Travel – Page 5

Nitro Lab Glen Waverley

May 20, 2016 Posted in Desserts, Food Reviews, Glen Waverley, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

Nitrolab in Glen Waverley is conveniently located close to Glen Waverley station, but further down from the crowds from Century City Walk and the majority of the eateries on Kingsway. It’s not a particularly big shop, but I guess it serves the market well. Like N2, they have a selection of nitrogen made ice-creams and sorbets with interesting toppings in a cone or cup. They also offer Belgian waffles, shakes and sweet and savoury crepes if you’re so inclined.

Whatever compelled me to get this combination of Raspberry sorbet, cookie crumb and Nutella, I have no clue but it is an interesting idea. Though, taste wise it isn’t something I’d go back for. The sweetness of a sorbet, not sour enough to balance the rich and sugar filled Nutella. The Nutella and cookie crumb works together I admit. Next time, I’ll probably go for something less adventurous.

Last words
With Dessert Story, YOMG, Pierre Song and Yo-get-it, it’s a competitive market but I’m happy to get my ice-cream fix one way or another when I’m there.

Nitro Lab Glen Waverley
Shop T2 A
39 Kingsway
Glen Waverley VIC 3150

Nine Taiwanese Dessert House

April 29, 2016 Posted in Chinese, Food Reviews, Melbourne, Restaurant Reviews, TaiwaneseLeave a comment

Nine Taiwanese Dessert House located on Swanston St is similar to Dessert Story, serving a variety of ice-y sweet treats and Bubble Tea drinks. What I love about Dessert Story is their ice machine for some of their “snow” menu options, has this delicious slightly sweet and milky shaved ice. This dessert house also has the same but is it as good?

Their Green Tea Snow Ice, comes with red bean, jasmine jelly, taro and sweet potato balls topped with a scoop of green tea ice cream. It’s decorated with this green syrup of sorts. The snow ice here isn’t too bad, it lacks the same creaminess that the Dessert Story ones have. It’s also very sweet all over, with this sort of odd fake taste to it. The jasmine jelly is nice though, and is the reason why I tried making Ooolong Tea Jelly, not too sweet but with this subtle tea flavour to it.

I liked their Taro Bubble Tea though, but the one they gave us was warm because they just cooked the taro so that was a bit disappointing. At least it’s real taro!

Last words

Maybe their other dessert options are better? First impressions weren’t too great, I might come back again but for now I’d still go to Dessert Story if I had the choice.

Nine Taiwanese Dessert House
268 Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Meat in the Middle

April 15, 2016 Posted in Food Reviews, Glen Waverley, Greek, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

Meat in the Middle on Kingsway in Glen Waverley offers an selection of souvlaki dishes and burgers. It’s a cute little place, that is buzzing in the evenings. You can order your souvlaki in a wrap, or open platter and all their menu items have interesting names to go with them.

The Kingsway, is their fusion souvlaki with a side of chillies to eat with your pork gyro and pita bread. It’s a very filling meal, and I love the freshness of the Apple slaw, which I didn’t find to be too rich in dressing.

Last words

Tasty dishes and decently priced. I’ll be baaack!

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Meat in the Middle
86 Kingsway
Glen Waverley VIC 3150

BBQ Code

April 1, 2016 Posted in Food Reviews, Glen Waverley, Korean, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.jsBBQ Code on Springvale Road, Glen Waverley offers Korean cuisine, specifically, Korean BBQ but they also offer the more commonly known Korean dishes such as Bibimbap, Korean Fried Chicken and Kimchi Soup. There aren’t many Korean restaurants in Glen Waverley, so it’s presence in the area is much welcomed. The Bibimbap is flavourful with fresh vegetables and tasty seasoning. It’s quite good value!

Their Pork and Beef BBQ items comes with complimentary condiments like Korean pancake, Kimchi and Potato salad and the staff look after the cooking for you; unlike some Korean venues.

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Their Pork and Beef items are nicely cooked, seasoned well and they come with a seasoning salt and chilli sauce for you as well. Though, price wise it’s definitely on the high end of things.

Last words

I’d probably recommend Korean BBQ places like ChangGo or Wooga in the city for taste and good value. BBQ Code is nice, but not worth the price to pay.

BBQ Code
249 Springvale Road
Glen Waverley VIC 3150

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Rice Workshop – Box Hill

March 18, 2016 Posted in Box Hill, Food Reviews, Japanese, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

Rice Workshop is still one of my favourite Japanese fast-food places in Melbourne. Luckily, I’m spoilt and there is one in Box Hill so close by for me that I regularly order their Japanese curry or sometimes just a Green Tea or Black Sesame soft serve when I pass by.

It’s similar to Hanaichi in that food definitely comes quick, and it doesn’t necessarily mean it lacks anything in taste. Their Beef Curry even in a small serve can be sufficiently filling, with generous amounts of curry and beef. However, what I find it lacks in is potatoes or some vegetables to make it a more balanced meal. Other than that, I really do love the curry there.

Not on their main menu, they sometimes offer the Unadon or their Fried Eel, which has a lovely aroma to it. Definitely just for fans of eel, which I am not.

Rice Workshop have a few difference variations of their Beef Rice Bowls, along with Chicken Rice Bowls, and the curry you can order it with Chicken or Pork Katsu, Grilled Chicken or even Tofu as a vegetarian option, and of course, some Udon and Soba options as well. I find their selection of dishes to be great and honestly, price wise it’s good value too.

Last words

Tasty dishes, fast and good value.

Rice Workshop
Shop 57 Box Hill Central (South Precinct)
1 Main St
Box Hill VIC 3128

Squires Loft Nunawading

March 4, 2016 Posted in Australian, Food Reviews, Nunawading, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

Squires Loft have several locations across Victoria and even a few interstate. Their Nunawading outlet is located in Brandsmart, on Whitehorse Road. As with the other outlets, their main appeal is their selection of steaks and grill options. At Nunawading, they also have a bar menu option as well as a dining in menu to choose from.

Their Char-grilled salmon with creamy garlic sauce was a lovely medium-rare and had a fantastic grilled aroma to it. The garlic sauce that comes with the salmon is a delicious sauce to go with it, just add a bit of black pepper to spice it up.

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All the mains come with your choice of fries, baked potato or a side salad. The fries are also quite good actually.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

The Chicken breast fillet is also another winner. Moist and tender, but still having that nice charred flavour to it. A black pepper or mushroom sauce would have probably paired better than the garlic sauce but the garlic sauce is very nice I must say.

Last words

Great tasting steaks, for an affordable price.

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Squires Loft
54/288 Whitehorse Road (Brandsmart)
Nunawading VIC 3131

Frozen by A Thousand Blessings – Doncaster

February 19, 2016 Posted in Australian, Desserts, Doncaster, Food Reviews, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

I first came across Frozen by a Thousand Blessings in Richmond, after a bowl of ramen next door. I was so happy when I saw that they had opened another outlet in the Doncaster Shopping Centre. What I love about their frozen yoghurts is how creamy they are but taste quite light and fresh. Most of the time I don’t even need the toppings as not to spoil the flavour of the yoghurts.

Frozen have a great variety of flavours and the one that I always go back to is their Coconut flavour, with desiccated coconut shavings to give it that added texture. The popping pearls with mango inside as a topping are something I recommend adding to the coconut one!

The other flavours that I love were the Pomegranate and Almond Milk & Hazelnut. Super delicious.

Last words

One of the best frozen yoghurt places in Melbourne.

Frozen by a Thousand Blessings
Westfield Doncaster
Ground Floor
619 Doncaster Road
Doncaster VIC 3108

Chin Chin

February 12, 2016 Posted in Asian, Food Reviews, Melbourne, Restaurant Reviews, ThaiLeave a comment

Chin Chin, popular as ever, is located on Flinders Lane in the Melbourne CBD offers Thai and South East Asian flavours with a Western twist. For tables under ten, it’s walk-in only and queuing to put your name down on the list! It’s a very vibrant place and that always seems to be buzzing.

The menu offers something for everyone and what I like about it, is that while sharing is ideal because you can try a bit of everything, these dishes also are great for one. If you’re undecided on what to order, Chin Chin’s offer their Feed Me menu, where they will select various dishes from the menu on your behalf.

The Kingfish Sashimi is amazing. I love the acidity of the limes, slightly punchy chilli with the Thai basil. The fish is lovely and fresh as well.

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Caramelised Sticky Pork with herb salad and chilli vinegar is very bold in flavour. The pork is ever so tender.

The Chin Chin Pork “Roll Ups” are another winner. I love the tender, and flavoursome pork with the very thin pancakes and the sweet and salty Peking Duck like sauce.

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js The Pork ribs here are a stunner. It’s probably my favourite dish of the night. The meat just comes straight off the bone, so good. So tender, like butter. A must.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

The Crispy Barramundi Salad with Green Apples, Pork, herbs and chillies, is lovely and fresh.

The Jungle curry with braised pork shoulder is very spicy! I prefer a curry with sauce to be honest, but this isn’t too bad.

To finish off the meal, this Coconut Sago with Sweetcorn Ice cream and puffed rice is delicious. Lovely coconut flavour and the crunchy puffed rice adds a nice texture to it.

Last words

Chin Chin makes some incredible dishes, with bold and fresh flavours. Service could be better and especially for the price, plus they added on extra dishes on top of the “Feed Me” menu last time we dined there.

Chin Chin
125 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000

Ramen Bankara

February 5, 2016 Posted in Doncaster, Food Reviews, Japanese, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

Ramen Bankara has now three outlets with the two cities stores opening up in the last couple of months. However, it was the Doncaster outlet that was first in Australia, located inside the Westfield shopping centre and providing more options for those wanting Japanese cuisine with Hanaichi and Hakata Gensuke preceding it.

I love ramen and even when I was in Japan, I never tired of it. Ramen Bankara has a choice of three different soup bases with your choice of add ons such as eggs, chashu, bamboo shoots and seaweed. Each classic option has a premium version with more add ons.

Their Bankara Ramen has pork broth as its base and it’s absolutely delicious. It has an amazing rich pork flavour, and their pork belly is so tender. One downside, was the amount of fat floating in the broth. I’d love if they sieved a bit of it out but other than that, it’s the one to get.

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Chuka Soba Ramen is another pork broth but this has the added option of getting it spicy. It’s a milder broth and a bit more tangy and cleaner for the palate.

Ramen Bankara’s Tonkotsu can also be ordered spicy, and it’s more creamy than the Chuka Soba. It’s made from pork bones that give it that creamy texture. I like the spicy kick more in the Tonkotsu.

Last words

There aren’t too many choices for good ramen around these parts of town so Ramen Bankara satisfies those cravings just nicely.

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Ramen Bankara – Doncaster
Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre
Ground Level, 619 Doncaster Road
Doncaster VIC 3108

Nachos Cantina – Mount Waverley

January 8, 2016 Posted in Food Reviews, Mexican, Mount Waverley, Restaurant ReviewsLeave a comment

After an extensive search on Zomato I came across Nachos Cantina in Mount Waverley which had pretty great reviews to its name. I love Mexican food; flavourful meat, corn, rice, sometimes spicy, and copious amounts of cheese. What’s more to love?

Nachos Cantina’s Enchiladas are absolutely delicious. Served with rice these are a little bit spicy but everything complements each other.

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.jsI was a bit disappointed by the Buffalo Wings, we ordered a mix of Spicy and BBQ, but for the price and taste wise it wasn’t anything special. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

The Sizziling Fajitas with rice and warm tortillas, guacamole and salsa was another tasty dish. I loved the marinade they add to the meat, and eaten with the tortilla and salad it’s a great meal.

Tex Mex Ribs with Mexican Salad was an interesting one. The salad comes in a deep fried cup but I found that a tad too oily for my liking. The ribs were tender but wasn’t a big fan of the flavour. The rice in all the dishes, on the other hand, was flavourful and fresh.

Last words

Delicious meals for a great price and I now don’t have to venture too far for good Mexican food.

Nachos Cantina
175 Waverley Road
Mount Waverley VIC 3149

ohdenny

Category: Travel

Nitro Lab Glen Waverley

Nine Taiwanese Dessert House

Meat in the Middle

BBQ Code

Rice Workshop – Box Hill

Squires Loft Nunawading

Frozen by A Thousand Blessings – Doncaster

Chin Chin

Ramen Bankara

Nachos Cantina – Mount Waverley