Cecconi's

61 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000

Cecconi's is an Italian restaurant tucked away in one of the more quiet streets of the busy CBD. It has a cosy yet sophisticated atmosphere. The first thing you notice upon entering is the open kitchen where you see the chefs in actions. 

Garlic bread: 7/10

Warm, garlicy, topped with cheese. The end pieces needed a bit more love but the centre pieces really good. 

Pappardelle in a beef and pork ragu: 7.8/10

The sauce was very rich and flavourful. The handmade pasta was silky and thin. Delicious on a cold winter's night. 

Slow cooked wagyu brisket with truffled gnocci, spinach puree and onion jam: 8/10

The meat was lovely, tender and falling apart. My favourite part of this dish was the truffled gnocci. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside and full of truffle flavour which complemented the beef so well. It just need a little bit more sauce overall. 

Deconstructed chocolate cheesecake: 7/10

Not quite sure how I feel about deconstructed food. The elements on this dish tasted amazing together but a few of the elements weren't so flash just on its own. Overall it was a good dessert, just make sure you have a little bit of everything on your spoon.

The restaurant is more on the expensive side but the food was great. We left very satisfied. The staff were friendly but not at all times were they attentive. The rest of the menu sounds amazing and had a very difficult time deciding what i wanted to eat. It was a very pleasurable experience and I'd definitely be back to try the other items. 

Le Bon Ton.

51 Gipps St, Collingwood VIC 3066

A warm and inviting restaurant located just off the busy streets of Collingwood. Upon entering we were stunned by the decor of the restaurant. It had an old pub vibe to it with candles, dimly lit lights, a large bar in the centre with wooden tables and chairs spread throughout.

Chilli cheese fries: 7.8/10

I'm always a sucker for chilli cheese fries. This definitely is one of the better ones I've had. The chilli had a great spice to it and the chunky, thick consistency topped with the oozy cheese sauce - mmmmm. 

Crispy fried chicken: 6.5/10

They were definitely crispy but to be honest, just reminded me of crispy strips at KFC. Nothing special. The cracked pepper white gravy it was served with was interesting but lacked a bit of flavour. 

Mac and 3 Cheese: 5/10

Definitely not the best Mac and Cheese I've had. It was a bit dry but very cheesy which was good. Was just okay, I've had worse.

Onion rings: 6/10

Delicious and crispy with a soft and sweet onion interior however I doubt it was made in store. 

The smokers lot - Includes one of each of the smoked meats available.

Pulled Pork: 6.5/10

Can't say I'm a big fan of pulled pork but this was good. It had a lovely smokey, bbq flavour to it and wasn't dried out. 

Smoked Chicken: 7.5/10

Had a lovely smokey flavour to it, which I personally loved. The chicken also retained its moisture and was cooked very well.

Jalapeno and Cheddar Sausage: 8.2/10

This was my favourite item on the board. It was super cheesy and the sausage had a nice bite to it. The jalapenos gave it a lovely spicy kick as well. 

Brisket: 5.5/10

I'm a big fan of brisket but this one just didn't quite hit the spot. It came out a bit cold. The texture wasn't the melt-in-your-mouth texture you look for in a good brisket. The flavour was there though. Just needed to be more tender.

It was a good experience but the food wasn't mind-blowing. Just honest American BBQ. I'd definitely come back for the sausage and the chilli cheese fries but the rest of the items I wouldn't crave. 

 

Ramen and Craft Beer

Previously known as Shizuku
309 Victoria St, Abbotsford VIC 3067

$13.50 lunch deal -

Shoyu Ramen: 6.5/10

As it was the lunch deal, there was only one slice of meat, a few bamboo shoots and half an egg. The broth was a bit salty but the noodles were fanastic. You could taste that it was handmade. 

Fried rice: 7/10

Flavourful. The cut up naruto pieces added a nice touch.

Gyozas: 7.5/10

Crispy bottom, thin skin and juicy filling. A tad oily.

This place is one of my favourite places to go for a quick and filling lunch. The ramen changes weekly so its always a surprise as to what you can get. The food off the main menu is also very delicious. They do a modern take on Japanese cuisine and have very interesting food combinations. 

I'll be back to try and review the main menu so look out for it!

 

Aoba.

279 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIC 3144

Aoba is a very small and cosy Japanese restaurant serving delicious and affordable Japanese food. If you're after a cheap and quick japanese lunch or dinner, this is the place for you. 

Agedashi tofu: 6.5/10

Tasty but nothing extraordinary. Crispy exterior with a silky tofu interior and the delicious sauce to go with it. It could've been crispier. 

Takoyaki: 4/10

It was a tad cold when brought to the table and it didn't have the crispy exterior you look for in a good takoyaki ball. 

Sushi sashimi combo: 7/10

The fish was very fresh, definitely worth the money.

Tonkatsu: 7/10 

A very generous serving of crispy pork cutlets. The sauce was rich and the pork was crispy. Maybe a little bit too salty but the plain steamed rice balanced it out.

The food was overall above average and very affordable. Nothing too special and nothing I would crave but if I was in the area and looking for a quick and tasty Japanese food, I would definitely pop by. Just note, they aren't open on Sundays and only open for dinner on Mondays. 

 

Breakfast theives

420 Gore Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065

Breakfast thieves is a cute and cosy little cafe tucked inside a quiet street in Fitzroy. On arrival we were greeted by warm and very friendly staff who showed us to our table. 

Crispy corn and zucchini fritters with avocado mousse and poached eggs: 7.5/10

Fantastic combination of textures and flavours with spice from the puree complimented by the cooling light avocado mousse.

Chorizo baked eggs: 7.2/10

Nice and spicy, very enjoyable, especially on a cold winter's day. Not quite sure how I feel about the peas and corn though but I like that they went through the effort of serving it with garlic bread and not just plain toast. 

Breakky roll with eggs, bacon, rocket and relish: 8/10

"The best brekky roll I've ever had" 

Great combination of all the breakfast favourites in a roll. 

All in all, a great brunch place, the food was very satisfying, the staff were friendly and the venue was cosy and very inviting. 

New Shanghai-Emporium

Xiao Long Bao: 9/10

One of the best xiao long baos I've had. Extremely juicy on the inside. The skin was just thin enough to hold the dumpling together. Absolutely delicious. 

Beef and coriander dumpling: 5.5/10

Wasn't amazing but it was good. It had a firmer texture from the beef. It was very flavourful but lacked a little bit of the juiciness you want from a delicious dumpling. 

Prawn wonton tossed in peanut butter, red chilli oil and spice: 9/10

This was amazing. It had creaminess from the peanut butter, spiciness from the chilli oil, sweetness from the delicate prawn filling. I've never had anything like this before and i'm glad i tried it. Each mouthful left me wanting more. 

New Shanghai is a restaurant located in the level 3 food court of the Emporium. I've always been curious to try this restaurant because every time I've walked past, there's been a line. I'm glad I've finally got to discover why. These dumplings are fantastic! They are juicy and full of flavour. The skin is nice, thin and silky. Just firm about to hold the dumpling together. If you are looking for some great dumplings on your shopping break, this is the place to get it.

A25 pizzeria

720 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC 3141

It sure is!

Kipfler-Fior di latte, provolone, roasted kipfler potato, caramelised onions, rosemary and cracked pepper (with added prosciutto): 7.8/10

Rosemary and roasted potatoes-you can't go wrong! The salty prosciutto added a delicious savoury note to this flavoursome pizza. The crispy roasted potatoes complimented the thin, white pizza base and the melted, stretchy cheese. 

Las vegies-Fior di latte, tomato, roasted eggplant, roasted zucchini, peppers, scamorza and basil: 7/10

A tomato based pizza with small dices of smokey vegetables, very flavoursome!

Pink lady-Fior di latte, roasted potato, rosemary, fresh ricotta, raspberry, mint, black sea salt and cracked pepper: 7/10

A white base pizza that is subtle in flavour with a unique addition of raspberries adding a burst of sweetness. 

Sexy truffle-Fior di latte, white truffle cream, mushrooms, radicchio and parmesan: 7.8/10

The strong mushroom flavour of this pizza, alongside the cheese and truffle oil resulted in a savoury and very flavourful pizza. The bitter radicchio on top balances the savouriness of the pizza.

A25-Fior di latte, asparagus cream, sauteed prawns, zucchini, cherry tomato, fresh ricotta, mint, nutmeg and black sea salt: 7/10 

Very delicate and subtle in flavour topped with perfectly cooked prawns. 

Dessert sharing platter-

-Ricotta and cinnamon cannoli: 7.5/10

Crispy cannoli shell, creamy and sweet filling-simple but very satisfying.

-Tiramisu: 7/10

Creamy and full of flavour.

-Blueberry and rosewater pannacotta: 7.8/10

Very flavourful, smooth and creamy. 

Dessert pizza-nutella, strawberries and coconut topped with vanilla ice-cream: 8.8/10

A simple dessert pizza that you can not go wrong with! The crispy base was topped with a generous amount of Nutella, strawberries, coconut and ice-cream. This was absolutely delicious!

We also had a their classic rocket and parmesan side salad which was very good however a little bit too heavy on the salt-7/10. 

Overall:

A25 is a fun and exciting modern Italian restaurant with delicious and creative pizza. It was a very pleasant night. The restaurant was nice and cosy with friendly staff. All pizzas had a consistently very thin base and a crispy crust. They have pizzas ranging from the classics to very unique and interesting flavours. The food took a little bit longer than expected but what was put in front of us was very satisfying.