By Korea: 601 Little Collins Street Melbourne

By Korea is a clear neighbourhood favourite. The lines are huge. The beer is flowing and fried chicken is everywhere. 

I ventured here as my first choice lunch venue was closed for the Christmas break. Not being a fan of fried chicken Senor Gringo and I ordered a beef stew and vegetarian bibimbap. The meat and vegetable portions were small with large bowls of rice offered to fill you up. The flavours were good, particularly the stew, which had a fresh tasting spicy broth. The pieces of meat were lean but the bibimbap was disappointing with salad strangely heaped in the hot stone bowl and since I didn't want a huge amount of rice I walked away hungry. 

One tick. Not fussy eater friendly.    

M Yong Tofu (formerly The Grand Tofu Flemington): 314 Racecourse Road Flemington

There is nothing grand about this place. I visited just after the restaurant changed hands and sadly it is one of those places that was likely ruined by the new owners. 

The food was over processed rubbish. It was not vegan friendly. Nearly all the tofu was stuffed with eggs or fish and the food was just bland. I dumped a whole bunch of chilli oil in my curry soup and tofu dishes and it didn't help. Stay away. Find somewhere else to satisfy your needs - Yong Green Food is great if you're looking for mock meat or tofu options done exceptionally well. 

One tick/thumbs down. 

8bit: 8 Droop St Footscray

Nothing to see here, move along. 

I could eat nothing but the fries. Major disappointment. Major! Especially since so many people rave about this place. 

The burger buns have egg, so do most of the sauces, what doesn't have egg has dairy. Senor Gringo told me I wasn't missing out, *cough* OMG this is fantastic, sucks to be you *cough.* I walked away disappointed. The staff were really apologetic about it but I wanted to have a tantrum like a five year old who has just been told they can't have dessert before dinner. 

Celiacs are equally excluded. Life is hard. The food world sucks. I may be sulking. 

One tick. Don't tell me it's good, I don't want to hear it. 

Threefold: 381 Flinders Lane Melbourne

Being a Sydney-ite originally, I can't help but think of things in the context of home. Threefold would fit very well into The Rocks or Darlinghurst; they serve food that is a cross between what you would expect at an old school bar or upmarket cafe. Nothing offensive or risque but all very good quality and locally sourced.

The Good Food Guide has this place pegged as a destination for a working lunch, with main meals that have French leanings. There are ample home made cakes, tarts and pastries on display. A few rich and hearty salads (not fussy eater friendly), toasties, sandwiches and home made pies.

I ordered a tomato salami toastie with mustard and even though it came on very white bread (the bane of my life) it was still very good. Senor Gringo ordered a steak sandwich with relish and a side of green beans and salad (coated in butter and therefore off limits to the likes of me).

My meal left me wanting a cider and an afternoon nap, although that is possibly because this is the sort of meal I would have on the odd occasion, in a beer garden somewhere. The price was very reasonable considering the quality (less than $30 for two people) and I would say it would appeal to a wide variety of people, though possibly not the fussiest of eaters (I am not sure celiacs could eat here, nor vegans, though there are vegetarian options).

One tick. Good but not what I really seek in a lunch venue. It would suit my dad or his generation more.

  

DonToo: 330 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne

DonToo has a small lunch menu and is not exactly fussy eater friendly. By day the restaurant does not serve ramen noodle soups, which is a bit sad as it is apparently the chefs specialty. 

For lunch you can choose between: 
¨        grilled beef, pork or chicken 
¨        curry tofu, beef or chicken 
¨        beef udon or soba noodle soup (the udon noodles contain egg) 
¨        a cold soba noodle salad (vegetarian – ask for no mayo if you are vegan) or 
¨        a lunch box with two types of meat, salad, rice and pickles. 

I ordered the cold soba noodle salad. It was decent, not too stingy on the vegetables but the dressing was very sweet and overall it was nothing remarkable. 

Senor Gringo had the lunch box, which came with grilled beef slices in soy sauce and chicken teriyaki. The chicken looked okay but Senor Gringo assured me the chunks of meat were fatty, poor quality and too sweet. The beef slices also had a line of fat along the edge which must be a quite traditional thing as it is quite common. Senor Gringo was not impressed and didn’t finish his meal. 

Most tables ordered the beef or pork soup which contained a boiled egg. I wanted a soup but didn't feel like meat that day and they weren’t willing to substitute tofu. The beef looked fatty anyway and I wouldn’t have been happy, which is a shame because the broth smelled delicious from afar.

I’m giving this place one tick. Lunch is really cheap ($5.9-$9) and I think the quality matches.