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Spice Temple

Spice Temple  Neil Perry's Fine Dining Chinese Restaurant at Crown, Southbank, Melbourne It's considered an institution in Melbourne, and with a chef to its name like Neil Perry , a location like Southbank , and an existence of six years in the Melbourne restaurant scene (when staying power is notoriously elusive), it's no wonder. Spice Temple's name is a pretty accurate description of the restaurant: food heavy in spices and spiciness; a dim space with a sort of hushed reverence. A line-filled eating den The quiet tone of Spice Temple (Shop 7, Crown Complex, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank) could well be due to its design. With lots of dark wood and more traditional red and gold carpet, one might be forgiven for thinking it's a little dated. What keeps it current is the symmetrical and perpendicular fittings, creating neat squared-off eating nooks, and the dark, felt-like soundproofing material spaced out overhead, muffling any white noise. Over...

Lûmé

Warning!  If you are going to eat at Lûmé anytime soon, I'd advise you to STOP READING NOW! The dishes described below are likely to show up in your dinner, at least until the menu changes significantly, and I don't want to be your spoiler. (Having said that, don't read any reviews online either, because most of them spoil the surprise too. Just sayin'.)  Like a welcoming suburban home I'm not really sure how to start describing my feelings about  Lûmé  (226 Coventry Street, South Melbourne). I went along expecting fine dining: a fancy degustation of a high culinary standard. I wasn't even sure I'd blog about it. I knew there'd been hype (much of it self-generated, I later discovered). But I tend not to read up lots about a place before I go there; I find that can make it less of an organic experience, and I like to make up my own mind. So I was not prepared for the experimental factor in the food here - actually, I had very few expectations...

Bad Frankie

A refreshing departure from the current Americana food craze (is anyone else sick to death of burgers, pulled pork, po'boys and donuts?), Bad Frankie  (141 Greeves Street, Fitzroy) has chosen to showcase local product instead. Rather than stocking your hospo standards ( Absolut , Jim Beam , Bombay Sapphire , etc), owner Seb Costello has installed a huge selection of Australian-made spirits and liqueurs. This venue is a relative newcomer based on a very fresh idea - so I'm already a fan! You'll find Bad Frankie just off Smith Street, buried among Collingwood's multitudes of eateries. It is actually perfectly situated for those post-dinner cocktails, when you're not quite ready to go home yet. Australiana is the theme here, shown in everything from the name and decor to the food and drinks. In fact, its Facebook page proclaims Bad Frankie to specialise in "iconic Jaffle and local Australian craft spirits". You read correctly: JAFFLE. "Home of the...