Melbourne restaurant recommendations

[thecrowder]

My girlfriend and I are taking a weekend trip to Melbourne and am looking for some tips about places to eat while in town. This will be my first trip to Melbourne and I'm very open to all recommendations. We both like all types of food, but, it would be great to get some recommendations for seafood, steak, or Japanese. Thanks!

[NJP]

Nobu in crown covers Japanese/seafood. And bistro Vue in Little Collins is just grouse for steak in a really relaxed Frenchy. They do a Choccie soufflé that seals the deal. These are 2 big names we have some really good little places as well.

[Wil]

For steak, you can't go past Rockpool. It's pricey, but you get what you pay for.

For cigar enthusiasts, I'd always recommend the European for dinner, followed by drinks upstairs at Siglo bar.

Bistro Vue is great too. Fantastic food without the wankery of Vue de Monde.

Have a great trip!

[Deodato]

Rockpool in crown is so dependable for steak and seafood - I always have a good experience there.

The European on Spring St is classic Melbourne and there just happens to be a good cigar bar upstairs.

For Japanese, I like Ocha but it is a cab ride from the city.

Really there are so many great spots to eat but these are the places I often take out of town guests.

[Deodato]

Great minds Wil!

[Wil]

[Julesgf]

Gday

Here's a couple you might like.

Maedaya sake bar (and grill) on bridge rd for Japanese, awesome sake, shochu and beer range and really tasty food, Toshi is always up for suggesting something dangerous to try.

Izakaya Den downstairs 114 Russell Street (downstairs through curtain) for Modern Jap/Euro foody/trendy great food and fitout

Cumulus Inc or Chin Chin both in Flinders Lane. Modern Euro + Fusion very good food.

If you really want to push the boat out maybe Attica. Might be lucky and get a table for 2, best food in melb (but it's out of the CBD)

There's a couple of great fun Korean places if your up for that kind of thing.

Anything you'd particularly like? we have so damn many places now you might as well have exactly what you want before they realise that there isn't room for all of them :-)

Cheers

[Tan1801]

I will second Maedaya and Izakaya Den.

Maedaya is more of the traditional izakaya feel, while Izakaya Den is modern japanese fusion style place which is a little more pricey.

I would also recommend Shoya, Kenzan and Koko for the pricier end.

Some mid range to budget Japanese places I will recommend are Yu-U (a bit hidden and you may have to book in advance for dinner), J Cafe, Izakaya Chuuji and Izakaya Hachibeh.

Haven't really found any good seafood restaurants so I'll leave you to explore that one.

For a good steak I will add another vote to Rockpool. Pricey, but good.

Some other places for consideration are Meat and Wine Co (I've had varied experiences here, but some of my friends rate it highly), Rare Stakehouse (of which there are 2 in the CBD), Vlados (in Richmond and has been around for years and years. I haven't been here in a while and honestly can't remember much besides that it was a banquet of meat) and Charcoal Grill on the Hill (in Kew).

Some more lesser talked about ones I've enjoyed are La Luna Bistro (Carlton) and Station Hotel (Footscray).

There are a few Mexican places that are popping up around Melbourne (seems like the new craze). Out of these I would say give Mamasita and Pacos Tacos a go. Both casual tapas style places. Mamasita get busy real quick (i.e. there's a line before they open).

Some other places to consider at the higher end of the cost spectrum are Movida (any of them), Gingerboy, Ezard, Cumulus Inc, Attica, Bistro Vue and PM24 (I'm sure there are a whole bunch of places that I'm forgetting about).

[Ken Gargett]

plenty of terrific suggestions but staggered no one mentioned cutler & co (or did i mis it?). ate there a few days ago - one of the best meals i've had in melb for ages. superb.

don't miss it.

[Tan1801]

plenty of terrific suggestions but staggered no one mentioned cutler & co (or did i mis it?). ate there a few days ago - one of the best meals i've had in melb for ages. superb.

don't miss it.

Cutler & Co is one I did miss.

Andrew McConnell's restaurants are Cutler & Co, Cumulus Inc, and Golden Fields (the newest of the lot).

[Julesgf]

Didn't mention cutler and co as youd have to be super lucky to get even a 2 at short notice

[Julesgf]

Always worth a call though I guess

[MIKA27]

If you're after a fantastic steak, 1kg platter of ribs and the like, you MUST check out:

The Meat and Wine Co located at 3 Freshwater Place, Southbank. (It's in between the Eureka Tower and Crown Casino): 03 9696 5333

www.themeatandwineco.com

You must make a booking and they are great.

By the way, if you're near the Eureka Tower, on the bottom level there is also The European Beer cafe: Again, great food and beers!!

[Wil]

In the paper today: Anthony Bourdain giving Melbourne a pump up.

[brazoseagle]

Outback Steakhouse???

[Tony1T]

"La Luna" in Carlton is a great place for steaks

http://www.lalunabistro.com.au/

and "Number 8" at Crown is another good restaurant

http://www.number8atcrown.com.au/home/

[thecrowder]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! We ended up eating at Bistro Vue, which was really nice--although, I have to admit that we both enjoyed the Tarte Tatin over the chocolate soufflé. We tried to get into chin chin, but, the wait was longer than we were wanting to do so we ended up at a Malaysian place that was nice, but, not really all that authentic. We headed to Izakaya Den for some drinks...we both wished that we ate there instead of the Malaysian place!

Thanks again for all of the help!