Food Guide: Eating My Way Around Melbourne

Upon writing this, I’m shocked at how many times I’ve eaten out over the past eight weeks in Melbourne. The thing is, it’s just so cheap here compared to London, which makes it far too easy to wander into a café with the intention of simply getting a drink and end up ordering a big plate of food, a side, and a coffee.

I’ve also noticed a slightly strange trend of dishes containing beef… which probably says a lot about how my anaemia is influencing my food choices. So, here are nine (iron-deficient-friendly) must-visit food spots in Melbourne.

Café Andiamo

In the heart of the CBD is where I ate the best burger of my life. Café Andiamo was crowned as one of the best places to get coffee in Melbourne, but Freya and I defied everyone’s expectations by ordering a humongous Angus beef burger and a creamy carbonara. Although it was relatively suspicious that this venue had such a wide range of cuisines, the chefs at this café were clearly multitalented. Both dishes satisfied our cravings and kicked off my hyper-fixation with Melbourne’s burger scene.

Bontempo

Melbourne is known for its high volume of Italian restaurants, many of which are concentrated on Lygon Street in Carlton, often referred to as ‘Little Italy’. Near this precinct lives Bontempo. Cooking up a storm with a menu of handmade pasta and woodfired pizza, this restaurant is not one to skip. I’ve been here on two separate occasions, once having a spicy prawn pasta (which I can’t stop thinking about) and later trying their classic spaghetti bolognese. I’ve since tried to recreate the latter myself, yet I haven’t even come close to mastering it.

Açai Brothers

What better way to top off a beach day than to get an açai bowl? After a long, hard day of sunbathing and playing mermaids at Sandringham beach, we hopped in the car and followed maps to quell our açai craving. I got the peanut butter bowl, and it was absolutely huge. It kept me full for the rest of the day. Strawberries and bananas were delicately placed on the frozen açai, which was topped off with coconut yoghurt, peanut butter and a sprinkle of cacao nibs. I’m craving an açai bowl now.

Seven Seeds

Head to Seven Seeds for the best steak sandwich of your life. The meat was tender, the outer surface of the bread was crispy, and cheese-pull was very satisfying. Their smashed avocado on toast had a special twist to it, featuring a beetroot-infused cheese spread on top of miso rye bread and topped with blistered cherry tomatoes, crunchy toppings and, of course, a large amount of avocado. It’s a health queen’s dream.

Kent Hotel

My iron deficiency led me to order a beetroot salad at the Kent Hotel, and my god, it was the best salad I’ve ever had. The beetroot lay on a thin layer of rich yoghurt and was garnished with almonds and green pepper zhoug — a combination I hadn’t tried before and will never be able to rid from my memory. I will be back for more. Here, I had my first ever chicken parmigiana — a classic Aussie dish consisting of a large breaded chicken breast with smoked ham coated in mozzarella. It came with a side of chips and mixed salad, keeping me fed until the next day.

Charrd

Charrd in Brunswick East is a popular hole-in-the-wall burger spot with a concise halal menu. I got their signature “Charrd Double,” which consisted of two charcoal-grilled patties, melted cheese, pickles, caramelised onion, hot sauce, chilli jam, and truffle mayo on a brioche bun. If your mouth isn’t watering, you must be made of stone.

Good Times

In need of a date night? Good Times serves up a great-quality plate of pasta for just $9 pasta every Thursday to Sunday. The location is ideal, right in the heart of the chirpy, charming streets of Fitzroy North. Frey and I were in need of some bestie time, so I booked us a table at this unconventional restaurant. We decided to be romantic and share two plates of pasta — the smoked trout creamy pasta and the spicy sausage tagliatelle. Yum.

District 35

This cosy café in the heart of Carlton North has a calm vibe that’s suitable for hangover brunches and quick catch-ups with friends. Expect a curated menu with a widespread all-day brunch menu and a big range of exclusive coffees. I ordered a magic — a popular, strong and slightly sweet Australian coffee — and a smoky shakshouka. Having made this dish a lot at home, it inflicted me with a warm sense of nostalgia.

Stagger Lee

Having only eaten savoury foods at local cafés and restaurants, I decided to branch out and order a sticky date pudding… for breakfast. I wasn’t having the best of days, so I treated myself to this large, dessert-like dish, and the sweet, richness of it made me feel better. Topped with strawberries, blueberries, salty pretzels and toffee sauce, this was a splendid way to kick off the day.

Although these are some of my favourite spots so far, there are countless cafés and restaurants that I’m yet to discover. Give me a couple more months and I would’ve visited twice as many places. My bank account isn’t ready.