Gazi

2 Exhibition St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000

http://www.gazirestaurant.com.au/

So apparently I thought that we would just be able to waltz into Gazi on a Friday afternoon, without a booking, and get a table for two. In my defence, I keep forgetting that full time work means that we can no longer get to dinner at 5:30. And c’mon, George Calombaris isn’t THAT popular, is he?

Photo courtesy of http://www.australiandesignreview.com/interiors/34950-gazi-march-studio

If you’re familiar with two of Georgie’s other restaurants, you’ll soon realise that Gazi sits smack bang in the middle of Jimmy Grants and Hellenic Republic. Fancier than souvlakis but earthier than garlic-encrusted scallops, Gazi embraces the concept of Hellenic Dirty Food – messy, delicious street food made to share. This comfortable space is a much more laid-back replacement for The Press Club, and is undeniably stylish, even if it was excruciatingly loud at points. But hey, that just means everybody’s having a good time, right?

Pastitsio Kroketa ($3.5ea)

Pastitsio Kroketa ($3.5ea)

We’ve sampled a lot of croquettes in our days, from the korokke of Japan to the croqueta of Spain, and now, the Pastitsio Kroketa ($3.5ea) of Greece. Instead of being filled with mashed potato or béchamel sauce, the carb of choice inside these crispy little bundles is a much drier macaroni, mixed with a small amount of beef and pork mince. It would’ve been a bit on the bland and crusty side, if it weren’t for the generous flurry of goat’s cheese, and dollops of spicy, zesty mayo. (Luckily, the meal was all upwards from this point)

Miso Eggplant Dip ($9.5)

Tzatziki is all well and good, but ever since the amazing cod roe dip I sampled at Hellenic Republic, nothing else could compare. Still, I had heard some fantastic things about the Miso Eggplant Dip ($9.5), and a foodie’s curiosity is a very strong force indeed. Though unusual, this was a fusion of flavours that worked. Its flavour was a delicate culmination of pulpy eggplant, and a robust yet sweet miso paste. But nothing, I repeat, nothing can beat Georgie’s amazing pita bread and all its smoky, crisp fluffiness. 

Angus Eye Fillet ($13.5, 100g)

Angus Eye Fillet ($13.5, 100g)

The Angus Eye Fillet ($13.5, 100g) was a fine example of meat on a stick. The fat chunks of steak were charred on the outside, whilst leaving the innards pink and juicy. The walnut dressing drizzled over it was a crisp and nutty experience, bridging the flavours of the beef with the sweet, blood-red beetroot sauce. 

Yellofwin Tuna ($18.5, 180g)

Compared to the steak, the Yellowfin Tuna ($18.5, 180g) looked downright bland, the two pale fillets resting demurely alongside its simple garnishes. Then I took a bite, and the flavours absolutely blew me away. Seared on the grill, the quick burst of heat left the melt-in-mouth texture intact, but imparted a robust smokiness to the already buttery fish. 

Queensland Blue Pumpkin ($12.5)

Just when I thought things couldn’t get better, we were served our accompaniment of Queensland Blue Pumpkin ($12.5). This beautifully presented salad immediately became the side dish of my dreams. Starting with a hearty base of charred pumpkin wedges, their honey sweetness was then tempered with thick dollops of tangy goat’s curd, and a leek salad that harboured a crisp bite. Finished off with a tumble of syrupy currants and chestnuts, this salad was an amazing concoction of flavours and textures that absolutely blew my mind.

Not that I’m an expert on ethnic food, but I think that to retain the distinctly native flavours, the food should be allowed to remain simple and unpretentious. And that’s exactly what’s so great about Gazi – it’s no more, and no less than classic Greek food done well. Bravo, Georgie!

Rating: 15.5/20 – georgie porgie pudding and pie.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Jimmy Grants

113 St David St 
Fitzroy, VIC 3065

http://www.jimmygrants.com.au/

Will the man never stop? At barely 35 years of age, George Calombaris (aka Georgie) has already has a string of successful restaurants under his belt, not to mention being the adorable co-host of Masterchef. Eager to expand his empire, he’s now turning his hand to cheap and homely Greek food, serving up souvlakis, salads, and other nibbles at his newest restaurant, Jimmy Grants.

It may be on a small side-street, it may have no signage except a neon blue ‘plus minus’ sign, and it may look like an abandoned warehouse, but word of good food travels fast and far in Melbourne. The funky stop-over started filling up rapidly after 5:30pm; it’s popular with the young and hip, as well as the older folks with prams in tow. The funky music kept Chris grooving throughout the entire meal. 

The Bonegilla ($8.5)

Normally we’d have a souva (Georgie’s words, not mine) each, but on account of all the delectable sides on offer, we decided to just share The Bonegilla ($8.5) in order to leave room for other goodies. This was just like any other good souvlaki you’d find, but subtly refined. The bread is pillowy soft, the mixture of spit roast chicken and lamb succulent and extremely flavoursome, and the pungent garlic sauce was replaced with a tangy mustard mayo. It was the gourmet souvlaki experience with neither the pomp nor the guilt.  

Chips, Garlic Oil, Feta, Oregano ($6)

It’s not always a good thing when the main dish is overshadowed by the sides, but in this instance it’s a case of good and great. As delicious as the souvlaki was, I couldn’t keep my grabby hands away from the Chips, Garlic Oil, Feta, Oregano ($6). It’s just a regular (albeit golden, crisp and fluffy) plate of chips, but top it off with a scattering of feta and oregano, and the result is pure magic. Chips are great, but chips interspersed with creamy hunks of herbed feta are even better. 

Village Salad ($7)

We had both wanted to try the ‘Jimmy Dimmy’ (it's what it sounds like), but I put my foot down and ordered us a Village Salad ($7) instead. Like everything so far, it’s simple but done just right. The combination of crunchy cucumber chunks and chewy pearl barley brought some much-needed freshness to the meal, its flavour augmented with a handful of mint and coriander, and generous amounts of olive oil. 

Jimmy's Wheel ($6)

Because we just had a salad, we were now allowed to have dessert, so we finished our meal with the Jimmy’s Wheel ($6). It was essentially a larger and fancier version of the wagon wheel, with chocolate biscuits sandwiching strawberry marshmallow, all coated in milk chocolate. The surprise came when we got to the middle, and found a center of peanut butter and jam, transforming this classic biscuit into a sweet and salty playground.

We couldn’t have been happier with our meal at Jimmy Grants. Not only is the food fresh, flavoursome, and almost-healthy, it is also ridiculously affordable, especially given the quality of it. We need more places like this around Melbourne.

Rating: 15/20 – jimmy grants wishes.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Kalamaki

389 Lonsdale St 
Melbourne, VIC 3000

http://www.kalamakigsf.com.au/

I was ready to hate Kalamaki before we even stepped foot inside. Why? Because it was standing where Aspro Ble, one of my favourite restaurants in town, used to be. Yes yes, I know it’s unfair to be biased like this but, old affections die hard.

I was surprised to find Kalamaki packed at lunch o’clock on a Thursday.  But then again a gourmet souvlaki shop opening right at the top of Hardware Lane is basically a honey pot for office workers. 

The owners of Kalamaki kept most of the easygoing Greek vibe that Aspro Ble had, choosing only to change the small tables to a long window seat, and doubling the length of the communal table. Despite how packed it was, we had an easy time finding a seat for two, as most of the patrons were crowded around the counter for take-away. 

Slow Roasted Lamb Souvlaki ($9)

Slow Roasted Lamb Souvlaki ($9)

The Slow Roasted Lamb Souvlaki ($9) was a winner. The copious amounts of juice from the lamb soaked into the cushiony pita and herbed chips, the soft richness of the meat broken up by tomatoes, onions, and a smear of tzatziki. 

Sheftalies Souvlaki ($10)

The Sheftalies Souvlaki ($10) was filled with small Greek sausages, which were chunky and tenderly flavoured with lemon and oregano. Unfortunately, between slightly overcooked sausages, a carbohydrate double whammy from the pita and chips, and insufficient tzatziki, this was rather dry and a bit hard to swallow, despite tasting nice.

All in all, I quite liked the souvlakis served up at Kalamaki. They’re not as big as the two-handed monsters you find on Sydney Road; they’re more akin to small hefty grenades of protein. But when you combine fork-tender lamb, pillowy bread, and a few classic fillings, what you get is an age-old recipe that can’t fail.

Rating: 13/20 – juiciest lamb ever

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. And the number of sheep my sister is keeping in Minecraft.

Hellenic Republic

434 Lygon St 
Brunswick East, VIC 3057

http://www.hellenicrepublic.com.au/

I love George Calombaris, aka Georgie. Not only is he the most adorable TV chef personality (BOOM BOOM SHAKE THE ROOM), he’s also some sort of chef genie, winning Young Chef of the Year at age 24. Now at the ripe old age of 34, he is the owner/co-owner of 6 esteemed restaurants around Melbourne, as well as one in Mykonos. That pretty much sums up why I was so excited to eat at Hellenic Republic, one of Georgie’s earlier restaurants, serving traditional Greek fare with a modern twist. 

I had just blasted through all three of my exams, received my dream pharmacy intern position for 2014, and was 3 weeks away from a holiday in Japan. It was a good day, and the plan was to order way too much food and celebrate in style. 

We had made a booking for 6pm but we arrived half an hour early. We attempted to loiter outside for a bit, but being on the more rustic end of town, along with the amazing smells emanating from the building, made waiting more than 10 minutes impossible. So instead, we chose to sit inside in our wicker chairs, watching the meat turn on a spit, inhaling the thick wafts of delicious scents. 

Olives Local and Hellenic ($5.5)/Pita ($4.5)/Taramosalata (small, $6)

We began with the classic trio of starters – Olives Local and Hellenic ($5.5), Pita ($4.5), and Taramosalata (small, $6). The olives were well marinated and heavily flavoured, but they didn’t hold a candle to the pita bread. The pita was pillowy around the edges, getting crispier as you moved towards the center, all infused with a charred, woody fragrance. 

Taramosalata (small, $6)

Best of all though, was the Taramosalata, aka cod roe dip. It was sheer decadence, the smooth creamy texture holding a subtle but intense briny flavour. I was in heaven, dragging the top-notch pita bread through the dip and wondering how anything could be so seductive. It all made sense when I was found out that the dip was made almost entirely of cod roe, with only a smidgen of breadcrumbs, olive oil, and garlic blended in.

Tyri Saganaki ($14.5)

Of course we had to sample Hellenic Republic’s signature dish – the Tyri Saganaki ($14.5).  The wedge of cheese was grilled until it was crisp outside and chewy in the middle, and its rich saltiness tempered by the soft figs sweetened with honey and balsamic. It’s hardly a groundbreaking combination, but it is sheer decadence and an explosion of classic flavours.

Small Spit Combo ($16.2)/Tzatziki (small, $5)

You haven’t really eaten at a Greek restaurant until you’ve had their grilled meats, and because we couldn’t decide between lamb and chicken, the waiter helpfully suggested the Small Spit Combo ($16.2), which had some of both. To be honest, I liked this but I didn’t love this. Whilst it had the requisite deliciously smoky flavours, I’ve had much more tender and flavoursome experiences elsewhere. It did go well with the sweet and refreshing plate of Tzatziki (small, $5) though. 

Kipriaki Salata Dimitriakon (small, $7.2)

On the suggestion of our waiter, we ordered a Kipriaki Salata Dimitriakon (small, $7.2) to go with all our protein. Despite the complex sounding name, it’s actually just the classic Cypriot salad consisting of grains, pulses, nuts and yoghurt. Naturally this made for a rather hefty salad, but it wasn’t weighed down thanks to copious amounts of coriander tossed through with a tangy dressing, and the sweet pop of pomegranate. I especially liked the slivers of toasted almonds.   

Htapodi (small, $10.8)

Because I could never neglect the seafood, I ordered a small serve of Htapodi (small, $10.8), which was Western Australian octopus, pickled with ouzo and spices. This was a much needed break from the more substantial dishes, the cool sour flavours and the addictive chewiness making for a great palate cleanser. 

Kalamari (small, $10.8)

I can never look past Kalamari (small, $10.8) when it’s on the menu, but this one was a bit of a hit and miss. It was exquisitely tender with just a hint of chewiness, but I couldn’t taste anything else above the overwhelming, bitter smokiness.  

The stone says 'Passion'!

Hellenic Republic isn’t the pretentious dining experience you’d expect from a celebrity chef. It’s honest Greek food that’s been giving a good polish, and DAMN do those Greeks know how to eat. It would’ve been nice if everything had been as amazing as the cod roe dip but, that would be asking for the impossible. 

Oh and whilst we’re here, some amazing end-of-exams cupcakes I had from Cupcake Central

Rating: 15/20 – shiny greek food

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. And the amount of battery left in my gameboy advance.

Stalactities

183 Lonsdale St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000

http://www.stalactites.com.au/

Sometimes the best things in life are the comfortable, safe, and predictable. Ever since starting my foodie journey, Stalactites has been largely ignored, becoming nothing more than a place that Chris and I promised each other that we’d get 3am souvlakis at one day. But back in the day, it was a place I heartily loved for their abundant meat platters and wholesome Greek food, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Stalactites has been a Melbourne institution on a corner of Little Greece for goodness knows how long, and two years since my last visit, it still hasn’t changed a bit. The same stone walls, the same wooden tables, and of course, the same roof from which the restaurant got its name. And let’s not forget the same atrocious service. Some things just never change. 

Mixed Giro Platter ($16.9, small)

We ordered what we always ordered – a Mixed Giro Platter ($16.9, small) with some Pita Bread ($1.7 each) on the side. The mix of lamb and chicken off the spit was inconsistent as I had expected, with a mixture of succulent slices, pieces with crisp edges, and dry, flavourless trimmings. If anything, it was the pita bread that caught our attention. Sure it was probably frozen then microwaved back to life, but it was also brushed with butter and as a result, was soft and delicious. At least until it became dry and cold again.

Greek Garden Salad ($8.5, small)

To balance all that meat out, I insisted that we order a Greek Garden Salad ($8.5, small) to go with our meal. I have absolutely nothing to say about this because it was mediocre in every way. The vegetables were neither limp nor garden fresh, and the vinaigrette tasted like bottled salad dressing from Safeway. Nevertheless, it was a welcome bit of greenery added to our meal.

Up until this point, our experience has been just like any other time – average food and service that would shame even some of the Chinese restaurants around town, but overall a good time had. When it came to paying the bill however, the waitress took our money, and we ended up sitting there for 5 minutes waiting for our change, which never came. In all fairness it wasn't all that much but, did they really just take our money like that? After all that's said and done, I probably wouldn’t mind coming back to Stalactites every now and then if I’m craving some protein, but in the end I would probably only really use it as a source for convenient souvlakis at inconvenient times. 

Rating: 10/20 – money thieves.

The rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.

Aspro Ble

389 Lonsdale St
Melbourne, VIC

Happy Birthday Chris! On the eve of my other half turning 20, I found myself with his family at what I think is one of the best Greek restaurants in Melbourne – Aspro Ble. We loved the cosy, romantic dinner we had here a year ago, and we have always been meaning to return but unfortunately one of us happened to be a food blogger constantly searching for new eats. Incidentally, I realised just the other day that I’ve been pronouncing Aspro Ble wrong the whole time; turns out it’s Aspro Blee, not Aspro bleh.

Anyway, as this dinner is part of Chris’ birthday present, it was his lovely parents’ shout. So the least I could do was to not constantly interrupt the meal with incessant photo taking, so if you want to see a couple of grainy blurry iPhone photos, you can take a look at the post from my original visit here.

(Who are we kidding? Chris bullied me into leaving my camera at home, and this is the one time each year where I have to grudgingly oblige. His family even asked me where my camera was.)

Whilst going through the menu, we ordered a round of drinks and a Trio of Dips and Chargrilled Bread ($12) to share. A long rectangular plate came out minutes later, laden with two types of bread, dips, and a small plate of rich, oily olives. The dips – tzatziki, hommus, and taramosalata – were house-made and delightfully fresh; I especially liked the taramosalata, a bright pink cod roe dip that was creamy and subtly fishy. We could have left at this point and we would have been entirely satisfied.

After a bit of coaxing by our waitress, we decided to share our dishes instead of ordering separately. The Spanakopita ($14) came out first, followed by the Calamari and Prawn Dumplings ($16). The spanakopita was squeaky with cheese and very flavoursome, but unfortunately also rather soggy, lacking in the flaky pastry that is arguably the highlight of the pie. The dumplings were delicious little parcels, filled with delicately diced seafood and drowned in a thick, creamy dill and caper sauce.

Then the mains started coming out. Ordered by Chris’ Mum was Aspro Ble’s legendary Slow Roast Lamb ($24). Rarely have I had lamb so buttery, infused with its own juices from a long, slow roast. Served with a cool tzatziki and a small jug of tarragon gravy, this was met with murmurs of appreciation all around the table.

Chris’ Dad ordered the Greek Island Goat Stew ($23), which was remarkably tender, especially given how tough goat can be. The sauce was a lovely concoction of tomato and wine, and the accompanying herbed pilaf was golden and fluffy, a more than worthy pairing for the delicious stew. Also I just noticed that whilst Chris’ dad got goat, Chris’ mum got lamb – what an adorable coincidence!

The birthday boy was originally thinking of having the pastitsio which he had enjoyed so much on our first visit, but the menu had undergone a large change since then, so that was no longer available. Instead, Chris ordered the Butterflied Oregano, Garlic and Lemon Chargrilled Chicken (half, $23). The small chicken had gloriously crispy skin, and the tender flesh was infused with the pungent fragrance of garlic. Served with a purple cabbage salad on top, this is one beautifully roasted chicken.

I was tossing up between roast pork and Swordfish ‘Spetses’ Style ($24), but I ended up choosing the latter, considering that I had just had a porkalicious meal at Gypsy and Pig the day before. This proved to be an excellent choice; a solid yet moist plank of swordfish came encrusted with a mix of sun-dried tomatoes, olives, onions and capers. The combination of sunny flavours from the olives, the sour notes of the capers, a rich, earthy feel imparted by the vegetables, and the gentle but insistent nudge from the swordfish came together so well, and the result was an explosion of flavour.

We were all full by then but Chris’ sister still had her eyes on the Baklava ($10). Unlike the Lebanese version, this pastry was baked in a wood-fire oven so it came out almost like a slice of pie. It reminded all of us of apple crumble with its layers of walnuts and pastry flavoured heavily with cinnamon. Two scoops of (what we think was) almond ice cream was the perfect foil to all the syrupy sweetness of the honey. It was a gorgeous ending to our meal, and the perfect size to share in our state of satiation.

There are few restaurants in Melbourne I find as charming as Aspro Ble. With tables that spill out onto the street, and the simple yet comforting blue and white decor, Aspro Ble is the perfect low-key restaurant with a menu that is humble, yet so easy to love.

Rating: 15/20 – aspro definitely-not-bleh.

Aspro Ble

389 Lonsdale St
Melbourne, 3000

Why can’t romantic lighting and good photos go hand in hand? Before my food blogging (or flogging,  as K cheekily calls it) days, the dim moody lighting at Aspro Ble would have delighted me, and it still does, except now it comes with a side serve of ‘how the heck am I going to make these photos blog-presentable?’

Located right at the top end of the somewhat notorious and tourist-trappy Hardware Lane, Aspro Ble is the treasure at the end of the spruiker gauntlet. Decorated in understated yet lively blue and white, I was immediately put in mind of the Mediterranean, which is just as well, because this quaint little eatery serves some of the best Greek food I’ve ever had.

Open Kitchen

The open kitchen, which takes up almost half of the interior, lets us get a sneak peek (and smell) of the chefs working away at the stoves. We even got a surprise pyrotechnics show halfway through our meal as the flames from the stove shot high up, and out of the pan.

Table Lantern

And as opposed to the over-used tea candles, each table had one of these adorable little lanterns on it. It was almost too easy to forget that we’re in the Melbourne CBD, and not the balmy Mediterranean summer.

Slow Roasted Lamb with a Garlic Yoghurt Dressing ($22)

When the Slow Roasted Lamb with a Garlic Yoghurt Dressing ($22) was presented to us, I just couldn’t get over how much meat there was! A prod with the fork revealed that the lamb was cooked to the point of falling apart. Gently flavoured with herbs, this dish was a perfect example of good produce speaking for itself. Wedges of lemon and the yoghurt dressing provided welcome relief from the heady richness of the unctuous lamb. There is also a small jug of tarragon and oregano infused gravy on the side, just in case your arteries aren’t complaining enough. According to the waiter, a whole leg of lamb was cooked in a wood-fire oven for 4-5 hours at low heat to provide the melt-in-your-mouth texture and depth of flavour.

Pastitsio (marcaroni, prime beef, and bechamel pie, $14)

‘It tastes like lasagne!’ exclaimed Chris as he dug into the Pastitsio (macaroni, prime beef, and béchamel pie, $14). Digging through the soft lid of béchamel and cheese, we came to a center of pasta and a sweet beef mince. We were told that this dish originated from the south of Greece, and is heavier on the herbs than its northern Greece counterpart. And indeed, it does taste like a lighter, sweeter, and more fragrant lasagne. Chris even went as far as to compare it to his mum’s lasagne, and I think that if a dish is comparable to mum’s cooking, then it must be very good indeed. The two slices of crispy-soft chargrilled bread served on top was a perfect scoop for the sweet mince, or even better, the leftover garlic dip from the lamb.

Before we were even half-way through our meal, I already wanted to come back. The whole menu looked so incredibly tantalising, suitable for both a long lunch, and a snack with a drink or two. The staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable, explaining each dish as it came out, and the space inside managed to be cosy yet airy at the same time. It was possibly the best all-round dining experience we’ve had since Hardware Societe.

Rating: 16.5/20 – Greek Gem

Roule Galette

241 Flinders Ln Scott Aly
Melbourne, 3000
www.roulegalette.com.au

What, did you think we were done already?

Filled to the brim with excellent Greek food, we waddled off to Roule Galette for a sweet finish to the night and a small piece of Parisian romance.

Salted Caramel and Butter Crepe ($6)

Thin as ever, though perhaps not as crispy, the Salted Caramel and Butter Crepe ($6) was a light yet satisfying dessert. What I loved best was the slight bitterness of the home-made caramel sauce; give me this over the sticky sugary goo inside mars bars any day!

Rating: 13/20 – Parisian Romance