Brunswick Mess Hall (Lucky Panda Kitchen)

400, Sydney Rd, Brunswick, VIC 3056

http://www.thebrunswickmesshall.com.au
This is a great find on Sydney Road and a great addition to the area. There is also a bar for a few drinks, a great buzz, all in a mess hall environment. This is a good revamp for the Brunswick Mess Hall and I am looking forward to more visits.

The Place
The Mess Hall is beautifully set up and appeals very much to my aesthetics - high ceiling, wooden beams and flooring, plants every where and a general feel of a chilled space. The big windows let a lot of light in. There is also quirky video projections on the back wall (that's not a giant puffin in the picture below). It does get noisy in here but I like to call it a nice buzz.

There is also a full bar here and what really excited my good friend Caroline was that they gave away free soda water!

Possibly the only thing that I didn't like about the place was the high tables and chairs. I like eating with my feet on the ground.

The Food
There is a variety of Asian dishes served up from the Lucky Panda Kitchen. There is a mix of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Thai dishes here. We tried a range but the real highlights were the following;

Vietnamese Coleslaw was really fresh with the right balance of acidity, fish sauce, sweetness and lashings of freshness. This was one of the best dishes of the dining experience.

Roast Pork Belly on Asian Greens was really well done and I just wished there was a whole lot more of it. It was definitely crispy crunchy on top and tender where it needed to be. They managed to achieve the crispiness without being overly salty.

The Steam Fish Fillet in Soy and Ginger Broth here was excellent with fresh fish and steamed just right. The delicate flavours was how it should be for this dish. This is also done with preserved plum and the fresh lime and herbs really helped the dish.

The flavours here are traditional and true to their roots. For example, even their Pad Thai which I didn't rave about used fresh uncooked bean shoots, which is the way it should be. They have stuck to their guns with the flavours and this means I am likely to be back soon.

Compared to similar trendy places, the dishes here would be considered smaller. This means some might consider it not value for money. For example, places like Tom Phat and Palookaville have much bigger servings. This is why it is not a cheap place to eat. Nevertheless, I will definitely be back .

The Service
You write your order down on pieces of paper and order at the bar and they bring out the food. What is great about this place is that they are very attentive about the dietary requirements of their diners. So, this was a real positive.The food also came relatively quickly and the wait staff clearly know the food. The bar staff are also very friendly.

Overall
This is a nice trendy place that serves pretty good food. It's not a family restaurant although it is family friendly. This place works well because of the space, ambience, service and food. That sounds like it's something everyone would like but that is not necessarily the case. Not everyone would like the trendy bar setting with minimal service and too cool for school feel. I did though and so, I will be back for more but will probably order more dishes this time.

I am impressed with a kitchen that can served authentic dishes from four different cuisines. Therefore, in theory, this place should work. However, I am not entirely sure that a pub going drinking crowd is quite necessarily ready for this type of food because other than the gyoza and spring rolls, the other dishes are not really pub food. In addition, it's pricier than normal pub food, even for those who are looking for a cheap eat at a pub. Therefore, it might take a bit of getting used to. 

Cultural Moment
Pub Meals in Asia are not very common (other than in Japan). Some would call it 'drinking food' which is food you eat while you are drinking (alcohol). While there has been a longer tradition of this practice in Japan which is what Izakayas are. Therefore, common pub meals in Japan might include yakitori (skewered marinated chicken), karaage (fried chicken), gyoza (dumplings), edamame (soybean pods) and even sushi.

The rest of Asia however, is just starting to build this trend because for a long time, pubs in SEAsia tended to serve no more than peanuts, fried achovies and maybe some other 'small dishes'. Drinking establishments were never really known for their culinary experiences until recently when modern trendy clubs are starting to offer innovative small dishes and tapas to attract more clients. Certainly, in most parts of Asia, people don't think of a pub / night club as their dining option and most would eat in the street stalls before proceeding to drink and party into the night.

Mama Roots (Vegetarian and Vegan)

599, High St, Northcote, VIC 3070

 
Asian inspired fusion vegetarian meals are not my first choice. So, perhaps my expecations were low but I was really pleasantly surprised by some of the Asian themed dishes. This is a great find in Northcote and its a relatively new place. Some of the initial harsh comments on Urbanspoon from diners seems no longer relevant as I didn't have any of the problems the initial diners had. The food was well balanced and the one thing that most people agree on, is the warm friendly service, with a smile.

The Place
This is not a huge place but tastefully decorated with a variety of seating arrangements. Lovely little cafe style dining joint with a friendly atmosphere. Parking is great across the road. There were quite a number of diners there when I went with a small group of friends but the sound level was just a small murmur.

Things to do nearby: There's not a lot nearby though about 10 minutes down the road is the High Street, Northcote shops.

The Food
There's a range of dishes here including non-Asian ones. So, I am just going to focus on the Asian-inspired dishes. When I say Asian - I mean South Asian mostly here. It's true that one would not leave this place hungry. The serves are generous and if you order the banquet as we did - there's plenty to go round. The highlights for me include:

Firstly, the starters...

The humble Curry Puff was tasty and light to start with. It was not greasy like some places and could be seen as really simple. However, the balance and lightness was just light for a starter.

The Tofu Balls are sweet and light, not too heavy and a nice way to begin the meal.

I am always partial Corn Fritters and the ones here are moist, light, tasty and well balanced as a starter.

The Tofu Burger here is simply delicious. I am already thinking about when I can go back there to have it again. It's is wonderfully well balanced, moist, and just tasty. Delicious and nutritious... yummy.

I also has the Laksa which looked like a deceptively small serving. This is fusion laksa at its best because it wasn't overpowering and just the right level of coconut milk. It did have spice and some of my friends, Deb and Robbie found that it had a bit of a kick to it. The only problem I had with it is the bits of lemon grass in it. The old style of leaving everything in the soup could be annoying for some.

Lasksa in a Claypot

There were other non-Asian inspired dishes here that I haven't reviewed but suffice to say, I think there's enough of a range to inspire most people but - when you go to a place such as this - you have to be a bit adventurous.

The Service
This place has really friendly service and I felt really welcomed coming here. They are pretty accommodating. They will take time to explain their menu which changes from time to time. I think this is an important thing because many of the dishes, as described on the menu are not familiar ones. They are innovations and with any innovation, it's always good for a diner to ask questions if they are not sure. So, ask, and they will explain what you could expect. One of the friendliest places to dine in Melbourne and my fellow diners agree on the personal touch this place offers.

Overall
What a great find for a local restaurant. I never thought I'd find a vegetarian restaurant that I would rave about (other than the Moroccan Soup Bar) but I do like this one and will likely go back again and again. A real delight.

Cultural Moment
Fusion cuisine can be tricky. Not only is it tricky because it's trying to bring different cuisines together, it is also tricky because you are possibly introducing new tastes to set tastebuds, and not serving anything that's expected. This presents a challenge especially when you are crossing cultural food boundaries - spices in salads, tang to dishes, new combinations of ingredients, unexpected twists in flavourings and textures. I honestly think this is a niche market. Most people know what they like and tend to go for their traditional favourites and their well known dishes. Even those who like contemporary cusine tend to favour particular flavours. Only a small group would put up with real fusion dishes. It's a brave neighbourhood restaurtant that does that, and I applaud Mama Roots. The good news is that they have a range of innovative dishes but also the more expected traditional ones. As I always say when it comes to dining across cultures - know your own tastes, ask the right questions and order accordingly.

Tom Phat

182-184, Sydney Road, Brunswick, VIC 3056

http://tomphat.com.au/

This place scored 83% on Urbanspoon and I believe it used to be higher. This is a limited review because I have EVER only been for brekkie/brunch on weekends. It's a great place for breakfast with a difference. The best way to describe the food here is that  it is Southeast Asian Contemporary fusion.

The Place

Cafe style place with couches, tables for 4 or 2 (moveable) and a big 'sharing' table up the front. The place works and has a nice feel to it. Relaxed and comfortable generally (though the tables are pretty close to each other). This place is also pretty child friendly with spaces for prams

Other things to do nearby: Situated on Sydney Road, there's heaps of shops around and Barkly Square Shopping Centre is close by.

The Food

I like the food here because it combines elements of my favourite things. It has the best of Western Brekkie and Eastern Brekkie. So, here we go with the highlights;

Roti Omelette - we're talking shredded roti, laced with scrambled eggs and bacon, with chives. Come on, that's good right? And it's done really well, the roti is light, the eggs are fluffy and the bacons are flavoursome. It's all good.

Yunnan Baked Free Range Eggs (pictured above) - with sweet tamarind pork. This is another great combination, with the generous slice of bread. Takes me a while to get through it as it usually comes hot out of the oven. It's one of my most favourite breakfast meals ever!

Goan Scrambled Eggs with Chorizo - this is good but there's heaps to get through. As in, there's a lot of fluffy goan spiced scrambled eggs. :)

Sweet Corn Fritters - I like this too but sometimes, the fritters could get a bit dry. However, it comes with salmon, avocado salsa, and harissa mayo (you could ask for a top up of the mayo perhaps).

They are heaps of other interesting dishes and I must say, they are really vegetarian and vegequarian (pescatorian) friendly. Also, a number of gluten free items. 

Nods to Robbie and Ev, who both LOVE Uncle Ho's Brekkie (pictured right).

The Soft Shell Crab is also yummy and for the kids, French Toast with Bananas... lots of bananas.

I also quite like the Stirfried Angus Minced Beef with Basil (pictured below) which has quite intense flavourings. It's a huge serve, this one and might be worth sharing especially if you are thinking of having it for brunch.

 

Probably the most disappointing thing on the menu would be the springrolls which are completely underwhelming.

The Service

The service used to be really friendly and easy going but efficient. However, I tend to agree with some of the more recent reviews on Urbanspoon that the current crew of waitstaff seem a lot less interested in their customers needs. Pretty brusque and hurried (even when it's not that busy). A smile is a rare thing these days though the staff behind the counter continue to be relatively friendly.

Not sure what it is, and I don't mind it because it's not as if they are rude or anything - it's just now what it used to be, though the food continues to be of excellent standard.

Overall

I am going to talk about the clientale here - I just want to say that because the tables are so close together - how do I put this - do hipsters and aging hippies all talk so loudly that everyone close by have to know what's happening in their lives? I guess it's part of the atmosphere and it can get amusing sometimes. However, if you are there really early between 9 - 10, even during the weekends, it's usually relatively quiet.

A Cultural Moment

Southeast Asian Breakfasts can be pretty substantial and involve cooked meals. Unlike many Western cuisines, where there are clear breakfast foods, SEAsian foods don't always make that distinction. For example, you could have congee or laksa or pho or wonton noodles or roti (with curry) for brekkie or lunch or dinner.

So, if you are at a hotel in SEAsia where brekkie is included, you are in for a feast - it's usually more than your breads and spreads, bacon, eggs and hashbrowns. You are more likely to encounter food that you might think is inappropriate for brekkie - just remember - they don't make that distinction.