Ragusa: 139 Nelson Place Williamstown

One night I worked really late and Senor Gringo was tasked with finding somewhere from the GFG for us to start the weekend. No parameters. When he got in the car he told me we were going to have Croatian. My first thought, Croatian? What am I going to eat? Sausages and potatoes? Sounds kind of bland.

The restaurant has that posh minimalist feel to it, with very attentive staff. These places tend to make me feel awkward. I like to be anonymous, ignored when I am not being served food or drinks and surrounded by lots of noise and lots of people. Only, here the staff are so down to earth it does not matter, you just feel at home.

I ordered a cocktail, no idea what it was called but it was so damn delicious. I asked the staff what the alcohol was (something I couldn't pronounce) and the host brought the bottle over for me to try it straight, just to make sure I like it if/when I go buy the bottle myself. That was really nice of her & yes I definitely do like it straight. Mm mm good.

I did in fact order sausages, they came with a cabbage salad that was light and tangy, not heavy at all and homemade ajvar, which is possibly my favourite condiment. Really, if the food gods made sausages and brought them down from heaven (that fictional place in the sky), then they delivered them right to Ragusa's door step.

Senor Gringo ordered twice roasted duck with mlinci and sour cherry sauce (don't ask me what that is because I don't know) and we shared a bowl of kipfler potatoes. I couldn't finish all my meal. I was super stuffed. The food was divine. It was well balanced and flavoursome, nothing stodgy or bland about it. Senor Gringo joked that he wanted to be like the Romans and purge just to be able to eat it all again.

Surprisingly, there were quite a few things on the menu I could eat and I told the staff I can't eat eggs or dairy (they asked! bonus points for them) and they said they could modify quite a few more things just for me. Aw, nice. They have a spit roast on Thursday nights (bookings required) and I will definitely be back to try it. Also, a lot of their produce is locally sourced. This restaurant well and truly deserves its place in the GFG.

Three ticks. A bit pricey, save it for a special occasion or a time of need.

Shimbashi Soba and Sake Bar: 17 Liverpool Street Melbourne

OMG this place is amazing. I love love love it. They grind their own buckwheat and make their own noodles from scratch every day on the premises. You can see the mill in the corner when you walk in. Apparently something happens to buckwheat, and flour in general, after 24 hours (oxidises maybe?) and eating it when it is freshly ground is better for your digestion and health. I won’t argue with that.

I have been a couple of times at lunch and the only thing that stops me from going back more regularly is that the restaurant is small and I don’t want to eat in a packed place by myself when they are so busy (plus I don’t think it is fair). I could take a friend but sometimes you need alone time when you are surrounded by people all day.

I have the seasonal vegetable soup that is loaded with veggies and herbs. Thank you Shimbashi! I don’t know why but so many places seem to be afraid to add many vegetables and just load you up with noodles or rice - they give you more meat for goodness sake so it can't be about cost. The soup has a niboshi dashi broth (don’t google it, you don’t want to know) with so many layers I just can’t describe.

It seems there are dozens of Japanese restaurants these days but Shimbashi is a stand out winner for me. Go there. It will do you good, I promise.

Three ticks – I wish all food tasted this good.

Rice Paper Scissors: Fitzroy and Melbourne CBD

A post about Rose BBQ offers a nice little segway into a discussion about Rice Paper Scissors. This place does offer nouveau cuisine/Asian fusion and it does it very well - tasty, zesty flavours that pay homage to authentic and traditional dishes.

Rice Paper Scissors is my favourite restaurant in Melbourne, not just because I love modern Asian food but because everything is small and you get to try a little of so many things. For a couple, the standard option is five dishes for $55 (27.50 each - bargain). If there are more of you, you all order the same five dishes, they just bring out the number of portions you need. They are flexible and do allow group members to order different options, provided you don't have a group over 12, but don't make it too complicated - be nice to my Rice Paper Scissors peeps, they bring me food gold.

I have tried about half the dishes on the menu and nothing has disappointed me. My must haves are the twice cooked pork belly with tamarind caramel sauce, the steamed pork bun with delectable crispy pork belly, shallots, cucumber and hoisin sauce. Depending on my mood, I then add a veggie dish of some sort, roast duck and one or more of the meat options. I even trust the chefs so much that I'm going to try the lime cured kingfish next time. I need to eat seafood and one of these days my taste buds are going to catch up and learn to love it.

In terms of the flavours, everything is bold but not overpowering. There isn't any misplaced sweetness, just the right mix of tangy, sour and spice. It is fussy eater friendly as nearly everything is gluten free, dairy free and egg free. I don't have to alter a thing but vegans would definitely struggle and perhaps might even need to go elsewhere.

The only downside is you have to wait. They only take bookings for big groups and they allow an hour for each sitting. I have been turned away many times, including once when I arrived two minutes after the bar opened, not even the restaurant - the street was packed and a waiting list was already going. The Fitzroy place is more than double the size of the city venue and you can sometimes get a table with no wait but the staff are not as friendly (a few huffy, puffy, I'm too good for you types).

Now, here is where I rail against the Good Food Guide. Rice Paper Scissors was not in any of the 2015 guides. Any!! I sincerely hope they have rectified this for the 2016 version, otherwise I am going to have to question their taste buds. This restaurant has well and truly earned its three ticks. Come and fight me to get a table and don't get offended if I try to glare at you to hurry the hell up, finish your Asian inspired cocktail and let me at it!

 

daffy duck  

 mmm, look how crispy that is. So delectable 

 lemongrass cocktail

 twice cooked pork belly, looks are deceiving, it is very crispy

 quintessential Melbourne

ribs, a dish I don't eat elsewhere (portions for five of us)