China Max
CHINESE
6 KEILOR ROAD, ESSENDON NORTH
(03) 9374 1988 • MAP P.300
LICENSED & BYO, CORKAGE $8 A BOTTLE
OPEN SUN–FRI 11.30AM–2.30PM, 5PM–LATE, SAT 5PM–LATE
ENTREES $6.60–$9.50, MAINS $19.50–$23.50, DESSERTS $5.80–$9.50
VISA, MC, AMEX
Head chef Paul Chan has led the China Max team long enough to repeatedly deliver tasty cuisine without fail. They’ve been dishing up award-winning fare here since 1994, so don’t be discouraged by its location in the suburbs. Once you go through the large red door to the deep mahogany interior and find yourself an intimate booth, you’ll see that China Max is a hip and happening Chinese restaurant. They offer the traditional favourites, but go for the chef’s specialities – braised whole pork hock in oyster sauce with champignons, or king prawns tossed in crab meat sauce. China Max also offers a separate vegetarian menu, with soups, mains and banquet options. The Sichuan eggplant in a clay pot is one for spice lovers. China Max’s point of difference is its wine list, though – it’s endless and impressively sourced. If a good drop doesn’t do the trick, opt for some traditional Chinese tea.
Dig a Pony
SPANISH
58 BALLARAT STREET, YARRAVILLE
(03) 9689 0110 • map p.300
LICENSED
OPEN WED–FRI 4PM–LATE, SAT & SUN 2PM–LATE
SMALL DISHES $4–$10, LARGE DISHES $9–$14, DESSERTS $8.50–$18.50
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Did you say ‘tapas bar’? Did you say ‘Yarraville’? That heady combination of words is heard more often these days than you’d realise. That’s when conversation moves to Dig a Pony. No, not some weird animal fetish – Dig a Pony has fast become the Little Spain of the west side. Jugs of sangria flow with wild abandon while groups, small and large, fill the cosy space with laughter. It may sound clichéd, but this tapas bar really is that convivial. And the prices make spending an evening here more realistic than some of Melbourne’s other ‘boutique’ tapas bars. The pan-seared scallops in potato and leek confit, and the beef eye fillet in blue cheese sauce and walnuts make for good starters. After that you’re spoilt for choice. Of course you can make things easy and drop in on a Wednesday for paella night. While not exactly vegetarian-friendly, what they lack in options they make up for in flavour.
Harambe
ETHIOPIAN
205–207 NICHOLSO N STREET, FOOTSCRAY
(03) 9687 7177 • MAP P.299
LICENSED & BYO, CORKAGE $5 A BOTTLE
OPEN DAILY NOON–3PM, 5.30PM–MIDNIGHT
ENTREES $3–$5, MAINS $15, COMBOS $15–$19
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
In Swahili ‘harambe’ means ‘all pull together’, and Footscray’s Harambe puts this ethos into full effect by centring its menu on Ethiopian cuisine, known for its communal feeding. The core of Ethiopian food is injera, a large oval bread which acts as an eating utensil and bed for the many mains traditionally served with or on top of it. These mains are meat and vegetarian stews which you eat by using bits of injera to pick up mouthfuls of them. On top of the exceptional food, Harambe is a novel departure from the humdrum existence of eating dinner in your ‘square’ dining room. The restaurant is set within a recreated Gojo hut, a traditional Ethiopian abode, which, in a funny way, is reminiscent of the circular injera itself, perhaps meant to remind us of community and sharing. So, when you next feel the need for company, why not throw in the four walls and make the journey to a more communityorientated dining experience?
Hobsons Bay Hotel
ITALIAN
28 FERGUSON STREET, WILLIAMSTOWN
(03) 9397 5159 • MAP P.302
LICENSED
OPEN MON–SAT 9AM–LATE, SUN 9AM–5PM
ENTREES $15.50–$18.50, MAINS $24.50–$30.50, DESSERTS $10.50–$13.50
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Journal Canteen’s Rosa Mitchell has moved house. The new home of Rosa’s Kitchen, the Hobsons Bay Hotel, is a newly refurbished gastropub in Williamstown, full of warm brick, shiny fittings and abstract art courtesy of the local council’s art display program. The wine list is pretty silly – look out for the one with a ‘slightly tasty flavour’ – but the food is amazing. Rosa has brought over many of her signature Italian dishes, like Journal’s magnificent antipasto plates, with shaved zucchini, fried cheese and eggplant marinated in pure magic. Entrees are topnotch, like the baked mussels with breadcrumbs and the quail on a barley salad. The main courses are big, hearty affairs – beef farsomagro, slow-cooked lamb and baked eggplant parmigiana. If you can still manage it, the desserts are killer. Rosa herself drifts around the dining room, ready to explain sauces and Italian phrases. It’s all a far cry from the Hobbo’s dodgy past, and to the benefit of hungry Melbourne diners.
Korean Hyeung Jae BBQ House
KOREAN
152 HOPKINS STREET, FOOTSCRAY
(03) 9689 2666 • MAP P.299
LICENSED & BYO, CORKAGE $5 A BOTTLE
OPEN MON–THURS 5PM–9.30PM, FRI & SAT 3PM–11PM, SUN 3PM–9PM
ENTREES $6–$12, MAINS $11–$25, DESSERTS $4–$7
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Footscray’s first Korean restaurant, Korean Hyeung Jae BBQ House is a delicious addition to an already exotic coterie of Asian flavours in Melbourne’s west. The Korean barbecue specialist has no real surprises for seasoned diners but a wealth of discovery for the uninitiated. The meals usually combine an acute selection of meats, seafood and vegetables, accompanied by a cauldron of hot white charcoal to cook with and a helpful extractor fan. Those who prefer the fast-track can select from the à la carte menu loaded with Korean favourites, such as the seriously crispy kimchi pancakes and sizzling and fun-to-pronounce bibimbap. Like many restaurants in Footscray, the restaurant’s culinary delights are disguised by the modest decor and optimised seating arrangements – a deal breaker for those seeking a more holistic dining experience. But for those in the know, the venue’s austerity is just a reassuring sign that the focus is solely on providing seriously good food.
Le Chien
CONTEMPORARY
5 GAMON STREET, SEDDON
(03) 9362 7333 • MAP P.299
LICENSED
OPEN SUN–TUES 8AM–5PM, WED–SAT 8AM–LATE SMALL DISHES $12.50–$15, MAINS $24–$28, DESSERTS $11
VISA, MC, EFTPOS
The development of Seddon into a thriving gastro hub has been quite remarkable, due in no small part to migrating yuppies and progressive town planners. And in a short amount of time, Le Chien has proven itself a reliable haunt for those seeking boutique nosh at north-of-the-river prices. Walled on one side by a floor-to-ceiling mural, the dining area is comfortable enough, with banquettes, small tables and a genial communal table. By morning, you’ll find locals tucking into chilli scrambled eggs or Welsh rarebit with black pudding on the side. By night, the restaurant’s kitchen gets busy. Share plates make a great start to any meal, and the grilled lamb cutlets with Persian feta, watermelon and mint is a real sensory treat. While the list of main meals isn’t extensive, it is unique. Does banana prawn risotto with goat’s curd sound a little different? How about chicken breast with kaiserfleisch and mash in a red wine jus? Understandably, Le Chien’s tables fill up very quickly at night.
Mona Castle Hotel
CONTEMPORARY
53 AUSTIN STREET, SEDDON
(03) 9687 7636 • MAP P.299
LICENSED
OPEN MON 6PM–8.30PM, TUES–FRI NOON–2.30PM, 6PM–8.30PM, SAT 11AM–2.30PM, 6PM–8.30PM, SUN NOON–2.30PM
ENTREES $4.50–$9.90, mains $16.50–$27.50, DESSERTS $8–$12
Visa, MC
The Mona Castle Hotel is an original sticky-carpet TAB pub, holding out in the face of western suburb gentrification. The front room, where most of the patrons are, is a blinking festival of horses, greyhounds and inscrutable information. Out the back is a ruthlessly fluoro-lit room with framed football jerseys, wonky tables, a cigarette machine (or is that a jukebox?) and a Lethal Weapon pinball machine. Luckily, the dining room is a milder option, with a fireplace and steel tubing chairs with an upholstery facelift. The main drawcard of Mona Castle is its solid pub food and pasta – it’s a place where you can get a reliable chicken kiev, a lamb backstrap, a homemade creamy mushroom gnocchi or even lamb’s fry and bacon. If sticky date pudding is on the daily dessert specials, you’ve hit the jackpot. It can get busy, especially with its range of drawcards – Tuesday $10 pasta, Wednesday $12 parma and pot, Thursday live music (Beatles and a bit of Chisel), Saturday $11 brekky, Sunday $15.50 lunch and the occasional arrival of the local footy team.
Morning Star Hotel
GASTROPUB
3 ELECTRA STREET, WILLIAMSTOWN
(03) 9397 6082 • MAP P.302
LICENSED
OPEN MON–FRI NOON–2PM, 6PM–9PM, SAT NOON–3PM, 5PM–9PM, SUN NOON–3PM, 5PM–8PM
ENTREES $7–$26, MAINS $21–$32, DESSERTS $8–$12
ALL MAJOR CARDS ACCEPTED
While it might not be in the same league as the big names, this gastropub can be very proud of what it’s achieved. You get the sense that you’re stepping back in time here. The period-style dining room successfully avoids being ostentatious, epitomising casual elegance with warm colours, high ceilings, windows draped with heavy red curtains and a wonderfully inviting fireplace. The wine list is comprehensive, featuring mostly Australian wines. The menu describes dishes that are not overly fancy or fussy – it’s comfort food, it’s pub food, but it raises the bar significantly. Very generous servings of standard favourites are complemented by some subtle gourmet flourishes that ensure every last bite is consumed with enthusiasm. The service is gracious and endearing, with staff who don’t pretend to know everything but are more than willing to find the answer to any question. If you’re in Williamstown, you should certainly have dinner at the Morning Star Hotel. It’s a hugely satisfying experience. Cheap eats specials, offered on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are an extra incentive.
Santorini
GREEK
1 PARKER STREET, WILLIAMSTOWN
(03) 9399 8520 • MAP P.302
www.santorinirestaurant.com.au
LICENSED
OPEN MON–FRI 6PM–10PM, SAT & SUN NOON–10PM
ENTREES $7.90–$18.50, MAINS $21–$36.50, DESSERTS $6.50–$12
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
Where once this lovely old post office was a place for letters bearing news to family and friends, it is now a bustling gathering place for those family and friends, young and old, to meet and share their news over some very tasty servings of good Greek food. That many of these families and friends are Greek only strengthens the appeal of Santorini. Families across the Mediterranean are generally close-knit – so are the tables at Santorini, which means that conversations are easily overheard. But this contributes to the convivial, communal atmosphere. For a more intimate meal, the outdoor dining area, with its fairy lights and sneak-peek view of the city, is a better setting. The staff are hard-working – unsurprising with so many patrons – but they are always pleasant and it’s easy to overlook small mistakes. The menu is meaty, literally. Gristle may be found in some pieces of meat and there can be a tendency to dryness. It’s good food, though; it’s tasty and the servings are generous – perfect for big appetites.
The Station Hotel
GASTROPUB
59 NAPIER STREET, FOOTSCRAY
(03) 9687 2913 • MAP P.302
LICENSED
OPEN DAILY NOON–2.30PM, 5.30PM–9.30PM
ENTREES $12–$38, MAINS $22–$42, DESSERTS $12–$28
ALL CARDS ACCEPTED
A cheer went up in Melbourne’s inner west when well-known chef Scott Donovan refurbished Footscray’s Station Hotel in 2008. Finally, Melbourne had its first true gastropub, and it attracted a crowd of loyal customers from the outset. For the most part organic, seasonal and delicious, Donovan’s menu has been consistently raved about. The steak is a drawcard, and diners can choose between grain- or grass-fed, with about a dozen types of beef listed according to their producers. Chateaubriand is available (minimum two diners), and the oysters are a speciality. There are also plenty of modern pub classics with a twist, like lamb’s fry with mash, lentils and pancetta, or half a roasted corn-fed chicken served with crepes and wild mushrooms. For more traditional tastes the Station burger and beer-battered fish and chips will hit the spot. Wash it all down with one of the local beers on tap or reach for the small but interesting wine list. Thankfully, the Station Hotel retains its traditional charm, with a sparse, unpretentious dining room; the bar and courtyard are somewhat more casual.
