Square & Compass - Food VIC

Regaleatsmelb If you’re after a chic date night where you can feel dressed up without breaking the bank, this is a strong pick with a steak night special that is genuinely good value, and a dessert that is part performance, part show stopper and a must try. Hidden beneath the art-deco spiral staircase at Le Méridien, Dolly is part Hollywood golden-age glam meets modern European cool where this isnt your everyday casual dinner but more an elevated bistro flair with just the right touch of indulgence. A surprise bread entrée kicked things off paired with the most unreal tarragon-infused spread that instantly set the tone. The steak night special was a solid cut that was well seasoned and served with Café de Paris butter melting over the top aside a mountain of double-cooked fries that were crisp, golden, and generous. Add a $10 glass of wine for the perfect mid-week sip. And just when I thought the night couldn’t peak higher, out came the flaming Bombe Alaska that stopped the whole restaurant and hands-down was one of the most fun desserts to ever watch and devour, so make sure to save room!

Punit Fernandes French Saloon is an inviting French-inspired bistro tucked above Hardware Lane with a warm, loft-style atmosphere and excellent natural light. The menu blends classic French flavours with modern twists, and most diners praise the food quality, creative dishes and impressive wine list — perfect for date night or a special lunch/dinner. Service is generally attentive and friendly. The space can get lively and a bit noisy when busy, and some dishes or portions can be inconsistent for the price, but overall it delivers a memorable and elevated French dining experience in the heart of Melbourne’s laneway scene.

AILEE Bornga Korean Restaurant in Melbourne Chinatown is one of our favourite places for group dinners — we’ve been here so many times! Their cold noodles are a must-try, especially in Melbourne’s hot weather. The bowl is full of crushed ice and super refreshing, with great flavour. Perfect for summer! BBQ meats are juicy and smoky, side dishes are generous, and the tteokbokki is delicious. The service is also amazing — very friendly staff and they even offered free takeaway containers for our leftovers, packed securely so nothing leaked. Highly recommend!

Yuxuan Yulongfu is an amazing restaurant in the CBD! One of the few places where you can bring your own catch and have it cooked on the spot. Perfect for anyone coming back from a fishing trip — you can literally walk in with your fresh fish and unlock their “secret menu” dishes. The food is authentic, fresh, and consistently delicious. Highly recommend this place to all my local friends — definitely worth a try if you want a real taste of great Chinese cooking with a fun twist!

Ken Rjay Impeccable suit & tie service - high quality ingredients like the fish is fresh in the tank at the point of ordering. Probably the only place in Melbourne that serves goose, its good but not HK style or quality #IYKYK. The duck was amazing, cooked to perfection. perfect crispy skin, nice render on the fat and importantly juicey on the meat. Definitely a place to take someone to impress. The decor has that old world charm & several different types of seating & booths and rooms make up for a very cozy and memorable experience. Have previously had their yum-cha too, which is probably my fav go-to place in Melb.

darcie I had an absolutely amazing experience at this restaurant. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was top tier and very inviting, and the food was fantastic A special shout out to our waiter, Kevin! He went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. Kevin was attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations that we ended up loving. His positive attitude and hospitality made our night!! We unfortunately had an emergency come up and had to leave much sooner than expected, and the staff was incredibly understanding and accommodating. They handled the situation with kindness and professionalism, which we appreciated If you’re looking for fantastic food and exceptional service, this is the place to go. We’ll definitely be back; and we’ll be asking for Kevin again :)

Brendan Service was incredible all round. Food is outstanding and 100% gluten free. Came quickly and quality and creativity is worth the visit. Special mention to Alyssa for her service to not only me but other patrons.

Yos William The ambiance of the restaurant was truly inviting and created a warm atmosphere. The service provided by the staff was exceptionally friendly and made us feel welcome. We were highly impressed with the quality of the food and its authentic flavors. The meatballs were cooked to perfection, offering a delightful taste that lingered. The sausages were equally outstanding, showcasing a wonderful blend of spices and textures. Every dish we sampled was prepared with care and attention to detail. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience that left us wanting more. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone craving delicious Greek cuisine.

Sayeenath Shankar We opted for ELCHI to celebrate our wedding anniversary!!! And it was all worth the time & money. To start with ambience it was a unique design like full of copper themed & I was just gazing them a lot - as it added an asthetic value to the dining. Placement of the seating was also cozy and giving us a sense of being close & together! Coming to main F&B - We opted for multiple entrees and mains as we wanted to taste the variety, to our astonishment we have never had such starters before the name seemed known but the dish & its making was definitely like never before. Tasted so yummmmm…. Mains were equally amazing, specially the Fig based kofta balls - outstanding. I was just flabbergasted & to top it their soft delicate Naans made it a perfect match. Their mocktails were great!!! On the whole it was a wholesome experience. Hospitality - must say it was on par, they had only two people but made sure every table is catered and given utmost priority & presence felt. Our table host was Deepanshu and he took care of us extremely well so a huge shoutout to him. I could not get his teammates name - but together they did run a great show. Kudos to both of them :-) Opps the main point - we were so full that we skipped dessert. However Deepanshu being the amazing host he was - did serve us with a great finishing heart shaped Brownie & we were indeed on the moon. Thank you ELCHI for making our anniversary into a memorable beautiful Twilight-Night☺️.

Jason Kirkham I had a enjoyable time eating at UncleYoons , there food was somewhat different to what I usually have in the city. But I thought I would give it ago. I did like some of there enjoyable dishes . I was just a bit sad that I wanted to try everything haha. I came by there place on Instagram as it came up as reccomended , since I love Korean Food I decided to try. And I was amazed by the flavours that came into form for each meal. Everyone will have there views on the meals differently but , I value taste and presentation. I was very impressed by the presentation and taste of the meals that were served to me. They have there own special twist on there dishes, and I understand some people have there own opinions but I loved the meals that were presented. I would like to try there other meals this Friday My favourite dish was the fried rice , it really melted in my mouth as soon as it hit my tongue it enveloped a quiet extraordinary spectacular taste it made myself want more. Some of the dishes maybe or look small at first look but are really filling. I think you would need to order alot to be full in my opinion , but then again I eat a lot . Would I come again ? YES SIRRRRR! Would love to try something different Oh and the staff were really nice , I liked my server they were very patient , and I like the chef althought I havent seen them , I find that the passion in the food shows they put there love and soul into what they present on the table , makes it awe inspiring d^o^b Thanks for having me