i Absolute Thai Restaraunt (Menu Log - Online)

Out of sheer laziness I decided to have my dinner delivered to my doorstep - one of the joys of urban life. 

It was a dark and stormy Melbourne night - the wind was howling and it was raining sideways. It was after 7pm and the only treasures the fridge was giving up were a limp carrot and some eggs. Too lazy and tired to even scramble an egg I took to the internet and found Menu Log - a collection of take away shops all in one place. Ordering was easy - select the suburb and tick box what you want to eat. You can pay on line or cash at the door and they text you to tell you when to expect the delivery. 

Easy. I selected i Absolute Thai Restaraunt. 

Phantom Foodie Rating: Overall a negative experience with only 27% positivity. Not a repeatable experience. 

Menu diversity (5/10)

Nothing unexpected from a Thai restaraunt - the menu was filled with curries and various fried offerings. I selected Golden Spring Rolls, Soya Honey Chicken with steamed rice and Prawn Crackers w/ satay sauce to make the minimum for delivery. 

Quality of food (5/30) - Ingredients, presentation, taste and serving size. 

The chicken in the Soya Honey Chicken came over fried and there were a few carrots and onions in a sweet, sticky sauce. The prawn crackers tasted porky and came with this odd gluggy satay sauce. 

The quantity was enough that I had leftovers enough for lunch the next day - had I wanted it. 

Wine list (0/10) - Selection, variety, cost and pairing. 

Non-Alcoholic only. 

Coffee (0/10) 

Not an option. 

Service (2/10) - How is the customer treated. 

It took 1hour and 45minutes for the delivery to come. The man a the door was friendly even if I was not - hunger had made me grumpy. 

Vibe (2/10) - How does it feel to be there?

It is a sheer luxury to have someone bring dinner to your door when you don't feel like going out. That said, I do not appreciate compromising quality and taste for conveinience. 

Ambiance (0/10) - Interior design and fit out. 

What makes it special? (+/-) - Added touches to distinguish or diminish.

Value for money (3/5)

Not good, not bad. 

Accessibility (5/5) - How easy is it to get there?

It is nice to have diner come to you. 

 Overall Phantom Foodie Rating? 22/80 or 27%

Great place for...

Lazy dinner

Details

www.menulog.com.au

or

651 Nicholson Street, Carlton North 

The Breakfast Club (Northcote)

This is one of my all time favourite breakfast places in Melbourne. It's a big call but I'm comfortable with it. 


It's small, comfortable and friendly with great food, fab coffee and lovely hipsters behind the counter. Who could ask for anything more?

Phantom Foodie Rating: 84% Yeah baby!

Menu diversity (6/10)

The everyday menu is packed with goodness like Baked Eggs (I highly recommend the Tonnes Creamy Baked Eggs which are packed with caramelized onions, spinach, bacon and creamy mustardy joyfulness), Stax Toast (creamy feta, pesto, cherry tomatoes and avocado on delightfully crispy toast) or the Bircher Muesli with grated apple. 

There is a chalkboard with rotating specials that takes advantage of what is fresh and local as well as the chef's quirky whims. There is always a lovely sandwich and something breakfasty on there. 

The menu is not extensive but you can always find what you need and want there. 

The cabinet under the till has some baked goodies like Anzac biscuits (the size of your head) and honey joys. 

Quality of food (28/30) - Ingredients, presentation, taste and serving size. 

Everything was quality, well presented and yummo. 

Wine list (0/10) - Selection, variety, cost and pairing. 

Non-Alcoholic only. 

Coffee (9/10) 

So good. I often have one (or two) there and bring one home with me!

Service (8/10) - How is the customer treated. 

It can be a little slow on weekends or when something distracts the counter staff (they are so cheerful about it you almost don't mind).  Without fail everyone is friendly, loves babies, coos over 4-legged creatures (dogs and I have dined there several times with my leash trained cat) and emanates wistful cheer. 

Vibe (10/10) - How does it feel to be there?

The Breakfast Club is my hiding spot on weekdays and a never fail place to take friends and overnight guests for brunch. 

They have no problem with my taking a laptop and typing away at the communal table (on slower weekdays of course). The atmosphere is relaxed, quirky and comfortable. 

Ambiance (6/10) - Interior design and fit out.

Garage sale salt&pepper shakers, succulents in glass globes, home knitted tea cozies and an owl that hoots at you as you enter the loo (more of an outhouse really) work together to create shabby-funky-chic. It works. It just does. 

What makes it special? (+/-) - Added touches to distinguish or diminish.

+ breezy vibe

+Homey feel

-Limited seating

Value for money (4/5)

Pretty good. Could use a little more toast...

Accessibility (5/5) - How easy is it to get there?

Train - Northcote Station

Tram - 112 (stop 30) directly outside & 86 get off at High x Arthurton and walk. 

Car - 206 St Georges Road, Northcote - parking available on the small residential streets

 Overall Phantom Foodie Rating? 76/90 or 84%

Great place for...

Hiding from the world on a weekday

Brunch on the weekend

Details

206 St Georges Rd


Northcote, 3070

Stuzzi - Cafe Bar Lounge (Northcote)

In need of caffeine and sustinance I headed out to find a suitable place for a midweek lunch date with myself and a good book. 


Located on High Street, Northcote Stuzzi is like that friend you call when you need an easy, available no frills date to a wedding. It's somewhere you go not because it is special but because it is average and available.


Funky chandeliers, pleather couches surrounding a gas log fireplace and a red fringe curtain lay a veneer on a pub dressed as a cafe.

I had a beef burger which came on a large fluffy bun (toasted) with caramelized onions, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and a side of soggy chips. I had to ask for water and tomato sauce.

Phantom Foodie Rating: Meh with 53%. Very average which is ok when that's all you're looking for.


Menu diversity (4/10)
Everything you would expect from a pubby cafe. Pasta, burgers, risotto ... nothing special.
Vego and gluten free offerings seem to be by chance rather than deign (it's hard to make a gluten intensive risotto).


Quality of food (15/30) - Ingredients, presentation, taste and serving size. 
The burger was on the greasy side and the beef patty lacking in pizzaz. The lettuce slightly red and wilty, the chips soggy  and the burger toppings were thrown together as opposed to matched for taste and quality. The portion size was unnecessarily large - a throwback to serving trends in pubs where the focus is quantity not quality.


Wine list (0/10) - Selection, variety, cost and pairing. 
Didn't partake.

Coffee (4/10) 
I found the coffee a little bitter. Temperature was perfect though.

Service (6/10) - How is the customer treated. 
Wait staff was prompt and friendly...if not a little bored.

Vibe (5/10) - How does it feel to be there?

Nothing special to encourage you to linger.
Pub dressed up as a cafe. 

Average, bland, comfortable and easy.

Ambiance (5/10) - Interior design and fit out.

Looks better from outside. It is rather commercial, flat and without personality on the inside. 

Large, empty space takes away from the meal. 

What makes it special? (+1) - Added touches to distinguish or diminish.
Gas log fireplace and some (worn) pleather couches
Corral for smokers on a balcony (overlooking a rather feral caged in swathe of lawn)
Newspapers readily available
Pet friendly with street side tables
Well located on High Street, Northcote. Good browsing offerings for before or after meal.


Value for money (3/5)

Accesibility (5/5) - How easy is it to get there?

Train - Northcote Train Station

Tram - 86 Tram (between stops 32 & 33)

Car - large parking lot behind venue

Overall Phantom Foodie Rating? 48/90 or 53%
Very average and easy, which can be a good when the goal is to fill bellies or get a large group together easily. I found that there was a lack of passion in the place...felt like an investment property as opposed to a home. 




Great place for ...
Pet Friendly 
Solo lunch
Large groups
Family outings
Something for everyone if you aren't picky


Details
Stuzzi - Cafe Bar Lounge
319-325 High Street, Northcote
www.stuzzi.com.au

The Mission

I'm a 30-something inner-city chick and I'm completely in love with my City.

I'm a transplant to Melbourne's north hailing from a place far enough away that my family and childhood friends can't drop in for a chat. This distance brings independence and solitude. I live a life where my friends are my family.This choice does not come out of necessity (there are no rales of a woeful childhood) it comes out of choice and a need to explore both self and world.

Next to my City and my friends, food is my next great love.
Cooking it. Reading about it. Shopping for it, Eating it.

Combining food and friends is perfection.

Enter the city eatery.
The choice not only sets the menu, it sets the mood, the vibe and the intention of the outing.

In looking for 'the perfect' venue for an evening I found that the information I wanted to know about choosing a space was missing. What's the vibe ...the feeling ...what makes it desirable? ...what kind of an evening will it bring me? ...what kind of an impression will it make?

I carefully select and then rate (inner monolog style) restaurants cafes and bars I visit. I figure, why not share my thoughts. So here we go...