Manly Wharf Hotel

Manly Wharf,
East Esplanade,
NSW 2095

The Manly Wharf Hotel is situated meters away from the ferry terminal on the harbour side of Manly.

We visited on a sunny spring Monday lunchtime,  and while it was fairly busy, there were still plenty of tables available. We got a table inside with a view across the deck to the harbour.

 The salt and pepper calamari was fine but a bit bland.

I had the fish and chips, which were the Monday special, $16 with a drink... The batter was crisp and the fish moist and flavoursome, the chips were good too.

The chilli prawn and salmon fettuccine with cherry tomatoes, mint, parmesan and lemon, had nearly tempted me and certainly looked good and substantial when I collected the meals. It was too much for Annabel to finish, but she seemed to enjoy what she did eat.

The service was pretty efficient and friendly for a larger establishment, and with its spectacular location it is understandable that it is popular, the meals are good value and I'd happily go back if I was in the area.

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

Oggis

Shop 2 22 Allowrie Street
Jamberoo
NSW
2533

After a walk to the falls in the beautiful Minnamurra rainforest we stopped at Oggis on the main street of Jamberoo for lunch.There were a few other patrons around enjoying coffees and lunch.

I had the soup of the day, which was minestrone, and proved a popular choice on our table. The soup was packed with veggies and was nicely flavoured, but I missed  the beans that are often an ingredient, the serving was on the small side too.

The service was OK if a little on the basic side, and an omelette didn't come with the requested ingredients.Not a bad spot if you are the area though.

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

Seascape Cafe

91 Foreshore Road
Port Kembla,
NSW 2505

We were taken to Seascape Cafe while visiting some locals, and probably wouldn't have found it tucked behind the maritime centre at Port Kembla without our guides. It must be fairly well known, as it was pretty busy when we were there on a Saturday lunchtime.

Three of us ended up choosing the Salt and Pepper squid salad, which pretty much delivered what was expected, although the squid was a little more nugget style than usual.

The steak sandwich was a decent size and kept Bruce happy, the chips came in pseudo paper wrapping and looked great.

After a neighbouring group of dinners left we soon had some new company, watch out for the gulls!

The best thing about the cafe in the location, with fantastic views to the north, we even spotted whales to the north while we were dining.

The service was pretty prompt and friendly, and the location and views certainly make it worth while checking out.

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

Thailicious

355 Exhibition Street
Melbourne
VIC
3000

I spotted Thailicious while riding home one night, it has opened in the last 6 months or so and it is situated on Exhibition Street near the edge of the CBD between Victoria and La Trobe Streets. The reviews on urbanspoon were mixed, but being nearby it seemed like being worth a try! Inside the decor was modern and still felt new and fresh.

Brendan and I both took advantage of the lunch special on offer, I had the Pad Prik Gang which feature stir fried chicken and vegetables in a home made sauce. Having chosen the spicy option when asked, there could be no complaints when the dish lived up to the billings, whilst I still enjoyed it, perhaps medium is the optimal heat for me! The portion was a decent size and all the ingeadient fresh and well prepared.

Brendan had a mild chicken green curry which was the heat level of heat for him, and really enjoyed the dish.

The service was efficient and friendly and the lunch specials starting from $10 were good value. It certainly compares well with other Thai options in the area.

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

Lot 7

95 Flinders Lane
Melbourne
VIC 3000

You can't miss Lot 7 while strolling down Flinders Lane between Exhibition and Russell, with the large smiley sign augmented with yellow and black balloons on the Thursday lunch time we visited. Phil had suggested a visit after reading about Lot 7, and their lunch specials.

The interior is large and feels spacious with the light flooding in through the industrial style roof. It were quite a few other diners around, including a couple of big groups, but it still felt like we had enough space.

We got a larger general menu, but both homed in on the smaller lunch specials flier.

I had the Orecchiette and the hearty pasta shapes were accompanied with eggplant, tomato, olives and basil to produce a great dish. I don't often have pasta when out, as I often have it at home, but this hit the spot.

Phil had the parma which came with chips in a deep fryer basket and coleslaw. Unusually the chicken breast was from a normal sized chicken rather than some sort giant/mutant and the tomato sauce appeared fresh and came with the addition of a basil leaf. He certainly seemed happy with the meal.

The service was smooth, until we received the wrong bill at first, but that was quickly sorted out, and the staff were all friendly. It's certainly a good spot for an Australian/Italian style lunch in the city at a decent price...

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

Mr Tulk cafe

328 Swanston Street - enter from La Trobe street
Melbourne
VIC
3000

Situated in the imposing State Library of Victoria, Mr Tulk Cafe is apparently named after the first Librarian. On a spring Friday lunch time visit lots of the tables outside were busy.

Inside the decor was library themed. After a brief wait we were shown to a table and given a menu featuring a few breakfast items, sandwiches and some hot dishes. 

Trem had a basic but authentically French looking ham baguette.

 I went for the soup of the day, chorizo, roasted tomato and bean, which was flavoursome and satisfying and more exciting than the photo makes it look!

Both meals were around $10 and it's certainly popular and provides a nice environment to grab some food as an alternative to the nearby options on Swanson St. The service was efficient, and friendly but we certainly got the hint to move on once we were finished, which was fair enough given how busy they were...

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

1+1 Dumpling Noodles... again

84 Hopkins St
Footscray
Vic 3011

Our first visit to 1+1 was over two years ago, and as they'd re-decorated and had some new menu's printed it was worth a writing about again.

Inside things feel much less stark and bare, although some music would be good to add some atmosphere, and conceal the sounds of noodles being slurped! The menu seemed bigger than last time, strangely there were notes mentioning that the pictures weren't of dishes from the kitchen!

We went for the spicy cucumber salad, which we'd enjoyed before and it didn't disappoint, with the chilli based spice building nicely.

The fried vegetable dumplings great and super hot on arrival, with spinach and mushrooms standing out in the filling.

The seafood dumplings in soup were as good as we remembered.

The baby greens with garlic provided a good contrast of textures and flavours.

Next time we will have to try some noodles, as they form half the name. It's good to see 1+1 doing well enough to refurbish and continue to produce great value tasty food, and I'm sure we'll continue to stop in on an irregular basis.

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

Wild Dog Winery

Warragul Korumburra Road,
Warragul,
Vic 3820

We'd visited the Wild Dog Winery a couple of times before and eaten there once before, it is perched in a beautiful spot in the rolling green Gippsland hills, just south of Warragul.

The interior is bright, airy and spacious, the carpeted floor prevented it becoming echoey, it was fairly busy when the four of us arrived on a spring Sunday lunch time, with a couple of largish groups as well as plenty of smaller tables.

The menu offered a couple of degustation options, but we decided to select our own dishes, however it was a little tricky working out how much/what to order as the dishes were grouped into sections charcuterie, sea, meat and earth with items of differing sizes hard to identify. The waiting staff weren't able to easily explain of suggest things either. In addition the pizza's on the website menu were on offer when we visited.

In the end we decided to share two items from the charcuterie section for entree, which with some extra bread worked out well. The Spanish chorizo pan-fried with tomato came with slices of toasted bread. The combination of flavours was suitably Iberian, the tomato based sauce being a particular highlight.

I don't often eat Chicken liver pate these days, not good for keeping the cholesterol under control, but this carefully presented dish reminded me what I've been missing.

We had a long wait after the first dishes came out before our 'mains' came out, we were relaxed, but too much time passed with only extra bread offered to go with our entrées and a brief explanation of a busy kitchen from a waitress. The pan fried atlantic salmon fillet, was served with highly praised squid ink, a smoked eel croquette and a micro herb salad.

The milk fed veal scallopini came with portobello mushrooms and a garlic, wine cream sauce and polenta.

The Gypsy Pig pork bellie, micro thai salad, espuma, black sesame rice crisps looked wonderful.

I ordered the King George whiting, but was initially presented with the King fish dish, a much lighter affair accompanied with Tasmanian shima wasabi, pickeled shallots, radish, watercress and lemon oil. The waitress apologised and let us have the extra dish on the house, it was interesting and great to share and try, but I'm not sure I would have been happy with it as a main.

The whiting was crumbed and came with tarragon, lemon pepper, lemon and aioli. The fish was perfectly cooked and the dish was more filling than it initially appeared to be.

As sides we shared a couple of 'Earth' dishes between the four of us. The curry beer batter cauliflower with onions, tomato, greens, quinoa, balsamic and yoghurt.was an interesting and well executed combination, I was left wanting more of the cauliflower!

The house smoked beetroot, was another taste sensation I hadn't experienced which left me wanting more! It came with chopped greens and cottage cheese.

Overall the food was great, the only downside of the whole experience was the long wait and the mix up with the my main.The bill came to around $190 for the four of us including a bottle of Wilddog Riesling, a few glasses of the Pinot Grigio, a beer and some coffees, not to forget the Noojee Num Num!




View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map

Chicco - Seddon

77 Charles street,
Seddon,
Vic, 3011

Chicco sprang up on the site of the former Touks a few months ago, but we hadn't made it down. There have been plenty of superficial changes to the decor and a new all white exterior, but the layout is still the same. It was fairly busy on the SUnday lunchtime when we visited, but we managed to grab a table in the spring sunshine.

The site at the end of Victoria street meant we had a view straight back up the street, and the trees down the middle of the street are growing to add a nice arborial touch.

We had coffees first up, my long black was a little on the intense side for my tastes, and could perhaps been just a little longer. the cups were cute and the tea spoons reminded me on my dear departed grandma's.

I had the vegetable and chickpea pattie stack with tomato relish and hummus. These were actually presented side by side on a bed of fresh peppery rocket. They were well executed, full of flavour and despite being tender held together well. The condiments were both great, the relish being the winner for me.

The home made baked beans with pesto and roast red onions was good without quite departing far enough from my memories of beans on toast to be really special.

The bill came to $37.50, which was fair for what we'd had. The staff were friendly and the service prompt. It's a great addition to the range of café's and eateries in Seddon and a good change from Touk's although from someone who mainly eats out in the evening, not quite so convenient. I did note that they were advertising the arrival of degustation dinner nights, which could be worth a visit!

View Foodscrazy restaurant map in a larger map