Am I a fan of the “grunge” styling?   I’m not sure I am.  All that has changed is the letters that spelled out the previous tenants name – Tugra Restaurant – midnight haunt of hungry cabbies, have been removed. The colour is quite hideous in my opinion.  But being next to the bike path I guess the local taggers will just cover whatever they did do, so perhaps it’ a wise choice?

I think my favourite time was the day I dropped in by myself on the way home for a Negroni, some salumi and a few bits and pieces with a glass of wine.  It was quite early, so the staff weren’t running around all over the place, and I sat at the bar which meant I could always get attention when I needed another glass of wine.

Negroni and Lupini

My tasting plate (olives $11)

Salumi selection $15

Bread and EVOO

The view across the bar

Pan-fried caciocavallo with tomato salad $12

Another of our visits has been blogged already by my friends over at Eat Our Way Up High Street Project

Unfortunately, each of the fours times I’ve been there the bill has been incorrect.  Sometimes in their favour, sometimes in ours.  I hope they settle in the front of house systems soon.

They continue to be very busy, and I’m not sure if it’s going to be a place I visit regularly.  The noise level is too high for me to have a decent catch up conversation with friends.  The kids will get restless waiting for food and it can be hard to get someone’s attention to order that second bottle of wine.

On the other hand, it is on the tram line home, and a quick visit for a glass of wine and main will be tempting, especially if I am there by myself.  And I am quite possibly addicted to the friend cauliflower.

I think the local families will continue to flock to it.  The food is good quality and tasty and the wine list is interesting. For me though – it will remain a “sometimes” restaurant.

Other recent visitors:

MelbourneGastronome

The Age

So, have you been? and what did you think?

Supermaxi

305 St Georges Road

North Fitzroy

9482 2828

Supermaxi has taken over the home of the very uninspiring Middle Eastern restaurant on St Georges road, next to the linear bike park.  The outside hasn’t changed, still ugly puce with graffiti, inside has been tarted up a bit, not too much. The view out on to the bike park is actually quite pleasant.

They were fairly busy tonight, we ate at the bar, but walked in without a booking at 7pm.

Beers, 4 whites, 4 red and a sparkling by the glass.  Small wine list of mostly Italian and Victoria wines.  500m carafe of house red for $18 is the bargain option.

Tastes, small plates, salads, pasta, pizza and dessert.

We shared battered beetroot and cavolfiore di gigia (deep fried cauliflower florets) which turned up at the same time as the Badabing Pizza.

Entrees were delicious, the Pizza was OK, not quite cooked through in the crust. But only 5 days in, I will forgive them.  The Pinot Noir by the glass ($11) was very decent.

Deep fried custard with honey and vanilla ice cream.  Half was enough, but very yum.    Just over $100 with 2 beers and 3 glasses of wine.

Service was a touch frenetic, but cheerful. Many familiar faces in the crowd.

I’m very pleased to have Rita Macali and co so close to home.

Supermaxi

305 St Georges Road

North Fitzroy

9482 2828

Tram stop 23,  Route 112.

Across from my newest, favourite-est pizza place, Al Albero, we’ve been watching the inside of the former Little Kitchen be transformed slowly with painstakingly crafted wood bits over the last few months.  I was sure this would become the famed Macali pizza place, it just looked like a pizza place…

But .. to my surprise and almost horror – it’s a Vegan restaurant.

That’s two – opposite each other, why???  Is North Fitzroy Vegan central?

All I want is good coffee, closer to home than Growers.  And we get another vegan restaurant!

I haven’t tried it yet – if you have, let me know how it was.  I’m not sure I can bring myself to do it.

UPDATE: So, It’s a vegetarian restaurant, not a vegan one, not that it makes much difference to me :-)  but it does to some folk.

I still haven’t had an opportunity to eat there but Fitzroyalty has, as have I’m in the Mood for Noodles and Where’s the Beef?

I needed a baguette for dinner so made a detour to Cavallini’s this morning and couldn’t resist the egg and bacon toastie (it had some hi-falutin’ Italian name, but we all know what it really is) and a good long cafe latte.

The eggs weren’t quite cooked through, and the bacon was delicious. The bread was of course crunchy and chewy in the right ratio and the tomato chutney just sharp enough to cup through the fat of the bacon and the richness of the egg.

Cavallini
354 Queens Parade
North Fitzroy