Melbourne Patron

Collingwood's newest 'it' place is another one hidden in the guts of the suburb. No shiny Smith Street lights for this dark horse. Le Bon Ton  (51 Gipps Street, Collingwood), which takes its name from an old-time New Orleans phrase, laissez les bon temps rouler ('let the good times roll'), is a curiously appealing mixture of the moodily subtle and brightly obvious. Owned by two American brothers, Will and Mick Balleau (old hospitality hands, with their Richmond venture Chingon ), and assisted in the kitchen by another two American brothers, Jeremy and Christopher Sutphin (ex- Fog ), Le Bon Ton is a venture in Belle  Èpoque- e ra romanticism. The décor is impressive: exposed brick walls, polished cement floors, a bar overlaid and finished with bright copper and wood panelling, ornate touches in upholstery and lighting, and an astro-turfed courtyard with beautifully-strung fairy lights (and she's SOLD!), with the operational smoke pit to one side. ...

* Victoria Street restaurant appraisal number two! * My friend had claimed Vinh Ky  (114 Victoria Street, Richmond) to be his favourite restaurant along the Victoria Street strip - a claim well worth investigation, naturally. It serves Vietnamese and Chinese food - combining Asian cuisines seems to be a Melbourne phenomenon that I'm rather dubious about, after growing up in Sydney with all its excellent single-Asian-cuisine restaurants. But, if they do it well, I am happy to be converted. Still hungover from New Year's Eve, we trotted into the sparse and well air-conditioned restaurant and were quickly seated. The staff weren't the most cheery, but usually seemed to be floating around when we needed someone. Our entrees were Chinese sausage (one of my faves; it was done pretty well here) and spring rolls that you wrap up in lettuce leaves (new to me, but fun, and tasty!). Chinese sausage Dipping sauce Spring rolls in lettuce leaves Waiting for our foo...