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