Days 6-10 in Melbourne were the days I sprained my right foot and was in serious hurt. Thank God one of our friends has painkillers which literally helped me tide through the entire 5 days. I have compiled what I have tried in not just the rest of the city but also in Phillip Island as well. Some are really crappy, so I hope you guys won’t experience the same crap as I did. Anyways, here goes the list of places I’ve visited for food and fun.
Sumo Salad
Experience: Needs no introduction but to be honest, my first time trying then. Sumo Salad is prolly in most food courts and this was at Westfield, Doncaster. Love the selection and they are really tasty in big portions!
Rating: 4.5/5.
Location: Westfield Doncaster, 619 Doncaster Road, Doncaster VIC 3108. Opens daily.
U Pick Berries
Experience: Travelled from city to this place for berries picking. More for the kids than anything else. Nothing much for us to pick anyways and the berries are pretty sour. I would say you can skip this one unless you want your kids to experience this.
Rating: 3/5.
Location: www.upickberries.com.au for more details and timings.
Penguin Parade
Experience: This place is a knock off. So expensive and yet there’s not many penguins to see coming in from the sea. The food at the cafeteria is average. Fish and chips was the best but also so so only. Most of the penguins are actually in their burrows instead along the pathways. You get to see them more there. Great for kids experience though.
Rating: 3/5.
Location: Philip Island Nature Park. 1019 Ventnor Road, Summerlands VIC 3922. http://www.penguins.org.au.
Philip Island Chocolate Factory
Experience:
Skip this place. Tour is bad, food is bad.
Rating: 2/5.
Location: 930 Phillip Island Road, Newhaven VIC 3925.
Grand Taipei Bakery
Experience:
Awesome food and service. Cooks really fast. The bakery front reminds me of the traditional bakeries in our neighbourhoods. Go for their famous Pork Chop Rice. Highly recommended. Cantonese speaking too.
Rating: 5/5.
Location: 594 Station Street, Box Hill VIC 3128. Opens 9.30am to 9pm. www.facebook.com/grandtaipeibakery
Hakata Gensuke
Experience:
Love this place even though have to queue. Very squeezy inside but so lively cos of all the shouting of welcoming the customers, serving the food, thanking and saying goodbye to them, etc. Ramen wise, very good. Finished every drop of broth that was on my bowl. Highly recommended!
Rating: 5/5.
Location: 168 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. http://www.gensuke.com.au.
Noodle Kingdom
Experience:
Takeaway for one supper and was surprise the food was quite tasty. Price point is pretty reasonable for Aussie terms and portioning was as usual, large. Located just opposite Hakata Gensuke. Great for suppers!
Rating: 4.5/5.
Location: 175 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Hudsons Coffee
Experience:
Using 2 x 2 groups Astoria Plus4U, it’s amazing the barista can pull such lousy espresso shots. The latte I ordered lacked body and typically cup of coffee-flavoured milk from a coffee chain. However, the almond croissant was pretty good. Wasted no good coffee to go along with it. Skip.
Rating: 3/5.
Location: Everywhere in Melbourne. This branch I went to is at Level 1 Qantas Departures, Melbourne Airport.