Photo: Flickr.

Melbourne is the perfect city for culinary tourists. It has its own stylish atmosphere, which makes its restaurants rich and elegant, but also metropolitan and interesting enough to keep the guests coming for more. Spanish and Greek cuisines have been in Australia for a long time now and they have mixed well with the local products. Vietnam, Malaysia and Sudan are a more recent addition to Australian flavors, which is why most gourmands coming to the Land Down Under find these to be the most attractive.

Here’re a couple of hot and new restaurants you should check out, when in Melbourne.

Anchovy

Anchovy is a great example of trends in Australian restaurants. It’s a winning combination of Eastern and Western influences. Eastern part refers to the food – it’s mostly classic Vietnamese flavors (with some Spanish desserts). Rice paper rolls filled with raw kingfish and coconut are probably the most ordered dish.

The service, on the other hand, is Western. This means that waiters are constantly keeping their eyes on you, but not in a negative or creepy way. Wine lists seem to appear in just the right time and dishes are cleared when there’s a pause in the conversation.

Hellenic Hotel

Hellenic Hotel is part of a chain of Greek restaurants and there is a reason the business is growing. Tarama, Cypriot grain salads and puffy pita souvas are top notch. The deserts may be something as simple as jars of rice pudding or something more elaborate and ethnic like loukoumades (which are actually a type of doughnut).  

The ambiance is quite modern, inspired by industrial design, with big open spaces and murals covering the brick walls. The dominant colors are bright white with a bit of blue. And everything is roaring – from music to the sounds coming from the kitchen in the background.

Jack Satay bar

Jack Satay bar has been a cultural institution of the neighborhood for almost 30 years. It offers rich Malaysian dishes – most popular of which is obviously Satay chicken, but traditional Malaysian curry and duksi goreng are also a big hit. The restaurant is also vegan friendly. The locals even tend to pre-order lobsters for special occasions.

The staff is very friendly and overall ambiance is very trendy, with exposed brick walls and neon signs which create a pub-like feel. Having your food delivered is also an option.

Estelle Bistro

Estelle Bistro offers a simpler, less pretentious menu, but it surprises its guests with the quality and the heart of it. It’s a mix of different European cousins, but duck with spiced plums, fresh steak tartar and slow roasted lamb are the absolute favorites.  The wine list is quite good as well as beers – both American and Australian.

The venue has been radically changed recently. Now, exposed brick walls and recycled timber are the main deco elements. They evoke both a dark and warm atmosphere, and are perfect for casual and intimate dates – like fancier Brooklyn steak house, with a lot ferns and scented candles.

The Town Mouse

The Town Mouse is first and foremost a great wine bar. Great food is just a bonus. The wine list is a great combo of French and Italian wines and the staff is made of expert sommeliers. Food is mostly local and modern. Venison tartare with ginger mascarpone and pickled radish is definitely worth a try.

The ambiance is dark and dramatic, with timber stools and high tables; glittering black tiles and American styled, oak-topped bar. Splashes of gold and steel are everywhere giving the place a touch of elegance. High ceilings make it more acoustic (meaning loud) which kind of goes well with the overall atmosphere.

Moroccan Soup Bar

Contrary to what the name suggests, it’s not a bar and soup isn’t the favorite thing on the menu. The food definitely is Moroccan though. The menu is herbal and most guests go for the traditional dips, soups and stews. You can also order stewed potato, carrot and zucchini with couscous separately. There is no alcohol – just great mint tea.

People come there to experience traditional Moroccan cooking – the ambience is less relevant and kind of mismatched as well. The entire menu is vegetarian and there is a take-out option as well.