Fifteen

Fifteen
A friend and I turned up at Fifteen without a reservation as our plans to visit Movida Next Door had been thwarted when it was closed for 2 weeks. After about a forty minute but not unpleasant wait at the bar with a glass of rose, we were seated. I have been inside fifteen before, but never eaten anything but bar food. I have to say it has about the best ambiance I have ever experienced at a restaurant. The lighting is low but not too low, the noise is noisy but you can sit opposite someone and speak without raising the voice. The staff were unpretentious and fairly attentive, although we did have to wait a while to get our glasses refilled at one stage and we left the restaurant unacknowledged. This may have been due to minor under-staffing as the place was full. For a Thursday night it was surprising in Melbourne to see people queuing up to be seated at 9.30pm. I had smoked eel gnocchi with brussel sprouts with a side of beans and bacon. My dining partner had lamb which she assured me was 10/10. The gnocchi was outstanding to begin with but was one of those dishes that is a little too much after the half way point. Combined with the kilo of butter on my beans I walked out feeling like my blood had turned to oil. You expect to blow your diet when fine dining but this was a little too much for me. Overall though, I was very content. I found the home made bread with the most fantastic olive oil I think I've ever tried, particularly outstanding. For the price, Fifteen is certainly worth a visit. 7.5/10
Fifteen is off Collins st, Melbourne.

Bosisto's

Just visited Bosisto's for breakfast this morning. I had heard a few good things about it via Epicure but had not had a chance to go since it opened last June. I am glad I finally did because it is surely going to be my new brunch house. I had the most delicious panini with pancetta, rocket, tomato and aioli for $9. It was full of flavour and was generously sized. My dining partner had a traditional take on bacon and eggs with pancetta, poached egg, mozzarella and tomato.
The service was friendly and polished and overall made the entire experience a very good one. I will have to report on the coffee next time as I was drinking tea, although I have no doubt they will pull it off with the ease of everything else they do.
The place is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks all day and I would recommend it without hesitation.
8/10 (for breakfast.)
Bosisto's liquor bar is on Bridge Rd in Richmond

Comme

Comme is a place I have always loved. The building is sensational which is always important. It has a lot of wines on display and an open cellar which I would like to live in. On Valentines day I went there again, the first time for my partner. In the comedy of errors that marred the beginning of the night, when we walked in to take our reserved seat expecting to have a light meal and a glass of wine and it turned out that we had missed the details and it was a seven course tasting menu matched with wines at $145 a head. Undeterred and with the next month’s pay allocated to the bill, we went ahead on our culinary adventure. We sampled first class oysters, a delicious 'shot' of smoked pea and bean soup, (very similar to the pea and ham I do myself which is not at all a negative.) We ate eggplant, two serves of fish and then the grand bigger course of baby chicken, wagyu, salad with peach and wagyu fat potatoes, followed by panna cotta. Overall I was happy but not thrilled. The first time I went to Comme as part of the Melbourne food and wine festival last year I came away in love with everything about the place. This time it was just upper average, especially considering the price. The wines were ok. This was our fault for deciding to go with their set wines. (This part was optional.) We are not huge white drinkers and out of the four wines we got two were white and one a champagne. It also didn't help that I had been to Grossi Florentino's for lunch and was only prepared for the one course I had planned on getting. Normally with a degustation of this size I don’t eat for a week or two beforehand! Overall we were happy. The staff were accommodating and fair to us (the youngest couple there by 10-20 years.) I would thoroughly recommend Comme for a meal. It has a great bar and is very sexy. I am not sure I would do a tasting menu there again though as for that price I could visit a few other eateries that I find a cut above. 6.5/10
Comme is on Alfred Place in the city of Melbourne

The Kingston

The Kingston hotel is a beautiful old pub situated on a leafy street in Richmond. Whilst the food here has always been well priced and good, it made it in to the 2009 Age Good Food Guide representing an improvement in the menu.
I have eaten at the Kingston numerous times as it is quite close to my house and an enjoyable experience. The chef creates a great menu which changes monthly. The place is packed particularly on a Wednesday night when they do a $12 steak. Aged fat Porterhouse with a rocket and parmesan salad and chips. It is good value at it's regular $23 so it is no surprise people wait an hour for it once a week.
Unfortunately, the place seems to have a problem getting orders out in order. Out of the 15 or so times I have eaten there, my docket has been lost three times! And whilst they are always gracious and offer a bottle of wine once alerted, the free bottle just isn’t worth waiting one hour and fifteen minutes for dinner.

Overall I would still highly recommend the place. Just be aware that if you’ve been waiting a bit too long and you think they may have forgotten you they probably have.
(Try the pasta it is always special.)
Considering the average main price of $23 the Kingston deserves a hearty 7/10
The Kingston is on Highett street in Richmond.

Verge

I visited Verge for a weekday lunch as part of the food and wine festival. The first thing to impress me was the venue. Sleek. It did help that the particular day was a balmy 27 degrees or so which allowed the bright sun into the open windows of the restaurant. I like what they have done with such a small space.
The food festival allows diners to sample 2 courses, matched with a glass or red or white wine for $35. It is a real bargain, and unfortunately some restaurants shouldn't participate because they don't seem to want the business. This was my overall experience of Verge. Whilst a table across from me was attended to superfluously, I had to get up from my seat to find someone to refill my water. This may seem trivial but there is nothing worse than spending 5 minute trying to get some attention from a waiter when you would really rather be enjoying your meal.

Another gripe was that when I asked what sort of beef I had just eaten the waiter said it was 'probably fillet.' Thanks for finding out for me!!

The food on the other hand was very good. It was modern, and edgy, and a bit daring, and largely successful. I had an antipasto themed entree and pork belly with mushroom for my main.

Despite the set up and the enjoyable food I wouldn't visit Verge again. I like my dining experience to be memorable and being treated like an inconvenience didn't sit well with me
4/10
Verge is on Spring St, Melbourne city.