The Rickshaw, Fitzroy

199 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy
Victoria 3065

We were wandering down Gertrude Street after work on a Friday evening looking for a bite, on the way to catch up with some mates. We had a vague idea of a few options but decided to give The Rickshaw a try after checking out the menu.

From outside and as soon as you walk inside you can't miss the front section of the restaurants name-sake.

The fit-out is low key and cool with a view through to the kitchen at the back.

The wavy wire ceiling features lights hanging down over the bar. It was pretty quiet when arrived around 6, but the tables filled while we were there. Amit the owner welcomed us and was a friendly presence through the evening.

The menu is fairly short with a mix of dishes from India and across the rest of Asia.

We kicked off by sharing the beautifully presented Papdi Chaat of crushed chickpeas with cumin yoghurt, pomegranate and date sauce. The 'street food' inspired dish tasted as good as it looked!

Amit persuaded us to try the Pani-puri, another Indian street snack, in this case a a hollow semolina puff, containing spiced potato and tamarind and topped up with the coriander and mint emulsion. The resulting delicate casings slip into the mouth then burst with flavour.

We stuck with the veggie Indian theme for our main dishes. The pumpkin lakhanawi was subtly flavoured with mustard and coriander seeds and cooked to leave the pumpkin soft with disintegrating into a mush.

The slow cooked daal bukhara was a wonderful blend of lentils and spices. It had a surprising kick amongst almost smokey flavours. While we tucked in to our mains the head chef came out to chat to us, explaining each dish was cooked with it's own specific base.

The onion seed and basil naan was a nice twist on the classic bread and the rice nice if a little on the small side, indeed we ordered a second serve later.

desert,

We would have finished up at that point, but Amit was so keen for us to try a sweet that he shouted us gulab jamun. These again were presented beautifully with the soft dumplings sitting on Chantilly cream, with rose petals and a pistachio crumb. The flavours and textures complimented each other to finish the meal with a flourish!

The service which seemed to have caused a few comments on Urbanspoon was great for us, with plenty of opportunity to hear from Amit and the chef about the food and their influences and inspiration. The bill came to $87.50 including a few beers. The ambiance and attention to detail with the food and it's plating impressed us both and we'd be keen to return and try more of the dishes on the menu.

Ladro Gertrude

224 Gertrude Street,
Fitzroy
Vic 3065

We'd booked a table at Ladro Gertrude in Fitzroy on a Saturday, which was a good thing as it was packed when we visited.

We were shown through the front room with its big windows on to the street to a corner table in a slightly quieter and darker back room.

We ordered our drinks and then the food, and we did have short wait, but nothing unreasonable considering the number of diners. The Putanesco pizza was topped with tomato, fior di latte, parmigiano, cherry tomatoes, anchovies, capers, fresh chilli, black olives and basil. The saltiness of the small fish was well complimented by the other flavours on a perfectly woodfired oven cooked base.

I had the scout's pizza featuring tomato, taleggio, caramelised onion, basil, dressed rocket and parmigiano, another winning combination prepared flawlessly.

We also shared a side of broccolini with almonds, garlic and chilli, a simple but pleasant nice contrast to the rest of the meal.

The meal came to around $70 including drinks. The service held up well despite the restaurant being packed and turning over tables pretty swiftly. I'd happily return for more great pizza on another visit to this part of town.

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Garden View Cafe

44 Nicholson Street
Fitzroy
VIC 3065

Although I'd seen the Garden View Cafe plenty of times, I'd never been able to find out much about it on line, and hadn't investigated further.

Eventually I visited with Brendan, rather than pressing on up to Gertrude St. As you go inside you enter the counter area, with the tables through a small opening, the space was bigger than I expected, with basic tables and chairs and bare brick walls.

The menu isn't that extensive but covers some the basic cafe bases.

Brendan had the burger with the lot, which was generously sized and lived up to its description.

I went for the veggie burger minus cheese, and was slightly surprised that there wasn't a patty of some sort. The content of egg, pepper, onions, tomato, beetroot and salad was certainly plentiful, but it didn't rival the Jerry's Vegiburgers experience.

The service was pretty swift and the meety burger good value, but I'd try something different if I visited again...

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Slowpoke, Fitzroy

157 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy
VIC 3065

On a bright but chilly winter Friday, Brendan and I headed up to Fitzroy for lunch at the inconspicuous Slowpoke, which would have been easy to wander past on Brunswick street, if we hadn't been looking out for it.

Inside the decor was  simple and elegant, with mostly white walls and wooden tables and white chairs.

We got a table by the wood block feature wall, some the blocks were mini shelves and were home to medicine bottle vases.

Our water was provided  in a tall jar.

I went for one of the several specials on offer, the heirloom carrot and lentil soup. It was one of the most thoughtfully presented soups I've seen, with roasted carrot and lentils topping the thick soup. The flavours combined well and it was a satisfying lunch on a cooler day.

Brendan had the roast chicken sandwich, which was garnished with rocket. It wasn't that generously sized but I actually finished my soup first... Unfortunately one mouthful was spoiled by a bone in the meat!

At around $12each the meals were just enough to satisfy us at lunchtime. The service was friendly and efficient and the laid back feel made it a good break from the office.

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Radio - Fitzroy

79 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy
Vic 3065

Radio is a cafe / bar on Gertrude street, with an old school ghetto blaster style radio visible through the tinted window. It's just to the west of the junction with Brunswick street and was fairly quiet on the Friday we visited at lunchtime. We grabbed a seat outside after ordering at the counter, inside it was a little stuffy on the warm early afternoon.

I went for the $12 baby spinach pizza, which looks larger in the picture below than the small pizza that arrived. It wasn't bad, but given the size and price I was left a little underwhelmed...

Brendan's off the bone ham and salad roll looked great and was of a decent size for $9, and he certainly seemed happy with it.

The service was friendly and reasonably swift, although it certainly wasn't busy. It was a nice spot to watch the world go by, but there are probably better options in the local area.

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Piadina Fitzroy

130 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy
VIC 3065

When we visited Piadina Slowfood in the city Brendan and I both went for slow food options, this time there was only one choice in the name of this cafe on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy.

Inside there were a quite few table occupied on a Wednesday lunchtime. We ordered at the counter, and found a table outside.

Brendan had the chicken piadina, which also contained bacon and spinach.

My mushroom piadina was also filled with cheese and rocket. The flat bread was nicely prepared and the only complaint was that the three halves of mushroom was a little on the light side.

I think the chicken option was better value at $9.90 compared to for $9.50 the lightly filled mushroom option. The service was a little haphazard and it seemed to take a while to bring out our food. Overall my first try of a piadina was good, if I left not entirely sated.

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The Gertrude Hotel

148 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy,
VIC 3065

Brendan and I had strolled past the Gertrude Hotel after a previous lunch, and were interested enough by the recently renovated pub to return. As the name suggests it's situated on Gertrude street in Fitzroy, and was originally the "The Drewery Family Hotel" with a history to suit the area's colourful past.

Inside the front area still has a pub feel, albeit a stylish modern one, with stools and high tables, there were also tables outside on the wide pavement. It serves a range of interesting beers which I had to resist.

The restaurant area at the rear of the building has some original looking features, but also dark wooden tables and bench seats and leather seats.

Although we were ordering from the bar menu we were seated in the restaurant area where we received table service, there quite a few other tables occupied in this area and a one or two outside. After ordering we were brought some good quality bread, butter and salt.

We both took advantage of the Tuesday $12 special on the chicken parmigiana with chips and salad. I prefer chunkier chips, but the thin ones were super crunchy. The salad was fresh with a subtle dressing. The parma covered a big area but was fairly thin, and mine verged into the slightly dry territory, but not enough to stop me from devouring it all.

The service was certainly at a level above what I'd expect at a pub, certainly one serving food at the price of their specials! I'd be happy to go back again to try another lunchtime special, or in the evening/at a weekend to grab a beer with food.

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The Lunchtime Escape

96 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy,
Vic 3065

It was time for another lunch with Brendan and we ventured slightly further into Fitzroy to the Lunchtime Escape. It's on the generally trendy Gertrude Street, but in the stretch sat opposite the Fitzroy commission flats where things are a bit more basic. This doesn't detract from the smart Victorian/Edwardian building that houses the cafe, with tables set up outside.

The interior featured bare brick walls and high ceilings with basic cafeteria style hot plates and the limited menu up on the wall. There were a few other tables occupied when we arrived, but it certainly wasn't busy.

Brendan selected the club sandwich special which included chips and a soft drink (or maybe even a coffee...) all for $10. It looked good and happened to be his first club sandwich and he seemed to enjoy it.

I went for the veggie lasagne, which I was going to have with salad, but the friendly waiter recommended the potatoes and capsicum. The meal was satisfying without being exciting, the tomato covering of the lasagne was different to the usual cheese, but did provide plenty of moisture.

The service was very friendly and prompt. If you are after a basic and satisfying lunch it this would be a good place to escape to.

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