Vapiano

Vapiano

Flinders Lane, Melbourne 

(Ph) 9620 3335

I had been to Vapiano in Brisbane a few times before and remembered how awesome it was, so was super excited when they opened one in Melbourne! They were doing 2 days of free lunches while the chefs and waitresses were in training but I unfortunately missed out on it. They gave buy-1-get-1-free pizza/pastas vouchers for those who missed out to be used before end of April, so P and I came to try it out on a Sunday lunch.

So new and nice inside! Downstairs is just the entrance counter, the restaurant and kitchen is all upstairs.

They gave us each a Chip Card at the counter - you swipe your card to record all your food and beverage purchases so there's no problem of split bills at the end, smart =)

It was pretty empty when we were there so we got awesome service =) There's a pizza area, a salad area and a long pasta area. Plus a dessert area which wasn't really open yet.

Most of the tables are high tables with stools - not particularly comfortable if you want to hang and chill. But there are some lower tables up the back too - it's quite a big restaurant =)

At each table there were bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and herb pot plants! Mainly basil which you add to your own pasta or pizza =)

At the salad bar there's bread for you to try the salad dressings - the dressings were really flavoursome but we weren't hungry enough for a salad as well. Would have liked it if there was parmesan cheese for us to help ourselves to though!

At the pizza bar they give you a buzzer so you don't have to stand around to wait. The screen on the bottom is where you swipe your Chip Card to record your purchase.

Big clean oven which on this day had some issues and the pizza took forever to come out. After apologizing to us, the manager was kind enough to say they'll give us the pizza for free for our inconvenience.

There were quite a few pasta counters 'cause the chefs cook it right in front of you =)

You choose your pasta type and the pasta sauce, and you pick whether you want garlic, cheese etc.

The packets behind them are the many different types of pasta they have on offer =)

Complimentary ciabatta bread =)

Tada! Our Pollo e Spinaci - chicken breast, onion, pesto, baby spinach in a cream sauce with pappardelle $20.90

It was deliciously fresh and cooked al dente - the sauce was delicious and even though they weren't that generous with the chicken it was a perfect ratio - less is more =)

Yay the pizza buzzer finally went off!

Barbecue Pollo - chicken breast, barbecue sauce, onion, smoked cheese, tomato base, mozzarella $20.90

This was one of the best pizzas we've ever had, maybe 'cause we waited forever for it =P Super thin crispy crust, super cheesy and not much chicken - less is more again!

So because they gave us the pizza for free, we didn't get to use our buy-1-get-1-free voucher, and since it was such an awesome meal, we came back again a few days later for dinner. We still ordered one pasta and one pizza.

Filleto di Manzo e Rucola - fillet of beef, mushrooms, rocket, carrots, zucchini, spring onion and white wine with campanelle $20.90

This was more like a dry pasta and was quite different to what we expected, kinda like a stir fry with pasta. Was still quite tasty but I guess I would have preferred a pasta with a sauce.

Gamberi e Rucola - prawns, olives, rocket, tomato base, mozzarella $20.90

This was super awesome too - they were surprisingly very generous with the prawns, and they were big and juicy too! Like the other one, super thin and crispy base =)

Vapiano is one of the new gems of Melbourne, it will get very busy very soon here! Bonus is when you pay, you can help yourself to a handful of gummy bears! =)

Food~
8/10 - super awesome and fresh, love how they cook your food straight in front of you =)

Service~
4/5 - very attentive and polite here

Atmosphere~
4/5 - cool place to hang out, imagine it will get very busy here when more people know about it!

Will definitely be back =)

C.
xo

Kimchi Lunchbox

Kimchi Lunchbox

650-652 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn

(Ph) 9818 1233

We've just moved into Hawthorn and were catching up with fellow Hawthorn buddies - I can finally go look in the "East" section in the Cheap Eats guide =) Thought we'd go locally - Kimchi Lunchbox was given ☆☆ by the Cheap Eats guide

We had walked past it a few nights ago and it was packed but on this weeknight it wasn't too full. It's quite casual here, you order and pay at the counter and help yourself to water here. We decided to share some starters Takoyaki - octopus ball

Even though I can make this at home myself with my own takoyaki pan, bonito flakes, Japanese mayo and takoyaki sauce =P The balls were quite crispy on the outside but the inside was 90% flour and only had the tiniest piece of octopus each - so stingy =(

We also got some Goon-man-doo - homemade pan-fried dumpling 

Interesting Korean dumplings - I asked for some dumpling sauce and the waiter pointed to the Soy sauce on our table hmm =/ it's quite different to Chinese dumplings or Japanese gyoza - the skin is different but was quite tasty and crispy =)

P decided to go for a Rice Hot Plate - Eating instructions 
a) Rice is pressed and cooked on the high temperature hot-plate. 
b) Mix well together with the meat of your choice. 
c) Flattened the mixed rice evenly on the hotplate
(their English is not great =P)

He went for the Spicy Chicken BBQ $9.50 and requested less chilli =P

He was starving when it came out so quickly mixed the meat with the rice and I don't know if it's because it was a cold night or whatever, but the hot-plate didn't crisp up the rice at all =( The chicken was alright, nothing too special, but they did manage to give us less chilli which most places say no to =)

I always get this at Korean restaurants - Bibimbap - means "mixed meat". A bowl of rice topped with seasoned vegetables, meat and mixed with korean chilli paste (gochujang). The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly

I got the Beef BBQ for $9.50

This didn't come topped with a fried egg like it normally does, but instead shreds of fried egg? lol. The stone bowl wasn't hot at all - the rice didn't crisp up at all - disappointment compared to the delicious Bibimbab's I've had elsewhere (see Oriental Spoon and By Korea)

Food~
4/10 - was disappointing neither our dishes crisped up the rice like they're meant to =( and don't call them takoyaki balls if they barely have any octopus in it! The dumplings are good though =)

Service~
1/5 - didn't really have much to comment on initially, but come 5mins to 9pm, the waiters come and take our cups of water away and really try to get you out of the restaurant =/ we were finishing up anyway but I don't enjoy being kicked out =(

Atmosphere~
3/5 - quite a big spacious restaurant, very casual atmosphere

C.
xo

Hosokawa

Hosokawa

3/53 Racecourse Rd, Hamilton, Brisbane

(Ph) 03-3868 3762

During my short time in Brisbane, I thought I had to check out Hosokawa - the Japanese restaurant in Hamilton many friends had been raving about =) We came here for an early dinner (6pm) so I could make my flight back to Melbourne later that night. We made sure we made a booking, and lucky we did, 'cause there are really only like 10 tables all together. It's a small cosy restaurant with minimalist decor, serving very traditional Japanese dishes.

We started off with some starters. Edamame - boiled soybeans $5.00

For some reason I really like Edamame, I don't think it's actually the taste that I like but more the fun action of squeezing the beans out of the salty casing =) They were still warm which was a bonus, unlike some places which preboil them so they're cold when served to you.

Next came the Agedashi Tofu - deep fried tofu in broth $8.00

It came in a bit too much broth for my liking, especially 'cause it was quite salty but the tofu was tasty, deep fried on the outside but soft and smooth inside.

I had tried this dish somewhere before but I can't remember where, and remember I really liked it. Nasu Dengaku - grilled Eggplant with miso past(e) $8.00 They need help with their spelling =P

This was one of the best dishes of the night - the miso was slightly salty but complemented the sweetness of the eggplant. The inside of the eggplant was so soft and mushy but the skin slightly charred.

Of course we had to order some sashimi and sushi. Sashimi Platter (large) $32.00

Impressive looking dish! The sashimi was very fresh and perfectly cut - lots of skill involved =P Quite a nice variety of salmon, tuna, kingfish, scallops, clams, octopus and some other unknown sashimi =P I normally love salmon best, but the tuna was very good with no tendons or anything - it's hard to get good quality tuna!

Sushi Platter (large) $32.00

There were a few more variety of raw seafoods on the sushi platter compared to the sashimi platter - more clams and prawns, and salmon roe! <3

We also got Tempura Moriawase - deep fried vegetable, fish and prawn with tempura batter $24.00

A good variety of tempura - the batter was perfect, not too oily but still very crunchy and light. I liked the eggplant and fish the best, but the prawns were good too, nice and big =)

We thought we should try a Unagi hand roll $8.00 - so cheap for unagi!

And it is massive! They were very generous with the unagi and it was a very thick piece too. The unagi was grilled so was still warm inside the handroll with the crunchy seaweed - definitely recommend this too!

We felt we weren't too full yet so wanted to order some noodles/rice. They actually don't have any rice dishes here and all their noodles come with tempura. We went for Nabeyaki Udon - vegetable, egg, fish cake and prawn tempura on top of udon noodle soup $18.00

A bit more variety of stuff with the udon but it's all really just fish cakes. I'm not a fan of tempura in noodle soup, the tempura just gets soft in the soup - I really don't know the logic behind that =/ Nothing too special about this dish but not bad - wonder if they make the udon here? Don't think they do..

Food~
8/10 - quite good authentic Japanese restaurant, a little pricey but well worth it!

Service~
3/5 - the restaurant was full very quickly but service wasn't too bad overall

Atmosphere~
3/5 - genuine little Japanese restaurant, just remember to book!

C.
xo

New Shanghai

New Shanghai

226 Queen St, Brisbane

(Ph) 07 3108 7652

I went back to Brisbane for a short visit a few weeks ago - of course I had to try the new Shanghainese restaurant downstairs at Queens Plaza! I had been to New Shanghai in Sydney on various occasions before so was super excited they had opened one up on Brisbane! Finally Brisbane has some good quality XLB without the crazy prices like at Bamboo Basket.

We came here for lunch on a weekday - came at noon and it was packed already! Luckily the wait wasn't too long (when we agreed to share table with other poeple) as they like to get people in and out quickly, so don't come here expecting a nice long lunch!

The decor is very authentic with wooden stools and an old bicycle outside - like you're really in a Shanghainese alley. There are lanterns and firecrackers hanging inside and paintings of Chinese ladies on the walls - just like the other New Shanghai restaurants.

We started off with some starters - Chopped cucumber tossed with fresh garlic $4.50

I don't know why my parents like this dish so much - it's just cucumber, and yeah, it was just cucumber lol. I think it's meant to be cured a bit which softens the cucumber, but these were quite raw and crunchy.

Mum also wanted the Braised dry bean curd with black mushroom soaked in soy sauce $5.50

Quite flavoursome, but they weren't very generous with the black mushroom.

My favourite! <3 New Shanghai Xiao Long Bao - steamed mini pork buns (8pcs) $7.50

They're not as regular and pretty as at Din Tai Fung, but the skin was still quite thin and the meat was juicy with lots of soup inside. Yum <3 Would have liked it if they gave us some ginger to go with them though.

Next came the Pan fried pork dumpling (8pcs) $9.50

Super crunchy bottoms with slightly thicker skin but juicy meat and delicious soup inside again =)

Another favourite - New Shanghai pan fried pork bun (8pcs) $9.90

What's with the random sesame seeds on them? =P But look at the beautifully crunchy bun bottoms! crunchy on the bottom but soft on the top - and again, juicy meat and lots of hot soup inside =)

We also got some main dishes - Deep fried fish served with cold noodle $10.80

Cold handmade Shanghai noodles with sesame sauce. The deep fried fish was really delicious - fried yet juicy like it's been cured.

Last came the Stir fried eel with garlic, ginger, pepper & soy sauce $19.80

Looks kinda bad aye? =P This wasn't as good as we thought it'd be, it had a bit too much sauce and was too salty. We actually wanted some steamed mantao's to go with it but they don't make mantao's here! So we just had it with the noodles from the deep fried fish dish which helped cut some of the saltiness.

Food~
7/10 - stick with the usual Shanghainese dishes and you'll get some great food =)

Service~
3/5 - very quick with their dishes, think they premake some of the popular dishes 'cause they know most people order them

Atmosphere~
3/5 - I really liked the decor of the restaurant!

Now they just need a New Shanghai in Melbourne! =)

C.
xo

Aya Teppanyaki

Aya Teppanyaki Restaurant

1193 High St, Armadale

(Ph) 9822 6686

P's birthday I decided to take him to Aya Teppanyaki since he loves Japanese food. I found a deal on LivingSocial so even better =D

They have 2 main teppanyaki tables here and some a la carte tables too. Our booking was 6pm but we came earlier so the restaurant was empty - we waited till fellow LivingSocial guests arrived before they started serving us all together.

They started us off with some warm Sake - we're really not fans of Sake and I had asked the waiter whether we could change it to soft drink or something but she said no =/

Then came some Miso Soup - nothing too special, but definitely was freshly made.

Sushi and Sashimi Platter 

This is not much of a platter? =P Though the salmon was quite fresh.

Next was Skewered chicken, gyoza and breaded prawns

PrawnS with a "S" - I thought we'd get more than one of everything though it was done quite well.

Then came the House salad featuring Japanese-style dressing

Fresh salad to accompany the teppanyaki dishes. In front of us were 4 sauces - normal sushi soy sauce, one sauce for meat, one's for seafood and the other for whatever we feel like.

Finally the teppanyaki chef came to do his cooking performance. All the ingredients for the main dishes were ready at the side =)

First he did the Tiger prawns - big juicy prawns

Salmon fillet and seasonal vegetables - could have been cooked slightly less well done but was not bad.

The teppanyaki chef doing his show - he's so quick with the utensils! Was a shame he didn't do any throw and catch games like they usually do, maybe 'cause we were on a voucher?

Tada! Fried rice - Japanese shortgrain rice is so much tastier than Chinese longgrain rice =)

Last came the Tender wagyu beef

Done medium rare - this was the best dish of the night, the beef was so tender and juicy and just delicious!

Food~
5/10 - maybe because we came on a voucher, but felt like they jipped us on the portions, though we were very full by the end of it!

Service~
3/5 - the dishes were prepared very promptly, even the chef felt like he was rushing his cooking performance. I had told them it was a birthday but they didn't do anything, not even write "Happy Birthday" on the teppanyaki plate which wouldn't have been that difficult =(

Atmosphere~
4/5 - quite a nice small teppanyaki restaurant in the suburbs

C.
xo