Top 5 Star Finds

You know when you go to a restaurant and you feel like you've chanced upon something really special - it's almost like you need to tell everyone about it because it would be an injustice not to! Well that's how I feel about these top 5 star finds of mine. They provide excellent food at great value in inviting, charming settings. What more could you ask for?

1. Moroccan Soup Bar
183 St Georges Rd Fitzroy North (03) 9482 4240

I first heard about Moroccan Soup Bar from my friend Justin. He said he loves this local joint of his. Always serving up good food at reasonable prices. A banquet at $20 a head? Impossible. I had to check this joint out for myself. So I made a first failed attempt at getting there because I simply rocked up at 7pm on a friday and then went in and realised there was a 2 hour waiting list! So second time around, we went in earlier at 6pm and then put our names down on the waiting list and was told it was an hour's wait - that, we could do. Tip #1: You can't book for less than 6 people and if you want to get in without a booking, make sure you get there early (be prepared to wait) or you can also get takeaway. Tip #2: They are only open for dinner from 6pm-10pm Tuesdays to Fridays.

Let me tell you, it is worth the wait. This restaurant only serves up vegetarian dishes but I've never tasted more delicious & flavoursome vegetarian food than the ones I had here. The friendly lady owner greets you with a smile (there is no menu) and serves up a banquet commencing with a trio of dips (hommus, tzaiziki & pickled vegetables) with flat bread, followed by cous cous with 7 vegetables, saffron rice with lentils, eggplant turnover and my personal fave - chickpea bake. The chickpea bake is absolutely devine - chickpeas baked to perfection with layers of crisp flat bread topped with sour cream, chopped parsley and slivers of crunchy potatoes and peppered with moroccan spices & paprika. Throughout the meal, you will be served calming peppermint tea in tiny tea cups. But wait, there's more! Dessert follows with a platter of short bread with pistachios, sweet date cake & baklava and what better way to complete the banquet than with aromatic moroccan coffee! One word - WOW.










2. Borsch Vodka & Tears
173 Chapel st Windsor 03 95302694

With over 50 different types of vodka, this "traditional" polish bar and restaurant has so much to offer - remarkable food, amazing vodka, great service with a smile, cosy warm settings. It's the beez neez of polish food. For the ladies, ask the waiter to recommend you cocktails to suit your mood. I chose the flirty berry, with żubrówka vodka, cranberry juice & fresh lime shaken and layered with crème de cassis in a cocktail glass - which was fruity and refreshing whilst my friend had honey on toast - medos honey vodka with cinnamon, cream and crème de cacao shaken into a honey rimmed martini glass - it was sweet like honey with a hint of vanilla cream & spicy cinnamon goodness. Or, what about a deceivingly intense shot of chocolate vodka? mm mm..

But back to the food! Take your pick of entree or main sizes for the dumplings. We had mains of course, because we were hungry. The main "pierogi" comprised of traditional polish dumplings with 3 types of fillings: beef, chicken, herbs and spices with paprika meat sauce, porcini mushroom and sauerkraut with a breadcrumb coating & cheese and potato with fried onion and sour cream - my personal fave. The beef & chicken dumplings were very flavoursome, the cheese & potato dumpling had a rich flavour & the sauerkraut & breadcrumb dumplings had a crunchy savoury sour bite. The turkish pide with 3 dips (spinach ocean trout, capsicum & chilli dips) were delightful and whet our appetite for more. The wedges were simple but deliciously crisp to the bite mixed with the spicy zing of sour cream and sweet chilli dip. I am convinced you will enjoy Borsch and walk away satiated by this unconventional star find.



3. New York Tomato
2-6 New St Richmond (03) 9429 0505

It's almost like an adventure finding this spot but when you do, you'll be taken by the homely feel of this restaurant. Hint: It's located on the corner of New St and York St, hence the name! :) With no sign, a hanging bicycle prop on a garden cupboard and a sunny courtyard for an entrance, New York Tomato is quirky to say the least but wait till you try the food here. I had the claypot of roasted crisp kifler potatoes with savoury morcilla sausages, sweet caramelised onions, olives, paprika and 2 baked eggs, with a side of 2 buttery sour dough toasts for only $15.50. Don't be deceived by the size of the claypot because all the ingredients made for a very hearty breakfast! While John had the warm spinach, ricotta, walnut and parmesan tart topped with spicy rocket, Stan had the sweet NY cheesecake. If you want just the perfect comfort food in a engaging atmosphere, come to NYT.



4. Middle Eastern Restaurant
141 Sydney Rd Coburg (03) 9384 1531

Make sure you come here on an empty stomach because you need all the reserves you have to polish the food! :) The menu is simple - with no brainer set meals for one. But as a reviewer commented about this place - "Meal designed for 1, big enough for 2". That's exactly what it is. I ordered the mixed grill plate 2 which comprised of lamb and chicken shwarma (extremely juicy and tender meats fresh off the spit) with seasoned rice, tabbouleh, pickled cucumber, pickled turnip, lettuce, tomatoes and home made dips of baba ganoush (a smoky flavoured eggplant dip) and hommus (chickpea dip) - all that for $15! Oh plus a side of "yak yok" flat bread which went perfectly with the home made dips. I really enjoyed that smoky flavour with every bite of the bread. My friend is vegetarian and he had the falafel plate - with a generous portion of home made falafel that was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside with BIG BIG flavours for only $12. And we both struggled to finish the meal. Unreal.



5. Shire
69 Victoria St Fitzroy 03 9417 3788

They say the key to a good restaurant is excellent service. If so, Shire has it going big time for them. The only grouse is finding the entrance to the cafe (which is very obscure)! :) Once you find it, you'll be welcomed by a tall pretty waitress and the friendly owner. Seated in comfortable wooden dining tables and benches within the warm cosy atmosphere, you can enjoy a hot satisfying breakfast next to the burning fireplace. I had their signature dish - the sweet corn fritters with bacon, avocado, fetta, pesto and tomato (vegetarian options available - ie sauteed mushrooms instead of bacon) for $14.50. It was amazing - piled up like pancakes with layers of fresh quality ingredients. The tea came in massive teapots too - certainly value for money and a great place to hang out on a Sunday morning with good friends.