I've been once, and had a very similiar experience, which was also on the outdoor terrace.
Friends raved about the place. Finally went and thought the service was terrible. Like the review, an order was misplaced. It was removed from the bill, but you don't go to a restaurant to miss out on an ordered item!
Overall it was disappointing, and there are too many fabulous places to eat in Melbourne to bother to go back for seconds...
St judes have changed to a entrée, main, dessert structure. Still can get away with tapas/small meals, but new format has changed menu structure. Another one of my favourites in this town. I should also add I HATE Brunswick street, and to find this little gem of place, and to be able to walk in late at night and sit at the bar and have a NICE glass of something and a NICE plate of something, I love it. I also love the fact I can go up to wine wall and pick and choose wine at a very reasonable mark up. I think sommelier service here is exceptional (he remembered what we ordered …) Also , next time you go with a group and don’t want to share lachie, $55 set menu is fantastic value imo – we ate there last at end of april - fresh oysters – crab on toast – grilled fish – fennel salad – lamb pie & potatoes. Dessert extra. I say give it another go!
Posted by
Dave ,
12:59pm Fri, 12th Jun, 2009
Hey Dan - What time is "late" typically on weeknights/weekends? As ranted about on the podcast, we've had trouble finding good places to eat late at night post-shows etc...
Recommendation for you… We started our evening at Gerald’s bar over in rathdowne st. Great little bar for bevies, but also check out the bar food and large plates. They always have 4/5 bottles of wine open for wines by the glass. But if they don’t, you can pick anything on the list and get them to open it for you. You should see their pinot list! And always a good pour!
Posted by
Dave ,
12:58pm Fri, 12th Jun, 2009
Yeah keep meaning to check that one out - I used to live just around the corner from it and walked past regularly saying "We have to check out that place some time" and never got around to it before we moved. Will make a point to visit soon.
Love the tapas food in this town. Have eaten at anada, and movida and next door to therein. Great food. Love it. And one of our favourite places in town - Bar lourhina in little collins. http://www.barlourinha.com.au/ IMO different to the others and mostly go there now. You must try the sig dish - air-dried kingfish w lemon oil (lachie you try the wagyu shoulder with sherry and paprika).
Posted by
Dave ,
12:53pm Fri, 12th Jun, 2009
From memory Bar Lourinha is a no-bookings joint, which I've black-banned for now. Yes, I know that's silly and childish, but I do have a point here: I have no problems with these places if they only sold themselves *as bars*: As you say, the tapas thing is supposed to be casual. It's that they (and most of the food media) sell them as restaurants, which I don't think they are. I can book a table at a restaurant. At a bar, I expect to take pot luck. Accordingly, I'm not going to go to one of these places for *dinner*, but may drop in for a *drink/nibble* at some stage.
Posted by
Dave ,
12:55pm Fri, 12th Jun, 2009
Further to this - just checked the website: They take bookings for lunch, but not for dinner. Seems somewhat inconsistent? Do they want to be a bar or a restaurant?
Hey guys, there is a new wine bar that has opened in smith st Collinwood (this is our stomping ground on weekend and is’nt it taking off in foodie destinations). Boire – is a traditional French wine bar with lots of attitude - 85% French wine, tiny menu, no milk in coffee, no soft drinks. We went on Friday night and great wine experience. But it will be interesting to see how she goes.
from epicure may19th – “Boire - CATHERINE Chauchat has been a familiar face at Fitzroy's The Commoner for the past two years. Now the Frenchwoman is realising a dream and opening her first venture on so-hot-right-now Smith Street. Boire - it means "to drink" - doesn't sound like just any new venture, either. With a peasant French focus, it will offer a simple menu of two entrees, two mains and two desserts at what she promises will be "a very accessible price". The chef is Arna McCabe, ex-Cumulus Inc, City Wine Shop and L'Oustal. Being a former Bordeaux winemaker, Chauchat will ensure the wine list is something pretty special, too, with some exclusive imports. The only spirit on offer will be a 20-year-old farm-style Armagnac. Boire opens this Friday at 92 Smith Street, Collingwood.
In reply to your comments re tapas…. Abit harsh boys, but can understand your position. The one point I would like to make is... it is we/us/aussies/melbourne that have bastardized the tapas experience by creating “tapas restaurants”. Ie it is not a bar environment where you can c-a-s-u-a-l-l-y walk into a joint, have a glass of wine, and decide to have a bit of a snack (imo, all wine should be consumed with food). Instead we have to book weeks in advance… to sit at a counter or a shared table and dine in a noisy bar. That is my issue with tapas – Melbourne tapas that is.
Posted by
Dan ,
12:14pm Fri, 12th Jun, 2009
FNQ – too bad you did not get to Port Douglas when you went to FNQ. So many restaurants… so few days…. We had a quick long weekend up there in Jan (because we love the restaurants so much) and we did stop in at nu-nus on the way from airport to PD. Get food – asian-chili-salty pork ribs YUM! Here are 2 highlights from PD
http://australiantraveller.com/component/content/article/3358
I concur Matteo’s one of the best restaurants in town. Have only had degustation with matched wines there. Always come away saying that was above expectations and why don’t we go here more often.
I took up your advice re bistro flor, and happy to report we had a great night out! Food fantastic. Wine list judicial, but oh so interesting (and very well priced). Service and room very comfortable. Quite a little find! Congrats… you have earned my respect.
