Percy’s Aeroplane Cafe

Matcha Hotcakes

(green tea hotcakes sandwiched between a Nutella brioche donut drizzled with chocolate ganache, pistachio and a dollop of whipped cream served with fresh and reduced red berries)

Deliciously decadent without being excessively sweet.

★★★★☆

Percy Thyme

(roasted mushrooms infused with thyme and garlic, tossed through baby spinach and served on smashed avocado and multigrain toast, served with dukkah, goats curd and a poached egg)

A good solid dish however the serving size of this used to be larger.

★★★☆☆

Pulled Pork Benedict

(poached eggs smothered in apple cider hollandaise, apple, roast pumpkin, onion, garlic and carrot, resting on a toasted pan de mie bun)

The toasted bun was surprisingly incredible! Generously buttered, soft in the middle and ultra crispy around the edges. The rest of the dish was also quite tasty however the rubbery overcooked eggs were a disappointing let down.

★★★☆☆

Matcha latte

Weak and watery.

★★☆☆☆

Overall:

A friend of mine suggested this place for a recent catchup and I was pleasantly surprised with our experience. The atmosphere was comfortable and although we were seated by ourselves all the way in the back room, the service was great as the wait staff continually checked up on us to refill our water and ask if we needed anything. What I also liked about this place was the staff’s interest on customer feedback. Apart from asking the usual question of whether or not we enjoyed our meals, we were asked about our thoughts on the Matcha Hotcakes, which were a new menu item (eg. Was the serving size adequate? Was the dish sweet enough?). Serving sizes in general could be improved, but I’d still return if I was in the area.

Percy’s Aeroplane Cafe

96 Denmark Street, Kew, VIC

(03) 9939 7642

Barry

Ricotta hot cake, apple, cinnamon creme, crumble

Crispy edges, soft centre, and had just the right amount of sweetness.

★★★★☆

Benedict eggs, slow braised free range ham hock, apple cider hollandaise, granny’s apples, potato hash

Perfectly poached eggs, tender flavourful ham hock, tasty but stingy amount of potato hash.

★★★☆☆

Overall:

There were a few unusual menu items that I wanted to try (eg. activated charcoal porridge and even the crunchy peanut butter and tomatoes on toast) however we ended up playing it safe with our choices and had no regrets doing so. With delicious food and helpful service, it’s no surprise this place is always crowded.

Barry

85 High St, Northcote, VIC

(03) 9481 7623

http://www.barrycoffeeandfood.com/

Mum’s Burger Kitchen

Pamela Burger

(double beef patty, double cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, garlic aioli, tomato relish)

This burger was huge and multiple bites were needed for me to get through all the layers. The taste reminded me of a Hungry Jack’s whopper except with less of a flame grilled flavour.

★★★☆☆

Macaroni and Cheese

Kind of tasted like instant mac and cheese.

★★☆☆☆

Barbara Burger

(beef, cheese, spinach, roast pumpkin, eggplant, beetroot, onion, tomato relish, avocado, basil pesto)

Really tasty. I’d definitely order this again.

★★★★☆

Bad Boy Chips

These chips took a really long time to come out but at least they were super fresh albeit underseasoned.

★★★☆☆

Overall:

The buns and burger fillings were great however the beef patties were inconsistent. Some parts would have a nice char-grill flavour, while other parts had no flavour at all. Service was friendly but seats are limited so it’s a good idea to book a table if you plan on dining during peak times. Otherwise you can simply order takeaway and enjoy your burgers somewhere else.

Mum’s Burger Kitchen

Boronia Village, 5/159 Boronia Rd, Boronia, VIC

(03) 9761 3363

Chimac

Kimchi Carnitas

(shoestring chips, caramelized kimchi, spicy pork, fresh tomato salsa, mozzarella cheese)

★★★★☆

Aged Kimchi Pancake

(kimchi, onion, scallion)

★★★★☆

Bulgogi Quesadilla

★★☆☆☆

Fried Chicken – Bloody Sweet (chilli paste base) and Ultra Crispy (salt and parsley)

★★☆☆☆

Spicy Pork Burrito

(spicy pork, steamed rice, tomato salsa, crispy coleslaw, jalapenos)

★★★☆☆

Overall:

It was a bit of a shame that there were so many unavailable menu items on the night that we visited as the menu here isn’t that big to begin with. That being said, what we did manage to order was tasty and satisfying. So if you haven’t had Korean-Mexican fusion before (or you’ve had but are looking for somewhere decent), give this cosy little place a try.

Chimac

Shop 1, 39-47 Peel Street, West Melbourne, VIC

(03) 9939 5916

http://www.chimac.com.au/

Red Spice Road

Chiang Mai pork relish with cassava crackers

This relish had such fantastic punch! A harmonious blend of sour, sweet, salty and spicy flavours made this pork relish very Thai and very delicious.

★★★★☆

Tamarind chilli chicken with red peppers and green onion

Sweet, sticky, spicy, standard.

★★☆☆☆

Pork belly, chilli caramel, apple slaw, black vinegar

Just as amazing as everyone says it is! The pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender and had a marvellous crispy skin, while the vinegar balanced out the sweetness of the chilli caramel sauce.

★★★★★

Barramundi, watermelon, cucumber, hot mint, chilli and coriander salad

I liked this salad except for all the soggy pieces of fried fish. If only the fish had been served on top of the salad rather than tossed into it.

★★★☆☆

Overall:

We ordered the $29.50 per person Express Lunch Banquet which included an appetiser, 3 mains and steamed rice. The servings were surprisingly generous making this banquet option fantastic value for money. Although I’m not the biggest fan of their circular communal tables, I do like the atmosphere and I would definitely come back for the pork belly!

Red Spice Road

27 McKillop St, Melbourne, VIC

(03) 9603 1601

Homepage

Levi’s Doughnuts

Blackberry Jam Filled Doughnut

Sweet crispy doughnut with a generous amount of warm oozing jam.

★★★★☆

Overall:

At Levi’s Doughnuts you’ll find European style doughnuts that are made fresh on site every day from organic dry ingredients and fried in rice bran oil (a healthier choice as it is 100% cholesterol free, naturally high in antioxidants, low in saturated fats and doesn’t contain any trans-fats). There are 3 types of doughnuts available here: traditional, dark chocolate filled and blackberry jam filled. If only I had the stomach space to try them all!

Levi’s Doughnuts

Fremantle Markets, Shop Y7, Corner Henderson Street and South Terrace, Fremantle, WA

0427 444 150

Morries Anytime

Fried Cauliflower

(chili, garlic, bean sprouts, coriander, peanuts, soy dressing)

A bit heavy on the soy dressing otherwise this was really delicious.

★★★★☆

Beetroot Gnocchi

(house-made gnocchi, pine nuts, citrus ricotta, kale, confit, tomatoes, almond garlic puree)

Wonderful flavours and textures, however the gnocchi was a little dense and chewy.

★★★★☆

Tempura Whiting

(apple, pine nut remoulade, lemon)

Crispy deep fried batter, fresh crunchy salad.

★★★☆☆

Overall:

We visited this popular place during lunch to take advantage of their $25 lunch special which included any lunch main with a glass of wine or beer. The service here was efficient, while the decor was modern and sleek. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Margaret River area.

Morries Anytime

Shop 2/ 149 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River, WA

(08) 9758 8280

http://www.morries.com.au/

Chickilia

Soy Garlic Chicken Wings

Crispy and well flavoured.

★★★★☆

Kimchi Jjigae with Ramen

(kimchi, onion, spring onion, tofu, garlic)

Comforting and mildly spicy.

★★★☆☆

Overall:

This tiny bright orange place offers a variety of typical Korean fare, but the fried chicken is what you should order. I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t have any original fried chicken on the menu, but the soy garlic was quite enjoyable so it wasn’t a big deal in the end.

Chickilia

259 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley, VIC

(03) 9886 3851

http://chickilia.com/

Little Creatures Fremantle Brewery

Roast pumpkin, pepita, pesto and ricotta woodfired pizza

★★★☆☆

Garlic chilli prawn, red pepper and salsa verde woodfired pizza

★★★★☆

Beef nachos, guacamole, jalapenos

★★★☆☆

Grilled chorizo

★★☆☆☆

Grilled chicken skewers, honey, chilli

★★☆☆☆

Charred corn cobs, manchego

★★★★☆

Overall:

Located in an enormous shed that was formerly a crocodile farm, the set up here is rather impressive as diners are surrounded by an array of massive beer tanks. No big surprise that this is the birthplace of Little Creatures Brewing. So not only is this the perfect place for grabbing a drink, the food here is pretty tasty and well portioned too. The lively atmosphere was great however the service was so-so. Getting the attention of the wait staff was a bit tricky as the place was so busy but at least the food came out in fairly good time.

Little Creatures Fremantle Brewery

40 Mews Rd, Fremantle, WA

(08) 6215 1000

https://littlecreatures.com.au/

Thai Tamarind

Gaeng Phed Ped Yang

(red duck curry with vegetables, pineapple and lychee)

Lots of colourful vegetables, generous amount of duck, while the pineapple and lychee added some nice sweetness.

★★★☆☆

Pad Bah Mee

(stir-fried rice noodles with carrot, egg, onion, cabbage and bean sprouts)

★★☆☆☆

Tom Yum

(clear spicy and sour soup with chicken, lemongrass, tomato, onion and mushroom)

Fragrant and mildly spicy.

★★☆☆☆

Mixed Entree

★★☆☆☆

Overall:

One of the few Asian restaurants in Margaret River, this place offered prompt service but average Thai fare. The ventilation here could also be improved as we left smelling strongly of stir fry.

Thai Tamarind

Shop 1/97 Bussell Highway, Margaret River, WA

(08) 9757 9041

http://www.thaitamarindmargaretriver.com/