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Duck Duck Goose - Pan Asian/Yum Cha - City

Sparkling marble tables, white cloth serviettes, view to Lonslade street from the first floor of QVB. Sparkling water to start with? For entre the waitress may suggest three shredded duck dumplings with pickled cabbage steamed in traditional dough or six ginger and water chestnut dumplings. There is something special about DDG that makes you forget what Yum Cha is all about and take you on a voyage to superb gastronomic Shaghai. It may be the Shanghai crispy chicken with green papaya, mint, ginger and dukka or the seared salmon cake with sweet corn, lentil, lemongrass and sesame or the fact that these are under $20! No need to worry about drinks either; great ales, red and white drops come from local talent. 奇妙!

Verdict: A-PLUZ

31-37 Artemis Lane, QV, City

90050888

Public Bar - Pub - North Melbourne

5 o'clock Friday afternoon in the city. Rivers of people rushing to the hippest bars and pubs in the city where it is almost impossible to get a drink. Wondering where to go? A quiet place you can sit down and enjoy a pint of great ale for $6 bucks? Public Bar, on their non-mad days of $1 jugs, offers great beer, outside tables and random tunes. It might be one of Melbourne's biggest secrets and one that I'm sure will enjoy every Friday afternoon! Cheers!

Verdict: A-PLUZ (on Friday afternoons)

Public Bar

238 Victoria Street, North Melbourne

9329 6522

Southpaw - Bar Food & Cafe - Fitzroy

Bar food and Cafe? Coffee and Beer? It may be one of those unusual mixes, but as you set yourself in one of the courtyard tables with a coffee, you will want to stay there the whole afternoon. And Southpaw has just got what you need! On weekend afternoons there are DJ's spining classic soul or hip hop that can only be matched with an ale and slow roasted pork shoulder rolls with apple compot and coleslaw. Prefer wine? Sav Blac and NZ mussels in a chilli coconut broth with housed bread? There's a brunch menu too for those in need of fruit and protein in the morning.

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Southpaw

189 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

90042590

Sweet Basil - Thai - South Yarra

 As you walk into a family's house, it is likely you will see pictures of daughters, brothers, grandparents, books maybe an old sculpture or a colourful flower pot, all of which make you feel curious and even relaxed. At Sweet Basil you would not be only curious to know who is the man with four children next to him in the picture, but a sea of food options will have you spying on your neighbour's table. Try Pra Goong, a prawn salad mingled with lemongrass, coriander, chilli, lime juice & a dash of fish sauce or Gaeng Ped Pet, a Roast duck curry in a special sweet basil & lychee fruit red curry. It's Thai done with love, the way parents cook for their children.

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Sweet Basil

209 Commercial Road, South Yarra

98273390

Hotel Lincoln - Pub food - Carlton

It is not a secret. Food at Hotel Lincoln is fenomenal. Written on a blackboard, you will find simple and not so traditional options such as sweet corn cake with chilli, avocado and salad and Grilled Eden sardines, smokey eggplant, fennel & green olives. The hand-cut, crisp, fat chips are a highlight too. And for thirst-quenchers, there is a generous list including superb local ales and white and red drops. Sit in one of the stools inside or the large outside tables to passing pedestrians and uni students. At the Lincoln, Pub food has been redefined.

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Lincoln Hotel

91 Cardigan Street, Carlton

9347466

Arcadia - Cafe - Fitzroy

With so many great cafes opening almost every month, creativity and service have never been so important to food-lovers. Whether you're sitting inside, in the sunny courtyard or in the outside tables, Arcadia is one of Melbourne's great examples of simple creativity. Try the variety of vegetarian options like seasonal fruit salad with macadamia, honey and yoghurt, coconut curry or the wok-fried "Shanghai" eggs with oyster sauce, chili and spring onions - Yum! It's simple, it's great and it will probably change your breakfast menu at home without breaking your wallet!

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Arcadia

193 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

94161055

Arcadia Hotel - Pub Food - South Yarra

Good beer on tap: tick. Rooftop: tick. Pub menu: tick. Once an isolated and boring pub in the middle of South Yarra, the Arcadia Hotel has revamped into a modern and friendly local. The highlights comes during the week at the rooftop when specials range from a thick, hearby patty $10 burgers with fat chips and a pot of Fat Yak, $12 juicy, tender Poterhouse steaks and hearty $12 Parmas. Be careful not to get caught on a Friday or Saturday night as tradition still plays a role in this almost perfect local. 

Verdict: A

Arcadia Hotel

2 Toorak Road, South Yarra

98665380

Il Carusi II - Pizza - St.Kilda

At Il Carusi II, there seems to be all the ingredients one could crave for in a pizza; delicious prociutto, fresh sweet tomato and -oh I want an entire pizza with- roasted eggplant. Most pizzas are well balanced with veggo/meat combinations and if you have some time - and space- to spare, try the mixed platter in the upstairs bar with a Peroni gran reserve and you may forget you are next to Acland Street. It's a perfect start for a night south of the river!
Verdict: A-PLUZ
Il Carusi II
231 Barkly Street, St. Kilda
95936033

Hooked - Fish n Chips - Windsor

Few things are better than good fish and chips. And few places does fish and chips like Hooked. The decoration will make you feel you're in an old pier were you can still hear rumors of a giant octopus which controls the seas. Another rumor hard to miss is how good the hand-cut chips with salsa verde or sambal are. The Tuna burger with wasabi mayo is also a winner. Add a serve of sticky rice and bok choy and you're off on a voyage of luciousness!

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Hooked

172 Chapel Street

95291075

China Bar - Chinese - City

Peking Duck at 4a.m? As you order you'll probably see how the duck is taken from the window rail and chopped into bite-size pieces that go into your wonton noodle soup. Pay attention to the walls as you'll find a list of specials - most of them in Chinese - posted on a coloured paper mosaic. For those feeling less adventurous, there's all the basics including an amazing fried rice with beef or pork, lemon chicken and steamed or fried pork dumplings. It's messy, it's fast, it's deliciously chinese!
Verdict: A-PLUZ
China Bar
235 Russel Street, Melbourne
9639 1633

London Tavern Hotel - Pub Food - Richmond

Going to the see a game and wondering where to go before or after? For pre-game drinks, The London Tavern Hotel has one of Melbourne's best-equiped coutyards for you, your friends and another 200 people. The bar selection is not the most diverse, but it covers all the basics. If you're after food, what about Kangaroo meatballs braised in tomato & olive sugo or chorizo stuffed chicken breast? Try coffee merengue with hazelnut & Khalua cream for dessert for a full buzz of energy.
Verdict: A
London Tavern Hotel
238 Lennox Street, Richmond
94286894

Lentils as Anything - Vegetarian - Abbostford Convent

There's gourmet food, fast food and food for the soul. At Lentils as anything you'll be introduced to a pay-as-you-feel philosophy where regarless of what you pay, you will be welcomed and treated as another person part of this magic community. The menu varies regularly. It can include pumkin or eggplant curry, lentil and rocket or spinach and beetroot salad or even japanese pancakes. You may also find owner Shanaka around all three restaurants, perhaps playing the bongos or helping out in the kitchen. Best thing is, anyone is welcome to do so!

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Lentils as Anything

1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford. Also in St.kilda @ 41 Belssington St. & Footscray @ 233 Barkley St.

(03) 9419 6444

Supper Market - Food, Music, Art - Abbotsford

Some say a city is known by it's markets. As a hub for food and fresh produce, markets have become a melting pot of home cooks, food lovers and magic talent. Every Friday night during summer, the Abbotsford Convent becomes an epicentre for families and neighbours to get together and share the talent. You'll find amazing beer from Artic Fox, a micro brewery in Dandenong, spicy herbed Argentinian chorizos, home-made samosas and a number of stalls with local artwork. Music varies from Latin American Folk and salsa to Blues and Jazz. There's also the convent's eateries including Lentils as Anything, Convent Bakery and Boiler Room. Just another good reason why summer is the best season of the year!

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Supper Market at Abbotsford Convent

1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford

Cherry Tree Hotel - Pub Food - Richmond

Hidden in a back street in the middle of industrial Richmond, there's a pub that will impress more than the average worker. Walking into the Cherry Tree Hotel will probably make you think you're walking into a stylish, modern apartment. As you discover the bar and the lineup of more than a dozen unique brews and drops, you'll know this isn't the average pub. The menu is also trendy with things to share like mini burgers served with fat chips, a cheese platter and a range of gourmet pizzas. Add some groovy tunes and you'll find hard to leave this tree.
Verdict: A
Cherry Tree Hotel
53 Balmain Street, Richmond
94285743

Royal Derby Hotel - Pub Food - Fitzroy

It seems strange for pubs to just recently include the magic connection of drinking beer under a sunny blue sky into their premises. The coutyard at the Royal Derby Hotel is almost a guarantee of blissfullness after that first sip of beer. The $5 pizza menu include fresh, soft -yet thick- crispy base with ingredients like tomato, spicy pork sausages, fior di latte, rocket and shaved parmesan. The mains menu can be a bit odd with a mix of curries, nachos, falafel wraps, parmas and cannelloni, but once again, it's all about the courtyard!
Verdict: A
Royal Derby Hotel
446 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
94172321

Kanzaman - Lebanese - Richmond

Lebanese food is perhaps the most popular and well known out of all the Middle Eastern cuisines. To the advantage of Melbournians, that means we know how amazing hummus, tabouleh and falafel can be. The disadvantage for restaurants is that it’s not easy to impress their customers. Belly dancing, wall paintings and Lebanese decorations enhance customer’s experience at Kanzaman along with a few dishes such as Ashtarout served with cinnamon rice.

Verdict: A-MINUS

Kanzaman

458 Bridge Road, Richmond

94293402

Union Hotel Brunswick - Pub Food - Brunswick

The importance of a good local pub can be the difference between having an obscure knowledge and distanced relationship to your neighbours and being part one of the closest and most entertaining, but secret communities. The Union Hotel is equipped to keep you and your comrades well entertained with regular local live music, an Asian decorated, partly covered - and heated - courtyard and a concealed location. And when it comes to the food, you won’t be disappointed! Try zucchini fritters with - oh-yum! - Tabasco aioli to share. There’s also a good selection of beers on tap and a generous wine list to surprise wine drinkers.

Verdict: A-PLUZ

Union Hotel Brunswick

109 Union Street, Brunswick

93882235

Sichuan House - Sichuan Chinese - City

Get ready! As soon as the food arrive, you will be bombarded with an army of chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, all cooked in chilli oil. It doens't really matter what you order, Sichuan House will put your mouth on fire and propel you to a new level of spicyness. Apart from an essential beer, there's no way to cease the fire as you won't be able to put your chopsticks down until the food is finished. By the time you finished, you will have discovered a new ongoing craving.

Verdict: A PLUZ

Sichuan House

22-26 Corrs Lane, City

96508589