melrich

7 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

For 20 years Melbourne has been blessed with one of the best Vietnamese food precincts in Australia and maybe the world outside Vietnam itself. So great Vietnamese food is pretty familiar to the people of Melbourne who haunt Victoria St.

Against that background, Misschu is a disappointment. Much of the food lacks the fresh pop that we have come to associate with great Vietnamese food. The rice paper rolls are all pre made and have that dry stickiness that rice paper gets after being exposed to the air for a while. The green papaya salad was a weak version, especially when you put it up against the version at Chinchin (at around the same price!). The vermicelli dishes are big on vermicelli and light on everything else.

I wouldn't rush back. You can get much better Vietnamese a few kilometres away and it is worth taking that trip.

Jan 23, 2013

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Finally got a table at this place. As nearly every other review points out, this place seems perenially full of people and a no booking policy makes getting a table pot luck.

The food is good, very good. Quite similar to Gingerboy, another very popular restaurant that does take bookings so if you miss out here, Gingerboy will give you a pretty good read on what to expect.

I rate this place a bit above Gingerboy because I think the food is a bit more challenging, the flavors are punchier. We shared a mix of small and medium size dishes. The stand outs were the green papaya salad and the chicken green curry. The shredded pork wrap was pretty good too.

Service was Ok. A drinks order was misplaced but generally the waiters were there when you needed them to be. Wine list is well matched to the food. My only really "complaint" is the noise level. You have to raise your voice to be heard but that sort of adds to the buzz of the place but don't come here as a couple and expect a quiet corner to nuzzle up in.

Definitely recommend if you can brave the no booking policy.

Dec 17, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

I was really impressed with this place. We had lunch here on a Friday and the restaurant was about half full. The room is fairly minimalist but feels in harmony with the food being served. I liked the light, airy feel they have achieved.

The service was pretty good. Our meals came out in good time and the waiters kept an eye on our drinks. The wine list was comprehensive and you will find something you like. Prices on the wines seemed reasonable, too.

Food was great. The idea here was to share and we ordered about 6 plates to share (all entree sizes). This was probably one plate too many but the menu reads so well it was hard to stop ordering more dishes. Every dish we had felt a success. A couple were just outstanding--the mushrooms and the Szechuan eggplant. We will definitely be back.

Dec 03, 2012

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  9     

Big open industrial style space with a bar in the middle, not what you would expect for a place that does fairly traditional Japanese menu (at lunch anyway).

I liked the food. There were not many options to choose from but a good cross section of seafood, meat and vegetarian. We had the bento box and it was above average Japanese food at a really reasonable price.

Good wine list and a huge sake list. I can imagine you could have a pretty big night here if you came for dinner. Service was Ok, mostly there when you needed them.

Definitely will go back and happy to recommend if you want above average Japanese food.

Nov 22, 2012

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  1     

There are so many disappointing aspects to this restaurant it is hard to know where to start.

For context, this is not a cheap restaurant. Most "mains" are $30 - $40. Gyoza (just 3 pieces) is $15 (about $10 for 6 at most Japanese restaurants).

So paying that sort of money you expect great surroundings, good service and good food. We didn't get any of that.

The restaurant looks a relatively new fit out but feels very dated. It is right on the Yarra and has views of the river but rather than make you feel like you are in the view, this restaurant makes you feel like you can't get to the view....like a prisoner looking out at open fields he cannot reach.

Ok so the owners cannot do anything about the setback of the rooms and the overhang of the building above....but what about the strange division of the dining area. Big Teppanyaki space in one room, a la carte dining in the other and both separated by what appears to be a public walkway that goes nowhere.

So to the service. There was only one waiter on duty the day we lunched. That should have been Ok as there were only about 10 diners. Problem is there are 2 rooms and the room we were in was the one separated from the kitchen by the public walkway. So we were a bit out of sight and out of mind. 3 times I had to get up from my chair, walk the length of the dining room go out a door, cross the public walkway, go in a another door and have a look around for our waiter. I suppose the good news is that had we been of a mind to do a runner and not pay the bill it would have been quite easy.

Not the waiters fault, when he was serving he was good but the pace and scarcity of service was way below what you expect from a restaurant with these pretensions and at these prices.

I have sort of left the food for last because I am still not trusting my assessment. I find it almost impossible to believe that food costing so much could be as bad as I think it was. Sushi - the rice was undercooked, Gyoza - rubbery, Baked scallops - a sort of junked together bowl of stuff with absolutely no flavor of scallops. We ordered one dish just because the menu legend said it was the hottest thing on the menu (and I love hot food) - my 6 year old daughter could have eaten it. I get spicier food at my local takeaway sushi bar.

The only dish of the 10 or so that we shared that was any good was the seared sushi dish.

This was by far the most disappointing restaurant experience I have had this year. I expect this restaurant will be closed inside 12 months but if the owner wants any clue has to how to save it, somehow find a way to embrace the views, halve your prices, cut the 6 page menu down to 2 pages and concentrate on doing the few things you are doing well really well.

Nov 02, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

For 20 years Melbourne has been blessed with one of the best Vietnamese food precincts in Australia and maybe the world outside Vietnam itself. So great Vietnamese food is pretty familiar to the people of Melbourne who haunt Victoria St.

Against that background, Misschu is a disappointment. Much of the food lacks the fresh pop that we have come to associate with great Vietnamese food. The rice paper rolls are all pre made and have that dry stickiness that rice paper gets after being exposed to the air for a while. The green papaya salad was a weak version, especially when you put it up against the version at Chinchin (at around the same price!). The vermicelli dishes are big on vermicelli and light on everything else.

I wouldn't rush back. You can get much better Vietnamese a few kilometres away and it is worth taking that trip.

Jan 23, 2013

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Finally got a table at this place. As nearly every other review points out, this place seems perenially full of people and a no booking policy makes getting a table pot luck.

The food is good, very good. Quite similar to Gingerboy, another very popular restaurant that does take bookings so if you miss out here, Gingerboy will give you a pretty good read on what to expect.

I rate this place a bit above Gingerboy because I think the food is a bit more challenging, the flavors are punchier. We shared a mix of small and medium size dishes. The stand outs were the green papaya salad and the chicken green curry. The shredded pork wrap was pretty good too.

Service was Ok. A drinks order was misplaced but generally the waiters were there when you needed them to be. Wine list is well matched to the food. My only really "complaint" is the noise level. You have to raise your voice to be heard but that sort of adds to the buzz of the place but don't come here as a couple and expect a quiet corner to nuzzle up in.

Definitely recommend if you can brave the no booking policy.

Dec 17, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

I was really impressed with this place. We had lunch here on a Friday and the restaurant was about half full. The room is fairly minimalist but feels in harmony with the food being served. I liked the light, airy feel they have achieved.

The service was pretty good. Our meals came out in good time and the waiters kept an eye on our drinks. The wine list was comprehensive and you will find something you like. Prices on the wines seemed reasonable, too.

Food was great. The idea here was to share and we ordered about 6 plates to share (all entree sizes). This was probably one plate too many but the menu reads so well it was hard to stop ordering more dishes. Every dish we had felt a success. A couple were just outstanding--the mushrooms and the Szechuan eggplant. We will definitely be back.

Dec 03, 2012

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  9     

Big open industrial style space with a bar in the middle, not what you would expect for a place that does fairly traditional Japanese menu (at lunch anyway).

I liked the food. There were not many options to choose from but a good cross section of seafood, meat and vegetarian. We had the bento box and it was above average Japanese food at a really reasonable price.

Good wine list and a huge sake list. I can imagine you could have a pretty big night here if you came for dinner. Service was Ok, mostly there when you needed them.

Definitely will go back and happy to recommend if you want above average Japanese food.

Nov 22, 2012

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  1     

There are so many disappointing aspects to this restaurant it is hard to know where to start.

For context, this is not a cheap restaurant. Most "mains" are $30 - $40. Gyoza (just 3 pieces) is $15 (about $10 for 6 at most Japanese restaurants).

So paying that sort of money you expect great surroundings, good service and good food. We didn't get any of that.

The restaurant looks a relatively new fit out but feels very dated. It is right on the Yarra and has views of the river but rather than make you feel like you are in the view, this restaurant makes you feel like you can't get to the view....like a prisoner looking out at open fields he cannot reach.

Ok so the owners cannot do anything about the setback of the rooms and the overhang of the building above....but what about the strange division of the dining area. Big Teppanyaki space in one room, a la carte dining in the other and both separated by what appears to be a public walkway that goes nowhere.

So to the service. There was only one waiter on duty the day we lunched. That should have been Ok as there were only about 10 diners. Problem is there are 2 rooms and the room we were in was the one separated from the kitchen by the public walkway. So we were a bit out of sight and out of mind. 3 times I had to get up from my chair, walk the length of the dining room go out a door, cross the public walkway, go in a another door and have a look around for our waiter. I suppose the good news is that had we been of a mind to do a runner and not pay the bill it would have been quite easy.

Not the waiters fault, when he was serving he was good but the pace and scarcity of service was way below what you expect from a restaurant with these pretensions and at these prices.

I have sort of left the food for last because I am still not trusting my assessment. I find it almost impossible to believe that food costing so much could be as bad as I think it was. Sushi - the rice was undercooked, Gyoza - rubbery, Baked scallops - a sort of junked together bowl of stuff with absolutely no flavor of scallops. We ordered one dish just because the menu legend said it was the hottest thing on the menu (and I love hot food) - my 6 year old daughter could have eaten it. I get spicier food at my local takeaway sushi bar.

The only dish of the 10 or so that we shared that was any good was the seared sushi dish.

This was by far the most disappointing restaurant experience I have had this year. I expect this restaurant will be closed inside 12 months but if the owner wants any clue has to how to save it, somehow find a way to embrace the views, halve your prices, cut the 6 page menu down to 2 pages and concentrate on doing the few things you are doing well really well.

Nov 02, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  9     

I think the best seafood in Port Douglas. Some really creative dishes and a menu that looks so good it is hard to choose from. I went for the deep fried fish of the day which was fantastic, my partner had the coral trout taster which she loved too.

Service, like many places in Port Douglas, is very hit and miss but the lay back pace of the place means it does not bother you quite so much as it would elsewhere.

Oct 26, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  9     

Far and away the best place for pasta in Port Douglas. The chef here knows what they are doing and the dishes are quite modern and clean.

If you get a craving for Italian up north, this is the place to come. Prices are Ok too, a main pasta costing around $28.

Oct 26, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  9     

Great location overlooking the marina. Seafood here is extremely good, you can tell this is a place that really cares about it's produce. The seafood platter for 2 is outrageously good value, no greasy deep fried stuff, all beautifully prepared seafood and only $120 per couple, same would cost you $180 in Melbourne. Great chips.

Good wine list, highly recommend this place.

Oct 26, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I liked this place although there is nothing particularly exciting about it. The fit out is modern and the kitchen open to the dining room. Chairs are really comfortable which makes a nice change.

Does a good steak and wine list is more than adequate. Service was good and I expect this is the sort of place that you would come to if you did not want to be too challenged by the menu and were looking for a reliable, honest experience.

Prices I thought were very reasonable.

Sep 20, 2012

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  2      Service  3      Value  4     

If you want to see what restaurants looked like in the late 70s and early 80s, a trip to The Spaghetti Tree is a must. Very dated room that struggles to provide any atmosphere whatsoever. Heavy wood, heavy carpet in a room with lots of little nooks.

I had the chicken parmigiana, so did my companion. This makes it hard to judge the standard of the food becaue most people can make a half decent chicken parmigiana. This one was quite good so I give it a tick for that.

The real issue though was our side order of chips which were overcooked, flaccid and tasted of stale oil. Service was just routine, the waitress looked like she would rather be at the dentist having a tooth pulled.

All in all I found this place depressing and a little bit sad. I can't recommend it.

Jul 17, 2012