.

For Cajun food in Australia, this is pretty impressive…read more There's a pretty good rotating beer list, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about what's on tap. The beer flights are also recommended if you're indecisive! As far as food went, I really liked the deep fried mac and cheese, and the shrimp po boy was quite tasty, but could do with a bit more remoulade. We also got the Dom and that was INSANE! I have no idea how one person is supposed to eat all of that. It was really tasty though, but I felt like I was going to explode from eating it. There's also a very impressive collection of hot sauces you can try with your meal, including one with a "try at your own risk" label on it! It's in a pretty convenient location, although being above Camberwell station does mean it can be a bit noisy.

The recently re-booted rooftop bar of the Rivoli cinema makes use of what has mostly been an…read moreunderutilised outdoor space. Offering a small selection of beers, wines and cocktails, as well as some more serious food options if choctops and popcorn isnt going to cut it', this bar provides a pleasant place to meet for a drink pre or post movie. Also worth noting that you don't need a movie ticket to venture up the stairs and enjoy the laid back LA poolside vibe.

I probably shouldn't call this place a pub, namely because it happens to be a bar, but it is a…read morerather nice one at that. Like a lot of bars it is rather narrow, but it does have a couple of levels, including a couple of roof top decks up above. Also, they have a nice lounge area there as well, something that a lot of pubs seem to be missing. Oh, and it also has some nice beers on tap as well.

It's still how I remember it albeit minus the hard leather chairs and cigars ... still very relaxed…read moreand with an extensive cocktail menu. What is also different now is the stock of these weird beers that are actually quite good!! Looking around I see a lot of middle mgt men type with their PAs? haha hmmm

Resistance Bar and Cafe is closed. Gone from the arcade near the station. Served some great burgers…read moreunique to the area but now gone.

I loved this bar so much that I actually came back again latter the same night with my mate to have…read moreanother beer. It is basically one of those hole in the wall bars, but it is actually located in a small arcade that runs down the side of Glenfernie railway station. I stumbled across it one afternoon, wandered inside and ending up having a great conversation with the bar tender. When it comes to beers, they have some pretty good ones of tap, however, while it didn't seem to be much at first, when I discovered the basement I literally fell in love with the place. That basement is so laid back and relaxing, and it just feels like one of those places that I could spend hours in with a group of friends.

Down a darkened alley across from a dodgy train station, this old school blue light disco…read moreestablishment turned geek heaven awaits punters on the weekends. Beta Bar gas a certain demographic - video gamers, tabletop crusaders, pop culture aficionados and a strange punk meets goth chic. It's definitely nothing special to look at, but this dark and dingy collection of rooms caters to the audience well. Across most walls are big TVs playing games from all genres. Want something casual? Check out the Mario Kart or Rock Band areas. How about the latest indie games from Australia? Crawl and others are on regular rotation. Goldeneye to Point Blanc, the bar really does have it all. The drinks are nothing fancy, a few drinks on tap and then your basics. They often do themed cocktail specials depending on the occasion. Beta Bar host a number of themed events, usually tied to game that encourages people to dress up and get cheaper entry for doing so. This alone creates an atmosphere that is creative, and the fact that venue has a strict policy of crafting a safe and creative space, means everyone just goes with it regardless if they are into the theme or not. They also have a tonne of board games that you can check out while at the bar. I saw a bunch of people grab games and sit at a table alone, only to be surrounded by strangers in a few moments eager to meet and play some games.They also have regular singles nights if you are into that kind of thing. Is it the classiest place in town? No, but it certainly is unique. It won't be a regular spot for me, but it deserves the four stars for celebrating games culture without fulfilling the stereotypes, while avoiding the hipster arcade bar vibe that a number of other places are delivering.

Great owners, really fun bar with lots of games, and an energetic crowd. I always stop by when in…read moreMelbourne.

What an amazing restaurant! The moment we walked in the door we were treated as VIPs. Lena was our…read morehostess and was amazing. Her suggestion on the dishes was excellent, the quality of the food was so fresh that we watched the chefs shuck the oysters as they were ordered. Lena also suggest a new drink "Apple pie" which was tasty and went with the dish I ordered. Every staff member spoke to us and even though they were flat out, they gave us plenty of time to order and also have a chat. The restaurant was spotlessly clean and beautifully designed. A great variety on the menu. I will be going back and telling all my friends about it. Thank you for making our night out a very pleasant one.

Awesome experience all round from the time we entered. Exceptional staff that are attentive and…read moreinformative from start to finish. The mussel entree was interesting and delicious. Gnocchi like velvet and squid ink prawn pasta to die for. Great drinks list. Best place in Hawthorn. Will be back.

St Cloud had a nice ambience as soon as I walked in, it was modern with exquisite styling. The…read moreservice was very good, served immediately as soon as we walked in. Attended us very often to clear plates and refill water. Only one minor hiccup was when the lady reached across the table to serve the beer rather than coming around but this was very minor. The food soon came after ordering and the salads came first. The young papaya salad came first. The flavour was fresh, probably because it was opening day but lacking interesting and exciting Vietnamese flavours although the chilli added a nice spice. Unfortunately a bit boring 4/10. Next came the Vietnamese slaw which came with Grilled Organic Chicken. Both were $8, the chicken only came with 5 pieces which is not worth what we paid for. The slaw was all cabbage and didn't have any fish sauce or lime which are classic vietnamese flavours. The beef and the fish came next although nicely cooked very miniscule. Worried that they might've ordered too less ingredients on the day. The was no pho available, very disappointed. Didn't think the restaurant was ready to open. Also most of the staff was well trained but some seemed clueless and had no idea where they were going. One of the good points was the curry of the moment which had classic vietnamese/malaysian flavours: was very delicious 9/10 and also ample supply of drinks, might've mistaken this for a bar rather than restaurant. Vietnamese coffee also was tasty. All in all this restaurant had spent a lot of money on renovating this shop but to be perfectly honest was very busy and was not prepared to open today with limited supply of ingredients and seriously to run out of pho by lunch time is ridiculous!!! Very disappointed and will not go back in a hurry

East meets, well, the East at Hawthorn's newest all-day dining destination. St Cloud prides itself…read moreon its honest, healthy, fresh and home-style Vietnamese food. St Cloud's design is sleek. The white painted brick exterior carrying through to the interior with its contrasting white ceiling, black concrete floor and black tiled bar and counter areas. The furnishings also follow a white/black mix. Hanging light bulbs and large folding windows fill the space with light, though just enough light to keep the lower level intimate. The restaurant is split across two levels; the downstairs dining space with small tables and benches and the main bar, and the upstairs dining space with larger group tables, a second bar and an outside deck with more small tables and a long bench. Hanging and potted plants are scattered throughout to add a splash of colour and the upstairs deck's long bench doubles as a lush planter box. The food menu is split into two halves, lunch and dinner, with each half further divided into various sections. Lunch dishes include street food, such as banh mi, spring rolls and chicken ribs, rice paper rolls, pho, salad and noodle bowls and desserts. The dinner menu follows the typical Asian fusion-style of small dishes and large dishes. Rice paper rolls and salads are also on offer. Small dishes include banh knot pancakes and BBQ scallops. The large dishes are the highlight with giant sharing portions of pork belly, lemongrass beef short ribs and claypot curry. There is a banquet menu option with a random selection of dishes for those that cannot decide what to choose. Dessert options change weekly are not printed on the menu. This visit featured the beef short ribs which were incredibly tender and flavoursome. Carrots, potatoes and herbs are tossed into the large tray that the dish is served in. A selection of small dishes were also ordered and included the prawn and pork spring rolls, chicken wings, banh knot and chicken peanut rice paper rolls. The dishes were all of a good quality with a mix of flavours, however many of the small dishes included the same sides of beanshoots, lettuce leaves and dipping sauce, which felt a bit over-repeated. Dessert on this visit was a little spectacular; lime and coconut panna cotta with lychee, plum and meringue. A wonderful dish with tropical, citrus and sweet mix of flavours combined with contrasting creamy and crunchy textures. The drinks menu is plentiful with a range of beers, wines, cocktails, slushies and juices. Coffee is from St Ali, hot chocolate from Elixir and tea from Larsen and Thompson and Matcha Maiden. Service was great during the Saturday night dinner period, which was surprisingly busy at 6pm. Hawthorn has had quite a few quality openings recently and St Cloud is a welcomed and already popular addition to the neighbourhood.

Hidden Beer Garden for the layed back client…read more This place is cool, i mean i lived around the corner and sometime you would spend all night there and other just a warm up for the night but either way a cool joint. Good music and a very hipster-esk clientel means its a very relaxed environment and for a smoker like me HEAVEN. They make a mean pizza and the cocktail jugs are a good price and decent. the toilets however were too small and the line a mile long but that was updated recently which is good. it needs a few other things but its a new cool layed back Been Garden which works well. P.s Bring back the Shisha guys!!!

From the owner: Outdoor Pop Up Food Trucks Eventsread more

YUM! What a beautiful place! Tasty food, generous portions,…read moreyummy chai and excellent vegan and gluten free options. A relief to find in a place where the only other option is a mainstream 'bakery'. I

I came here as a +1 for a friend, a Melbourne-based food blogger, who was invited by the owner…read more Being a visitor from New York, I didn't know what to expect since I am unfamiliar with all of the restaurants just yet. Being an invite, my friend had a nice introductory chat with the owner first (I just listened on since, again, I was the +1), so we got a feel for what his background was for the cafe, and the mindset and direction he wanted to take it. I was struck by his genuine nature in wanting people to have a nice, quality experience, above all, but also that he communicates with other cafes to try not to offer the same things in order to make it as unique as possible for the customer. We ordered the Scotch Pancakes, Nanban Chicken and the King Truffle. The first thing I tried was the King Truffle, and it was beyond flavorful and well-cooked. The mushrooms were not overdone and were perfectly seasoned, as we even discussed that it was just on the edge of being "too salty," but the ingredients married well together to make that saltiness just right, while the presentation was spot on. The Nanban Chicken was equally well-done, with the chicken being moist and well-seasoned, while the black rice added a nice texture and the chili gave a nice pop to the sweetness. The presentation was fabulous as well. With the Scotch Pancakes, here is where we were a tad disappointed, and especially in being told this dish was a huge favorite. While the presentation delivered perfectly, unfortunately, the execution left us wanting more. We agreed that it wasn't a complete failure, as it still was pleasant enough, but the pancakes were found to be dry and lacking flavor. I would have loved if the syrup/sauce was able to soak up into the pancake, but perhaps it was the thickness of the pancake or the slight over cooked surface; however, we felt we were biting into dry dough and there wasn't enough on top to add the flavor we needed to get through it. The mascarpone on top was flavorful and definitely helped to add what was missing, but it was still lacking, and perhaps even adding more berries could do this dish justice. Nonetheless, I am quick to say that perhaps this dish simply had an "off moment," as you don't become a fan favorite and remain as one of the few items to go unchanged from the cafe's inception without good reviews. I would definitely try this again for a second chance, however, the first two dishes made up for where this one lacked, and given that, again, I think this was simply an off moment. Can't be perfect all the time, after all!! If you are looking for a great brunch stop, I would definitely recommend this place, and do try the pancakes even, as we might have simply missed out this day. This rating should read more as 4.5 than simply a 4. Well done, overall.

From the minute we walked into their modern, hip, well lit space, to the moment we left, the whole…read moreexperience was pretty much flawless. The decor is perfect, music not too loud, and even with other patrons there, you can still hear the people in your party talk without having to shout. Staff were attentive right away. They offered water within a minute of sitting down and they were all very friendly. They gave us enough time to look over their varied menu and took the orders - some with modifications - and got everything right (yes, this obviously should be a no brainer, but even something this simple is not always achievable in some places). We wanted to try a few of the entrees, so amongst us, we got the delicious Karaage Popcorn Chicken, Wild Mushroom and Leek Arancini and the Mac N Cheese Croquettes. Each of them were so good. Really delicious and came with gorgeous dipping sauces. Presentation was on point and we didn't have to wait long for them to arrive. For the main, I ordered the Wagyu Beef Burger and I must say it was absolutely perfectly cooked and tasted great. My only minor complaint is that I don't like sweet bread buns with a savoury burger, so it would be great if there were perhaps two options. Everyone's meal came out correctly and reasonably promptly and we all enjoyed. Now usually, that would be enough to eat, however, even their menu says "Save Room" when it comes to the dessert portion choices. We did what we were told and saved room for what can be only described as one of the most beautiful and unique desserts I've ever had. I had a gorgeous Ruby Chocolate Sphere with middle eastern pashmak (cotton candy/fairy floss). It had a stunning Turkish Delight flavour throughout and even the chocolate sphere shell was beautiful. You MUST save room for dessert when coming here because they all looked (and tasted) incredible and something more unique than other restaurants offer. While I haven't eaten breakfast here, I do want to, and not only because dinner was such a good experience, but because their menu looks different to so many other restaurants/cafes around Melbourne. In a city with so many copycat menus, I must say the food here is a bit more varied, and definitely, definitely delicious and worth a try for sure.

Great pizzas fresh tasty and staff very friendly and professional. First time in Australia just…read morewalking around. It's a great find.