Red Spice Road QV

Red Spice Road QV

31-37 Artemis Lane, Melbourne

(Ph) 8660 6300

I had come here ages ago but for some reason never blogged about it! So back-blogging now =)

After a very pleasant experience at the McKillop Road store, we decided to take some Brisbane friends here to try out some fusion food - they had initially wanted Chin Chin but we didn't want to wait like 2hrs for dinner. Came here on a Saturday night and surprisingly it was quite empty though we were pretty early like 6ish.

They have the paintings of three naked Asian ladies like at the McKillop store - different paintings but add to the Asian fusion atmosphere.

Quite a nice big bar area up the front...

And a long area of tables up the back, much nicer lit compared to the McKillop Road one where you get a lot of natural sunlight here =)

We wanted to try an entree as we hadn't tried one before. Watermelon with Sticky Duck and Cashew Relish $7.50

Quite an interesting combination of flavours - braised sweet duck meat with some cashew crunch on the outside and a sweet refreshing piece of watermelon, seems all a bit random together but is quite interesting.

Soft Shell Crab fried with Snake Beans, Wild Ginger, Basil and Black Pepper Sauce $34.00

Omg look at the proportion of snake beans to crab compared to the one we ordered at McKillop Road?! So even though it's the same menu item they make it very differently at the 2 stores - I think I like the McKillop Road one where they were more generous with the crab =P Also this felt like it was more deep fried than stir fried, though the other one was kinda like that too.

The famous Pork Belly with Apple Slaw, Chilli Caramel and Black Vinegar $35.00

Just as we remembered it from last time - pork belly was crunchy on the outside and soft and braised inside to perfection =) The only downside was they were way too generous with the coriander on the salad for my liking - more apple would be better!

We tried something new this time - Twice Cooked Lamb Ribs with Mint, Lychee and Avocado Salad $35.00

Lots of mint (and coriander ugh) in the salad. Had to really search through the pile of salad to find the lamb ribs =P They weren't very meaty and because of that the meat was a little dry, but I think lamb ribs are just like that, unlike pork ribs (my fave) <3 Still the flavours were good, and they tried to crunch up the outside and be soft inside but there's just not that much meat on them to achieve optimal results =/

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Another visit to Red Spice Road QV a few months later wasn't as pleasant as the first one =( We had made a booking for 8pm but when we got there the waiters said there was still a bit of wait for a table and asked us to take a seat at the bar. 20 minutes later we were still not seated and we asked the waiters again and she said unfortunately the table hadn't left yet - well if the table is booked for 8pm then they just gotta tell them they have to leave! Can't be nice to them but not to us! o_Oa finally at 8.40pm we were finally seated - we were soo hungry that we really weren't in the mood for much anymore =/ We of course had to order the Pork Belly and the Soft Shell Crab again, but also ordered the Crocodile Jungle Curry with Baby Corn and Apple Eggplant $35.00

I don't remember if I've had crocodile meat before - it tastes like a cross between chicken and fish! Actually quite interesting I thought it'd be quite tough. Though this curry was very spicy so beware!

Food~

8/10 - just as good as the McKillop Road one, pretty much the same menu, and again would definitely recommend the Pork Belly and Soft Shell Crab =)

Service~

1/5 - the first visit was good but the second time was appalling, they really need to work on their booking management =/

Atmosphere~

4/5 - much nicer and newer than the main store, better lighting too

Click here for a review of the McKillop Road store..

Cafe de KIKAKU

Cafe de KIKAKU

20 Waterview Walk, Docklands

(Ph) 9670 6828

Catch up with the dancing crew =D No one had any restaurants in mind so of course I consulted my Entertainment book - this cafe seemed to have quite good reviews on Urbanspoon so thought we'd check it out.

Cute little cafe, very high ceilings like it's an old warehouse, no central heating so they have those outdoor heaters inside! How funny though much appreciated on this super cold rainy night =)

Random Mexican looking candles on our table?

We decided to share some entrees and mains. The waitress also suggested we order this so we got it as well. Salmon Croquettes - Japanese Seven Spices Salmon Croquettes w Kimchi Aioli $10

Looked a bit small and lousy - 7 spices salmon? Really? Couldn't taste much spice at all, and the kimchi aioli didn't have much kimchi flavour either =/ Was quite nicely fried but nothing too special here at all - not sure why the waitress said this was super popular..

I wanted the Jalapeno Soft Shell Crab - Tempura soft shell crab w/ sour creme & housemade jalapeno jam $15

Quite generous with their crab but you'd expect that for a $15 entree. Perfectly fried but not too oily either, the sour creme and jalapeno jam was kinda separate, and the jalapeno was quite bitsy so kinda hard to dip it - in the end can't really taste it but I didn't mind don't like jalapeno much anyway =P The cured cucumber salad was quite a nice sweet yet tangy side dish which they gave on a few dishes.

T wanted the Salmon Belly Misozuke (very limited availability) - oven roasted 8 days white miso-aged salmon belly w/ aromatic grilled bamboo rice $16. We were kinda expecting it to not be available as I had read many reviews about them not having half their menu items available but everything we wanted on this night was available =)

Really it's been roasted for 8 days?! Plus minus a day or 2 maybe? The salmon was very soft and
nicely cured with miso - quite a unique way of cooking it, like it's been sous-vide =) The rice ball in the bamboo leave was a bit random though - didn't taste grilled at all, just tasted like sushi rice =/ Side of cucumber and kimchi again which was nice - so a mix of Japanese and Korean?!

For mains we got the N.Y. Galbi - Korean Style BBQ flame-grilled slowly braised beef short rib (please Google search our cafe what we are famous for or ask our loyal regular) $20

We were tossing between this or the Many hours roasted spices slow cooked BBQ Lamb Ribs, Balinese King Style (our specialty dish that requires you using hands to eat and lick as you finish) but the waitress said the beef ribs was more popular. Both of these seem to be popular dishes but they really don't need to put that in the brackets (for both the dishes!) - seems really lame and desperate =/ Though, this beef rib was so tender and soft and full of flavour - sweet yet tangy. There was no bones in it at all so I don't know how they can call it ribs but anyway - definitely a recommended dish! Cucumber and kimchi again here =P

C wanted the Bon-bon Chicken - our famous Korean version of sticky sweet and sour chicken glazed with Kochujang Red Pepper & juiced up with chunky Green Apple $19

Fried chicken! Cute presentation on a little steam basket (it's actually upside down so there wasn't as much chicken as we thought there'd be =P) not sure where the chunky green apple was but it was delicious without it. Though this wasn't fried as well as the other fried dishes - the crumb came off the chicken very easily =/ The sweet and sour sauce was quite flavoursome but was a bit too thick for my liking.

Thought we'd get some carbs dishes too to fill us up. GYUTAN Fried Rice - garlic chilli marinated OX Tongue, Egg, Negi Onion, smoked Japanese Bonito shavings $18.8

We were really looking forward to the ox tongue in the fried rice but they were cut into such small pieces could barely taste it's ox tongue =/ If you forget it's ox tongue fried rice this was quite flavoursome - I like the bonito shavings on top.

Last came the Bangkok Pad Thai - noodle, chicken, egg, smoked chilli roasted peanut toasted dried baby shrimp floss $17

Bit of Japanese, bit of Korean, why not a bit of Thai too? Served on an Indian curry metal bowl lol. Thought there was only meant to be chicken in it but there was some sort of red meat in it too - so they chuck whatever leftover meat they have into the pad thai as well? Flavours were quite good, there was surprisingly more meat than noodles for my liking, and there wasn't any bean shoots =( random 2 prawn crackers? =P

We were pretty full by the end of it, but T had bought a Brunetti's cake for dessert for us to celebrate 3 birthdays (belated and early =P) The waitress asked if if we wanted the dessert menu, we said no 'cause we had cake, but she sees that we had finished eating but didn't bother to clear our table =/ We kept chatting 'cause we were pretty full and she doesn't come to clear the table until we ask her again and to bring out the cake. She finally clears our table and brings the cake out... still in its box and it's bag?! O_O we stared at her then she asks if we want some small plates... we stare at her some more and then she asks if we wanted the cake on a plate... and if we wanted candles O_O omg why else would we bring a cake to a restaurant if we didn't want to eat it there?! The thing is, the table next to us were also celebrating a birthday and the waitress had brought the cake out with candles and everything just before we asked for ours... what the?! She takes about 10mins before bringing out the cake with some candles and some small spoons for us... we sang "Happy Birthday" and blew the candles before we realised she hadn't given us a knife O_O did she expect us to cut the cake with tiny spoons?! We asked her for a knife and she looked at us like we were asking something unusual, goes into the kitchen and asks the chef for a knife... who gives her a HUGE knife (like a 40cm knife)... omg we were cutting the cake like it was a sword =/

Cake was good though =P some lemon white chocolate cake from Brunetti's =) the chocolate pieces surrounding the cake were so deceiving, they were yellow but tasted just of white chocolate - we were expecting it to have some lemon flavour or something! A bit too much cream on the top for my liking but the cake was very moist with some lemon mousse-like layers between too =)

Food~
6/10 - foods not quite fusion, actually, they call themselves "pan asian" whatever that means =P the beef ribs and the soft shell crab are definite musts =)

Atmosphere~
2/5 - quite a casual chilled restaurant to hang out, more heaters around us would be even better it was freezing on this night!

Service~
1/5 - omg unbelievable service by the waitress.. dunno what was going through her mind =/

C.
xo

Rama Thai

Rama Thai

495 Burke Rd, Hawthorn East

(Ph) 9822 7322

Catch up with J and S! I was looking in my Entertainment Book for something and came across Rama Thai - seemed quite good ratings on Urbanspoon so thought we'd check it out - oh how wrong I was =(

S got there quite early so I dunno if it was 'cause of that that the waitress started the night off badly with us =/ We ordered our food and waited ages before any dishes came out, while the table next to us who ordered AFTER us got their food before us =(

We got one entree to share - Golden Bags - deep fried pastry filled with minced chicken or prawns - spicy prawns (4) $9.50

The waitress had accidentally given us some chicken golden bags (pictured above), and just as we were about to start eating she comes back and tells us they were chicken and not prawn. So we waited a few minutes before she came back out with some prawn golden bags (pictured below) - which don't look as regular as the chicken ones and look smaller =(

I started biting into mine when I came across something cold and mushy - the prawns were raw! There was only the one waitress so I waited ages for her attention before she came and I complained - she apologized and took the dish away and gave us a new dish. FINALLY we got a plate of cooked (very hot inside this time!) golden bags - was alright, kinda like a spring roll actually.

We waited ages before our mains came. Crystal Pad Thai - stir-fried vermicelli, egg, tofu, bean shoot, garlic chive, and peanut with tamarind sauce - chicken $14.90

For a change thought we'd try pad thai with vermicelli instead of rice noodles! Actually quite nice - love the blend of sweet, salty and sour flavours =) Would be nicer if the chicken breast pieces were smaller so they're not so tough though - like at One Thai =)

Thought we should get a vegetarian curry so it'd be our greens for the night =) Gang Keaw Warn (Green Curry) - green curry with coconut milk, bean, basil, bamboo shoot - mixed vegetables $14.90

Damn I forgot green curry is actually quite spicy - though I like how they used coconut milk in it, I thought red curry is the one usually with coconut milk and green curry doesn't?

We got 2 serves of Coconut Rice (steamed rice in coconut milk and lime leaves) $3.50 per head and one Roti Bread - pan-fried Indian style bread - with peanut sauce $5.00

They gave us one silver bowl of coconut rice - which was delicious by itself and with the green curry sauce. After a while we ran out and I thought it was $3.50 per serve and they just gave us the 2 serves in one bowl but it was actually per head! So we could have gotten more ah well =P I forgot Indian roti is not as fluffy as Malaysian roti so this tasted more like a crepe/pancake but I liked the peanut sauce that came with it - ended up eating the roti with the peanut sauce instead of with the curry =)

We were pretty full by this stage and it was actually getting quite late 'cause they were quite slow taking orders and bringing dishes out - I guess can't expect much given there was only one waitress working =/

But there is always room for dessert! We decided to share 2 desserts - we ordered the desserts then a few minutes later the waitress comes out and tells us there is only one serve of vanilla icecream left and we can pick a different flavour of icecream for the other one - how can there only be one serve of icecream left?! We said we'd get coconut icecream for the other one.

Kao Tom Mud Taro or Banana - steamed sweet sticky rice stuffed with taro or banana served with Vanilla icecream $7.00

Taro sweet sticky rice with coconut icecream! The taro was just in the middle of the sticky rice and in a big lump - would have been nicer if it was spread out a bit more but it was quite tasty - actually went very well with the coconut icecream =) The taro flavour was actually quite mild - might have been better if we got banana instead actually ah well.

Coconut Pudding - steamed rice flour and palm sugar topped with coconut milk served with vanilla icecream $7.00

This reminds me of the Thai coconut pancakes (like at I Spicy 2) or the savoury Vietnamese mini pancakes (like at Thanh Nga Nine) but without the crunchy bottom. Still this was quite tasty, I like the palm sugar flavour mixed with the coconut milk. You can see the icecream starting to melt here already - so this was their last serve of vanilla icecream hmm...

Food~
3/10 - raw prawns in the golden bags is definitely a no go, and half melted icecream is not cool either, but apart from that the rest was alright

Service~
1/5 - they really should have more than one waitress working on a night, it ended being quite busy and she was running around constantly, at one stage the manager(?) came out as well - I wonder why he couldn't have helped out the whole time?

Atmosphere~
3/5 - quite a nice cosy restaurant

The Entertainment voucher gave us 25% off but I only realised after we left that they charged us $2 extra like they rounded it up, I don't mind giving it as tips but I don't like how they try to jip us like that!

C.
xo

One Thai

One Thai

346 Belmore Rd, East Balwyn

(Ph) 9857 9186

Catch up with E! We both felt like Thai food so I searched my Entertainment Book for something - this place seems to have good ratings on Urbanspoon so decided to check it out =)

We got here at 6pm - restaurant was empty but there were lots of "Reserved" signs on the table, and soon enough, the restaurant was packed - mainly with Caucasian people though =P

Of course we had to go for Pad Thai - stir fried rice stick noodles with eggs, ground peanuts, bean shoots and spring onion - chicken $14.50

<3 pad thai. The rice noodles were quite thin so absorbed alot of flavour. I like how the chicken bits are small and aren't chicken breast so not tough at all. Would have liked if they gave us more peanut bits though. What's with the random salad on the side? Our greens for the night lol =P

We also got a Masmun Curry - a milder red Thai curry paste cooked with potatoes, onions, coconut cream, topped with roasted cashew nuts - beef $18.50

This was quite tasty, coconutty and not too spicy - just how I like my curries =) I like the cashews on top which gave the curry some texture. Would have preferred if they gave us other vegetables instead of potatoes though but can't complain here it says so in the menu name.

E and I can't help our sweet tooth even though we were pretty full! Decided to share a dessert - can't remember what this was called exactly... something like Taro Balls in Coconut Cream

Fully wasn't expecting this! It was more like taro flavoured glutinous balls in a coconut cream soup which was hot - so why did they give us a scoop of icecream?! Was not too bad though =P

Food~
6/10 - not too bad overall, decent Thai food at reasonable price

Service~
3/5 - very quick and good service

Atmosphere~
2/5 - got quite busy and loud as the night went on

C.
xo

Blossom Thai

Blossom Thai

278 Toorak Rd, South Yarra

(Ph) 9827 8599

Catch up with J and T =) Thought we should go somewhere near their place 'cause we can easily drive there. Flipping through the Entertainment Book I found a 25% off for Blossom Thai - seems to have quite good ratings on Urbanspoon so we decided to check it out. It's actually right next to Miss Chu which on this Friday night was packed with people lining up on the street, while Blossom Thai was still quite empty at 7pm. People starting coming soon after though and it ended up very busy too.

I like how they give us lemon water =) and 2 serviettes?! One white and one red - do they expect us to get quite messy? =P I guess it makes it look nice lol.

P wanted an entree which all seemed a little expensive but this sounded interesting. Golden Bags (4pcs) - chicken mince, corn and water chestnut wrapped in pastry lightly fried, served with tasty dipping sauce $9.90

Very delicate little packages - how do they wrap it up with more pastry like that?! Interesting presentation but nothing too special here. Should have gone for a Roti & Peanut Sauce entree instead!

They're quite vegetarian friendly here - most dishes you can get vegetarian, chicken or beef or prawn (in increasing order of price). Since T and I don't really like prawns we just went for chicken or beef which was the same price. I love red curry so we got Gaeng Dang (Red Curry) - Thailand's favourite red curry, Thai spices coconut milk and sesasonal vegetables - beef for $19.90

A very flavoursome non-spicy curry with lots of coconut cream <3

Also got a Pad Takai (lemon grass stir fry) - stir fried with chopped lemon grass, chilli and seasonal vegetables (on sizzling plate) - beef for $21.90

Came on a sizzling plate =D I always wonder why restaurants serve food on sizzling plates - it's not like the food is cooked on the plate, and the hot plate would just overcook the food? Not too bad as a stir fry dish but thought the lemon grass flavour didn't shine through as much as I would have liked.

We got 2 Jasmine rice ($3.90 per serve) and 2 Coconut rice ($4.90 per serve) to share - coconut rice is the only rice I actually love to eat <3 Full of flavour but not too wet - was delicious by itself or went very well with the curry and the stir fry =)

Last came our favourite Pad Thai - Thai style thin rice noodles with red onion, tofu, egg, chives, bean sprouts with home made Pad Thai Sauce - chicken for $17.90

Damn they gave us chicken breast =( The chicken was a bit tough and they gave us massive pieces instead of more bite size pieces which I would have preferred. The home made pad thai sauce was full of flavour - love the peanut and the raw bean sprouts on top =)

Food~
6.5/10 - after the 25% off was well worth the meal, but normal price is a little on the pricier side for Thai food but then again it is South Yarra =P definitely come get the coconut rice!

Service~
3/5 - friendly service here, very prompt in topping up our water =)

Atmosphere~
3/5 - nothing to complain about here

C.
xo

Red Spice Road

Red Spice Road

27 McKillop Rd, Melbourne

(Ph) 9603 1601

Red Spice Road! I had been meaning to come here for so long - been to so many similar restaurants (Chin Chin, Gingerboy, Cookie) all with a Western-twist to South East Asian cuisine, fusion! I had read and heard so much about their famous Pork Belly here - could not wait to finally try it out =)

The interior decor is very unique here - the restaurant is only lit by large ball lanterns which line the restaurant to the back along the 2 very long communal tables. The lighting is very ambient here and be prepared to share tables especially if you're a small group or don't book - complements the whole sharing dishes experience. Up the back hangs 3 large portraits of young Asian women - adds to the fusion feel of the restaurant =)

There is also a bar area which has a different feel to the main part of the restaurant. Since we were a group of 8, they seated us near the entrance which was good had a bit of privacy =)

We decided to share 6 mains between us 8. Thought we should get 2 serves of their famous Pork Belly with Apple Slaw, Chilli Caramel and Black Vinegar $35.00

Heavenly goodness <3 The pork belly is cooked twice, then deep fried so the meat is soft and melt-in-your-mouth but crunchy on the outside. My first piece of pork was a bit soft and chewy on the outside, probably 'cause it was sitting in the gooey sweet caramel sauce but my second piece was perfection <3 The black vinegar is served separately so you add it to your liking, but complements the chilli caramel sauce nicely. And the apple slaw adds a refreshing touch to the fatty deliciousness of the dish =)

We also got 2 serves of the Soft Shell Crab stir-fried with Snake Beans, Wild Ginger, Basil and Black Pepper Sauce $34.00

Stir-fried soft shell crab? I've only really ever had soft shell crab deep fried but this meant it wasn't super crunchy but still with a slight crisp on the outside and you get to actually taste the meat! What a bonus they were very generous with the crab =)

We got one serve of the Duck Red Curry with Pineapple and Sweet Potato $37.00

The duck was very tender and fell off the bone easily. The curry was quite tasty full of flavour - red curry is my favourite with coconut milk =)

Last came the Crispy Skin Chicken with fragrant Cinnamon Broth, Sugar Peas and Corn $34.00

We thought we should get a chicken dish but this was a bit ordinary =( Crispy skin chicken yes but nothing too spectacular here.

They gave us 2 massive bowls of rice - definitely need rice to go with the many different flavours of the meal =)

Food~
8/10 - definitely go for the Pork Belly! It's the only dish on the menu that never changes =) Would like to try some of their entrees next time like the Twice Cooked Lamb Ribs with a Tamarind and Coconut Relish. Fine dining at a very affordable price especially with the Entertainment Card! =P

Service~
3/5 - waiters are very attentive here, kept refilling our water and asking us how our meals were =)

Atmosphere~
3/5 - quite nice that they seated us separate to the rest of the restaurant so had some privacy

Will definitely be back! Next time might try their banquets (lunch banquet for $25 each!)

C.
xo



Click here for a review of the QV store..