Lawry’s The Prime Rib

(Various locations) 100 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Here we go, the first review out my trip to America, Land of the Free. While I admit I could have written this the day right after I went to this one, but sadly, the food at this one was enough to depress me for the rest of my trip. No, seriously, that’s the way it is.

So the first time I try to get into this place I realize for the first time that I am entering a new world altogether. Never mind the people driving on the wrong side of the street, or the countless beggars on the sidewalks. No, I’m talking about the sheer effort Americans put into edifices just like the one I stared at, thronging with well-dressed families and oozing with a classy but cliched atmosphere.

We couldn’t get a table the first night. So we went through the proper channels and landed ourselves a table the very next night. The service is very proper and personal, but the atmosphere is all wrong. It’s too noisy, and the uniforms look like they’ve been ripped from an old 60′s movie. To me, the whole setup just ruins my expectations.

In hope of consolation I look at the menu and start out with the salad – the so-called “spinning salad” with Lawry’s “homemade” dressing. As it turns out, the fare is actually decent – until you get to the main course, in which my standard fare, the size that is most commonly ordered, arrives on your table looking like a steak on steroids, accompanied by ugly, rich and tasteless vegetable sides. All served in a way that reminds me of cafeteria food, food that should be eaten and then promptly forgotten about. This was not what I expected from a supposed “four-star” restaurant.

Leaving behind on my plate the remains of a workman’s dinner, my view towards any “innovative” or “traditional” American cuisine changed in a matter of moments to “expectantly good” to “downright horrible”. And that opinion would not change until Vegas, but as I was about to find out, that experience didn’t qualify either.

SCORE:

• First Impressions: 9/10
• Atmosphere: 7/10
• Mains: 6/10
• Last Impressions: 6/10

OVERALL SCORE: 28/40

 

Maguro

723 Warrigal Road Chadstone VIC 3148 Australia

Apologies for the long delay – there has been quite a busy period lately, with all the school things that need to be done, and as of that I’ve been unable to really go out there. But enough updates, let’s get on with the review at hand.

Maguro is a tiny restaurant located on a strip of shops just down the road from the mega shopping complex that is Chadstone. The size of the interior may give the impression of the local takeaway, but I assure any readers that the fare here will more than make up any interior aesthetics shortcomings. Then again, that’s what puts the charm into these joints.

The don is what counts here – the utterly captivating soup and noodles, plus the tender texture of the meat, add up to a noodle experience like no other. To describe is to force me to jump off this plane on which I’m writing on board and get in for another bowl. No, seriously, just thinking about it is enough to make me drool in buckets.

The other dishes add some nice touches to the genre of the restaurant, but nothing really stands out as another winning dish. The wagyu beef was nicely done but in many other ways wholly unremarkable. The quality of the sushi, which I have always considered as a secondary attraction, stayed where I left it.

In all, Maguro was a relatively refreshing new entry, but also a place where I just, just held onto my will to keep writing these reviews. Which, of course, I will continue to do.

• First Impressions: 7/10
• Atmosphere: 7/10
• Mains: 8/10
• Last Impressions: 8/10

OVERALL SCORE: 30/40

 

West 48

48 Essex St, Footscray VIC 3011 Australia

I again apologize to any readers if I am not focusing on the true topic of my dining experiences in Melbourne – perhaps a more apt title for this blog would be the Victorian Palate, but I do not want to encounter confusions with that other sort of “Victorian”, if you know what I mean!

But anways, back to the topic. I encountered West 48 on a late morning, a day on which there was nothing to prepare at home for breakfast and too bothersome to purchase supplies. It was a distinction in suburbia that stood out just enough to draw my attention.

Inside, I was greeted by an ever-busy cafe staff, rushing orders through to local patrons who looked like they’d been here for every day of their lives. The decor was naturalistic, with extensive wooden panelling occupying the floor and walls. It is a small place, like most cafes, but the breakfast was enough to take my mind off these trivial matters that occupy so much of my time.

To take agonising over the varnished decor off my mind I ordered poached organic eggs served hot over rocket, prosciutto all inside two halves of a brushcetta roll. By itself it still a wonderfully filling dish, going down nicely with a hot frothing latte. There is quite a fusion of flavours and textures to be had out of one bite of that delightful morning roll, but with all the other things available I think it would be more prudent to leave that to your own judgement, don’t you think?

SCORE:

• First Impressions: 8/10
• Atmosphere: 7/10
• Breakfast: 8/10
• Last Impressions: 7/10

OVERALL SCORE: 30/40

 

 

Tokio

17 The Causeway, Melbourne CBD, VIC 3000 Australia

This joint, nestled in the foodie alleyway of The Causeway, is a fun little lunch bar often frequented by nearby business workers. It’s conveniently located between the Royal and Bloack Arcades, deep down at the end. And it is on the suggestion of my dear friend (and also my officials lieutenant) that I had the good fortune to dine here. The place is run by a kind Japanese couple, who work in a clean but rather plain cafeteria setting.

To start off I ordered a curry udon with chicken, and then later on I ordered some takoyaki and tempura vegetables. The udon came first, eye-watering in its heat, with slippery udon noodles in a thick Japanese curry. It was difficult to eat at first, but the intense heat combined with the pepper I added into it provided some good respites to sample the takoyaki and tempura vegetables.

The takoyaki was a soft ball of textured good, providing a nice counter to the heat of the curry. The tempura did the same, cooling off my tongue with a delicate but crunchy texture, compounded with the taste of sweet vinegar. In the end I did manage to finish the udon off, and it turned out to be very filling, very satisfying dish. But the dish I savoured the most out of this dining experience were the two little side dishes, which is saying something due to their relatively low cost.

Pricing is great for an inner city establishment and the below-$10 margin shouldn’t break any bank accounts here. However, it is located within a forest (or should I say copse?) of small eateries that should almost be classified as cafes, were it not for the complete abscence of baristas. But that’s enough rambling for this post – go and try it!

SCORE:

• First Impressions:6/10
• Atmosphere: 8/10
• Mains: 8/10
• Last Impressions: 8/10

OVERALL SCORE: 30/40

 

Simon’s Peiking Duck

197b Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South VIC 3128 Australia

I cannot lie about this place- it has perhaps the best peking duck ever to be served in this state of Victoria. Coupling that with the utterly jovial nature of the proprietor that you just can’t hate, Simon’s Peking Duck is perhaps one of the finest eating experiences in eastern Victoria.

The place is cold at first but the bright lighting and the generally warm atmosphere soon settle the coldest of diners. That and the arresting personality of Uncle Simon himself and you’ll be feeling straight at home. The layout is rather cramped, but it is a Chinese restaurant after all – what moere could you expect?

First course of the day was their famous peking duck, sliced evenly and in succulent portions and served with ultra thin pancakes, sticks of cucumber and spring onion, all with hoysin sauce. The result? Utterly addictive, succulent and wholesome. A great fusion of flavour and texture that just cannot be beaten in class in any other Chinese restaurant. I highly recommend it to anyone peckish for a bit of duck. Truly, it just cannot be beaten.

As an aftermath it was a duck and mushroom stirfry hokkien noodle, which I found very satisfying after the spectacular duck. It was rich, just as addictive as the duck, but I suppose that comes out of innate love for thick noodles. After that was another duck-based dish – a curious duck bone soup with an odd aftertaste of infused ginger – but I’m not complaining. After all, I needed something cool to finish off an already wonderful meal.

I would like to take this opportunity to advise everyone out there with the wallets and the tastebuds to go out there to Box Hill South and try the duck for yourself – it is truly a contender for the best peking duck not only in the state of Victoria, but perhaps Australia itself.

SCORE:

• First Impressions: 8/10
• Atmosphere: 9/10
• Mains: 10/10
• Last Impressions: 9/10

OVERALL SCORE: 36/40 (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

 

Red Hot Wok

313 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141 Australia

One of the benefits of my heritage and family is the mind-boggling number of relations that are connected with us. It is through one of these relations that has ledme to Red Hot Wok, a Chinese/Malaysian restaurant that I have revisited many times for parties, welcomings, and the occasional quiet dinner.

The atmosphere and decor is warm, homely and noisy, but that doesn’t conceal the fact that it is a relatively small restaurant, roughly about the same size as the Nandos next door. The service is somewhat awkward and cold, but the speed in which they serve dishes out of their tiny, closet-like kitchen is astounding and surprising, given the medium-high quality cuisine they dish out here.

That brings me to my next topic, the entree. For me it was battered prawns with wasabi sauce, accompanied by those customary prawn crackers that every Chinese restaurant seems to give out nowadays. The crackers were okay but the prawns were unique in texture and flavour, bringing a tingling but not spicy sensation to my nostrils. Served with lettuce and sliced red onion it was a rather unbalanced but nevertheless light starter. I eagerly anticipated the crab that was coming next.

The chilli mud crabs came in two styles – one with fried herbs and utterly spicy, the other stewed in a rich sauce of crabmeat and spices. The latter, served with pieces of roti, was a wonder to behold. So delicious were the crabs that I could not help but make a mess of myself. The former was lacking due to the tiny pieces of shell within the crumbled herbs, which neary literally broke my teeth.

Next rice was served with a sizzling hot tofu with another rich, mushroom sauce. Believe me, it was a tofu to die for. With a texture so soft as to practically melt in your mouth, it is perhaps one of the best tofu dishes that I have ever tasted in Victoria. Later on one of the most astonishing dishes was delivered to our table – a foil-wrapped package of sweet-and-sour pork, with blue flames still licking over the foil. It was opened and some of the most succulent pork I have ever had the fortune to taste came my way. It was utterly irresistable, and I cannot help but to long for it again as I type this.

But that’s where I must stop typing this, for I know that you will get tired of me rambling on and on of praises for this restaurant. It will only heighten your expectations, but I know that some may be rather disappointed, while others are fulfilled when you actually go.

Score:

• Atmosphere: 8/10
• Entree: 8/10
• Mains: 9/10
• Last Impressions: 8/10

OVERALL SCORE: 33/40

 

Koko Black

(Various locations) 167 Lygons Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia

Among the constants of my dining life there is one chocolatier cafe that has constantly delighted and satisfied me through its seasonal, hand-made chocolate and succulent ice cream martinis. Drooling yet? No? Then let me introduce you to Koko Black, one of the finest chocolatiers in Melbourne.

There are several boutiques strewn across Melbourne, most prominent of which are the Lygons Street and Royal Arcade/Bourke Street locations. But it is the Lygons Street location that I am speaking of, a fine place between a trattoria and an ice cream parlour.

Inside, the decor resembles that of a late-Victorian style, emphasising on handsome woodpanelling and dark to light brownish colours, blending in with the chocolates and items on display. The service is prompt and regular, with an excellent view into the chocolatier’s kitchen so you can see your own order being made, as well as other delicious orders being made.

In my own case I ordered a Chocolate Affogato Spoil, one of the few tasting platters Koko Black has to offer. It came in a carafe of hot chocolate as well as a glass with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in which to pourt the hot chocolate into. It was delivered to my table with a small platter consisting of a brownie and chocolates. The Affogato was a very neat affair, the heat of the hot chocolate contrasting sharply with the ice-cream, allowing it to melt in the glass over time into a creamy hot chocolate, which I drank with satisfaction, a splendid dessert to end a bitterly cold day.

Besides the excellent desserts that they serve there is also a formidable and tantalising array of chocolates in the glass-fronted display cabinets, as well as bars, pops and other assorted items, all chocolate. The selection varies season to season, as I remember from last summer when they had some of the most succulent and mouth-watering ice cream sundaes, garnished by wild chocolate lattices that melt instantly in your mouth.

Are you drooling yet? Or are you waiting for me to tell you more? In that case, I have nothing more to say to anyone curious about the wonders of Koko Black – other than to get out there and try it yourself!

SCORE:

• First Impressions: 9/10
• Atmosphere: 8/10
• Mains: 9/10
• Last Impressions: 9/10

OVERALL SCORE: 35/40