How to Eat Melbourne's Fanciest Food on a Budget
Treat yourself – and still pay your bills.
Do you have Champagne taste on a VB budget? We empathise. When you live in a city like Melbourne, the temptation to drink, dine, and spend is all around you. The amount of great restaurants make it hard to say no to an invite to check out a new spot, or to have a night out at an old favourite. While it's probably imprudent to be out Monday to Sunday living large, it's nice to sometimes splash out and treat yourself without going into debt.
Here's nine fancy spots that you can get to on a budget — so you can enjoy the best of the best and still pay your share of the power bill.
Pork neck, the first broccoli, pickled tomatoes and meat jus.
LUNCH AT VUE DE MONDE
We know Vue as that impressive and hard to get into venue at the top of the Rialto. It's renowned for both its sky-high views and sky-high prices. If you've ever thought that this spot was out of your reach, it's time to think again. No, you don't need to schmooze anyone - because Vue do a lunch special. Available every Thursday – Sunday from 12pm, you can enjoy a four-course selection from $150 per person. While this is by no means a cheap lunch, it's certainly less expensive than the $250 per person menu from dinner and brings this squarely into the affordable range.
West Footscray radishes.
DINNER AT IDES
The crew at Ides have been making a few ripples – ok, a splash and a half – from their digs on Smith Street in Collingwood. With an all-star team in the kitchen (ex Attica, among others) you can be assured of an inventive and enchanting experience when you sit down for dinner. With six courses ($110) on offer, you'll dine on dishes like crumbed avocado with poached prawn tails, finger lime and fried bread; and braised beef check with toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds, black lentils and pomegranate. This would be great for a very special date night as you soak up the relaxed bustle from your seat in the tasteful dining space.
BREAKFAST AT CUMULUS INC.
Dinner at this Flinders Lane classic can be a bit expensive. Good thing that you can get the same Cumulus vibes for a fraction of the cost when you head here for breakfast! Squeeze in at the bar, or a seat at one of the tables around the edge for some serious people watching. Their shakshouka is endlessly good ($17), as are their marinated mushrooms, served with a humble combo of black barley and a 65/65 egg ($17). Sip a spicy tomato juice ($6 or $12 with a shot of Ketel One) or get your probiotics for the day with a fig and ginger kefir ($7).
Fermented lady finger banana, packet cheese, flattened unripe rice, coconut, hazelnut.
DINNER AT NORA
A little bit of quirky paired with a lot of finesse; Nora is doing some exciting things on Elgin Street in Carlton. Thai-Aussie couple and owners Sarin Rojanametin and Jean Thamthanakorn have stated that, "We want our diners to be excited, for there to be a sense of discovery and also find warm familiarity in our food." With a current dinner offering of a progressive tasting (ponying up 12+ dishes for a very reasonable $115) you will enjoy an intimate, relaxed and exciting night out. From your cosy seat in the wee dining space, strap in and while away a pleasant couple of hours as you are taken on a journey to the roots of the best of Thai cuisine. If dinner ain't your thing, stop by for an equally exciting breakfast.
Coffin Bay oysters with cider emulsion.
OYSTERS AT PANAMA DINING ROOM
Mother shucker. If you're a fan of bivalves (and are nowhere near South Melbourne Market), head to the Panama Dining Room for $1 oysters every damn day between 6 and 7 pm. Order your oysters and a drink, and plop down near the arched window or gaze down on bustling Smith Street below you. Perhaps shoot some pool while you wait for your plate of perfectly plump oysters to arrive, and for drinks you could do worse than to support a local company by drinking a cocktail. Try The Lost Mermaid – made with Melbourne Gin Company Gin, Grapefruit and Rosemary Shrub, Mint, Lime and Soda ($20). Look at it this way; with the money you save on oysters you can afford to spend more on drinks.
Marron brioche rolls.
LUNCH AT LUI BAR
If you want to step things up a notch the next time you lunch, head on up to the Lui Bar for a counter meal. The bar for Vue de Monde, they're no slouch in service, ambience or style. For the very reasonable sum of $39 you will enjoy a main course, seasonal side and a glass of wine or a beer plus a coffee and a sweet. Yep. From 12pm – 2pm Thursday to Sunday just head on up in the lifts to the 55th floor, to soak up some of the best views in Melbourne and some fabulous food too. If you don't have to head back to work in a rush then you can settle in on one of the comfy couches, and enjoy the sweeping views from your opulent surrounds.
The world's best margherita pizza.
PIZZA AT 400 GRADI
If you've wanted to try the world's best margherita pizza but can't afford the airfare to Italy then you're in luck. Get yourself to 400 Gradi for a crispy slice straight from the wood fired oven of chef Johnny Di Francesco. In 2014 Di Franceso swooped in and beat out 600 competitors to scoop top prize at the World Pizza Championships in Italy, making this the official home of some world-class pizza. If the crowds at this Lygon Street spot are anything to go by, we continue to agree with the decision whole-heartedly. Tuck into the oh-so-crispy base topped with perfectly melted San Marzano tomato, buffalo mazarella, and basil ($22). You might not ever want to eat another pizza again, but when it's this good it's s a risk we're willing to take.
Young lettuce served fresh with baby sun rose, garden spices and chicken sauce.
DEGUSTATION AT O.MY
If you're out in east Melbourne and simply dying for a degustation made from fresh seasonal produce then you're in luck. Located in an old butcher shop in Beaconsfield, O.My is the passion project from three Bertoncello brothers with a love of great food. Blayne, Tyson, and Chayse hit all the right notes as they run the venue as chef, front of house and sommelier. Ingredients are prepared thoughtfully, and artfully paired with the freshest of herbs and shoots from their kitchen garden. Whether you opt for the four-course ($65), six-course ($85) or eight-course ($110) degustation, you'll be delighted with the result. Enjoy dishes like dry aged beef paired with fermented potato and the crisp sweetness of baby leek; or delight in the piquant, herbal sweetness of kaffir lime, chilli brownie and chocolate. One thing is for sure, it's time to head to Beaconsfield.
Pearl on the ocean floor.
LUNCH AT LUMÉ
South Melbourne venue Lumé is doing some pretty wonderful things from their airy, light and inviting dining room on Coventry Street. While dinner at $170 per person might not be an option for you every week, you can always stop by for a very long and lazy Saturday lunch. Priced at a very reasonable $80 per person, you'll enjoy dishes like seacorn taco with grilled camel hump, dry aged duck smoked over bottlebrush finished with elderflower honey, and caramelised artichoke with La Sirene Praline and chamomile. Available Saturdays only from 11.30am – 1.30pm, it's the perfect way to indulge without breaking the bank.
