EAT > Il Bacaro, Melbourne (18/20)

I moved from Sydney to Melbourne in 1995 and immediately fell in love with the remarkable bars and restaurants that had a truly unique style about them. One of those restaurants was Il Bacaro which launched that same year on Little Collins Street (just off Russell St). As you enter the restaurant the…

ByAl ManakSeptember 14, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Gimlet, Melbourne (18/20)

"Let's grab a drink at Gimlet and figure it out" that is the start of an excellent night out in Melbourne. Famed for its cocktails as well as the food there is a wonderful deco 1920s style to a place that launched in 2020 just before the pandemic started and has since become…

ByEd ItorSeptember 8, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > The Moat, Melbourne (13/20)

"It is under the Library, off Little Lonsdale Street", I said but apparently Google had other ideas directing my lunch guest to wander around the State Library and the Wheeler Centre before he called and said "ok where are you?". Actually it is not that hard to find if you know where you are…

ByCrispyJuly 20, 20240Comments

EAT > SYDNEY

EAT > Le Foote, Sydney

Editors Note (25/8/24): We are saddened to hear the recent media reports and claims about Swillhouse venues. The accusations are extremely disturbing. As a result we are removing the review rating we gave for the venue. It seems that every new exciting restaurant in Sydney is either a Merrivale or Swillhouse…

ByEd ItorJuly 14, 20240Comments

EAT > SYDNEY

EAT > Bar Topa, Sydney (14/20)

"Lets have a quiet night, just a glass of wine and some tapas". Famous last words as we ambled down to Bar Topa which sits in amongst the throng of busy restaurants in the Merrivale owned "Ivy" district off George Street in Sydney's lower CBD towards the rocks. Bar Topa is a smart…

ByJames CampbellJuly 14, 20240Comments

VISIT > Yarra Valley

VISIT > Wantirna Estate

Wantirna is a suburb at the edge of Melbourne's sprawling metropolis. As you drive out towards the Dandenong Ranges, one moment it is traffic lights and shopping strips, the next quiet country streets and then it is the idyllic 10 acres that make up Wantirna Estate. Set amongst the golf courses and nature reserves that…

ByEd ItorJune 28, 20240Comments

VISIT > Yarra Valley

VISIT > Wantirna Estate

REGION: YARRA VALLEY VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc OPEN HOURS: Only once a year for mailing list subscribers, usualy a weekend in October WINE TASTING: Yes RESTAURANT: No WINE MAKER: Maryann Egan Wantirna is a suburb at the edge of Melbourne's sprawling metropolis. As you drive out towards the Dandenong Ranges, one…

ByEd ItorJune 21, 20240Comments

STAY > HOBART

STAY > MACQ01 Hotel, Hobart

If you are looking for the very best place to stay in Hobart then MACQ01 is probably it. Sure there are other choices available but here is why we are fairly convinced that MACQ01 is going straight to the top of your list. There are two stand out reasons to recognise the hotel first…

ByCrispyJune 16, 20240Comments

EAT > HOBART

EAT > Ogee, North Hobart (16/20)

It is quite a solid walk up to Ogee in North Hobart from Sullivan’s Cove and downtown Hobart. It will take you about 30 minutes depending where you start and the incline gradually increases all the way up. I note this because we chose to walk up, it is a Sunday morning and…

ByCrispyJune 16, 20240Comments

EAT > HOBART

EAT > Fico, Hobart (19/20)

Fico means fig in Italian, but in Italian slang it also mean cool and that is a very good definition for Fico it is definitely cool. To start it is not a typically Italian restaurant but the food is obviously heavily influenced with Italian techniques and flavours. The chef co-owners Federica…

ByCrispyJune 16, 20240Comments

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