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.