Ela Carte Restaurant reviews

Ela Carte's Morsels

UPDATED WEEKLY: Invasion of the Super Chefs!, Texan BBQ Extravaganza, Down South out West and more Food and Wine Fest ideas.

Ela's eastern excursion

YARRA VALLEY & DANDENONG RANGES: This week, 3AW foodie Ela Carte ventures to the Rochford Winery and explores the General Food Store in Emerald. Reviews and photos here

Ela's tale of Argentine cuisine

I really did put off a visit to San Telmo, purely because I know and love Argentinian food, and have eaten myself silly at many a parrilla in Buenos Aires. I’m also a proud Melburnian, so if this place was no good – I’d rather not know about it!

Ela says that's amore!

REVIEW: Every shopping strip should have an Italian eatery with this much charm. Open just a year and a half – Pure Italian has that lived in feel that gives the impression it’s the old lady who’s lived down the road for as long as anyone can remember.

Ela Goes swimming at Middle Fish

REVIEW: Not your average Thai restaurant and it’s not your typical locale for a bright, airy, funky café – but then that’s the beauty of Middle Fish...Only trading for breakfast and lunch now, it will hopefully get permission for evening service and a liquor licence...

Ela's 'lazy lunch' at Albert Street

REVIEW: Housed in a grand old bank, this new restaurant is slick and it is stylish, from the outside and within. But the great thing about it is that despite this almost imposing first impression, the service is fabulously friendly, and the food elegantly simple.

Ela finds gold on the silk road

REVIEW: Silk Road has only been open a year, and it’s very much a family business. As you might expect, it’s a modest eatery – clean, but certainly not fancy...but at the end of the day it’s the food that will bring you back.

Ela feasts at The Long Table

REVIEW: "The Long Table this year earned itself an Age Good Food Guide chef’s hat, and it’s easy to see why. Set on split levels, the feel is spacious and classy – tables are spread out and the décor is almost rustic in its warmth and simplicity."

Moors Head has Ela craving more

REVIEW: Sitting down at The Moors Head on a Sunday evening, there was nowhere else I’d rather be. It seems to be built for relaxed evening dining, those nights when you don’t feel like cooking, but you don’t want to spend a fortune either.

Ela Carte: Escar-got to Bistro Gitan

REVIEW: We often talk about the pedigree of an eatery and its employees, and it doesn’t get much better than this. Imagine the three offspring of Jacque Reymond getting together to open a French-inspired bistro in South Yarra.

Ela's Summer Takeaways

REVIEWS: 3AW foodie Ela Carte reviews four fantastic takeaway gems in Melbourne: Foxes Den, Misuzu's Takeaway, Taco Truck and Kallista Deli.

Ela blows into Bruin

The vibe is very inner city but locals of the western suburbs don’t have to cross the bridge for it – I have no doubt Bruin is going to be embraced with vigour by the good people of Williamstown - and rightly so

Ela Carte reviews Noir

REVIEW: The interior at Noir is fittingly dark – black walls, dark chairs, even the air conditioner looks like it’s had a coat of ominous matte paint. The menu, however, is anything but gloomy – and I happily would have tried each and every item listed.

Ela Dines Out At Mister Bianco

REVIEW: "If there’s a good sign to come from a visit to Mister Bianco, it’s that within 30 minutes of arriving wait staff were turning away punters who arrived unannounced and asked for a table. And this was a Monday night."

Ela inspects Bramble and Vine

If you’re sick of hearing people talk about the same “it” restaurants, and would rather support emerging businesses that are just as capable of turning out first rate cuisine – and doing it with a huge dash of passion and pride - it’s worth giving Bramble and Vine a go

Ela unveils the Wyndham Cache

REVIEW: Please – leave your prejudices at the door. Eatery. Werribee. South. I can see you all wanting to make jokes, but believe it or not – there are a number of choices for dining in the area, and they’re all pretty impressive.

Ela snacks at the Yak

YAK BAR: "I don’t know how it has slipped under the radar but more should know about the phenomenal house-made pastas being served up in this colourful bar/restaurant hybrid."

Ela goes over the Barwon edge

BARWON EDGE BOATHOUSE: "It’s not a part of Geelong I know, so discovering Barwon Edge beside a cliff by the Barwon River was a particularly nice surprise...it’s scenic and serene."

Ela digs the Paella at Robert Burns

ROBERT BURNS HOTEL:: "How do you improve on something that’s already considered an institution? Is it possible? Yes, apparently it is." More here from Ela Carte on this Collingwood Gem.

Ela picks Claypots Evening Star

PHOTO GALLERY: This is not a traditional restaurant, more a laid back Mediterranean seafood bar of the best kind, where the seafood is displayed and cooked before your very eyes...So things can be a little bewildering upon arrival.

Ela takes the Thai road

PALADARR THAI ISSAN: A one hatted suburban Thai restaurant, with sommelier and top notch staff – yes, it really does exist, and it’s been wowing Alphington locals since it opened in 2005.

Ela chooses Franco Choos

REVIEW: Franco Choos seats a maximum of 25 guests on just ten tables, and each night the menu consists of only two entrees, two mains, and two desserts from which diners can choose.

Ela indulges in Daylesford

REVIEWS: Ela takes a day trip to Daylesford, and discovers two dining gems

Ela goes Spring Grazing

It’s that time again, each year the team from the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival convinces restaurants all over Victoria to put on daily, weekly, or one-off lunches and dinners based around the theme of the “Spring Graze”.

Ela mingles at Montsalvat

REVIEW: Stunning environs, rustic interior, and good French provincial food – it’s not a bad combo, is it?

Ela goes on a mission

REVIEW: Talk about this new fad of pop ups, this week I popped up in Mission Beach to check on the small town’s recovery post-cyclone Yasi and basically to eat my way through coastal tropical north Queensland.

The Kids keep Ela satisfied

A novel experience this week, with a visit to St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary in The Basin, to experience the wonder that is “Café Kids”. Staffed by students from prep to grade 6, Café Kids runs each Friday lunchtime and seats 28 guests.

Ela sizzles at 'Los Latinos'

"I was asked on air a couple of weeks ago about my favourite South American restaurant in Melbourne, and there wasn’t much time to wax lyrical on Los Latinos, so this week I headed back..."

Ela joins the Union

UNION DINING: Housed in what was a Greek restaurant, it instantly has a relaxed vibe, with terracotta tiled floors, white arches, a gas fireplace and it’s wonderfully spacious...

Ela's Green Day Out

REVIEW: The vego stalwart of Brunswick St is undoubtedly the Vegie Bar, that place where even the meat eaters like to go – but if I were to tell you that a small, Korean, vegan, raw-food café has opened down the road, would it get your pulse racing?

Ela completes royal trifecta

REVIEWS: This week Ela sampled three restaurants in Beechworth and the King Valley-The King Valley Cucina, The Provenance Restaurant and the Stanley Pub. Which one gets the nod?

Ela and 'Estelle' get aquainted

REVIEW: The Estelle reminds me of some of those Basque bars, a little brighter perhaps, but still feeling very much like a drinking establishment where loitering, eating and drinking are encouraged, almost in that order.

Ela Discovers 'Crimean' Side

North Melbourne is going all northern hemisphere on us, with the latest addition being of the Eastern European variety in the form of “The Crimean”.

Ela rugs up at Scarf

Most Monday nights, somewhere in Melbourne, community group Scarf is offering a two course meal at a respected restaurant or café for only $35. The catch? Well the staff aren't quite polished professionals just yet.

Chin chin, Ela!

There's been a buzz around Melbourne, and with its uber-cool interior; creative, modern Asian menu; and an army of fans spruiking it in social media, Chin Chin is bound to remain as busy as it has been from day one.

Ela gets Bottle Shocked

Cinema food doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to be processed. It doesn’t have to be sugary. It doesn’t have to be really loud at the most inopportune moments of a film ...

Ela gets Roasted

The Roast Collection is an initiative of the team between the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and sees restaurants all across Victoria put on daily, weekly, and one-off lunches and dinners based around that favourite winter meal.

Ela graces Golden Fields

Andrew McConnell is one of Melbourne’s most respected chefs, and an afternoon or evening at Golden Fields is a great way to sample some of his creative, inspired dishes at a surprisingly good price.

Ela gets (L)OST

OST Bar and Diner is an addition to Bridge Road that has been very much welcomed by locals, bringing a bit more style and substance to the busy shopping strip, and hopefully encouraging others to do the same.

Ela goes Greek at Mezedakia

Mezedakia feels like the sort of place you could spend three or four hours in grazing and drinking without feeling guilty for taking up space – a rarity in this age of express lunches and double sittings

Ela Inspects Rochford Wines

The Yarra Valley was “Open for Inspection” on the weekend, with some of the region’s best wineries, restaurants and hotels giving visitors the chance to learn the tricks of the trade.

Ela experiences Pirianda

Pirianda is like nothing else I’ve ever reviewed before. It’s not a restaurant, and the kitchen isn’t staffed by professional chefs. It’s not open every week, and you can’t order off a menu.

Ela picks a Dandelion

For me, the ultimate compliment is walking out of a new restaurant and remarking that you just can’t wait to get back to try some of the other dishes on the menu, and that’s exactly what I said as I made my way out of Dandelion.

Ela dives in to The Atlantic

Atlantic promises fresh, sustainable local seafood, in a stunning setting and cooked under the stewardship of top chef Donovan Cooke.

A Good Table Indeed!

Time for a road trip, and just over an hour away lies Castlemaine, a historic goldmining town with an abundance of bookshops and fine food. One place is The Good Table, a restaurant reminiscent of the old, beautifully restored Council Club Hotel.

Ela's Tale of Two Breakfasts

Two different but delectable breakfast options in Melbourne's suburbs, from olde english richness in Spotswood, to fresh asian "zing" in Brunswick.

Ela's Morsels - 15th April

It's tough to fit everything into a four or five minute radio segment, so think it’s about time to start a page on the website to talk about the things that don’t quite make it to main course … the little morsels of info, highlights, and musings from the food world.

Ela says "Oui" to PM24

PM24 was probably always bound to be a class act, just nice to see the opportunity wasn’t squandered. Ela Carte reviews new eateries every Friday with Ross and John at 8:20AM. Don't miss it!

Ela lets loose at Papa Goose

What I liked about this menu in particular is that it didn’t feel unhealthy. Often when you’re eating little bites they all seem oily, fatty, fried – and generally guilt-inducing. But at the Loose Goose, there’s some terrific tasty, light alternatives.

More March morsels from Ela Carte

It's tough to fit everything into a four or five minute radio segment, so think it’s about time to start a page on the website to talk about the things that don’t quite make it to main course … the little morsels of info, highlights, and musings from the food world

Ela meets Simon and his ducks

It doesn’t seem like it’s all that often these days that restaurants are as much about the personalities running them as the eating experience itself; but Simon’s Peiking Duck is such a wonderful combination of both.

Ela Carte tries the tapas at Lulo

It would be no doubt be easier to produce stock standard Spanish dishes, but the menu at Lulo is more inspired and adventurous than one might expect for a suburban tapas bar.

Ela Carte discovers Agraba

The wonderful thing about Agraba is that they’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, they know that Lebanese cuisine boasts some great, simple, flavoursome fare and so they’re sticking to what they know best.

Ela Carte reviews Josie Bones

The bad boy from Masterchef and his sweet lady have opened shop, bringing us Josie Bones - a Collingwood venue that is all about the ultimate food and beer experience.

Ela Carte races to Hare and Grace

REVIEW: "Definitely worth a try, and if you’ve got clients or otherwise to impress, the restaurant itself looking stunning, with a menu to match – I’d certainly like to go back and have another go." Read Ela's review here.

Afghan Spice Banquet

Dandenong is currently undergoing a pretty amazing transformation. What isn’t changing, though, is the proliferation of international cuisine, including some fantastic Afghan bakeries and restaurants.

The "Art" of the Picnic

It’s not often you stumble upon a corner of the city you’ve never seen before, and out the back of the National Gallery on St Kilda Rd is one such place. Head in the front door, past the Atrium, through the Grand Hall and just beyond that is a little known green oasis with the perfect accessory – a Garden Bar.

Newmarket Hotel

Our waiter tells us the “new” Newmarket Hotel has been open for four weeks, and we screw up our faces. It can’t be possible. The place is heaving. There were only two tables left when we arrived at 2pm on a Sunday – this without any advertising, White Pages listing, or website.

Yarra Valley Dairy

REVIEW: This is the sort of place that I like to people from interstate or overseas in order to show off the best Victoria has to offer, and the experience starts from the moment you drive up the dirt road.

Ela Carte unveils coastal gems

REVIEWS: "Well, it’s January, the lucky people among us are on holidays and I thought this month I’d get out and about across some of Victoria’s favourite holiday spots to see where the good eating’s at." Read more.

Saint Peters

Review: St Peters of course is the patron saint of seafood, and this being Maurice Esposito’s new restaurant (he of Carlton’s Esposito’s fame) you can be assured there’s plenty of stuff from the sea on the menu.

Ela goes Naked For Satan

REVIEW: "Oh, how lovely it is to stumble upon a gem. A real gem. And I found one this week." Read the review here.

Merchant

Review: Look out Crown, The Rialto and surrounds are being touted as the next major food precinct of Melbourne. Guy Grossi’s Merchant is a co-collaboration by the Italian food master and the developers of the project (Rialto), the Grollo family.

Food of Laos, Burma and Thailand

Fresh back from a trip to South-East Asia, Ela Carte takes a look at the best food of the region. What are the best Thai, Burmese and Laotian restaurants in Melbourne?

Ichi Ni Izakaya

This is casual dining, and on this sunny Sunday there was no question that I was going to order a beer to go with my tapas-style Japanese dishes. Service is friendly, and knowledgeable and understandably international given the huge backpacker population in St Kilda.

Loam

Review I’m going to say it – the meal at Loam was my eating highlight of the year to date. There. Done. The accolades have been coming thick and fast for this 14 month old operation on the Bellarine Peninsula

Ela Carte's 'Streat' Review

It’s not about manners, or niceties, or gourmet treats this week, it’s about feeding your face and cheering on your team – so this week I thought I’d give you a couple of options for fast food you can eat with your hands (and when I say fast food, I don’t mean junk … I mean freshly cooked but delivered and devoured quick).

Ela Carte reviews Kinglake Pub

REVIEW: "From charred trees wrapped in fresh, green shoots and leaves; to a multitude of construction vehicles and workmen getting lunch at the bakery once you arrive in the township; this is certainly a town in recovery mode." More here.

Ela Carte's Neighbourhood Gems

REVIEWS: "This week – a bit of a theme, and hopefully some suggestions from listeners. We’re out to uncover some neighbourhood gems, those places tucked away in your local suburb that you might not have even tried until recently, but deserve a bit of an airing here on the breakfast show." Read more.

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