Degraves Espresso Bar
CONTEMPORARY
23–25 DEGRAVES STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 1245 • MAP P.278
LICENSED
OPEN MON–WED 9AM–9.30PM, THURS
9AM–10PM, FRI 9AM–10.30PM, SAT 9AM–6.30PM, SUN 9AM–5.30PM
MAINS $10.50–$25, DESSERTS $8.50
CASH ONLY
Amid the hectic bustle of Degraves Street there are heaps of cafes to take a break for a coffee, to read a book or to meet a friend. For many, the choice is always Degraves Espresso. With outdoor tables and oddly functional, mismatched furniture and old-world theatre seating inside, it’s worth squeezing yourself in for a bite to eat. Breakfast can be as simple as toast and Vegemite with avocado – and, of course, a strong soy latte – and for lunch they have a good range of panini. The menu shifts around 5pm to cater for the dinner crowd with basic tapas or heftier mains (the menu varies so check the chalkboard out front), but as the night wears on and ingredients sell out, the options dwindle, particularly for vegetarians. If this happens, go the soup, which is usually veg-friendly. This is the sort of place you wouldn’t visit if pressed for time – it’s all about the vibe and the people-watching and the kind of customer service expected from über-Melbourne stylistas. Just go with it.
Dikstein’s
CONTEMPORARY
433 LITTLE COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9642 0943 • MAP P.281
LICENSED
OPEN MON–FRI 7AM–LATE
ENTREES $4–$17, MAINS $10–$18, DESSERTS $6.90
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
This corner cafe by day, bar/diner by night has a distinctively New York local feel with its cosy, cluttered interior and long bar that runs the length of the narrow space. But there’s no need to feel cramped here – diners have the option of eating in the bar, alfresco on Bank Place or in the dedicated upstairs dining room. Foodwise, there’s a range of well-priced tapas and gourmet pizzas, and a modest selection of larger meals and specials on offer, most with a Spanish/Mediterranean influence. The pizzas are the real bargain here, served on a wooden board and with enough to feed one or two people. Flavours range from potato and rosemary to spicy meatball in napoli sauce, with Middle Eastern lamb, roasted beetroot, chilli squid and maple-glazed ham versions in between. Try three and you’ll still have change from a twenty. Other meals include burgers, risotto, paella and pasta dishes. Being a bar as well as an eatery means there’s a multitude of beverages to choose from, whether wine, beer, cider or spirits tickle your fancy.
Gopal’s
INDIAN/VEGETARIAN
139 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9650 1578 • MAP P.278
UNLICENSED
OPEN MON–SAT 10.30AM–8.30PM
ENTREES $2.50–$3.50, MAINS $5–$10, DESSERTS $3–$4
CASH ONLY
The Melbourne Hare Krishna food site claims, ‘We have been serving delicious vegetarian karma-free meals in Melbourne since the 1971 [sic]’, and most would agree that Gopal’s has been an incredibly popular cheap eatery since that very year. A veritable institution on Swanston Street, Gopal’s offers reliably delicious food, with a daily assortment of curries, samosas and other tasty goodies. You can point things out as you desire, or go for a chef’s special, which includes a selection of savouries and sweets. Try one of everything and you still won’t spend over $15. Ever. Amiable service from Hare Krishna folk might involve a chat about the weather, but there’s no religious agenda here, although books are around if you’re interested in learning more. Or just ask questions – if it’s not busy, the staff will chat with you for hours. Still, there’s always the option of just scoffing your food and running. The atmosphere is one of unhurried simplicity, but it’s also one of the quickest meals you’ll ever be served. Fast food for the karma-conscious.
Gourmet Curry Hut
INDIAN
318 LITTLE COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9671 4433 • MAP P.278
LICENSED & BYO
OPEN THURS & FRI 11.30AM–10.30PM, SAT–WED 11.30AM–10PM
ENTREES $6.50–$18.50, MAINS $14.50–$22.50, DESSERTS $6
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
In Melbourne it’s common to find delectable surprises down laneways or in shopping arcades. Gourmet Curry Hut, with its yellowy-gold signage offering some clue, is another on the ‘hidden’ list. Once you’ve tracked it down, you’ll have no problem finding a seat (the tables crowd the thoroughfare of the arcade) and, once seated, don’t be shocked if the waiter takes your order languidly, a vacuum hums in the background, or you find yourself suppressing giggles at the placement of a candle while you’re eating (a seemingly romantic gesture in an anything but romantic setting). Despite the oddities, the food is on par with other Indian restaurants in the city, with generous serving sizes. This quirky, unexpected dining experience is fantastic for vegetarians, with a creamy vegetable korma and the old favourite, saag paneer, among the offerings, but there are plenty of meat options for the carnivores too. Stock up on roti and naan breads and share it all with a group of friends.
OM Vegetarian
INDIAN/VEGETARIAN
LEVEL 1, 28 ELIZABETH STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 0062 • MAP P.278
UNLICENSED
OPEN DAILY 11AM–9PM
ALL YOU CAN EAT $6.50
CASH ONLY
Everyone loves cheap food. What about all you can eat for less than a tenner? Okay, there is a catch – it’s all vegetarian. But, for the sake of a cheap feed, carnivores should easily get over themselves. After all, the vegos have been coping in a carnivore world for a long time. OM Vegetarian serves up lentil and potato curries, with rice, naan and pickle, for mere pocket change. The curries are more sauce than substance but a medium spice will make your nose run and the rice will fill you up almost as much as the naan. The warm, buttery bread just keeps coming until wheat-laden bellies can take no more. Waitstaff are friendly, but passive and quietly spoken, so first-timers might feel lost. Head straight to the counter and you’ll be fed in no time. The website covers the science and health of vegetarianism in depth, but most regulars come to get bang for their buck.
Pancake Dessert House
CHINESE
SHOP 18, 200 BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9663 1400 • MAP P.276
UNLICENSED
OPEN MON–THURS 11AM–10PM, FRI & SAT 11AM–10.30PM, SUN 11AM–9.30PM
ENTREES $5–$10, MAINS $7–$15, DESSERTS $5–$7
CASH ONLY
LOCATION ALSO IN CBD
Got a craving for Asian food? Look no further than Bourke Street. Sequestered in the Mid-City Arcade, Pancake Dessert House is a cosy, bustling venue perfect for a quick, filling meal. Despite its name, dessert is just one of many things on the extensive menu, which includes a massive selection of noodles, rice, soups, Japanese pancakes, dumplings and other permutations. All the usual suspects are here: shark fin soup, spicy chicken, lemongrass pork chops, char kway teow – if you’ve got a favourite Chinese dish, you’ll find it here. Crepes, ice cream and sago are all available for dessert. This is an eatery for workers on the go, uni students and anyone who’s hungry. Meals are prepared in no time – a five-minute wait at worst. But bear in mind there’s a trade-off: this isn’t a place to linger for a lengthy catch-up. Seating is cramped and tables are often shared between diners. Quick food also means brisk service, so be prepared for a speedy clear-away after you’ve finished. But for meals this hearty and speedy, you can’t beat the price.
Pellegrini’s
ITALIAN
66 BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9662 1885 • MAP P.277
UNLICENSED
OPEN MON–SAT 8AM–11.30PM, SUN NOON–8PM
ENTREES $8, MAINS $12–$14, DESSERTS $4–$5 NO BOOKINGS
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
This proud Italian diner is a local icon and has earned itself a neon-lit place on the city’s cultural and historical map for introducing espresso and spaghetti to Melburnians. Featuring cool, original 1950s decor, a chequerboard lino floor and an atmosphere that can only come from decades of operation, Pellegrini’s also has an attitude that can be equally welcoming and cavalier but is better than no attitude at all. The wall-mounted menu of hearty Italian home-style favourites, such as bolognese, marinara, lasagne, ravioli and a risotto of seasonal vegetables, are all served quick, large and sure to satiate. To drink, you can make do with a house-made granita or a famous Pellegrini’s coffee in place of a vino. The house napkins make for a great souvenir of your visit to this Melbourne stalwart.
Ramen Ya
JAPANESE
SHOP 25G, 350 BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 5838 • MAP P.278
LICENSED
OPEN MON & TUES 11AM–5PM, WED–SAT 11AM–9PM, SUN NOON–4PM
MAINS $6–$12.50, DESSERTS $5.50
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
Ramen Ya should really be ‘Ramen? Yeah!’ – it’s got that little bit of GPO schwank combined with good, casual Japanese food. Enter from Little Bourke Street to the long corridor at the GPO’s rear, home to a little Euro-style laneway dining hub. You can choose to swoop in with other city workers for a lunch that’s quick and wholesome (and cheap!), or swing by at a more sedate hour and perch at the communal table for a leisurely green tea and bento break, complete with a do-it-yourself origami lesson. The menu is nice and compact here, so don’t go agonising over your options. Narrow it down to bento or ramen. For ramen – especially when the chilly Melbourne wind blows – try the house speciality, charshu ramen with tonkotsu soup, finely sliced pork in a pork-based broth, or gyoza ramen with juicy pan-fried dumplings. Bentowise, get stuck into the bento set: it comes with a chicken or beef option, with miso, salad and green tea. Come by Monday to Friday from 3pm to 5pm for their $6.50 specials on selected ramen.
Red Pepper Indian Restaurant
INDIAN
14 BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9654 5714 • MAP P.277
WWW.REDPEPPERINDIANRESTAURANT.COM
BYO, CORKAGE $2 A HEAD
OPEN DAILY 9AM–LATE
ENTREES $5–$8, MAINS $5–$14
ALL MAJOR CARDS, $20 MINIMUM
LOCATION ALSO IN CBD
A delicious aroma is the first thing to strike you about this small Bourke Street restaurant. The food does not disappoint either. Butter chicken is their signature dish, but other classic Indian favourites like lamb rogan josh, tikka masala and their tandoori dishes are also delicious. Plenty of extras and side dishes can be mixed and matched to any main – dahl, roti, salads, chutneys and naan – all for extremely reasonable prices and great for sharing. There are also heaps of vegetarian options, and a wide variety of beers and wines to accompany your meal. The service tends to let the place down a little, which is a shame. The staff could be friendlier and more organised, and there is virtually no booking system. Ordering is also pretty sketchy – the waiters offer table service, but it’s probably safest to go up and order from the front counter. Still, this is a family-friendly and cheap dinner option with good food overall.
Rich Maha
INDIAN/MALAYSIAN/SRI LANKAN
SHOP 9, 343 LITTLE COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE
(03) 9670 8998 • MAP P.278
LICENSED
OPEN MON–SAT 11AM–9PM
ENTREES $2–$6, MAINS $8–$33, DESSERTS $4
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
LOCATIONS ALSO IN VERMONT SOUTH & GEELONG
Rich Maha’s city diner may not be as big and flash as its flagship Vermont South restaurant, but it still serves up good-quality home-style and hawker fare from South India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Highlights are the flavoursome wet and dry curries such as spicy masala, creamy korma or plain hot vindaloo, served with chicken, lamb, beef, seafood or vegetables. A southern Indian staple, the thosai (or dosa) pancake is a light, crispy delight, whether stuffed with masala or onion or served plain. Bread lovers will salivate over the choice of rotis and the flaky, pan-fried murtabak. The Malaysian fish head or crab curry are specialities at the pricey end of the menu, but there are plenty of bargain dishes to please the thriftiest of diners. The space may look more food court than restaurant, but at these prices who’s complaining?
The Waiters’ Restaurant
ITALIAN
20 MEYERS PLACE, MELBOURNE
(03) 9650 1508 • MAP P.277
LICENSED
OPEN MON–FRI NOON–2.30PM, 6PM–LATE, SAT 6PM–LATE
ENTREES $10–$12.50, MAINS $15.50–$31, DESSERTS
$6.50–$8.50
NO BOOKINGS
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Up a wooden staircase which you might mistake for a back stair exit is a genuine hidden gem – a perfectly preserved Italian dining room that inhabits an aesthetic somewhere between a 1970s office and Nonna’s kitchen. A longtime haunt of journos and hospitality workers, the Waiters’ Restaurant is now experiencing a renaissance among retro-hungry Gen Y. But the place is as famous for its food as for its Laminex tables and wood panelling. The freshly prepared, home-style meals are delicious, whether you like whole grilled fish, veal scallopini or fresh, homemade pasta. Go for the specials for a seasonal treat. The cleanskin house wine, served humbly in Duralex, is a quaffable steal. The place packs out on Friday and Saturday nights but the efficient staff turn over the diners fairly quickly, so you won’t find yourself waiting on the stairs too long.
