July 31, 2011: Dull Down! At Harley Court

January 2016: Slow down! at Harley Court has closed

Last weekend was unseasonably warm so, along amongst nearly one-half of Melbourne's population, nosotros laid upwards out for St Kilda for tiffin together with unopen to sun. Galleon together with checked it out.

Part of this restaurant's involvement inward veg-friendly meals no dubiousness stems from its ho-hum nutrient ethos: Slow Down aim to beginning 90% of their create from inside 200km together with brand it seasonal, sustainable together with organic wherever they can. (This way that there's no guarantee that what nosotros ate volition move on the carte du jour if you lot select to visit.) One of their sneaky approaches to upping the veg ratio is offering iv kinds of soup. Granted, they are groovy sounding soups (minestrone, pumpkin together with garlic, cream of mushroom together with celeriac, cream of cauliflower, nutmeg together with pangrattato - made amongst soy cream!), but I to a greater extent than ofttimes than non prefer something I tin give the axe larn my teeth into when eating out.

Michael tried the casserole of the day, a mix of chickpeas together with vegetables inward tomato plant sauce, served amongst toast ( $10). We were surprised at how pocket-size the serving was together with though the character of the vegetables was good, Michael wasn't much inspired past times the flavour.

My vegetarian rendition of the Big Breakfast ($14.90) was to a greater extent than impressive. The beans were similarly under-seasoned but the mushrooms together with spinach to a greater extent than than made upwards for it, but bursting amongst flavour - I gauge that's local, seasonal create for you. And few things endear me to a cafe quite together with so much equally a hand-made hash brown. The eggs were good poached but I'm to a greater extent than of a scramble gal myself - I forgot to specify my preference to our waiter, he didn't ask, together with I gauge the chef but took a punt. At to the lowest degree it was a skilled punt.

It's difficult to larn enthusiastic nearly a venue amongst a ho-hum turnaround; nosotros waited a looooong fourth dimension for our meals to brand it fifty-fifty though at that spot would bring been piddling else queued upwards at that time. Some other bloggers bring reported like waits.  The tiffin carte du jour was a mixed bag, largely saved past times the character create rather than the preparation, together with I'd move to a greater extent than interested inward returning for breakfast or dinner - the options looks a piddling to a greater extent than various at these times.

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Eat More Vegies flora far fewer vegan options when visiting final year. All the omni eaters blogging Slow Down! bring enjoyed the food, though at that spot are mixed reports of the service; come across Pete Does Stuff together with KC's Food Affairs.

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Slow Down! at Harley Court
56 Acland St, St Kilda
8534 3030
veg lunches $9.50-$15
http://www.slowdown.net.au/

Accessibility: There is outdoor seating at street score (the Earth is a fleck uneven) together with multiple stairs upwards to the covered together with indoor seating; tables are somewhat crowded inward together. There's sum tabular array service. We didn't take in the toilets.

Vegilicious

October 11, 2014

We were completely unaware of Vegilicious, as well as owe it to Berk as well as Clamps for leading us at that spot inwards betwixt the bands nosotros were seeing on our day past times the green. I've since learned that Vegilicious has been run equally a vegetarian nutrient stall as well as catering work concern for years as well as earlier lately opening an expansive eatery as well as bar on Carlisle St.

Surrounded past times timber furnishings, tropical plants, as well as warm lighting, I felt similar I was stepping into northward Queensland's coolest vegetarian hang-out; I listen the courtyard's lovely too, though it powerfulness non accept the humidity to save my delusion.

The carte du jour tends toward the homespun as well as hearty, complimentary of mock meat but offering enough of tofu for protein. Vegan as well as gluten-free items are good marked as well as capture most of the menu, from fritters as well as rice newspaper wraps to pastas, burgers as well as curries. I appreciated their extended listing of non-alcoholic drinks, selecting a mineral H2O flavoured alongside home-made orangish passionfruit syrup ($3).

The Irish Gaelic patato wedges ($8) are tender as well as bountiful, sprinkled alongside rosemary tabular array salt as well as served alongside a side of tofu mayo as well as sweetness chilli sauce.

Otherwise nosotros shared the Vegelicious Extravaganza Share Platter ($36), ordering the two-person vegan version for the 4 of us (...Clamps as well as Michael had fiddling appetite). It's a fair sample of what the carte du jour offers - cauliflower fritters inwards a cumin seed batter, thick okonomiyaki topped alongside pickled ginger as well as shredded nori, mild mixed vegetable skewers, rice newspaper rolls, lentil patties, dips as well as a sprawling salad. We liked some elements to a greater extent than than others but never had a run a jeopardy to tire of anything.

Purely for completeness, nosotros shared a dessert too. The vegan pick of the nighttime was a raw chocolate as well as cashew cake served alongside a scoop of So Good cook icecream ($10). While the icecream was utterly ordinary, the marbled mock cheesecake marks a altitude for raw desserts - beautifully constructed as well as devastatingly smooth, alongside a satisfying chocolate flavor as well as a fiddling something else that could've fooled me for a shot of Baileys. I assume they're ordering these in, maybe from Pana or A2G.

The carte du jour at Vegilicious doesn't suspension whatsoever novel the world but it's generous inwards its style; inclusive of exceptional diets, alongside home-made touches as well as lavish portions. I reckon this restaurant's warm, relaxed atmosphere is fifty-fifty to a greater extent than appealing than its cashew cake.

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Vegilicious
118 Carlisle St, St Kilda
9537 3820
specials, starters, mains, drinks, alcohol
http://vegilicious.com.au/

Accessibility: Most tables are quite densely packed but there's a clear corridor through the middle as well as a flake to a greater extent than infinite past times the kitchen. Toilets are private unisex cubicles as well as at to the lowest degree i of them is fully accessible. We ordered at our tabular array as well as paid at a high counter.

Bluecorn Iii

November 4, 2011

We took payoff of Mike as well as Jo's wheels to caput across the river as well as revisit an erstwhile favourite, St Kilda's Bluecorn. Since nosotros concluding visited either our standards accept risen or Bluecorn's accept dropped - this was amidst our almost disappointing recent outings.

They're equally pop equally ever, as well as our booking was for 7, amongst the agreement that we'd clear the decks past times 8:30. Stuck inward traffic on the agency over, nosotros rang ahead as well as were given the nod to plough upwards a flake late. When nosotros arrived, the waitress made a worried confront before seating us as well as proceeding to render an eventide of unfriendly, uninformed as well as vaguely hostile treatment. We knew nosotros had to endure fast, but nosotros didn't postulate to endure made to experience similar nosotros were imposing on them the whole night.

I'd accept been willing to forgive mediocre service if the nutrient measured up, but unfortunately our whole experience roughshod good curt of expectations. My vegetarian burrito (spinach, rice, peppers, corn, dark beans, iceberg lettuce, guacamole as well as salsa on corn tortillas, $22.50) was real disappointing - the tortilla was a flake burnt, the guacamole had big brownish patches as well as the filling tasted similar cheese as well as mush. There was none of the freshness or season that nosotros remembered from our before trips. At to a greater extent than than twice the cost of a Trippytaco burrito this roughshod a long agency curt of my expectations.

Cindy ordered the bluish masa goats cheese quesadilla (with dark beans, sesame eggplant, pumpkin seed rojo, chipotle crema as well as guacamole, $21.50). Again the guacamole was a flake on the brownish side and, acre about of the flavours were okay, the dish was generally mushy, lacking whatever crispness or freshness.

Our meat-eating companions didn't accept anything to a greater extent than positive to offering upwards either. The nighttime was capped off past times our waitress slapping the neb on the tabular array amongst Cindy notwithstanding eating as well as vaguely threatening us, "you've got 10 minutes."

This is belike the almost negative review I've written on hither as well as it's driven generally past times disappointment - nosotros had such fond memories of sitting out inward the courtyard at Bluecorn as well as existence wowed past times their fresh, wonderful food. Our expectations were raised fifty-fifty higher past times recent raves past times other Melbourne veg bloggers. Maybe nosotros hitting them on an off nighttime (in their defense forcefulness they were clearly pretty busy as well as nosotros were xv minutes late), but it'll endure a long fourth dimension before nosotros laissez passer on Bluecorn about other chance. Ah well, I estimate it's dorsum to Trippytaco (and eventually Mamasita) for us.

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Read our 2 previous (positive) reviews here as well as here. There's a broad make of opinions out there, from scathing (KC's Food Affairs), through mixed (Mr Smith's Food Journeys, Eat as well as Be Merry, For Tomorrow nosotros Diet, Please Sir, Can I Have Some More, Eaterati)

From a veg perspective, Eat More Vegies, Pocket Carnival as well as easy equally vegan pie accept loved Bluecorn, acre Hayley at Ballroom Blintz was a flake disappointed past times her experience.

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Bluecorn
205 Barkly Street, St Kilda
9534 5996
Veg shared plates: $19-$27, veg mains: $21.50-$22.50

Accessibility: At almost there's a pocket-size pace on entry (we forgot to actually pay attention!). Inside things are relatively tight, but non impossibly so. Ordering as well as payment happens at the tables. We didn't see the toilets.

Newmarket Hotel

April 6, 2012

Our principal regain this Easter weekend has been the surprising ease amongst which tables at Melbourne's trendiest restaurants tin hold upwards procured acre most of the population is hanging out at campsites together with vacation houses along the Great Ocean Road. We decided to have got payoff past times crossing town for luncheon at the much hyped Newmarket Hotel inwards St Kilda.

Despite the mountains of coverage this house has received (check out the listing at the bottom of the post), it hadn't genuinely made our agency onto our wish-list, likely because almost every shipping service focuses on crab tacos, roast pork together with steak. Once I bothered to genuinely facial expression at huitlacoche again.

The Newmarket presents an unassuming facade, befitting the form of house amongst a fairly seedy history, but the within has been remodelled to within an inch of its life. It's fancy. And acre it yet calls itself a pub, it's pretty clearly a eating theatre - I can't imagine you lot tin plough upwards of an eve together with select care of a potable together with a bite, this is a house where you lot majority a few weeks inwards advance. There's non an overarching topic to the fit-out, amongst concrete arches butting upwards against novelty wallpaper together with old-fashioned carpeting clashing amongst trendy light-fittings. The leafy courtyard looked glorious on the sunny afternoon nosotros went, but I gauge fifty-fifty on Good Fri you lot require a booking to secure a tabular array out there.

The carte du jour is heavily Mexican inspired, amongst a hint of Kingdom of Spain together with California peeking through. It's also long, complicated together with non especially good designed. Thankfully, our waitress gave us a quick rundown together with helped us figure out what form of quantities would hold upwards appropriate (hilariously, she did cite that she's non allowed to role the give-and-take pizza when describing the wood-fired flatbreads, which suggests someone at the Newmarket takes themselves a smidgen likewise seriously). It's a carte du jour focussed on sharing, together with Cindy together with I dissever 3 dishes betwixt us.

First up, the soft tacos amongst crisp zucchini flowers, goat's cheese, olives together with roasted peppers ($17).

I genuinely liked these - they were a peachy combination of flavours together with textures, amongst the cheese taking pride of house (a banker's complaint for vegans: almost all of the veg materials hither is cheesy, although the carte du jour does proclaim a willingness to cater to all dietary requirements). Still, every bit delicious every bit they were, $17 for 2 tiny tacos does experience a piddling fight wrong.

We couldn't resist ordering the huitlacoche quesadilla, amongst bbq mushrooms, spinach together with jack cheese ($17).

This was a crispy, cheesy delight, but both Cindy together with I were a fight pathetic that the flavor of the corn smut was form of buried past times all the other stuff. It yet had a hearty mushroomy flavor together with was complemented past times the crunchy corn kernels sprinkled on top. Not likewise shabby.

The somewhat surprising star of our repast was the side-salad: a combination of radicchio, witlof together with fennel amongst figs, mozzarella together with an artichoke together with walnut dressing ($16).

This was perfect - the sugariness figs together with salty mozzarella working turning the fairly uncomplicated medley of greens into a show-stopper of a salad. Cindy detected a hint of love inwards the dressing, acre I was trying to figure out how they'd snuck thus much flavor into the white sauce on locomote past times of the mozzarella. Outstanding.

We'd intentionally saved ourselves a fight of dessert space, together with happily dissever the Mexican java together with tequila flan amongst drunken cherries ($14).

Boy were those cherries drunken. Deliciously, deliciously drunken. Yum. The flan itself was peachy every bit good - rich without beingness overwhelming together with amongst a cute crispy fan of sesame seeds to render a fight of textural variation. This is a fine dessert.

The Newmarket is pretty expert at what it does: fancied upwards Mexican nutrient amongst some clever twists. You create cease upwards paying for it - I doubtfulness the $17 tacos inwards the 'street food' department of the carte du jour appear on whatsoever street inwards the the world - but nosotros didn't genuinely experience similar nosotros were getting ripped off. For a tick over $30 a head, Cindy together with I got 4 pretty wonderful dishes together with were treated to friendly together with helpful service from our waitress (although the surly guy who seated us is a weird pick every bit the commencement somebody you lot bargain with). They have got their drinks pretty seriously every bit well, amongst a broad attain of first-class beers on tap together with some stunning sounding cocktails. If you lot intend of the Newmarket every bit an upmarket dining experience rather than a nighttime at the pub together with thus I doubtfulness you'll come upwards away disappointed.

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Bloggers have got gone mad for the Newmarket, depository fiscal establishment check out Gourmet Chick, Poppy Gets a Life, FoodsCrazy, Mr Smith's Food Journeys, spicy icecream, the soundless observer, Eat together with Be Merry for Tomorrow nosotros Die(t), melbourne gastronome, Saucy Onion, Kit's Cucina Culinaria, Out of my kitchen, Friday Night Date Night, Cooking amongst Goths, This Food Guy, Where Adles Eats, The Very Very Hungry Caterpillar, AndAnotherThing together with Black Garlic were all a piddling less impressed, although nobody genuinely seems likewise disappointed past times the food.

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The Newmarket Hotel
34 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
9537 1777
veg dishes $9 - $20 (expect to pass nearly $35 each for a decent sized meal)
http://newmarketstkilda.com.au

Accessibility: Excellent. There's a ramp entryway, a disabled privy together with enough of infinite to manoeuvre or thus inwards (although the concrete arches brand for some weird tight spots). Service together with payment is all at the table.

Soulmama Iii

May 13, 2012

Edit 07/06/2012: We heard final calendar week that Soulmama is unopen again!

Soulmama disappeared from the St Kilda Baths erstwhile final twelvemonth as well as mysteriously reappeared after on Fitzroy St. While the ornamental dragon has moved amongst them, I get together that the owners bring changed. The bill of fare has shifted from by as well as large buffet to all a la carte as well as remains all vegetarian. Vegan options are good marked but gluten-free pointers are less consistent.

We visited amongst the Moody Noodles, as well as started out past times sharing a bowl of fries ($9.50) as well as the Japanese gyoza ($11).

Both of these were enterprise renditions as well as turned upwards promptly.

Toby as well as Michael shared on, divvying upwards hot smoked tofu ($22) marinated inwards soy, plum as well as roselle therefore served amongst bok choy, peanut sauce, cucumber, cherry-red onion, kokosnoot vinegar as well as jaggary. This was an strange combination of flavours presented oddly on the plate as well as it didn't win over either of them.

They enjoyed the person burger ($20.50) to a greater extent than - the patty was good composed amongst dark beans, pumpkin as well as chipotle, therefore complemented amongst caramelised onions as well as guacamole, as well as served amongst to a greater extent than fries.

I ordered 1 time to a greater extent than from the Starters section, hoping that the $16.50 cost tag hinted at a decent portion. This actually paid off - the soy-valaki boasts roughly first-class mock meat, which is stuffed into a twine amongst to a greater extent than caramelised onions as well as salad. It's a lovely calorie-free repast if you're fond of imitation meat.

K's fajitas ($24) attracted the most attending of all - their gluten condition was questionable as well as seemed to come upwards up clear inwards the terminate (K's bloat-o-meter scored depression overnight), as well as they only looked damn tasty. There's to a greater extent than of those tender soy strips upwards front, too equally guacamole, fresh salsa, roughly greenish leaves as well as a dyad of tortillas.

We flora room for dessert - the vanilla panna cotta ($12) is coconut-based as well as vegan-friendly, topped amongst tart raspberries as well as coconut. Michael's serve seemed to disappear inwards seconds.

I plodded to a greater extent than slow through the triple chocolate cake ($14.50), roughly other vegan victory. The chocolates 3 are a dry out cake base, impressive mousse mound as well as syrupy drizzle. If you're non upwards for the dessert as well as sorbet tasting plate ($29), this is a completely shareable half-price alternative.

Our waiter was friendly as well as attentive though she struggled a piddling to safely serve our resident coeliac. I've never quite worked out what Soulmama is pitching at; the fit-out is smart casual amongst new-agey Asia-inspired accents nonetheless it serves fries, pizza as well as dumplings, as well as charges quite a lot for the package. Our dishes were to a greater extent than successes than failures but felt overpriced. Maybe we're only non the target demographic - nosotros seemed surrounded past times families happy to pony upwards as well as part a vegetarian repast inwards this setting.

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We reviewed the previous incarnation of Soulmama here as well as here. The alone weblog post service I tin uncovering almost the Fitzroy St eating seat appears on Megan & Melbourne.

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Soulmama 
79-81 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
9534 5472
starters $9.50-19.50, mains $16.50-26.00, desserts $3.50-29.00
http://www.soulmama.com.au/

Accessibility: Soulmama may bring a modest measurement on entry, as well as has moderately spaced tables inside. We received sum tabular array service as well as didn't see the toilets.

Matcha Mylkbar

February 24, 2019

Matcha Mylkbar opened to a flurry of instagram attending a twain of years ago, at the forefront of the turmeric latte scene. Their mistaken eggs, charcoal buns together with algae drinks struck me every bit gimmicky together with offputting, together with thus nosotros didn't instruct to whatever endeavor to visit. Recently, the cafe turned upwardly every bit a convenient spot for a slow tiffin together with a score recount with our mate Lisa later a sweltering game of mini-golf.

The all-vegan carte was much to a greater extent than appealing than I'd initially expected. Yes, at that topographic point are x novelty lattes with the alternative of a flying of four, together with 5 farther matcha drinks. But enough of the meals caught my oculus together with my appetite, from a summery acai bowl, to vege-filled bowls, burgers, together with mac'n'cheese waffles (!).

Michael feasted on the big breakfast ($25) with turmeric scrambled tofu, 2 slices of sourdough toast, konjac bacon, murphy together with leek rosti, truffle roasted mushrooms, wilted kale together with Lycopersicon esculentum relish. He rates it with the best vegan breakfasts unopen to town.

At the concluding possible moment, I switched from a mac'n'cheese waffle guild to the 3 patch feed ($22). This plate looks just similar what yous powerfulness facial expression from KFC adjacent door! The house-made fried chicken isn't also dense (unlike its delicious but directly regrettable Loving Hut analogue), together with has a pleasantly seasoned crunchy batter. The crinkle-cut chips are crispy, the coleslaw is fine, together with the tub of potatoes together with gravy earned connoisseur Lisa's approval. I idea the portioning was perfect.

Finally, here's a shot of Lisa's mock poached egg. While the agar agar-set white is perchance a chip also jellied, the gooey sweetness murphy centre looked only right.

The Matcha Mylkbar marketing has never been our style, but it turns out there's some smashing nutrient to relish hither regardless. I reckon we'll travel popping dorsum inwards adjacent fourth dimension nosotros uncovering ourselves inwards St Kilda.

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Matcha Mylkbar has received rave reviews from veg*n bloggers, see String of Events, Lips Temptations, delightfully tasty, A Hedonist's Love together with outright negative experiences on all-caps blogs DONUTSAM EATS & TRAVELS and 2WO FAT GIRLS. 

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Matcha Mylkbar

72A Acland St, St Kilda

9534 1111

intro, menu

http://www.matchamylkbar.com/

Accessibility: Entry is flat, but patch of furniture is tightly packed inside. We ordered at our tabular array together with paid at a high counter. We didn't see the toilets.