Oddfellows, Melbourne

Highlight – Genuine wood fired pizza oven

Lowlight – Service was a bit slow to start

FOOD?

Oddfellows is popular for their authentic wood fired artisan pizzas. On our visit we were fortunate to be able to order “half and half” pizzas and in turn got to try six different toppings.

First up was the non-tomato based pizza and also my favourite of the night. The Dell’orso; smoked salmon and braised leek topped with marscarpone, mozzarella and chive oil. It was so simple yet I haven’t tried these ingredients before as a pizza topping, the flavours went perfectly together. The other half was the Saporita which had a tomato-bechamel base with mushrooms, salami and lots of parmesan and mozzarella.

Dell'orso & Saporita

Second round was the vegetarian pizza. The Ortolana combined grilled eggplant, pumpkin, zucchini and capsicum topped with caramelised onion, napoli and once again mozzarella. The pumpkin was impressively both soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The other half was the  Alpina which was more mushroom oriented on a napoli base, integrated with spinach, taleggio, mozzarella and finally drizzled with truffle oil.

Ortolana & Alpina

Lastly we had the more meaty pizza. Another favourite, the Norcina; pork and fennel sausage, caramelised onion and napoli, what more could you ask for? For a more fiery hit try the Calabrese which incorporates hot salami, chargrilled capsicum, black olives, napoli and dusted with chilli flakes.

Norcina & Calabrese

As you can see all pizzas were served with a generous amount of mozzarella which is locally produced by a friend of Angelo, the head pizza maker at Oddfellows. The pizza bases were not too thin and more bread-like yet the crusts still remained crisp.

SERVICE?

We were given the opportunity to have a chat with Angelo who gave us three tips for making delectable artisan pizzas:

1. Always use high quality ingredients
2. Create a tasty pizza base (Angelo uses beer in his pizza dough to act as a yeast component)
3. Keep the toppings simple

AMBIENCE?

Oddfellows has a modern pub-style feel to it. The mood is casual and relaxed. Located in the CBD they attract many office workers in the surrounding buildings. During warmer months I can see the outdoor seating area being used aplenty.

VALUE?

All pizzas average around $17 which may be a tad pricier than the nearby cafes, however the pizza portions are quite decent. Also something to note, Angelo mentioned that all pizzas are available as a gluten-free option at no additional cost.

BOOKINGS?

Bookings are accepted but probably not necessary if you’re dining on a weeknight. I assume lunchtime on weekdays would be busier though so best to call ahead and book a table.

out of 10!

Oddfellows
33-35 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC  3000
03 9663 3437

Mezzo Bar and Grill, Melbourne

Highlight – Contemporary ambience

Lowlight – No ‘wow’ factor

Arancini filled with spinach, caciocavallo cheese, chilli

Oysters natural with lemon and red wine shallot dressing / baked with sopressa, chilli and white balsamic

Twice cooked otway pork belly, spiced baby apples, cavolo rosso, leatherwood honey

FOOD?

We chose Mezzo Bar and Grill for our pre-girls night out dinner and were allocated a high table close to the window. We weren’t overly impressed with the standard of food as it was quite average. First up were the arancini balls filled with caciocavallo cheese, spinach and chilli. I would say that I enjoyed this more so than my main. The texture was moist and there was just enough cheese to cover each bite. Our other entrees included a dozen oysters and a charcuterie plate which were both okay yet unmemorable.

For mains I choose the twice cooked otway pork belly with the cutest mini spiced apples on the side and red cabbage. The portion of the pork belly was massive and too much for me to finish. It could have used a couple more apples to balance out the flavour as the pork belly by itself got a bit boring.

Our table came to the mutual decision that the meal was satisfying yet there was no ‘wow’ factor. As such we decided against dessert and instead went out for some drinks instead.

Baked cannelloni with pork and veal ragu, white cheese sauce

Eye fillet ‘braciole’, beef rotolo, caponata siciliana, potato crisps, herb salmoriglio

SERVICE?

Our waiter was polite but a tad aloof. When he delivered our bread he only gave us enough for the table minus one. It took forever to wave him down again and when we finally did, he didn’t return for a long time after.

The waiter that took our orders appeared to have more experience. Overall service was a bit inconsistent but we weren’t in a rush so it wasn’t a huge deal that we had to wait for service during the night.

AMBIENCE?

Decor is modern with mood lighting suited to the restaurant style. Tall tables are situated along the outer areas and adds a point of difference in terms of interior layout. The bar area is central and quite large and would suit as a venue for after work drinks.

VALUE?

With the Entertainment Book you can receive 25% off the total bill up to $45 value. Although, it is quite expensive for mediocre food and I probably wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.

BOOKINGS?

Yes bookings are available and recommended especially on weekends.

out of 10!

Mezzo Bar & Grill
35 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
03 9650 0988 

25% off up to $45 value

Il Bacaro Cucina e Bar, Melbourne

Highlight – Dessert was by far the standout performer

Lowlight – Not quite convinced about the goat

Nettle quadretti with braised wagyu beef cheek, baby carrots and parmigiano reggiano

Roman-style braised goat with peas, heirloom carrots, potato and truffled pecorino

Western Plains suckling pork with cauliflower puree, silverbeet, barberry and almonds

Agave nectar cheesecake with rhubarb sorbet, yoghurt foam and vanilla fairy floss

FOOD?

I came here in a group of 10 and were fortunate to be able to order à la carte as opposed to a set menu arrangement (as per most group bookings at other restaurants). For entrée I chose the pasta made from nettle with ever-so-tender wagyu beef cheeks and baby carrots, finished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. The pasta was cooked al dente and the beef melted delightfully in my mouth.

For mains I decided to try something different so went with the Roman-style braised goat. Not a very good decision on my part – I am probably not used to the flavour. Even though the goat was tender I found the taste unfamiliar and unappetizing. I also wasn’t quite fond of the carrot, potato, and the ingredient similar in texture but dark purple in colour. However, my dining companion praised the silky smooth cauliflower puree in her suckling pork dish. I had major food envy. I would have much preferred this over my goat dish.

Dessert was another story. I was torn between the peanut butter and marshmallow chocolate bomb and the agave nectar cheesecake. I went with the latter and was impressed by the soft cheesecake topped with vanilla fairy floss, complimented by a rhubarb jelly and sorbet that was filled with popping candy rocks, and finally balanced with a yoghurt foam. Everyone was delighted with their dessert choices and were fascinated by the intricate designs.

SERVICE?

Italian waiters who were accommodating to our table needs and knowledgeable of the menu and specials. Staff were friendly and attentive.

AMBIENCE?

The bar is situated in the middle of the floor surrounded by tables of patrons. The venue is dimly lit and perfect for special occasions and/or a romantic dinner.

VALUE?

On the pricey side but worth it if you want to treat yourself.

BOOKINGS?

Bookings are recommended as the place is not very large. You would definitely want to call ahead.

out of 10!

Il Bacaro Cucina e Bar
168-170 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
03 9654 6778 

 

Cellar Bar at Grossi Florentino, Melbourne

Highlight – Pasta!

Lowlight – Relatively small portions

Antipasto

Roast pumpkin tortellini, fried sage leaves

FOOD?

We started with a plate of antipasto and a bottle of white to share between our table of four. I recommend ordering one of the pasta dishes but make sure you’re not overly hungry! Even though the pumpkin tortellini was amazing, eight pieces just wasn’t enough for me. I just had to eat slowly to savour every mouthful as well as drink more wine to fill me up.

I’ll definitely return here for a more casual meal when I’m craving authentic Italian dishes and hopefully one day come and try out the main restaurant. I am also keen to try out the breakfast menu as I’ve heard great things.

SERVICE?

Staff are well-mannered and know the menu back to front. They are quick at turning over tables during busy periods and understand how to manage the popularity of the restaurant.

AMBIENCE?

During Summer it is perfect to sit outside and watch passersby on the ever busy Bourke Street. Inside is small and not preferable if you’re in a large group.

VALUE?

Most meals are around $16 to $18 which is a bargain in comparison to the Grill and the Restaurant.

BOOKINGS?

Unfortunately you cannot make bookings at the Cellar Bar so it’s best not to go with too many people unless you either eat early or late.

out of 10!

Cellar Bar at Grossi Florentino
80 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
03 9662 1811 

Izakaya Den, Melbourne

Highlight – Corn tempura with green tea dipping salt

Lowlight – A tad pricey for the small-sized portions

Sweet corn kari-age with green tea salt

Tuna tataki with garlic soy and wasabi cream

Crispy cocktail potato with anchovy butter

Gotzinger Berkshire pork sausage

FOOD?

I have been meaning to try Izakaya Den for a while now so when a Japanese work colleague suggested we go there for dinner I jumped at the opportunity. I absolutely loved it! Izakaya Den provides fusion style snack-sized dishes which keep your taste buds wanting more. My favourite dish was the Sweet Corn Kakiage (deep fried corn fritters with green tea dipping salt), definitely a must try and something that I have not come across before.

We ordered several dishes amongst three people together with Umeshu plum wine (sweet sugary goodness). Each dish was pleasing to the eye and intricately presented. Even though I was not bursting at the seams after we finished our meal I was very content with our selection of dishes.

SERVICE?

We were fortunate to have a very polite Japanese waitress who was quite helpful. We were also served the corn tempura on the house by a friend of my colleague which ended up being the dish of the night for me. Great service as staff were always quick to top up our drinks and clear our plates.

Amazing food and I will return soon! I would like to sit at the bar next time to experience a different perspective. There are so many more dishes that I want to try so I am looking forward to my next visit.

AMBIENCE?

Dim lighting, modern music and an abundance of patrons creates a fun and light-hearted dining atmosphere.

The layout of the restaurant is well thought out with the bar/kitchen along one side of the wall allowing patrons to sit and watch the chefs and staff doing what they do best. On the other side are tall tables and stools which can seat up to four people per table. At the back there looked to be a a larger table for a group booking which took up most of the space.

VALUE?

Somewhat pricey for the amount of food we received but this is expected due to the tapas style dishes.

BOOKINGS?

When I ventured to the bathroom halfway through our meal I noticed a queue of well over 10 people standing at the entrance in a line waiting to be seated! Bookings can’t be made unless you have a group of five or more so please be patient, it is worth it.

out of 10!

Izakaya Den
144 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
03 9654 2977