Besha Rodell
Chief restaurant critic
Besha Rodell is the chief restaurant critic for The Age and Good Weekend.
- Review
- Carlton North
Opened in the shadow of its predecessor Gerald’s, Bar Carnation is startlingly bright
Gerald’s Bar’s successor continues the successful formula of good drinks plus good people plus good food equals the best times.
- Besha Rodell
- Review
- North Melbourne
Freshly shucked restaurant − and its $98 giant oyster − a treat for seafood lovers
Newcomer Olala is a “genuinely odd” restaurant from a family that really, truly loves shellfish and wants to tell you all about it.
- Besha Rodell
- Review
- Melbourne
Melbourne’s iconic Florentino enters a new era, but it has never been of this era
The Italian fine diner is a piece of living history. Its new stewards are leaning into its Old World spirit, but can they meet the expectations of modern diners?
- Besha Rodell
- Review
- Brunswick East
With a flexible menu built for maximum flavour, Etta’s sister Daphne is easy to love
The friendly Lygon Street venue is the perfect neighbourhood restaurant, but she has some growing to do, reviews Besha Rodell.
- Besha Rodell
- Review
- Carlton North
Gerald’s Bar
One of Melbourne’s defining wine bars dials up the deliciousness in big new digs.
- Besha Rodell
- Review
- Melbourne
This ‘bargain’ rice bowl is one of the best ways to get a fancy − but not too formal − sushi fix
Sachi proves dining on premium raw fish does not have to mean spending big bucks on a fine-dining omakase menu.
- Besha Rodell
- Review
- Rosebud
‘A true revelation’: Why you should book this peninsula destination diner in an old theatre
At Orson, you pay for the number of courses that suits you, and the value gets better as you get greedier.
- Besha Rodell