Superbly located on the riverfront walk outside the Crown Casino and accessed via the Crown Promenade inside Melbourne's world class casino, the Waterfront does not disappoint.

With a name like - Waterfront Fish Market, the emphasis is obviously on seafood and to that end, Waterfront provides an elegant dining experience as the seafood is sublime.

For those who prefer something different, a variety of steaks done by weight is offered; anything up to 900gms of ribeye is for the carnivores in us.

Side dishes of salads are for the vegetarians or the hungry and to finish, a nice choice of desserts is available including their famous Belgian Chocolate Fondant! Yum!

A very good beverage menu also provides diners with an excellent choice of Australian and mainly French wines (red, white and sparkling).

Waterfront should be visited and enjoyed. Not cheap but well worth it.

Riverside (Shop 19)
Crown Casino Complex
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank, Victoria 3006

ph 9686 9766

waterfrontfishmarket.com.au

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Another outstanding find in one of our inner city suburbs is Olives. Situated in the busy strip of Martin St (highway end) Olives was a great place for us to have a family dinner for Mothers Day last Sunday.

Olives' menu gave us a large number of choices for dinner, with most of the menu seafood/mediterranean based. Us meat eaters (and vegetarians) are also well catered for with special menu offerings.

A reasonably priced wine and drinks list is also offered for diners. Service was efficient and friendly with wait staff able to offer menu recommendations when asked. All in all, a nice evening out was had by all.

162 Martin Street
Brighton 3186
Ph: 9530 8884
100m from Gardenvale Station

www.olivesrestaurant.com.au/

Google map: tinyurl.com/ps6xf5

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Maris is a small restaurant in the inner south eastern suburb of Malvern that produces some amazing food with a mediterranean flavour and does so very well in a low key french bistro atmosphere. Run by a husband (chef) and wife team (front of house) team, Maris provides food that makes dining out a joy. Something is there for the carnivores (suckling pig or steak tartarè) or the vegetarians of this world (smoked beetroot for entreè!) Desserts are to kill for, with our choice being the pannacotta (can't recommend this dish highly enough). Home made sourdough is presented when you are seated and that is just the start of an enjoyable evening out. Service is slick and attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed our recent dining experience there.

15 Glenferrie Rd
Malvern 3144 VIC
Phone: 9500 0665

Maris is only a short walk from Malvern railway station
(parking is out the front)

Google map: tinyurl.com/pnhadn

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Situated on the shoreline between the marina and the bay, Rìva really makes the most of its bayside location. There are views across the bay, the marina and the Melbourne skyline and the outside decks sare great. The menu and wine list are pretty good. Rìva was packed when we went and although it's a bit different, it's still a great place for a night out.

St Kilda Marina
on the foreshore
42b Marine Parade
Elwood, 3184, Vic
p: 9537 2224

www.rivastkilda.com.au/

Google map: tinyurl.com/py7xom

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Highett is a pretty plain Melbourne suburb and wasn't renowned for dining or eateries until The French corner arrived. The French Corner is a bistro, bar and restaurant. If you want a quick bite, try the Les Petits Plâts or for something more substantial the Les Plâts de Resistance which are substantial meals.

There are some interesting choices on the menu. The service is good and the drinks prices are not too silly either. Many wines (local and French) are available by the glass. I liked the place.

493 Highett rd
Highett
ph 9555 1199
www.thefrenchcornerrestaurant.com
Only a short (100m) walk from Highett Railway station.

Google map: tinyurl.com/ov22g4

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Jimmy Watson's is named after an icon of the Australian wine industry and is a wine bar, bistro and restaurant. Located in the Lygon St food and dining area of the inner city suburb of Carlton, it has been a meeting place for Melburnians to chat, imbibe and graze for more than 75 years (it was opened in the 1930s by Jimmy Watson himself).

As it's also located close to Melbourne University, countless generations of students have met there over the years to discuss politics and economics. Run today by Watson's grandsons, the original aura and atmosphere of Watson's has been retained.

It must also be said, that in addition to this eating place, Jimmy Watson is remembered by the memorial trophy under his name offered each year at the Royal Melbourne Wine show.

Watsons is a Melbourne institution.

333 Lygon St
Carlton 3053 VIC
Phone: (03) 9347 3985
www.yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/jimmy_watsons/

Google map: tinyurl.com/o59mqp

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This is one of the better old style pubs in inner Melbourne. Many types of beer and good grub.
Its specialities are the chicken parma and a good serve of fish and chips. Some decent pizzas as well as a kids menu. The rooftop bar and beer garden is the place to be on a warm night.
The Corner Hotel is also well known for its entertainment and is open until late...

57 Swan St
Richmond
Phone: 9427 7300

www.cornerhotel.com/

Google map: tinyurl.com/lt42wn

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Melbourne is undoubtedly the foodie capital of Australia and the choice of restaurants is overwhelming. Should you find yourself out of the CBD's foodie haven and in the suburb of Camberwell, seek out the Afghan kitchen. I started with a platter of starters to share, which consisted of north-west frontier lamb dumplings, roasted aubergine and flat bread. For mains I had the bamia - okra cooked the Middle Eastern way in a tangy, tomato sauce and to finish off, a trio of mini desserts consisting of barfi (pistachio cake), firni (rosewater and cardamom custard) and Baklava. Pleasant ambience, a culinary experience that's a bit different and friendly service make this place a winner. And the icing on the cake - averagely priced!

923 Burke Road, Camberwell 3124, Melbourne
Phone (03) 9882 2775
The easiest way from the CBD is to take the train from Flinders Street and get off at Camberwell station, which is on Burke Road and minutes away from the Afghan kitchen. There also is a tram route that services Camberwell.

Google map: tinyurl.com/qv8mbd

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What does one say about a restaurant that hands you a drinks list when you arrive... with 68 different vodkas on it? And when you turn the page over there is a list of vodka cocktails... more than 25 of them!

The food menu (after you have finished looking through the vodkas) is very European-based with a Polish flavour. Borsch? Yes, it's on the menu. Goulash? Of course! Bratwurst and sauerkraut is included as expected. Come with an empty stomach as the servings are large. The service is cheery, the entertainment fun (a trio dressed as gypsies playing a violin, a piano accordion... and, of all things, a cello!) and if you really want to make a night of it, there is always the theatre next door.

Prices are reasonable and despite the alcohol, 'After the Tears' is kid-friendly. My grandkids loved their meals.

9B Gordon St, Elsternwick
(entrance thru the Classic theatre )
Phone(03) 9523 0969

Across the road from Elsternwick railway station (don't drink and drive, catch a train instead)

Google map: tinyurl.com/qpadfm

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A daggy old longstanding hotel (robbed by bushrangers in the 19th century!), Milano's has gone through a renovation and rejuvenation
and today it has decent dining facilities (new bistro) and new function areas (for receptions or parties). The bay and city views from the upstairs function area is amazing.

In addition, Milano's is gaining a reputation as a great place for live music featuring local acts Dining and entertainment deals make this a great night out.

4 The Esplanade, Brighton Beach, Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 3186
Phone: (03) 9592 3555
Fax: (03) 9592 3619
next door to Brighton Beach railway station

www.milanos.com.au/

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Strange name... nice restaurant. The Wet Fish is a small intimate place that serves excellent mezze, tapas, great Turkish food and other Mediterranean fare. Seafood is a speciality. The range of Turkish dips and bread is rather nice. Also nice too are the prices, this is a cheap eating experience. The service is excellent.

Shop 12
427 Hampton St
Hampton 3188
(in Hampton Village)
ph 9533 1666
free parking out front

Google map: tinyurl.com/qy5zl8

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Another nice little find in my local neighbourhood... Sarands presents a Mediterranean-based menu of seafood or meat dishes. The restaurant itself is light and airy (with an upstairs private dining area for functions), service is pleasant, the wine list small but well chosen and the (mains) servings huge. The prices are reasonable too. Coffee is excellent.

532 Hampton St, Hampton
3188 Vic (200m south of South Rd)
Ph 9598 8944

Google map: tinyurl.com/rxul2v

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Dining at Mirka is a tasty visual experience. Surrounded by murals by Mirka Mora, you dine on food from the kitchen of Melbourne's famed Guy Grossi. Based widely on a mediterranean style (Grossi is Italian), the menu here is about making one feel cosseted and at home.

The wine list is superb with wines from France and South America as well as the best of Australia. Superb service along the art of the dining room makes 'Mirka' one of Melbourne's best culinary experiences. We will be going back.

42 Fitzroy St
ST Kilda
03 9525 3088
100m from St Kilda Light Rail station

Google map: tinyurl.com/pp2mqb

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Strange name for a new restaurant in suburban Hampton. However, it's one with an upmarket atmosphere, very good food and superb service and that makes for a very fine dining experience. It's a touch above our other local Chinese restaurants.

356 Hampton St Hampton 3188
ph (03) 9521 6066

100m south of the railway station

Google map: tinyurl.com/p6wmce

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Salix restaurant at the Willow Creek Winery on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne is simply superb.

Local produce and seafood, a great view and the fine wines from the winery and other areas create a high-class dining experience. Go for lunch or dinner and enjoy!

Willow Creek Vineyard
166 Balnarring Road
Merricks North 3926

Salix Restaurant
ph: 5989 7640


www.willow-creek.com.au/index.php?page=salix_restaurant

Google map: tinyurl.com/p4l5ox

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Melbourne might be addicted to great coffee bars and a second rate form of football, but to really taste its gritty, multicultural heart visit
the Queen Vic. It’s enormous – it claims to have 1,000 stalls and be the largest in the southern hemisphere – with Greek, Italian,
Vietnamese and Yugoslavian flavours of local flogging everything from fresh fish and pets to rugs and furniture.

The food stalls are unforgettable: every variety of olive, glistening slabs of fresh fish
and walls of cheese. So that’s why Melbourne has so many epic restaurants.

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Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Or, so it said in Lewis Carrol's Jabberwock!

Cafè Callooh is a new cafè in Hampton with an unusual interior, great coffee and snacks. Soup of the day and other eats are great. Kid-friendly too. Tucked away from the main part of Hampton's High street, Cafè Callooh is well worth a visit! Enjoy the wall writing....

75 Ludstone Street
Hampton Vic 3188
T: 9521 6865

Google map: tinyurl.com/okdc73

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Just opened, Kushi Indian Flavour Restaurant (strange name) presents seriously good Indian food in a restaurant setting that has some class. Nice seating, crisp white tableclothes and super service from the young black-clad waiting staff.

The wine list has been well thought out and there is also a good range of beers (which suit Indian food). A choice of the various Indian breads are offered on the menu. Vegetarians are not forgotten with quite a few selections in the Entree and Mains area of the menu.

504 Hampton St
(near cnr with Littlewood st)
Hampton 3188
ph 95984023

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Cafe Latte is not a drink, it's a nice little Italian restaurant in swanky Toorak. Great pasta dishes (mainly southern Italian style), nice wine list, central bar and a fantastic atmosphere make this a place 'to eat out' at.

521 Malvern Rd, Toorak, VIC, 3142
Phone: (03) 98265846

www.cafelatte.com.au

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Tucked up in the ranges overlooking Melbourne is a series of small villages, most with little restaurants, cafes and bistros. At the small village of Olinda is 'the Cuckoo' restaurant probably one of the best known and famous for its Bavarian (German) based entertainment and food.

It's been there for about 50 years and thrives with families going there for a great night out.

The food? A huge variety of seafood, meats, side dishes, hot and cold. The freshly made pancakes are a favourite for desert, with cream of course!

The music and entertainment? Bavarian with something for all the family.

508 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda Victoria
Australia 3788
phone: +61-3-9751 1003
Fax: +61-3-9751 2229

www.cuckoorestaurant.com.au/

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