Damn. Missed out on a quick blow dry at the hugely funky hair salon next door so needed food and a…read morecocktail instead. Menu was closed but I had an awesome brownie and a cocktail. I loved the service, cool hip woman who understands that it's always the right time for a cocktail if I want one. Also the toilets are clean and close. Food Republic is Beside a busy road but it's sunny and quiet on a piazza/garden, mixture of guests including hot mums and cute fairy/elf children with attitude. The staff are really lovely with the mums and kid and it's a friendly chatty place. Perfect end to a sort of cerebral day discussing my thesis proposal.

Excellent food, very nice cocktails. A bit on the expensive…read moreside, but attracts a more mature audience. My favourite is Japanese omelette, the choice is pretty static. Great coffee and location / setup. You can take away and just sit a bit further, in the square in shade. Great for those cases when our ordinary choices get boring.

Ryne is the perfect spot for a spot of French. The four course menu offered plenty choice and was…read moredeliciously rustic, true French provincial in style. The roast pork was particularly delicate and topped with a crunchy caramelised skin. The Cosmo cocktail was definitely a winner too. I think I had more of these delights at lunch than I did back in 2003. The restaurant styling is modern, simple and elegant. The dining room is spacious and well set out, there is plenty of room sit back and relax and enjoy a long lunch or dinner.

I wasn't really too sure about the service, at least at first, but after a bit it did get better…read more Yeah, it's a hole in the wall bar, and the verandah actually has some pretty awesome murals, and some creepy ones as well. They also do food, though I just grabbed some chips. It was pretty nice though, and had a rather decent atmosphere.

Had a meal here on a Monday night. Great atmosphere, fantastic service and the food was first…read moreclass. Highly recommended!

Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here. We had the scallop and leek/gruyere croquettes. Loved the…read morecroquettes but the scallops were a little bland. The pasta special was orecchiette with pork/ fennel sausages and broccoli. It was delicious. We had hazelnut macaron, coffee poached pear and gingerbread ice-cream for dessert. It was nice and we liked that it wasn't overly sweet. They have a great range of drinks to choose from as well. This place has a good atmosphere and the staff are really friendly. Look forward to coming back.

Visited 11 August and it was the worst service I have ever experienced. We booked a 7.30pm table…read moreand weren't told the kitchen closes at 8pm. About 10 minutes after ordering entrees and drinks one of the waiters came over and told us we had to order our dinner as the kitchen closed at 8pm for deep cleaning. After rushing our orders the food arrived and it was just about edible. It also took 15 minutes and several reminders to get the drinks ordered. The restaurant was quiet so should not have taken that long. The staff were rude and the service poor. The restaurant was supposed to close at 10pm and they took last orders for drinks at 9.15 and the staff were walking around in their coats from 9.30. I will never visit this restaurant again.

The food was amazing as was both the service and the ambiance. Highly recommended if you are at the…read moreState Library Victoria.

3.7 A cold Monday…read morenight in Melbourne but it was lovely and warm inside The Moat. The decor was warm and inviting too. It's predominantly a sharing menu here. We had the beef ribs then roast chat potatoes with rosemary and aioli. Then we had a serve of chicken and feta meatballs served on a crunchy coleslaw. All dishes were tasty and exactly as described on the menu. Nice wine list too. I had a Chain of Ponds rose which went down well. While the restaurant wasn't well patronized on a Monday night, the staff remained impressively upbeat. Our server was both pleasant and stylish. This is a lovely warm space for a meal before or after seeing a movie as we did at Melbourne Central. It's a nice restaurant.

This is an amazing find, a place that only just opened a few weeks ago. Terre is situated right…read moreamidst the Dromana winery and there is even a wine tasting room just across the hall where you can try a few free samples and buy a bottle to have with your meal at Terre. Every single plate is carefully crafted and most importantly tastes stunning. The duck, lamb, beef and even mac and cheese look like works of art and taste and are cooked exquisite. Meals are a reasonable price considering the quality of the ingredients and preparation. You absolutely have to try the deserts which come with a cucumber yoghurt pallets cleanser. Was really impressed with this place and cannot recommend it enough.

Great cocktails, delicious food and sassy/great service. The flatbreads are a must-have and so are…read morethe fritters of various kinds. You cannot go wrong with any of the cocktails and bartender recommendations are great. The entry way is rather hidden, it's in a alley way. The décor is cool, with chairs hanging on racks, just in case, you know. They also have an outdoor balcony overlooking Swanston road where you can observe the hustle-bustle while sipping your cocktail.

Cocktails Cocktails Cocktails! Namely Espresso Martini :D…read moreCabinet is quite a small venue with an excellent location, a great cocktail menu & delicious food to go with it. I like this place to meet friends before we go out to see a show for a few drinks and a lovely appetiser. I love the sizzling prawns & the eggplant chips. The staff are oh so friendly and I really rate that factor, this is what makes me go back.

Had some great German food with friends yesterday. Some nice beer to go along with it as well…read more The place was nice and comfortable and the service was fast considering we had a large group and as far as I could tell there was only one cook. Meals were priced well, even if the portion was a little on the small side for some of the choices. Swedish meatballs for example. But it wouldn't put me off coming back especially as the hosts were some of the nicest I have met while I have been here in Australia.

4.3 This is a really…read moregood bar. Great upstairs space. It's huge and complete with a shabbily attractive international decor. We tried the Panama G & T. This has wolf gin, orange and rhubarb and tonic. This is a beautiful drink. We absolutely adored it. The house made rhubarb chip on top is almost like toffee and adds interest, texture and more great flavour. We loved this place. Note is a good one for tourists. You can watch the world go by from the window. All the diversity of Smith Street. Or, look from the windows all the way to the Dandenong ranges.

Neatly tucked away from the sometimes raw energy that is Smith Street, the Panama Dining Room…read moreoffers food that you'd be likely to find in any one hat restaurant yet provides a more relaxed atmosphere. The Panama is located on level three and is large. It is great to have a quiet cocktail or two at the bar and then wander over to the adjacent dining rooms afterwards (although the meals served in the bar area look great too). If you can, grab a table near one of the big windows. It can be fun to watch the activity on the street below or take in city views. The menu really does, to use an old cliche, offer something for everyone. Whether you're after Spanish "Jabon" or Zucchini flowers stuffed with cheese (although beware if blue cheese is not your thing), quail cigars, slow roasted lamb or wagyu beef, there will be plenty to tempt you at the Panama dining room. This place is ideal for dinner whatever the occasion, be it dinner with a group of close friends or even a special date.