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7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I know why Barry McDonald and his Fratelli/Cafe Sopra clan get great reviews. The food is simple, fresh and tasty. There are no foams, no edible dirt, and no table crumbers. Wine is well priced without the highway robber price tag, service friendly and attentive, and the food speaks for itself. I love the basement location of this eatery, a smaller funky drinking space is to be found behind the restaurant and bar, so you don't even need to feel compelled to eat. Although with the place mats encouraging you to "mangi" why wouldn't you?

Nov 25, 2011

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  5     

Food prices are reasonable, however, I think that's because the wine list is not. As the old saying goes, what you lose on the swing you pick up on the roundabout. The wait staff dress the part, although service is inconsistent at times and confusing. We had nearly every waiter in the restaurant serving our table throughout the evening, no sooner had you declined the offer of water from one wait person, when you had a second different wait person offer to re-fill your glass.

Pasta dishes average at best, and the sirloin was blue when asked for medium rare. Best dishes were the fritto misto and salumi plate. The complimentary granita was refreshing and palate cleansing. It's just a pity I couldn't understand a word about it as explained by the heavily accented Italian waiter in the lab coat.

Nov 25, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  5     

Positioned on Little Collins Street Il Bacaro wouldn't be out of place on any restaurant strip in the motherland. From the moment you walk in it feels warm, cosy and welcoming, and the food is good. The waitstaff are also friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine on offer. If I am going to be overly critical, I expected a little more, for a little less. Yes I know it's an ambient trattoria, and it now has a chef's hat. I just expected less art on a plate, and more homely style Italian food. Having said that, the Agave cheesecake with the stewed rhubarb, jelly and pop rock candy was a standout of the meal. I wouldn't say no to coming back here, but in my view for value and price, it would be limited to special occasion.

Oct 12, 2011

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6 Average

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

Leave your food control freak at the door when you enter Jim's Greek Tavern. There are no menu's and to the uninitiated, it can be a little alarming to have the waiter come along and say "so, you want some octopus and some saganaki?"... "aaahhh... I thought I might see the menu first..." "Menu? There's no menu, you just have a little bit of meat or fish or salad, no menu!".

Then he smiles. Or was that an impish grin I detected? Never mind. The food is good. My inner control freak wants to know how much it's all going to cost. It seems so strange to come to a restaurant with no menu, and no idea how much lighter your wallet will be at the end of the night (at that's not because you're walking around Collingwood, mind).

The food is good. Service is haphazard, especially as the restaurant starts to fill up. In fact I did comment halfway through the meal you might need to bring your own flares here (no, not the trouser variety) to attract attention. I enjoyed the experience for what it was, and the food was fresh and light and tasty. Kali Oreksi!

Oct 12, 2011

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

Walked up and down Lygon St to find a restaurant that appeared to have good patronage. Was not disappointed in the food. Ordered the spaghetti vongole and penne with pork sausage ragu and both were really tasty. Serving size and price were reasonable, the only thing that gets me about Melbourne restaurants is the need for diners who eat outdoors to smoke outdoors, it's something Sydney siders left behind years ago.

Oct 08, 2011

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I know why Barry McDonald and his Fratelli/Cafe Sopra clan get great reviews. The food is simple, fresh and tasty. There are no foams, no edible dirt, and no table crumbers. Wine is well priced without the highway robber price tag, service friendly and attentive, and the food speaks for itself. I love the basement location of this eatery, a smaller funky drinking space is to be found behind the restaurant and bar, so you don't even need to feel compelled to eat. Although with the place mats encouraging you to "mangi" why wouldn't you?

Nov 25, 2011

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  5     

Food prices are reasonable, however, I think that's because the wine list is not. As the old saying goes, what you lose on the swing you pick up on the roundabout. The wait staff dress the part, although service is inconsistent at times and confusing. We had nearly every waiter in the restaurant serving our table throughout the evening, no sooner had you declined the offer of water from one wait person, when you had a second different wait person offer to re-fill your glass.

Pasta dishes average at best, and the sirloin was blue when asked for medium rare. Best dishes were the fritto misto and salumi plate. The complimentary granita was refreshing and palate cleansing. It's just a pity I couldn't understand a word about it as explained by the heavily accented Italian waiter in the lab coat.

Nov 25, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  5     

Positioned on Little Collins Street Il Bacaro wouldn't be out of place on any restaurant strip in the motherland. From the moment you walk in it feels warm, cosy and welcoming, and the food is good. The waitstaff are also friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine on offer. If I am going to be overly critical, I expected a little more, for a little less. Yes I know it's an ambient trattoria, and it now has a chef's hat. I just expected less art on a plate, and more homely style Italian food. Having said that, the Agave cheesecake with the stewed rhubarb, jelly and pop rock candy was a standout of the meal. I wouldn't say no to coming back here, but in my view for value and price, it would be limited to special occasion.

Oct 12, 2011

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6 Average

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

Leave your food control freak at the door when you enter Jim's Greek Tavern. There are no menu's and to the uninitiated, it can be a little alarming to have the waiter come along and say "so, you want some octopus and some saganaki?"... "aaahhh... I thought I might see the menu first..." "Menu? There's no menu, you just have a little bit of meat or fish or salad, no menu!".

Then he smiles. Or was that an impish grin I detected? Never mind. The food is good. My inner control freak wants to know how much it's all going to cost. It seems so strange to come to a restaurant with no menu, and no idea how much lighter your wallet will be at the end of the night (at that's not because you're walking around Collingwood, mind).

The food is good. Service is haphazard, especially as the restaurant starts to fill up. In fact I did comment halfway through the meal you might need to bring your own flares here (no, not the trouser variety) to attract attention. I enjoyed the experience for what it was, and the food was fresh and light and tasty. Kali Oreksi!

Oct 12, 2011

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

Walked up and down Lygon St to find a restaurant that appeared to have good patronage. Was not disappointed in the food. Ordered the spaghetti vongole and penne with pork sausage ragu and both were really tasty. Serving size and price were reasonable, the only thing that gets me about Melbourne restaurants is the need for diners who eat outdoors to smoke outdoors, it's something Sydney siders left behind years ago.

Oct 08, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

The home made muffins here are good. So is the granola. The best part is the yoghurt. It is delightfully thick, smooth and not to sweet with a lashing of honey to add a little sweet kick. The coffee ain't bad either.

Oct 08, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  7     

It is what it is. Don't come here expecting fine dining food or service and you will always leave happy. Food is honest, so is the service, the price (not to mention the cordial) and for that reason I will always come back to Bill and Toni's for the absolute comfort factor it never fails to deliver.

Oct 08, 2011

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

A gorgeous sandstone street corner location, great waitstaff and good food make this restaurant a lovely find. It's also BYO which wins points with me every time. Food is fresh, innovative enough - crisp calamari fritti, Sydney rock oysters. The only fault was the salmon main was slightly overcooked, but the crispy battered prawns that accompanied it, combined with the fennel salad and salsa verde was a great balance of flavours and textures. I will be secretly earmarking this as one of my latest great finds... sshhhh!

Oct 08, 2011

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

The granola here is good. Accompanied by yoghurt and fruit it has just the right crunch and sweetness. The coffee was good too - all in all not a bad experience for Camperdown standards. I like the fact the place is large enough you are always guaranteed a table.

Oct 08, 2011

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

I had been wanting to try this cafe for some time and one rainy weekend when the opportunity presented itself I was there! It seems the corn fritters are a regular fixture on the menu, so I ordered. The tomato relish was good - the fritters themselves a little dry but still a tasty dish. The cafe does great juices and good coffee, and all the cakes and slices look home-made and inviting. If it wasn't so far away I would definitely make it my local.

Oct 08, 2011