Yiaga - Food VIC

Clare D Probably one of the best Steak Tartares I’ve had in Melbourne. If you ever needed a reason to visit The European, let it be that — go for at least a drink and the Steak Tartare. This spot truly embodies Melbourne in every season. In winter, it’s warm and cosy, and in summer, the outdoor seating lets you sit back and people-watch on one of the city’s most iconic streets. I went for the first time this Spring, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. We arrived a little early and grabbed cocktails next door at their sister venue, City Wine Shop. It was around 20°, a show was on at the theatre nearby, and the whole street was buzzing with energy — such a classic Melbourne vibe. Once our reservation time rolled around, we were seated straight away at The European. The service was a standout — attentive, fast, and friendly. We decided to celebrate with Champagne (because, why not?). For entrees, we ordered the Steak Tartare and Whipped Cod Roe, both of which were incredible — I’m genuinely still dreaming about them. For mains, we shared the 250g Aged Porterhouse ‘au poivre’ with frites and the Casarecce Ragu pasta special. Both were absolutely delicious and didn’t last long on the plate. The European is one of those timeless Melbourne institutions that everyone should experience at least once. Everything from the atmosphere to the service and food was faultless. I can’t wait to return — this place is truly something special.

Dush Bulathsinhala Bodega Underground – What a fantastic experience! From the moment we walked in, the service was absolutely excellent. The staff were warm, friendly, and genuinely attentive without being over the top — the kind of hospitality that makes you feel instantly comfortable and welcome. The food? Simply superb. Every dish was packed with flavour, beautifully presented, and clearly made with care. You can really taste the quality and authenticity in every bite. It’s one of those places where you end up talking about how good each plate is while you’re still eating it! The atmosphere was just as impressive — vibrant, relaxed, and full of great energy. Perfect lighting, great music, and a cozy underground vibe that makes it ideal for catching up with friends or enjoying a fun night out. And honestly, for the quality of food, service, and overall experience, the prices are very reasonable. Great value for money. Highly recommend Bodega Underground if you’re looking for amazing food, top-notch service, and a memorable night out. Definitely coming back!

Dave I loved the whole vibe of the place! Had a coffee and a home made sausage roll before heading off to the Aust. Tennis Open. The coffee was perfectly made, strong, smooth and the correct temperature. A good barista makes a difference! The sausage roll was home made and one of the best I have had - sensational!! Good music inside and the staff were friendly, chatty and made me feel welcome. I returned the next morning to another great coffee and wonderful conversation with the staff. What a great experience to kick off my weekend. Well done guys! See you again.

Belinda Lui 7 of us had the Feed Me Now banquet with about 4 entrees, and around 3 mains, with sides and rice. It was so delicious and filling! Standouts were the tender massaman lamb shank, beef brisket, roast duck wonton. Our vegetarian guest had the tastiest vegetarian fried rice. The eggplant was tasty but a but oily. It was a bit spicy so need to ask for mild if you need. Fantastic cocktails, cool vibe and lovely wait staff added to a very special birthday celebration!!

Paul Strange Four of us went to this authentic Armenian restaurant. It is hidden away down a narrow side street behind the main road. We had the ‘leave it to the chef’ menu. The first course was flatbread with hummus and brown butter which was lovely. Then we had chicken and lamb skewers which were perfectly seasoned and came with a creamy yoghurt dressing. The main course was a very generous portion of roast lamb with excellent chips and spiced carrot. We couldn’t manage dessert, but enjoyed Armenian teas and coffees. Two of us had paired wines which were well chosen and very palatable. This included an Armenian wine which was very nice indeed. The service wad excellent and our waiter was very amusing indeed.We recommend this place very highly.

Exploring or Escaping London Had a lovely lunch here with seat next to the window. Standouts were the tuna tostadas and the cheesecake Also had the beef brisket, elote, ceviche which were great. Pickled veg was a bit spicy, not quite as good as the rest.

Madi Burnett This food is seriously tasty. We walked in and there were some Jesus things on the wall, that’s how we knew it was going to be good. It felt like the people here really cared about the food. We had a beef burger, a chicken burger, some honey mustard chicken bits, onion rings (not pictured) and some pulled pork fries. We ordered way, way too much. The portions were massive. The standout to me was the honey mustard fried chicken!!! So yum!!! Service was great, place was very clean. Not much seating indoors, but they did have an outdoor bit. Overall, amazing experience here. They were also open on a public holiday when a lot of surrounding businesses were closed.

Tina K Oishii Tokyo East Melbourne – 5/5 Stars We have dined at Oishii Tokyo East twice now, and both times have been nothing short of amazing! If youre in the area, I highly recommend giving this spot a try—you won’t be disappointed. On our first visit, I tried the pork katsu curry, and it was absolutely delicious! The pork katsu had the perfect balance of crispy on the outside while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. The curry sauce was so rich and flavorful, and the rice paired perfectly with it. The salad, with its light dressing, was a great touch and rounded out the meal nicely. We also had the teriyaki chicken rice bowl, and once again, it didn’t disappoint. The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender, and bursting with flavor, while the rice and salad were fresh and satisfying. On top of that, we were treated to a complimentary honey tea, which had a refreshing hint of lemon—such a lovely touch! On our second visit, I ordered the teriyaki chicken rice bowl again (because it was that good), along with the teriyaki beef rice bowl. The beef was incredibly tender and packed with flavor, and the rice and salad were just as delicious as before. It’s clear that Oishii takes pride in their ingredients and cooking techniques. Again they offered us a complimentary kimchi pancake wow what a lovely surprise, we loved it and can’t wait for them to add this to their menu. Staff there are amazing people, friendly and lovely. All in all, Oishii Tokyo East Melbourne is a fantastic spot for fresh, flavorful dishes. The service is great, and the food is consistently delicious. I’ll definitely be back again.

Aaron Soroka The Kingston is a great relaxed, pub that is clean and contemporary with a great feel. You have the standard bar seating, a beautiful dining room, outdoor courtyard, lounges and more through a place with lots of natural light. The menu here is the perfect blend of great pub food and nice restaurant too. High quality food, good variety and steak is a speciality here. This is one pub you definitely know theres a proper restaurant chef in the kitchen as it all tastes amazing, balanced and good options. Something for everyone.

Graeme Dobson Our second visit. Well worth the trip down from Ballarat. Great fresh, tasty indian food accompanied by efficient friendly service. What more could you want! Only "problem" was that we enjoyed so much we over ate. We will be back next time we go to the footie at the MCG.