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Gascony apple dessert at Omnia in South Yarra.

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Melbourne restaurant reviews

Catch up on The Age chief restaurant critic Gemima Cody's reviews.

88 stories
Pie tee shells of carrot waste filled with delicately smoked salmon.
Good Food hat15.5/20

Ten Minutes by Tractor rises from the ashes

  • Gemima Cody
Mozzarella en carrozza meets cacio e pepe.
14.5/20

The Hardware Club is Italian, but not what you might expect

  • Gemima Cody
Honey-roasted duck with buttered turnips and duck jus.
Good Food hat15/20

Omnia is an old-school bistro for the brave new world

  • Gemima Cody
Like a bloomin' onion in miniature: fried shallot with jalapeno cashew sour cream
Good Food hat15.5/20

Old Palm Liquor is a bloomin' good wine bar

  • Gemima Cody
The roo and wild garlic 'pho'.
Good Food hat15/20

Spontaneity comes to life at Gaea, Melbourne

  • Gemima Cody
Charcoal-grilled char siu.
14.5/20

New spice is right at Lagoon Dining on Lygon Street

  • Gemima Cody
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Go-to dish: Brianna Smith's house-made brie, with condiments.
13.5/20

Hazel is a lady in waiting

  • Gemima Cody
The lunchtime lure of $15 cacio e pepe.
14.5/20

Old school meets new at Marameo

  • Gemima Cody
Lune croissant loaded with butter chicken will lure you in.
Good Food hat15/20

Press Club becomes elegant Elektra

  • Gemima Cody
Confit duck leg with pears and broad bean flowers.
14/20

The art of wine dining at Graceburn Bistro

  • Gemima Cody
Crumbed fried lamb short ribs with honey, chilli, rosemary and hung buffalo milk yoghurt.
14/20

Tetto di Carolina is South Yarra in a nutshell

  • Gemima Cody
Go to bar snack: Corn madeleines with crab.
14/20

Well, are you ready for Freddy?

  • Gemima Cody
House-made pork sausage with chimichurri.
14.5/20

All aboard for pub paradise in the hills

  • Gemima Cody
Squid ink mafaldine.
12.5/20

Is Melbourne pasta point of no return?

  • Gemima Cody
Blue swimmer crab dumplings.
14/20

Pretty Little - Balaclava's new pocket rocket

  • Gemima Cody
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Classic chicken thigh and leek skewers.
13/20

Don't get stuck on sticks at Eazy Peazy in Richmond

  • Gemima Cody
The vibrant thali tray of curries is just one course of the tasting menu.
14.5/20

Daughter in Law is next-gen Australian-Indian

  • Gemima Cody
Beef manti with sumac, mint and yoghurt.
13.5/20

Maha East, Shane Delia's all-new beast

  • Gemima Cody
The MGX burger at Bar Margaux.
14/20

Bar Margaux nails New York nostalgia (and burgers)

  • Gemima Cody
A latecomer to the bao party, but James' chicken version is a keeper.
14/20

Fiercely local James sneaks into South Melbourne

  • Gemima Cody
Tsukune chicken skewer from the robata grill.
13/20

Akaiito's omakase option is a diamond in the rough

  • Gemima Cody
Sardines on toast and smoked olive martinis are available from brunch to dinner.
14/20

Power to the papal at Pope Joan 2.0

  • Gemima Cody
Chocolate marshmallows toasted over an at-table bonfire.
Good Food hat15.5/20

Highline chef and his 'mallows make the move to Paringa Estate

  • Gemima Cody
Tomato spaghetto with crab and macadamia.
14.5/20

That's amore: Aromi brings brilliant Italian to Brighton

  • Gemima Cody
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Chicken and bread sauce.
13.5/20

Entrecote's sibling Stamford Park Homestead is to the manor born

  • Gemima Cody
Go-to dish: Spaghettini with prawn, crab and soave.
Good Food hat15/20

Agostino brings the northern-Italian A-game to King & Godfree, Carlton

  • Gemima Cody
Chef's special fish fillet in chilli oil.
Good Food hat15/20

Albert Park's Sun Kitchen is a subtle, spicy ray of light

  • Gemima Cody
Go-to dish: Scallops, grilled calamari, and mussels with vegetables a la grecque.
14.5/20

Dishes transcend time at Tansy's Kyneton

  • Gemima Cody
Pommes anna with black garlic vinegar and parmesan.
Good Food hat15/20

Brunswick East's radiant Etta just got even better

  • Gemima Cody
St Giles Wine Bar and Pantry features hanging greenery.
13/20

Toast the end of Camberwell's dry spell at St Giles Wine Bar

  • Gemima Cody
King lunch for one: The tum tard platter is the best of all worlds.
13/20

Issan's Thai platter is a king lunch for one in Footscray's banh mi belt

  • Gemima Cody
Go-to dish: Mafaldine cacio e pepe.
14/20

Park Street Pasta and Wine proves Melbourne won't ever hit peak pasta

  • Gemima Cody
Pickled egg and crisps.
14/20

Westwood: Bright Brit ideas from an ex-Dinner by Heston chef

  • Gemima Cody
Tori set with miso, yakitori, fried chicken and little plates of pickles.
14/20

Fitzroy gets its hands on a real izakaya

  • Gemima Cody
The old ESP fills the role of dining room at the Estelle.
Good Food hat15.5/20

The Estelle gains extra flex

  • Gemima Cody
Winning signature of crab tomato jelly with tomatoes and white cheese.
Good Food hat15/20

Lume is a whole new ballgame

  • Gemima Cody

Continue this series

Melbourne restaurant reviews 2021
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