Radii - Melbourne - 1 Parliament Square, East Melbourne

I really wanted to love Radii.  I had been here when it first opened over 10 years ago and the bresaola with a hint of truffle and the varlhona dessert (just having varlhona was a big hit back then) were all so inventive and decadent.

The same dishes 10 years later get a bit tired - the meat now feels a bit too thick and the varlhona a tad dry. How we change.

The patrons are also a little hoity dressed to the 9s. 10 years ago that made us feel special, today it makes us feel old.

In summary, Radii is a hotel restaurant with a feel of 90s luxury.

About $160 for two.

5/10

Adles

Ripe - Dandenongs - 376-378 Mt Dandenong Road, Sassafras

After doing the 1000 steps in the Dandenongs, we thought we should treat ourselves to a good homely meal in Sassafras.

The breakfast at Ripe is the best you will find around - one of you has to have the eggs and the other needs to have pancakes.

Today it was lunch. I had a simple ricotta gnocchi with a tomato sauce and my friend steak on mash with a side of green beans.

I didn't love it but I liked it lots. The place itself is homely with a deli and amazing cakes on arrival. There is also nice pasta, salts, biscuits and vinegars to take home.

Sassafras is a cute town with lots of quirky gift stores.

Around $50 for two including coffee.

2/10 for 1000 steps with 1000 people - not my cuppa tea.

7/10 for Ripe.


 Adles

Merchant - Melbourne - 495 Collins Street, Melbourne

Boring location (Rialto) but not so boring interior (graffiti, tiles and a massive bar in the centre).

I am always sceptical when chefs like Guy Grossi open their 4th, 5th, 10th restaurant but I like this place.

The food is simple Italian but very well cooked.

Fish grilled to perfection with a good amount of olive oil and salt.  Rabbit in white wine with pine nuts and raisins was scrumptious, as was everything else really - prawns, risotto, god the bread - name it, it is all good.

Desserts were quite regular - you can skip them. 

Getting bored of finding a good place for dinner with workmates? Try Merchant.

7.5/10

Adles

The Grand - Melbourne - 333 Burnley Street, Richmond

For me the Grand hotel used to have the best pub food around town. I am not talking about the fancier Italian restaurant bit just the pub bit.

I recall delicate ricotta gnocchi and tasty veal meatballs.

What has happened?

Just mediocre pub food now - boring pizza, average Parma, bad salad dressing.

5/10

Adles

Colmao Flamenco - Melbourne - 72 Johnstone Street, Fitzroy

It's funny. I feel like I have lived on Brunswick, Smith and Johnston street all my life but seemed to have ignored the Spanish scene a bit.

Colmao Flamenco is all Spain - lots of wood, red walls, little dishes of food and flamenco to dance to on arrival.

Excellent steak with sauce, good chorizo and the best service around town.

7/10

Adlee

Baby Cafe & Pizzeria - Melbourne - 631-633 Church St, Richmond

Full house, good wine, cute waiter - us girls were good to go.

Baby has a big Italian menu.

We asked the waiter what to order and we were pleased to take his command.

Round one: excellent entrees- buffalo mozarella, arancini and one of the nicest vitello tonato around town.

Round two: less than excellent mains - the amatriciana pasta looked unappetising but was very good but the rabbit was for me a bit lacklustre as was the prosciutto salad.

Round three: less than less than excellent - the donuts in dipping sauce and sorbet were pretty uneventful.

We didn't order pizza this night but I have tried it before takeaway and I find it a bit bland.

No bookings are accepted here.

Around $70 per head, including an excellent bottle of wine.

Will come back hoping to be wowed by this place.

6.5/10

Adles

The Provincial Hotel - Melbourne - 299 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Nowhere to go on Brunswick Street on a lazy public holiday, it was good to relive my Uni years and have a beer at Provincial.

This place hasn't changed in years. Same bar, same toilets, same patrons and same kind of waiters and waitresses.

We ordered porterhouse steak which was cooked well. The sides of vegies were flavourless (no oil or salt), the mashed potato looked a bit yellow and the salad was a mix of average tastes.

I totally remember loving the food here - now is it that my tastes have changed or has this place gone downhill?

Who knows?
6/10

Adles