Cugini's

With its home made pastas, wood fired pizzas and a whole menu dedicated to Spritz’s (that's right...a whole section of the menu!), Italian inspired Cugini’s is a welcome addition to Nicholson Street in Fitzroy North. 

The home made pastas were definitely a highlight of the night - opting for the entree serves of the pappardelle alle polpette ($12) and the chicken and ricotta agnolotti ($15).  Not only was the pasta clearly home made, it was cooked al dente, smothered in a rich flavoursome sauce and was a generous serving for an entree size. 

The Diablo’s wood fire pizza ($24) was also done well, with a thin but still crispy crust and a generous amount of toppings. 

If you’re in Fitzroy North and looking for some delicious carb fuelled Italian comfort food, that’s great value for money, look no further than Cugini’s. 

Food: 4/5 

Value for money: 4.5/5 

Service: 5/5 

Venue: 4/5 

Total: 17.5/20 

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon 

 The New Fave dined courtesy of Cugini’s

Albert Park Hotel

It was a shame to see such a beautiful venue as Albert Park Hotel empty for so long - but what I definitely didn't expect was that on its reopening, gone would be the days of its pub fair, with the Hotel instead offering Asian Cuisine. 

The Hotel now offers a front bar, cocktail bar, formal restuarant and take-away counter. On this occassion we visited the front bar, ordering the xiao long bao (4 for $15), the chicken and chive pan fried dumplings (5 for $18), prawn wontons (5 for $20), five spice silken tofu ($18) and salt and pepper calamari ($26).

The higlight of the dishes was definitely the prawn wontons - fat, juicy and filled with large chunks of pranws.  Whereas the lowlight was the chicken dumplings - the chicken meat being far too pink inside for my liking. Otherwise, while the other dishes were "tasty", they certainly weren't anything to write about (especially the xiao long bao which fell to peices to matter how gently I tried to lift them from the steam basket), and to be honest I expected more for the price point. 

While I definitely won't be going back just for its food, with it's heritage-style Albert Park charm, friendly service and stunning outdoor area, I would definitely recommend Albert Park Hotel for a few drinks, and potentially a snack if you're starving. 

Food: 3/5

Venue: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Value for money: 2/5

Total: 13.5/20

Verdict: Like - get around to trying it for drinks at some point 

Pontoon

Nestled on the bottom floor of the Stokehouse is its more casual, some would say party-animal sister Pontoon. With one of the more stunning views in Melbourne, don’t be surprised if you find yourself sharing your dinner with DJ working his decks even before the sun has gone down, with a bustling room of people who already have a glimmer of a big night ahead in their eye.

Pontoon’s menu is gastro-pub in style - offering classics such as fish and chips and steak, as well as a large offering of seafood, such as skewered octopus, barramundi calamari and oysters. On this occasion I went with the fish finger burger with cocktail sauce and house pickles.

Unfortunately there was an overpowering smokey taste to it, and the fish was definitely on the scarce side - so while a reasonably tasty meal, not the best fish burger going around.

But who are we kidding, no one is coming to Pontoon for its food. Pontoon is definitely all about its stunning venue, and would be a great choice if you’re looking for a Sunday afternoon drink with an epic beachfront view

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

Daughter in Law

With its pink neon lights, colourful decor and buzzing vibe, Daughter in Law in the CBD serves up what the restaurant calls "Australian Indian", with items such as Aussie Lamb Ribs and Papadan Chaat on the menu. 

Daughter in Law's Colonel Tso's Cauliflower ($20) is one of their signature dishes - I was hoping for a bit more of a flavour punch, and for the larger pieces of cauliflower to be cooked through, but still a tasty option if you find yourself at this restaurant. The Balls of Happiness ($3.50 each) are another popular choice, coming out as pretty as a picture - although for me the best part of the dish were the savory and light crunchy balls sitting beneath the balls on the bottom. 

For mains we shared the butter chicken (some would say a boring choice, but I would rather call it a classic) ($30) and the Vegan Chana Masala ($20) which consisted of chickpeas cooked with green mango powder, crushed pomegranate and crushed ginger. With it's unique and delicious flavours, even if you're not a vegetarian, I would highly recommend opting for the Vegan Chana Masala for one of your dishes. 

Service was friendly but a bit patchy - we didn't get our bottle of wine (that we ordered within minutes of our arrival) until after the entrees were served.

While I wouldn't say it was one of the best Indian restaurants Melbourne has to offer, it still definitely has some highlights - including the delicious raita and roti- and is still worth a try. 

Food: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Value for money: 3/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 13/20
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it some point

Fourth Chapter

Fourth Chapter in Prahan is the epitome of why I had missed Melbourne's brunch scene so much - friendly and attentive service, great food, and an easy relaxed atmosphere that's perfect for dining in the morning. 

While most breakfast spots in Melbourne offer avacado on toast, Fourth Chapter's smashed avo on toast ($21) comes with saganaki, pepitas and fig and onion jam - a perfect blend of sweet, salty and creaminess. 

For those who are feeling a little rusty, Fourth Chapter also offers a dash of gin or vodka in your morning juice - an excellent cure for a hangover!

Definitely recommend Fourth Chapter for breakfast or brunch if you're in the area. 

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 5/5

Venue: 4.5/5

Value for money: 4/5

Total: 18/20

Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon. 

The Commons at Ormond Collective

The Commons at Ormond Collective in a word? Garden party. Well technically that’s two words, but it definitely sums up this gorgeous new venue that’s situated where the old Belgian Beer Garden used to be in St Kilda. 

With its eclectic and colourful maze of wicker chairs, cake carts, striped pillows and potted plants, The Commons at Ormond Collective is Alice in Wonderland meets the Hamptons, and all in a good way. 

The menu offers something for all appetites and tastebuds - offering dishes along the lines of their signature pizza pictured below, to their fried croquettes, healthy salads and of course the classic drinking accompaniment of hot chips. 

Perfect for a long leisurely lunch, or afternoon drinks in the sunshine, The Commons will no doubt be the ‘it’ place to be this Summer - which is what makes it The New Fave. 

Venue: 5/5 

Food: 4/5 

Service: 5/5 

Value for money: 4/5 

Total: 18/20 

Verdict: The New Fave

Mr Brownie Rooftop Hotel

Mr Brownie Rooftop Hotel is a delightful array of lights, sounds, smells and colours. Offering Indian inspired cuisine from chef-restaurateur Jessi Singh (think Horn Please and Daughter in Law) Mr Brownie is four stories tall offering a different style of bar on each level. 

Being Melbourne Summer, we couldn't go past trying their rooftop bar which was absolutely pumping for a Saturday night.  Service was friendly but incredibly slow - but hopefully it's just the growing pains of being open in this new post-lockdown world. The tikka chicken pizza was definitely a highlight in terms of food, but the nachos (done Indian style - and stone cold) could definitely be missed. 

Definitely a great addition to the South Melbourne bar scene, and given it's eclectic originality, one that will likely stick around for a while. 

Service: 3/5

Food: 3/5

Venue: 4/5

Total:  10/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point