At a glance - Pallet Espresso

The Japanese influence on Pallet is clear, courtesy of its owners who also own Purple Peanuts just around the corner. Set in a narrow laneway, the ambience is modern and cosy and the Sensory Lab coffee served here is excellent. Food is an interesting Italian-Japanese amalgam which works. We will be back. 

At a glance - Firechief Pizzeria

With the proliferation of authentic, Italian pizzerias throughout Melbourne, Firechief is struggling to stay relevant. The bases are pleasant enough, and while there are many varieties of pizza on the menu, the quality and quantity of the toppings leaves much to be desired. The lamb pizza was topped overwhelmingly with lamb skin and the pumpkin on the pumpkin pizza was waterlogged and very inconsistently cooked. There are better options available.

At a glance - Holgate Brewhouse

We have long been fans of Holgate Brewhouse because of their hand crafted, all malt, real ales and lagers. So, with a bit of spare time, it was an easy decision to once again head down to the town of Woodend for a few pints of genuine craft beer. The food is standard pub fare but let's be honest, you're here for the beer and ambience. Worth the trip. 

At a glance - Yering Station

Set within a wonderful, modern stone and glass building within the picturesque Yarra Valley, Yering Station has long been one of our favourites. The wines produced by this winery are arguably some of Australia's best and the restaurant menu has been designed to complement. The dishes served are contemporary and well executed. Overall, a compelling package of food and wine amidst a stunning backdrop.

At a glance - Shortstop Coffee & Donuts

Rapidly gaining in popularity, Shortstop has quickly developed a cult following. Whilst the toppings and flavour combinations are unquestionably delicious, we found the texture of the doughnuts themselves to be a little too dense and firm for our liking. That said, it's really a matter of taste - fluffy yeasty or dense flavour packed? There is certainly room for both!

PS: For matcha lovers, we recently tried the matcha doughnut at Square Market and really enjoyed it. The matcha flavour isn't quite intense enough but still very pleasant.

At a glance - Hoy Pinoy

We especially enjoy Hoy Pinoy's beautiful skewers which are a brilliant introduction to Filipino BBQ & street food. The Inihaw Na Manok was delectable. A BBQ chicken in a traditional marinade, the chicken was beautifully tender and boasted the perfect charring which enriched its flavour.

The Inihaw Na Baboy (BBQ pork belly) was similarly delicious. On the whole, the skewers were sufficiently seasoned and flavoursome and boasted the perfect amount of outer charring, having benefited from just the right amount of time on the grill .