Shinwa Izakaya - Japanese Bar & Restaurant

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Shinwa Izakaya.

Shinwa is an izakaya-style establishment located on Brunswick’s bustling Sydney Road, dedicated first and foremost to the art of Japanese eating and drinking, offering a laid back environment for catching up with friends and family with a focus on quality food designed to share in stylish but comfortable surroundings.

Accompanying the wide range of sake, Japanese beers, umeshu and shochu is a smorgasbord of Japanese small eats comprising of skewers, gyoza, okonomiyaki and the like.

Gyoza Teppan – fried housemade dumplings with special ponzu sauce

Yakitori

Shinwa boasts some of the best yakitori that Melbourne has to offer. We absolutely loved their range of grilled skewers. Without exception, each skewer had been sufficiently seasoned and was wonderfully flavoursome and displayed a delectable outer charring courtesy of having benefited from the perfect time on the grill.

The eggplant skewer was of particular note. Complemented by a delicious sauce and dried bonito flakes, it was a memorable treat for its beautiful texture and burst of umami.

Shinwa tempura set

The Shinwa tempura set featured deep fried king prawn and fish fillet and assorted vegetables (black mushroom, pumpkin, eggplant, sweet potato) served with grounded ginger and meshed radish and tempura dipping sauce. The tempura batter was ethereally light and crispy. The ingredients inside the batter were fresh and pleasing - the eggplant and king prawn were the most memorable.

Housemade Japanese curry sauce served on top of rice and garnished with red pickles

The Japanese curry was outstanding. The beef was perfectly cooked and the curry was robust, fragrant and had just the perfect amount of spice. Together with steamed rice, it was an addictive and comforting dish.

Nigiri selection

The sushi platter of assorted nigiri sushi boasted a tenderness exhibited by high quality produce. The seared salmon nigiri was our favourite - this melt in your mouth nigiri combined the best of both worlds (partially cooked, partially raw).

Japanese greentea cheesecake

Kokutou manjyu

Our dinner ended on a sweet note with the Kokutou manjyu, a delightful Japanese brown sugar and red bean cake. Shinwa’s rendition of this traditional dessert was beautifully light and fluffy and when eaten with the creamy sesame ice cream, was a little piece of heaven.

Fairly new to Melbourne’s culinary scene, Shinwa Izakaya already has a band of loyal followers and it is easy to understand why.  Unblemished execution of Japanese food in light of its vibrant atmosphere, desirable beverage selection and overall dining experience, Shinwa has certainly earned our stamp of approval.

Location: 139 Sydney Rd  Brunswick

Phone: 0412 705 314

Link: http://www.shinwaizakaya.com.au/

Cuisine: Japanese, Bar, Seafood, Tapas, Asian

Foxtrot Charlie - Cleared for takeoff

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Foxtrot Charlie.

Pioneering a culture of food, coffee and all-around cool vibe, Foxtrot Charlie delivers Melbournians a modish café in which to embrace quality coffee.

The name comes from the code words in the NATO phonetic alphabet for F and C (which represent Food and Coffee). An appropriate name we think, given how owner, Costas has successfully created a quintessentially Melbourne coffee hot spot which serves great food.

Serious about coffee, the café is its own boutique roaster, roasting daily to ensure a consistent quality. The result is a blend tailored to cut through the milk and ensure the coffee flavour is still present without too much bitterness.

The food at Foxtrot Charlie is a big draw card - doing it differently with a breakfast menu developed around the seasons and a balanced lunch menu with daily specials that more than satisfies its neighbourhood clientele that include business and residents alike.

House made semolina gnocchi with tomato, speck and chilli

The light pillows of gnocchi were accompanied by a rich, flavoursome sauce and lashings of savoury speck and spicy chilli. It was a simple dish, done well.

Asian style beef cheek served with a pickled salad of carrot, radish, coriander and fried shallot

The beef cheek was tender and delicious, with caramel undertones courtesy of being slow-braised in Chinese wine. Paired with an earthy Asian braising sauce, the cheeks fell away at the weight of our spoons whilst still retaining their integrity. The salad which sat atop the cheek was the perfect accompaniment. Fresh, vibrant and crisp, the salad provided acidity and texture. It was a magnificent dish.

Pistachio & Yoghurt Mousse cake

Our visit to Foxtrot Charlie concluded on a delectably sweet note. The Pistachio & Yoghurt Mousse cake had a vibrant combination of flavours. The yoghurt mousse had a pleasant balance between tartness and sweetness, blending well with the flavour and texture of the pistachio cake. The accompanying rhubarb was cooked to perfection and a welcome addition to the dessert.

Right: Fresh House Made Passionfruit Marshmallows

Service is yet another strong point.  We were well attended to and the staff were friendly, warm and welcoming.

The perfect embodiment of a thriving Melbourne café, Foxtrot Charlie is a weekend brunch mecca, drawing in the crowds week in week out with its excellent food, fantastic coffee and cheerful wait staff.

Location: 359 Sydney Road,  Brunswick

Phone: 03 9387 3397

Link: http://www.foxtrotcharlie.com.au/

Cuisine: Modern Australian, Breakfast/Brunch, Coffee