Momo Station

Shop 25, Tivoli Arcade 235-251 Bourke Street

Melbourne, 3000
http://www.momostation.com.au/

Chris and I had a momo-moment today. No I don’t have a stutter, but I did have momos, the Nepalese rendition of the humble dumpling. Nepalese cuisine isn’t something I’m familiar with, but from what I’ve heard, it’s like milder Indian with some Chinese influences, which we both love, so we’re off to a good start. And to get said momos, we headed to Momo Station, located in possibly the least eye-catching corner of Tivoli Arcade, which I’ve swept by it multiple times in the past without giving it a second glance. Thank goodness for Urbanspoon.

The service at Momo Station is polite, though there really isn’t much of it, as it’s mostly self-serve. You grab your own water, condiments, and even cutlery.

Drinking Cups

 

I was, however, won over by these surprisingly delicate stainless steel drinking glasses, even if it was vaguely disconcerting to see my face reflected at the bottom of the glass when I drink.

Chicken Momo ($8 for 10)

The Chicken Momo ($8 for 10 pieces) seems to be THE thing to order here, and yes, they do look a lot like Xiao Long Bao. However as soon as you put them in your mouth, you realise that they couldn’t be more different. Unlike its yum-cha twin, these small parcels are designed to be stodgy and filling, with a much more strongly flavoured mince. Despite that, these dumplings still manage to retain some delicacy to them, through the careful flavouring of the filling, and the thinness of the wrapper. Dipped in house-made chutney, and between sips of a delicate chicken broth, they disappeared quickly down the hatch.

Beef Momo ($7 for 10)

The Beef Momo ($7 for 10 pieces) looked quite different to the chicken ones, and was filled with beef instead of chicken (well, obviously). I really couldn’t pick which one I enjoyed more, even though they tasted distinctly different. Needless to say these were finished pretty quickly too.

Aside from momos, this quaint little eatery also serves a few other (what I presume to be) traditional Nepalese dishes, including noodles and rice. Not that I’ll be straying too far from the momos, which are a welcome change from the Chinese dumplings I’ve been eating all my life. And despite looking all adorable, these little morsels are deceptively filling. I’ll be adding this to my list of good feeds for less than $10.

Rating: 13/20 – mo-mo-moment!

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

I Love Pho 264

264 Victoria St
Richmond, 3121

Melbournians seem to always be on the hunt for the best noodle dish. There’s the question of where to get the most authentic laksa (Laksa King, hands down), the hunt for the top ramen (DonToo REPRESENT!), and of course, the location of the best bowl of slurpalicious pho. I Love Pho 264, formerly Pho Chu The, was our destination today. They clearly do love their pho here, because aside from spring rolls and a selection of colourful drinks, pho is the only other thing they serve.

Walking in at 11am on a Saturday morning, the shop was already buzzing with customers getting their pho-fix. We were promptly waved towards a table, and before we had even settled ourselves, a waiter was already standing expectantly at our table, ordering pad in hand.

‘What would you like?’ he asked. 

I panicked.

I glanced desperately at the board on the wall – clearly the only menu there was, and blurted out: ‘special beef pho!’ He nodded and scribbled on his note pad. ‘Anything else?’

I panicked again. To all my beloved readers, let this be a warning – know what you want before you even step foot into the store!

Two agonising minutes later, the waiter walked away with our order, and both of us probably breathed a sigh of relief.

Special Beef Pho ($9)

Equally as quickly, our bowl of Special Beef Pho ($9, one size) arrived on our table. I loved how they gave us a smaller bowl for sharing without us having to ask. Digging through the unreasonably large bowl, we found a wide selection of beefy treats, including brisket, tripe, tendon, beef balls, and rare sliced beef. Slurped down with the sweet and light soup, it made for an invigorating start to our day.

Pho Condiments

The condiments that came with the pho were stock standard – thai basil, bean sprouts, and lemon wedges. They were definitely acceptable as far as condiments go, though I wouldn’t mind if the thai basil was a tad fresher.

Pork Spring Rolls ($8 for 6)

 

We also grabbed ourselves a serve of Pork Spring Rolls ($8 for 6). I was so eager to eat these that I grabbed one, wrapped it in a lettuce leaf, and took a super-crunchy bite before remembering that I was a food blogger! After some hasty shots (which unfortunately includes Chris’ hairy arm in the background), I dug right back in. These spring rolls were so fresh, so crispy, and so, so good wrapped in lettuce and dipped in nuoc cham (fish sauce) that I doubt I’ll ever want Chinese spring rolls again!

So how does this version of pho compared to the ones I’ve had in the past? I was definitely yummy, though a little more noodle to soak up the soup wouldn’t go astray. I think that in the end, I would marginally prefer Pho Dzung, which not only had less MSG (if not none at all) in their soup, but also has a convenient city location. But I Love Pho 246 comes in at a close second, and today’s meal made me a very happy gal.

Rating: 13/20 – slurpalicious!

Famish'd

130 Little Collins Street
Melbourne, 3000
www.famishd.com.au

Interior (from second floor)

 

Are you Famish’d? You had better be. It’s not every day where you can have a salad for lunch, and feel like you’ve eaten a really big and decidedly non-vegetarian horse. But Famish’d managed just that, despite serving just salads, soups, and baked potatoes.

Flower Display and Magazines

Every day, the lovely people at Famish’d whips up a soup (today’s was vegetable and red lentil, which I unfortunately didn’t have), as well as 4 pre-made salads to choose from. You can also mix your own salad by choosing a leaf or pasta base, and 5 ingredients from the black containers, all of which are vegetarian options. If you feel like a bit of protein, there are a few choices sitting in terracotta bowls, with a 2 dollar surcharge each. The same principle applies for baked potatoes.

Coffee and Cutlery

   
They also have a coffee machine whirring in the corner, serving supposedly excellent St Ali coffee. Sitting by the coffee machine is cutlery which you help yourself to.

Upstairs

We headed upstairs to eat. The space is less sunny and airy than downstairs, but thoroughly charming with scattered magazines and a huge vase of flowers.

Raunchy Roasted Veg/Thai-Lover's Creation ($10)

So after much deliberation, I chose two of the pre-made salads (they’re very happy for you to mix salads here) – the Raunchy Roasted Veg and Thai-Lover’s Creation ($10), served in a huge, huggable terracotta bowl with a slice of seeded or sourdough bread. I went with seeded, though more for research purposes (yummy, but nothing to shout about) than out of need, because I’ve never had a bigger serve of salad in front of me as I did then. The Raunchy Roasted Veg is a mixed leaf salad scattered with assorted roasted vegetables, such as capsicum, eggplant, and a lovely artichoke heart. There’s also a smattering of pasta, capers, and olives, all held together by a light vinaigrette.

I was already pretty full after finishing the first half of my salad, but I ploughed on to the Thai-Lover’s Creation, which was no where nearly as leafy as the previous salad. In fact, it has no leaves in it at all, but is instead a mix of vermicelli (glass noodles), red cabbage, carrot, peanuts, and coriander, doused but not drowned in a sweet Thai dressing. I couldn’t finish it, despite my most valiant efforts.

Baked Potato ($10)

K opted against the salad route, and instead got a Baked Potato ($10). He designed his own, and into his bowl went carrots, roasted capsicum, green beans, cucumber, celery, topped with a sweet chilli sauce (salsa was the other option). Warm and hearty, K tucked into this, but was eventually also defeated by the sheer amount of food. I’m not joking kids, this is the guy who can have two dinners in four hours – the serving sizes here are positively gargantuan.

All in all, I’m thoroughly impressed. I’m always looking out for restaurants that serve food that is delicious yet healthy, and Famish’d gets a tick in each box. Oh what the heck, have two ticks in each box, I’m THAT impressed.

Rating: 14/20 – Famish’d No More!

DonToo

340 Little Lonsdale St Shop 6
Melbourne, 3000

What happens when you head to DonToo at 6pm? Up until one year ago, all you’ll find is a locked door with a ‘closed’ sign. But fast forward one year, and you’ll find the bustling lunch spot open for dinner, serving nothing but ramen, and a small selection of drinks and sides. We all know that the DonToo (like its sibling, Don Don) serves up some lip-smacking meals at lightning pace for lunch, so how does the ramen-only menu at dinner fare?

Gyoza ($4.8 for 6 pieces)

We started off with some Gyoza ($4.8 for 6 pieces). I keep forgetting about how hot food is when it’s just come off the stove, and as a result, ended up burning my tongue yet again. Taste-wise, there are like a more delicate version of the kind we make at home, and that’s a very big compliment indeed, because nothing beats mum’s cooking. Bonus points for serving them with a vinegar and soy dipping sauce, as opposed to just plain soy.

Charshu Ramen ($11)

And now for the reason we’re here – the ramen. We asked to have our Charshu Ramen ($11) with 300g of noodles. I love how they give you the option of 250g or 300g of noodles with no surcharge. After a 5-10 minute wait, it came out steaming in a heavy ceramic bowl.

Now, what makes a good ramen? In my opinion, it has to have melt-in-your-mouth charshu (preferably lots of it), eggs with a gooey yolk, chewy bouncy noodles, and a killer broth. And does this bowl of ramen meet those standards? By golly it does! The broth was rich and meaty, the noodles were perfectly cooked, and the huge chunks of charshu were fatty and smoky. My only complaint is that there’s some cabbage in the ramen, which strikes me as an odd ingredient, but I’m really just picking bones here. On top of that, the serving was huge, and it was kept piping hot by the hefty bowl. It was the perfect way to warm up on a cold rainy night.

Whilst most of you would probably never dream of taking a date here for lunch, it’s actually surprisingly romantic at dinner. Warm and cozy in the low light, with rickety tables that are almost bohemian, Chris and I found it surprisingly suiting for gazing into each other’s eyes. Now if only there were candles on the tables. 

Rating: 14.5/20 – bohemian Japanese 

Captains of Industry

Level 1, 2 Somerset Place
Melbourne, 3000
www.captainsofindustry.com.au

Interior

Care for a haircut with your sandwich? Enter Captains of Industry, a gentleman’s outfitters that doubles as a cafe. Sitting up a flight of rickety stairs, Captains of Industry is an oasis of calm overlooking the bustling Elizabeth Street, where you can put your feet up and grab a home-made lemonade.

Being a gentleman’s outfitters, the waiters are of course achingly well-dressed, if loafers and suspenders are your type of thing. But appearances can be deceiving, for they can also make you a mean sandwich, and probably give you a haircut at the same time too.

Mocha ($3.5, one size)

But first, coffee! Ethan’s Mocha ($3.50, one size) was a welcome departure from your usual sugar-saturated beverage. A Melbourne-Strength (to all your non-Melbourne readers, that’s very strong) coffee with a lovely chocolate overtone, I thought it was very good indeed. If all cafes served their mochas like this, my ‘usual’ may no longer be a flat white.

Water Mugs

Water was served in tin (???) mugs, and whilst some might find it a tad too grungy, I loved the old-fashioned-ness to them.

B.L.A.T ($12)

It didn’t take Ethan long to decide that he wanted the B.L.A.T. (crispy bacon, cos lettuce, avocado, tomato, house mayo, and HP sauce on a fresh baguette, $12). This was a man’s sandwich through and through - a crusty baguette was stuffed full with crispy, salty bacon, as well as a thick, creamy mix of avocado and mayonnaise. There was only a mandatory amount of lettuce and tomato, but to this day I’ve never heard a man complain about that.

Reuben Sandwich ($13)

I had a harder time deciding what I wanted, but in the end I had the Reuben Sandwich (slow cooked corned beef, melted Swiss cheese and winter coleslaw on 7 grain loaf, $13). Now don’t get me wrong when I say this but, the bread was possibly the star of the sandwich. Not that there was anything wrong with what’s between the bread; in fact, it was quite delicious, being all crunchy and fresh. But the bread was was soft to the point of moistness, and choc-a-bloc with nuts and seeds, well, how can you compare with that?

Captains of Industry makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem. I don’t know about you, but I could lounge here for hours with nothing but a good book, and their refreshing rose-hip cool orange ice tea ($4) for company. 

Old-Fashioned Stopwatch

 

Rating: 14/20 – hidden gem

Your Thai Rice and Noodle Bar

255 Swanston Street, CBD
Melbourne, 3000

Has anyone noticed how much salads cost these days? You’d think that a pile of greenery with some form of protein would be on the cheaper end of the eating out scale but alas, more often than not, a reasonable non-vegetarian salad sits closer to twenty dollars than ten. Thank goodness for Your Thai Rice and Noodle Bar, which serves a handful of decent salads, as well as an assortment of other dishes. 

Roast Pork Salad ($7)

My Roast Pork Salad ($7), served with 3 prawn crackers, was a fine effort. A good variety of vegetables was liberally doused in fish sauce, and a handful of crushed peanuts made the crunchy salad even crunchier. A little more herbs and roast pork, and a little less fish sauce would’ve made this salad excellent.

Cripsy Noodle with Beef ($8.9)

And K had Crispy Noodle with Beef ($8.6). Whilst the flavour was nothing to shout about, the portion was ridiculously generous. Definitely one of the better feeds you can get for under a tenner, especially if you’re a big eater.

Rating: 12/20 – A Bit of Everything

Chin Chin

125 Flinders Lane
Melbourne, 3000
www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au

Contrary to what you might believe, the name ‘Chin Chin’ actually has nothing to do with Chins. From what I’ve heard it’s actually Japanese slang for, now how shall I put this delicately, the male phallus. But just as restaurant names in Melbourne have been raising more and more eyebrows (Naked for Satan, anyone?), the food has also been getting better and better. Specialising in Asian dishes, the menu at Chin Chin is ample and designed to share, and there is also a bar offering a myriad of inventive cocktails, all in a lofty, warehouse-like space on Flinders Lane.

Aformentioned Lofty Warehouse-Like Space

And when I say that Chin Chin is popular to a fault, I really do mean it. Whilst we were one of the first people in the restaurant at 11:40, the queue was out the door by noon. Thank goodness experience taught us to arrive unreasonably early at places like this.

Wine Glass/Placemat and Plate/Tables

Besides competing on the food front, Melbourne restaurants seem to be trying to be outdoing each other in creativity too. And Chin Chin is definitely winning. I loved everything from the gorgeously printed placemats (menu on reverse), to the uniquely beautiful plates, and all the way down to the drinks menu labelled ‘XXX R18+ Adults Only’.

Kingfish Sashimi with Lime, Chilli, Coconut, and Thai Basil ($14)

Not only did we eat with our mouths today, but we also ate with our eyes. Everything about the Kingfish Sashimi with Lime, Chilli, Coconut, and Thai Basil ($14) was beautiful – the plate, the presentation, and of course, the taste itself. The thick, toothsome slices of kingfish were enhanced, rather than overshadowed, by the tart dressing and herbs, and the acid and the spice were smoothed out wonderfully by daubs of creamy coconut cream. Even the non-sashimi-eating Chris liked it, and it left our tastebuds hungry for more.

Kingfish Sashimi with Lime, Chilli, Coconut, and Thai Basil ($14)

And because it was such a beautiful dish, I thought it deserved a close-up. Honk if you’re drooling! 

Massaman Curry of Coconut Braised Hopkins River Beef Brisket with Pink Fur Apple Potatoes and Crispy Shallots ($21)

 

The main we had today was a Massaman Curry of Coconut Braised Hopkins River Beef Brisket with Pink Fur Apple Potatoes and Crispy Shallots ($21). At first I thought 21 dollars was a bit steep for a curry, but the bowl that landed on our table was huge! Flavour wise, it was also impeccable. Substantial chunks of tender beef brisket swam just below the surface of a smooth, sweet and creamy curry, with texture added by a generous scattering of crispy shallots and crushed peanuts. I was this close to drinking it like a soup.

Jasmine Rice

But alas! The curry was served with a bowl of jasmine rice, and decency meant that I had to have the curry on the rice. The waiter (friendly and helpful) kindly told us to give him a shout if we wanted a refill.

By the time we left an hour later, the restaurant was at capacity, and the noise level made it difficult for us to hear each other across the table. But regardless of the noise, this was possibly one of the best meals I’ve recently had, and we left not with a business card, but a small box of matches, with a cheeky picture of a smoking rabbit inside the cover.

Rating: 17/20 – Go Now!