Melbourne's newest openings: Circa Yaktiroi Bar, Rosa's Kitchen and Etto

Melbourne is hard to keep up with sometimes.  There's always new restaurants opening and closing and there has been a rash of them lately.  I've been invited along to a few of the newest places and have also gone under my own steam to check some out.  So here's my take on three of them: the pop up yakitori bar at Circa, Rosa's Kitchen and Etto.

Carbonara pasta at Etto 

Nobu

I've wanted to go to Nobu for quite a while but the price has always been a bit of a barrier.  So I was quick to jump on board the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's Express Lunch deal at Nobu to try out the restaurant for a bargain $40 for two courses with a glass of wine.

Kingfish sashimi at Nobu

Purple Peanuts

One of my regular city lunch spots is Purple Peanuts at the bottom end of Collins street.  The food is great plus it's cheap.  The cafe is a little bit quirky with the menus handwritten on pieces of brown paper hanging from the wall and a collection of Japanese toys and lollies.

Miso soup at Purple Peanuts

Izakaya Den

It's a little embarassing to admit that it took me ages to find Izakaya Den. Hey, I was overseas when it opened and I missed all the hype (and directions).  I knew generally where it was but MTV and I kept on walking past the discreet door which leads down a set of stairs to the basement restaurant. Of course once I made it down there I discovered the place was packed with hordes of people and there was a queue for a table, clearly everyone else had managed to find their way there pretty easily.

Pork belly 

Nama Nama

There's a new noodle place in town and it's name is Nama Nama.  Right at the top end of Flinders lane, Nama Nama is housed is where Verge used to be but the place has been given a clean, understated and Japanese looking makeover.  There's lots of blonde wood, bright yellow counters and tables supported by Asahi beer crates.  But the place is already so popular that Joyce and I found ourselves perched on the very low and very small tables and benches outside on the footpath as it was completely full indoors.

Pork noodles

Tokyo Teppanyaki plus a Gourmet Giveaway

Tokyo Teppanyaki is a Chapel street stalwart to the extent that MTV can even remember going there for his 18th birthday.  It was a blast from the past to return last week and see the waiting staff racing between tables clad in kimonos and chefs firing up vast teppanyaki grills at each table.  This is a restaurant where the extractor fans really get a work out.  

Our chef in action at Tokyo Teppanyaki

Naked Japan

Head over to Melbourne: Hot or Not for my guest post on Naked Japan in Melbourne, Australia. These gyoza ($6 for 5) looked the goods with their skin straining to accomodate the filling of mince, cabbage, ginger and onion. Just the thing to whet your appetite for the rest of the post...

Essentials

Details: 99 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, Vic, Australia (Ph +61 3 9686 8199)

Damage: Reasonable

5/10

Links

Check out my post on my top ten restaurants in Melbourne or for a taste of Melbourne style food in London try Lantana cafe.