Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
86, 96)
and
Cafe Vue
03-9691 3838; 430 Little Collins St;
11am-late Mon-Sat;
86, 96)
.
03-9691 3899; 430 Little Collins St;
7am-4pm Mon-Fri;
There are also Cafe Vue branches at 401 St Kilda Rd and Melbourne Airport.
Flower Drum
CHINESE
$$$
( 03-9662 3655;
www.flower-drum.com
; 17 Market Lane; mains $35-55; noon-3pm & 6-11pm Mon-Sat,
6-10.30pm Sun ; ; 86, 96)
The Flower Drum continues to be Melbourne's most celebrated
Chinese restaurant. The finest, freshest produce prepared with absolute attention to detail
keeps this Chinatown institution booked out for weeks in advance. The sumptuous, but os-
tensibly simple, Cantonese food (from a menu that changes daily) is delivered with the
slick service you'd expect in such elegant surrounds.
Coda
MODERN AUSTRALIAN
$$$
( 03-9650 3155;
www.codarestaurant.com.au
; basement, 141 Flinders Lane; mains $36-38; noon-3pm & 6pm-
late; 11, 31, 48, 86, 112)
Coda has a wonderful 'basement' ambience, with exposed light-
bulbs and industrial factory-style windows. Its innovative dishes make up an eclectic
menu of Asian, French and Modern Australian influences. It's a little hit-and-miss; some
taste plates scream 'yes!', such as crispy prawn and tapioca betel leaf, but others don't
quite hit those highs.
Longrain
THAI
$$$
( 03-9671 3151;
www.longrain.com
; 44 Little Bourke St; mains $31-40; noon-3pm Fri & dinner 6pm-late
Mon-Thu, from 5.30pm Fri-Sun; Parliament)
Expect to wait up to two hours (sip a drink and re-
lax, they suggest) before sampling Longrain's fusion-style Thai. The communal tables
don't exactly work for a romantic date but they're great for checking out everyone else's
meals. Dishes are designed to be shared and feed two; try the yellow curry with roasted
pumpkin, fennel and pickled mustard greens; and the amazing seafood dishes.
Gingerboy
ASIAN
$$$
