Tipo 00

361 Little Bourke St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000
http://www.tipo00.com.au/

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been treated to (and tortured by) a series of photos on Facebook of one of my friends, who is currently travelling around Italy. Whilst I may not be able to join in on the blue skies, clear waters, and beautiful historic sites, I can at least appease my craving with a good bowl of pasta.

My usual go-to place for authentic but classy pasta (as opposed to an enormous feed by nonna) is Grossi Cellar Bar, but I’ve been hearing increasingly about the new it place for Italian in the CBD – Tipo 00. After having worked at Vue de Monde for 4 years, as well as stints at other Melbourne fine-dining destinations, chef Andreas Papadakis has turned his talented hands to creating this cosy but refined little pasta bar. Since its opening late last year, Tipo 00 has quickly gained almost universal acclaim from both critics and diners. 

The 43-seater restaurant was predictably booked out for a Friday night, but we were confident of our chances of scoring some bar-seating if we showed up at about a quarter to six. For once, not even our habit of early dinners could save us, as the wait quoted was half an hour to 45 minutes (and get this: by 6:30, the wait-time was over an hour and a half). Luckily the restaurant gave us a call back within about 15 minutes, and though we were seated right by the door which let in draughts of cold air whenever anyone went in or out (and that’s extremely often), we were seated. 

Foccacia with Ricotta

The menu at Tipo 00 has been pared back, leaving nothing but a handful of entrees and pastas, and a few mains for the gluten-intolerant. Still, between the delectable specials and the debate of entree-vs-dessert, ordering was not as easy as you would expect. Once we had ordered however, we were rewarded with a plate of Foccacia with Ricotta. The bread was warm and crisp, seasoned with a moreish combination of sea salt and herbed oil. On the side was a cool dollop of ricotta, spreading smoothly and easily over the bread.

It was also at this point that some bar seating freed up, and the angelic staff asked if we would like to be moved – an incredibly considerate suggestion that made our dinner much less cold, and much more enjoyable. 

Spaghetti Affumicati ($24)

Though I’m happy to give anything a go, I will always order the spaghetti with clams if I see it on a menu. Tipo 00 served up a delicious plate of Spaghetti Affumicati ($24), consisting of spaghetti drenched in a gently briny broth with just a hint of ripe, smoky tomatoes and coarsely chopped parsley. Best of all were the thick, wheaty strands of pasta that satisfy the carb craving, whilst still being perfectly al dente. It was just as good, if not better than the spaghetti vongole at Grossi Cellar Bar. 

Gnocchi di Patate ($26) 

I never get food envy over Chris’ order, but there’s a first for everything, and the Gnocchi di Patate ($26) was deserving of my envy indeed. The gnocchi were draped with sticky braised duck and porcini mushrooms, the gravy rich and buttery, having extracted every last morsel of flavour in the process of slow-cooking. The gnocchi themselves were velvety pillows that melted in the mouth, its texture more like mashed potato than pasta, and were absolutely perfect for soaking up the sauce. Perfection was achieved with a generous grating of sharp pecorino cheese that brought the earthy, hearty flavours to life.   

Gnocchi di Patate ($26) 

Though the serve initially seemed small, it was indulgently rich, and there was almost as much duck as there was pasta. We ended up being entirely satisfied with the portion size. The waiter even offered us more bread to soak up the sauce, thus cementing their place in my heart. 

Pannacotta ($14)

After finishing our pasta, we were satisfied, but with plenty of room left for the Pannacotta ($14). The flawless disc of cream and sugar was thick and silky, and flecked through with aromatic vanilla bean. That would’ve been excellent just on its own, but it was complemented by a bouquet of honeyed berries that tasted of the peak of summer, and streaks of intensely fruity raspberry compote. My only regret is not having room to try their tipomisu.

Even though I’ve had plenty of pasta in my time, I find myself continuously astounded by just how delicious simple and well-cooked Italian food can be, and in my opinion, Tipo 00 makes what is arguably the best pasta in Melbourne. I have to say that pricing is a little painful, but instead of regret, all I felt as I walked out was smugness, courtesy of all the good pasta lining my tummy.

Rating: 16/20 – tipo of the pile.

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

Hophaus Bier Bar Grill

West end, Mid-level

Southgate Ave 

Southbank, VIC 3006

http://hophaus.com.au/

I may be a foodie, but I’m pretty chill about it all things considered. Though I am very much on the constant lookout for new places to eat (and blog), I’m happiest just stumbling across them in my own time instead of hunting them down. After all, I’m a pretty stressed person – I’ve yet to go to a masseuse who hasn’t commented on the tension in my neck and shoulders.

Because of that however, I never make the most of the myriad of foodie events that go on in Melbourne. I don’t want to learn to cook fancy dishes, I don’t want to go to a lecture about where restaurants source their produce, and I definitely do not want to eat festival-specific set-menus, as they usually turn out to be incredibly underwhelming. But when an invite turned up during the Melbourne Food and Wine festival for Hophaus Bier Bar Grill, I was won over by the promise of an all-German tasting platter. 

I was incredibly surprised by the size of Hophaus. I wandered through the restaurant with my mouth gaping, going past a beautiful bar, cosy booths, round tables, and bar seating, before emerging onto the balcony, which was glittering in the calm after the previous night’s summer storm. I also met my new best friend – a whole suckling pig on a spit, who provoked a bit of a Homer Simpson Response from me. And if you’re wondering why there’s no photo, it’s because I couldn’t get one that didn’t look so much like, well, a pig carcass. If you’re still keen however, here is a much nicer shot by Gastrology.

Tasting Board ($15)

Our Tasting Board ($15) came on a cute little wooden paddle lined with newspaper. We were treated to a selection of Germanic delights, including pulled pork, corned beef, pork and veal sausage, marinated herring, house pickle, and some toasted rye bread. 

Pulled Pork

Things made a good start with the Pulled Pork. Moist and tender, it was given a slight oriental twist with the use of cinnamon. Mixed in was some slaw to give it crunch, and the two slices of syrupy braised apple paired with the pork like peanut butter and chocolate. 

Pork and Veal Sausage/Corned Beef/House Pickle

I was equally as, if not more impressed by the Pork and Veal Sausage. It was deliciously meaty without the greasy after-taste, and the casing was satisfying snappy. Likewise, the Corned Beef was also very tasty, encrusted in a layer of spices. And to cut through all that meat, the House Pickle was crisp and refreshing – the perfect balance between sweet and sour. 

Marinated Herring

The last item on the plate was the Marinated Herring. The fat slab of fish was briny and heavily salted, and though good in small doses, I just couldn’t handle that much sodium in one go, and left most of it untouched. 

Leaves, Shredded, Radish, Creamy Dill Dressing ($7)

To balance out our meal somewhat, we ordered the Leaves, Shredded, Radish, Creamy Dill Dressing ($7) off the main menu. The first thing I have to say about this salad is that, the dressing tastes like Big Mac Sauce, and as a result, was annoyingly addictive. Which is just as well, because the rest of the salad was a profound disappointment. It consisted of mostly shredded iceberg lettuce, with only a scant few pieces of Mesclun and radish thrown into the mix. But then again, sauerkraut German food is hardly known for its salad. 

Though most of the tasting platter was pretty scrumptious, I had one major complaint – the bread. It was toasted so excessively that it each bite splintered loudly enough to make my ears ring, and my mouth was literally bleeding a little by the end. Aside from the painful bread experience and harried waitresses however, Hophaus has caught my attention enough to warrant a re-visit. I’m still not a fan of set menus for special events, but the pork knuckle sitting a few tables down has me intrigued.

Rating: 12.5/20 – but wait, let me try the pork knuckle.

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

Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest of Hophaus Bier Bar Grill. 

Maria's Trattoria

124 Peel St 

Melbourne, VIC 3051
http://www.mariastrattoria.com/

As much as I hate paying for food that I can make myself, sometimes I want home-styled cooking and to be lazy. But whilst my end of town is good for dumplings and stir-fries, I’m not as fortunate when I’m craving pasta or curry. Those who live near Maria’s Trattoria however, are. 

Opened literally 30 years ago, Maria’s Trattoria is very much the quintessential family-run eatery. Its aged facade is very easy to overlook, but what caught my eye was the collage of faded Cheap Eats Awards pasted on the window. I doubt the restaurant itself has changed since the day it opened, and over the years it has become antiquated and tacky, but in a homely, well-loved way. 

What really makes Maria’s Trattoria feel homely though are the staff, who are the cutest buttons you’ll ever find. See, there’s one right there, happily waving a piece of bread she’s buttering. Maria herself was also in da house, wearing a flowery apron and cooking up a storm. 

Tortellini alla Romana ($16.9, main)

Chris ignored my warnings of the portion sizes, and ordered a Tortellini alla Romana ($16.9, main), ‘just to see how big it was’. The plate it was served on was definitely closer to a platter in size, and it was piled high with plump pockets of pasta, stuffed with nuggets of veal. It was generously topped with mushrooms and bacon, and finished with a delectably tangy sauce of tomato and cream. 

Spaghetti Pescatore ($16.9, entree)

Meanwhile, my Spaghetti Pescatore ($16.9, entree) was more generous in size than the mains you’ll find at most restaurants. The classic Napoli sauce was mild but hearty in flavour, and though the spaghetti was just a touch past al dente, it was nowhere near problematic. 

Spaghetti Pescatore ($16.9, entree)

What impressed me the most however was the seafood. It was generously doled up, consisting of everything from scallops to calamari to clams. The freshness could not be faulted either, though it is unsurprising, given that they source all their produce from Queen Victoria Market across the road. Finished with a healthy Italian-sized glug of olive oil, this is a plate of pasta that’s just as good in front of the TV as it is with a glass of wine. 

Though we definitely, definitely didn’t need it, we were still given a basket of slightly-stale-but-perfectly-sufficient bread. And simply because it was there, I ended up eating two slices, soaked in the yummy tortellini sauce. 

If we’re talking about it purely from a taste perspective, there is nothing groundbreaking about Maria’s Trattoria. What (I believe) keeps everyone coming back is the genuine sense of warmth and hospitality you get the moment you step in the door. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the food is tasty, the portions huge, and the prices reasonable.

Rating: 14/20 – mama maria!

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

Shifty Chèvre

375 Brunswick St 

Fitzroy, VIC 3065

http://www.shiftychevre.com/

Chris and I are pretty non-believing when it comes to Valentine’s Day, but in a very pacifist sort of way, with none of that IT’S A COMMERCIALISED HOLIDAY anger. However, we do take the opportunity to do something a little special together, maybe exchange cards or small tokens. Just like we do on many other days of the year, because that’s what real love is about, right?

Cheese is one of my favourite indulgences, but I find it hard to branch out from the supermarket fridge section, given how you can’t just casually waltz into a high-end restaurant and order nothing but a cheeseboard. That’s why I couldn’t believe my luck when Shifty Chèvre, a dedicated cheese (and soon to be wine) bar and cafe opened up in the heart of Fitzroy. 

I love the way the name of the restaurant rolls around in my mouth, and every time I say it, it comes out in my poshest (and worst) French accent – I just couldn’t help it. Kudos to whoever fitted out Shifty Chèvre, because it is such a perfect mix of provincial, whimsy, and comfort. It was a lovely summer’s day outside, and with the sunshine spilling in through the front windows, it felt like I had wandered down to the village grocer for a bite to eat. 

The rustic wooden shelves were filled with a gamut of cheese-related goods, from home-made preserves to cheese knives in various sizes. We even spotted canned duck confit and thimble-sized jars of sliced truffle, labelled entirely in French. Ooh la la! 

Skinny Flat White ($3.5)

People should be forbidden from asking if I want a coffee on days when I decided to go without, because next thing I knew, I was sipping on a Skinny Flat White ($3.5). I couldn’t berate myself all that much in the end though, because I thoroughly enjoyed this smooth, mellow, and chocolate brew. 

Open Baguette with Grana Padano and Ham, Roast Vegetable, and Pesto ($11.5)

In true gentlemanly fashion, Chris delegates ordering completely to me on our dates, and in true nice-foodie-girlfriend fashion, I ordered something I knew would float his goat – the Open Baguette with Grana Padano and Ham, Roast Vegetable, and Pesto ($11.5). This was an absolutely class act. On the bed of sweet roasted summer vegetables was not your usual ham, but smooth, fatty slices of prosciutto with a rich, porky aroma. It was topped off with sharp gratings of cheese, and small dollops of coarsely ground pesto that burst with colour and flavour. The baguette itself was also – naturally – spot-on, with a soft and yeasty centre and just a little bit of crunch at the edges.

The Taswegian Salad ($11.5)

The Taswegian Salad ($11.5)

It was a fairly warm day and The Taswegian Salad ($11.5) was exactly what I had in mind. Once again, this dish was summery, vibrant, and filled with goodness. The medley of vegetables was crisp and fresh, with the finely diced carrot and red onion adding a refreshing crunch. There was more of that lusciously silky ham, and the diced Tasmanian Emmental was waxy and mild. Tossed in a light Dijon mustard dressing, this was the ultimate feel-good lunch. 

With so much cheese brazenly on display, we couldn’t resist topping our meal off with a platter. We weren’t sure we could eat one of the $20 cheese platters by this point, but our waitress kindly offered to slice up some cheese and serve it up with some quince paste for us. Unfortunately we did have to pay for the crackers but the quince paste was free!

It was an ordeal, trying to decide which cheeses we wanted to try. The proviso is that we have to buy a minimum of 100g because anything smaller is too cumbersome to cut up, so we had to make sure that we really liked whichever cheese we chose. Luckily the staff were more than happy to shave off samples for us to taste-test, and we eventually settled on the Brie Marriote ($5.2/100g) for me, and the Tasmanian St Claire Emmental ($4.2/100g) for Chris. 

 Brie Marriote ($5.2/100g)/Tasmanian St Claire Emmental ($4.2/100g) 

I had a good deal of the Emmental in my salad, but when had on its own, I could really appreciate its fruity and mildly nutty aroma, and its wonderfully soft and slightly chewy texture. It’s pretty much a jack of all trades when it comes to cheese. As nice as the Emmental was though, I couldn’t stop eating the mild, creamy wedge of Brie. It was absolutely out of this world when combined with a smidge of quince paste, making for a dessert that rivals the best of cheesecakes.

I’m going to keep this simple: I love Shifty Chèvre and I can’t wait to come back.

Rating: 15/20 – sneaky stilton. alternatively: sweet dreams are made of cheese, who am i to diss a brie?

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

On our way back to the tram, we stumbled across a craft market, and these adorable greeting cards were Chris (he’s a programmer) and I in a nutshell. Never have I found anything that expresses my sentiments so succinctly and accurately. 

And being in Fitzroy, I just couldn’t resist taking a photo of the amazing (and in this case, perfectly timed) graffiti. 

Ombra

76 Bourke St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000
http://www.ombrabar.com.au/

As sad as I am to admit it, Friday night dates have sort of lost their shine ever since I’ve been out of a job. A nice meal out may still be enjoyable, but it just feels like I’ve done absolutely nothing to earn them. But am I going to stop having Friday night dates? NOPE.

Ombra opened quietly (or maybe I just wasn’t paying attention; I probably wasn’t paying attention) three years ago at the top end of Bourke Street, right next to the Grossi empire. That would normally be a terribly foolish move for any Italian restaurant trying to make it big, but not in this case, as Ombra is also a Guy Grossi venture. 

As you’d expect of the famous Italian chef, Ombra is an Italian wine bar at heart. There is a large cellar hidden under the stairs, and plenty of meats being cured in-house. The downstairs section is pretty but it’s got nothing on the enchanting upstairs section – a provincial Italian dining room, with a balcony that opens up to the leafy Paris-end of Bourke street. 

Prosciutto ($9 for 1, $12 for 2, $18 for 3)

I love cheese platters but I love meat platters even more, and after a lengthy consultation with our knowledgeable waiter, we opted for a duo of Prosciutto and Tartufo ($9 for 1, $12 for 2, $18 for 3), which was served with a slide of crusty white bread. The prosciutto came in freshly sliced ribbons, and though delicate, the soft and pliant slices of ham were nevertheless nutty and full-bodied in flavour. 

Tartufo ($9 for 1, $12 for 2, $18 for 3)

But our hearts were taken by the Tartufo – fatty slices of salami flavoured with black truffle, and finished with a drizzle of olive oil. Despite being so thinly sliced, each piece of salami was indulgently rich, augmented by hints of earthy truffle. 

Crisp Lamb Ribs, Salsa di Peperoni ($16)

Making no concessions to our arteries, we followed the cured meats with a plate of Crisp Lamb Ribs, Salsa di Peperoni ($16), one of the signature dishes of Ombra. And you know what? The blogger who said that these smelt like KFC were entirely correct; in fact, they even looked a bit like it too!

Crisp Lamb Ribs, Salsa di Peperoni ($16)

Underneath the brittle coating, the lamb was unbelievably unctuous, dissolving off the bone at the lightest touch. The accompanying capsicum sauce was sweet and fruity, and although the lamb would've benefited from a more generous amount of seasoning, the cooking itself could not be faulted. Believe me, 4 ribs were more than enough for 2 people.

Slow Cooked Octopus, Potato, Salsa Verde ($18)

I had been eyeing the Slow Cooked Octopus, Potato, Salsa Verde ($18) all night, and you know what? It turned out to be one of the best dishes I’ve ordered for quite a while. The slow-cooked octopus had an amazing texture; instead of being overly chewy or saggy, it was satisfyingly meaty, soaking up the salsa verde, which danced with fresh parsley and good olive oil. Accompanied simply by crisp stalks of celery and slices of potato, this was an invigorating cold dish that’s perfect for summer. 

(Although, maybe avoid this dish if you’re squeamish about octopus. The tentacles were so huge that the little suction caps were falling off.)

Polpette, Tomato ($14) 

This was the deal Chris and I made: I get the octopus, and he’s allowed to have the Polpette, Tomato ($14) – a rustic serve of meatballs in a cast iron pan. As we had predicted, this was a classic dish made well, the meatballs coarse but moist, soaked in a rich tomato and vegetable stew. We gleefully soaked up the excess sauce with our remaining bread.

I may have been completely oblivious about Ombra until last week, but apparently I’m one of the last few people who are. By 7pm, not only was the entire upstairs and downstairs of the restaurant packed out, there wasn’t even any room left in the al fresco section. Ombra encompasses all of what Melbourne loves – a chic, stylish wine bar with beautifully made food and excellent wine (or so I’m told). It is a winner through and through (like Australia in the Asian cup!)

Rating: 15.5/20 – italian movida.

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