Chez Dre

I just keep on coming back to this place. Chez Dre has everything one looks for in a cafe. The rustic upcycled ambiance is done to a tee and as too is the food, time after time. South Melbourne certainly has a lot of options, likely due to the yummy mummy gatherings around the market. Although there are apparently good alternatives in the vicinity I've found myself just drawn here over and over for some reason. It started off as a place I'd treat myself to if I did well in a uni exam taken down the road, now it's my go to for when I need to head somewhere where the quality is guaranteed. South of the river that is ;)

Man I love my new phone

Outdoor section for summer arvos

I have to give them props for the coffee cup below. I mean whaaa, it's a cup within a cup! The cynical side of me says it's so that you get less. Obviously that's not the case and it's just amazingly pretty.

Batch brew coffee $3.5 - nkora -bourbon - rwanda coe winner 2013 (OK, no idea what this stuff means)

Salmon rillettes $19.5 - beetroot relish, caperberries, poached eggs, beetroot crisps & toasted sourdough

I was in a salmon mood to compensate for my meaty sins on Good Friday. The blend of flavours was intense. The smooth gentle tones of salmon built upon by the twisting complexions offered up by the eggs and beetroot relish then given a kick of bitterness from the caperberries. All came together for a well fed Reid

Duck Sandwich $23.5 - confit pulled duck, onion jam, red cabbage, grated apple, truffle mayonnaise & panini

Having had this myself not that long ago, one thing that jumps out is the bread used has changed. A good call as it was a bit softer which led to it becoming soggy. The crispiness with the new choice added an extra element. A great slaw made this ever so filling sandwich yum. I won't lie, I don't normally really like side salads. They just make you feel less guilty about your gluttony. This dressing drenched side was actually very good.

Beautifully presented collection

The before image

My mind had been set on something else but when I got to the desert counter I saw this little beauty. Sah cute. Couldn't resist it. Check out the layers crafted below and you just know those flavour elements blend baby.

Lychee, raspberry & coconut $9.5 - coconut dacquoise, lime curd, raspberry jelly, lychee mousse

End Verdict: Place to bring parents when visiting. Or a place to come everyday.

Shanghai Dragon Dumpling House

If you're after sheng jian bao in Melbourne this is certainly the best option I've come across to date. They actually have quite a few fillings for the pan-fried baozi to select from which left my tongue rather pleased. Quality xiao long baos too.

I hadn't expected to make a review here as it was just one of those cases of where to go on a public holiday - look dumplings! Check dem photos of half eaten plates..

End Verdict; Om nom dumplings. But who trusts a white man's opinion on them anyway?

Izakaya Den

Downstairs past a nondescript door in the corporate heart of Melbourne lies perhaps the trendiest restaurant on the scene. Izakaya Den is the stuff of movies and it also packs it in with substance. It is quite simply atmospheric high-end dining at it's best. As a result it served as the perfect backdrop to catch up with an old high school friend who had recently moved to Melbourne.

Upon entry to the Den we were quickly greeted by the friendly staff who guided us to seats at the bar. I presume this is where all groups of two end up, but it's the best seat in the place. Watching the chefs in their element sitting a mere metre away from the grills is thoroughly enjoyable.

Sake

Naturally we opted to start the night with some sake. I'll admit I'm no expert in this domain but I'll say I quite enjoyed it and I especially loved that it came in an erlenmeyer flask. It's now a full 6 months since I've been in a lab so flashback tokens are very welcome.

As for the food we decided to order a bit of everything; hot, cold, snacks and vegetables. Probably should've got dessert too - the apple millefeuille looks bluddy amazing.

Token vegetable dish

I'm not going to lie, things started of a bit shaky. We were left a bit unimpressed with the vegetables. Maybe if we had've known what we were getting our expectations would've been different.

Kingfish Sashimi

The kingfish sashimi was a beautiful dish in every respect. Tasted great with looks to die for. To save time on my behalf, the rest of the dishes were superb. The pictures serve them better justice than I can.

Ox Tongue

Umaki - I think

Den Fried Chicken

End Verdict: A must visit for every cosmopolitan out there. Just writing this review I'm thinking of when I can next return.

Banoi

Banoi is undoubtedly the trendiest place in Docklands and has done well to differentiate itself from the 3 other Vietnamese joints within a 100 metre radius. I'd have to say it does a pretty good job at holding its own on the food against them too. The lunch special is the highlight here. Nowhere else can you get a sharing platter of sorts for one with pho, spring rolls, half a roll and a drink. Great value for the variety at 15 dollars.

Lunch special $15 - Half of Vietnam

The pho was according to the Viet at the table 'just like my mums'. The spring rolls were a different style to what I'm accustomed to but I enjoyed the extra cruchiness in this variety. The roll itself was perhaps not as good as Vintams, but that's a stupidly high bar to compare to. Unfortunately for them they're around the corner so the comparison had to be made. The mini baguette element was a bit crispier than I'd prefer it to be. I eat too many viet rolls so I'd imagine most people would be very pleased with it.

Iced Coffee as part of lunch deal + Coconut & red bean smoothie $4.5

One piece of advise is to ask for takeaway cups. Look how cute they are! The iced coffee surprised me. I'd been forced into it as part of the special but this is one of the best I've had. I think iced coffees are normally for those who don't really like coffee and have a huge dollop of ice-cream to further aid in desguising the flavour. This though was legit coffee with the bitter tones simply mellowed by the numbing ice. Smoothie was cool too.

Slow cooked pork belly $4.0 - cucumber, candied chillis, dijon & hoisin sauce

This bao is listed under a section titled 'tacos'. Bit odd in my opinion. Anyway, it's superb. The pastry tastes exactly the same as Wonderbao's. The pork was sooo soft and succulent with the hoisin as always being a great match.

Rice Paper Rolls $7.5 - Grilled chicken with garlic and honey soy

Quality rice paper rolls with a very good house made sauce. Cutting them in half works really well for presentation, I'm not accustomed to these actually looking appetising. These looked as good as they tasted.

Steamed buns $2.5 each - BBQ pork and vegie

Not a bad price for these, close enough to Nam Loong's infamous $1.80 option. I can only speak for the pork and wow was it flavoursome. It had the tangyness and the moisture I want from these bad boys. A definite go to for anyone in need of a quick snack in Docklands.

Slow cooked pork belly, Tempura soft shell crab, Grilled garlic and soy chicken

I shamelessly went back for more of the 'tacos' the next day. Pork was definitely the best though. Chicken certainly worthwhile too ;)
End verdict: Where else is there to have a sit down meal in Docklands? nowhere (ok maybe pok pok) but this place is king for now.