Foodies: Which Melbourne Restaurant?

DP owes me a REALLY nice meal for my 40th birthday and it's a while since I had my finger on the pulse.

Where would you go?

Money no real object since DP's paying!

Preferably close, like really close, (staggering distance) to some bars where we'll find a seat.

I used to like going to Matteos in North Fitzroy because it was next to The Newry Hotel so I could combine sticky carpet pub with fancy restaurant but pub has now closed.

So that would be my ideal - fancy restaurant next door to grungy/small/decadent/preferably not TOO many suits/ bar.

Hmm not sure if it fits the criteria as I have yet to make it to either but I would love to go to The Press Club or Hellenic Republic - maybe a response to too much Masterchef though.... Also lusting after Nobu and Rockpool but not so keen on the whole Crown scenario. Have a great dinner - I look forward to reading the ideas and your review!

I saw the thread title and thought of Donovans. Great restaurant, but does not really meet the rest of your requirements.

The Royston Hotel in Richmond has a lovely formal dining room and nice menu. No suits because they stick to Bridge Rd. Mountain Goat brewery is nearby too, you don't have to love beer to enjoy it, but it helps (Fridays only last i was there, but they had applied for more days.)
When they kick you out, head for Burnley St, left to hubcap nightclub (a bit undergound, good drinks) or right and stumble up to the Terminus Hotel, and out the back to the beer garden.

That's my perfect Friday night in Melbourne :)

Spargo's in Richmond is also nice, their dining room is beautiful.
The old post office on Swan St is good too (can you tell I lived in Richmond?) and their menu is very swish, then you could cruise down to mumbler or bar 9t4, then burn on to the Central Club Hotel for a laugh (if it's been rebuilt after the fire)

Hmmm... I'll keep thinking.

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The Royston Hotel in Richmond has a lovely formal dining room and nice menu. No suits because they stick to Bridge Rd. Mountain Goat brewery is nearby too, you don't have to love beer to enjoy it, but it helps (Fridays only last i was there, but they had applied for more days.)
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Snugglybean - when you are in Melbourne next we are going out! Mountain Goat is one of our fave places! DD1 even had her head wetting there. So Fiona - I second this recommendation :D It is open Wednesdays and Fridays too by the way.

Pure Southe (southbank)
Rockpool (crown)
Waterfront (crown)
Bearth (docklands)
Livebait (docklands)
Conservatory (crown)
Melba (langham hotel)

Above are all nice meals out!!!! enjoy your night out will see what else i can think off

Vue de Monde is veeery nice but DH and I spent the equivalent of our rates notice in one night.

Momo has just reopened and is very cool - next to the Spice Bar(?)

Cutler & Co is supposed to be good.

I personally love Maha and Movida

cutler and co is awsomeeee but its kinda casual IMO weekend lunch vibe
rockpool as was mentioned
Ezards
Cecconis
Circa, the prince
Red Emperor
Matteos
Vue de monde was also mentioned
and yeah i cant think of many more atm
but im sure ill remember more :)
ive been to all these places so if you need anymore info just ask

I love Matteos too but I also love Movida in the city so you could go to some great bars afterwards or if you go to Circa at the Prince go to the Espy afterwards - carpet doesn't get much stickier :lol:

Nai - we're moving back in two years. Look out Melbourne!

I have never hit Movida and not had a cooking night. Good choice.
Circa the prince is a good one too, and vue de monde. I've been thinkgin abotu ti all night and was going to suggest some of these!
Longrain in chinatown is apparently good. I've never been, but on a big night out once, we did silly walks past the window because we knew that John Cleese was dining inside. lol.

One Fitzroy (StKilda sticky carpet - right beside the Espy ;)) have fine dining upstairs - gorgeous

The Press Club -? Haven't been there yet but heard excellent things. That is in Flinders St

:)

oh
the press club and longgrain are both fabbb!
but longrain seating is kinda weird
press club is deffffs gorge me and DF love it!
I also thought of taxi dining room in fed square really good also

OK, now you know I'm only being this fussy because a) I don't go out very often any more and want it to be perfect (perfect for me that is, not uber slicky slicky swish swish but with the right combo of really excellent food and some down to earthness in a pub/bar too).

Now bear with me. I don't think I want to do Crown/Docklands this time. Too far from the sorts of pubs/bars I like.

OK, this is where I start sounding totally ridiculous. Do any of the restaurants mentioned have carpet? I've got this pair of super high peep toes that I've never even worn yet and don't trust myself on anything other than carpet. I think I'd like to wear them.

And by the way, I don't mind getting dressed up and then having a pot in a sticky carpet pub before/after. I pretend that people are staring at me because I'm gorgeous not because I look totally out of place - so doesn't worry me.

pressclub,longrain,circa,vue have tiles and floorboards.

I LOVE being dressed up and looking totally out of place - as long as at least one other person is too.
Can't help on the carpet thing though...

I was trying to remember the name of One Fitzroy, but it's been too long since I lived down in St K. I wouldn't know how good it is any more anyway.
Oh, while you're down that way though, there is (was in 2007) a great restaurant on Dundas place, in Albert Park - don't remember the name though, and then the Albert Park hotel is just down the road, or that other pub on Vic Ave. AP Hotel is not sticky carpet, though, it's a w*nker bar.

oooh you have reminded me K of Botanical!

It is opposite the Botanical Gardens, just down from Park St...what is that Domain Rd?
Anyway, great food, great wine, not hugely flashy or exxy and not far from Chapel or StKilda (taxi/tram distance though) but it is beautiful and the service is fab.

My two fav city dining places are Kri Kri's (up from China town) which is Greek cuisine and I also love the meals they do at Manchester Lane (Off flinders lane just off Swanston street) depending on the night they get some great entertainment there as well.

I'm fairly certain Circa is closed for refurbishment at the moment, but what a great idea. Pearl Restaurant in Richmond is amazing - seasonal modern Australian cuisine, incredible wine list and charming waitstaff. I second The Botanical as well - and can also recommend Attica. Yu-U in the city does Japanese in gorgeous surrounds - you can ask for a private tatami room away from the crowd if you want a romantic meal, too!