Which restaurant in Melbourne should I buy my sister a gift voucher for?
August 5, 2023 11:02 AM Subscribe
My sister lives 10 000 miles away in Melbourne and has a significant birthday coming up. I'd like to buy her a gift voucher for a nice meal, somewhere where 200 AUD would cover most of the bill for two people plus wine.
The type of cuisine isn't important, and I'd rather it were somewhere hip and cool than posh and snooty. Does not need to be somewhere with name recognition. She lives in the Elwood suburb, but I'm sure would be happy to travel for a good meal.
The type of cuisine isn't important, and I'd rather it were somewhere hip and cool than posh and snooty. Does not need to be somewhere with name recognition. She lives in the Elwood suburb, but I'm sure would be happy to travel for a good meal.
We had a very memorable meal when we were in Melbourne at Meatmaiden in the CBD. It felt a bit like being in a stylish and edgy Nicolas Winding Refn movie while eating absolutely stellar smoked meats and steaks. Probably around the right budget for your gift voucher, and was certainly hip and cool, but... it's certainly not for a vegetarian, and has stylishly dark vibes that not everyone would dig.
posted by eschatfische at 12:36 PM on August 5, 2023
posted by eschatfische at 12:36 PM on August 5, 2023
Best answer: I actually asked almost this exact question once before (even to the 200AUD budget!) but I see, astonishingly, that it was 13 years ago!
Anyway, I went for Longrain vouchers and they were very well received.
posted by penguin pie at 1:03 PM on August 5, 2023
Anyway, I went for Longrain vouchers and they were very well received.
posted by penguin pie at 1:03 PM on August 5, 2023
Anthony Bourdain recommended:
Dainty Sichuan
Traditional spicy hot pot and noodle dishes in a smart locale with brick walls and an open kitchen.
Service options: Dine-in · Takeout
206 Bourke Street
237 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9041 6382
posted by falsedmitri at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2023
Dainty Sichuan
Traditional spicy hot pot and noodle dishes in a smart locale with brick walls and an open kitchen.
Service options: Dine-in · Takeout
206 Bourke Street
237 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9041 6382
posted by falsedmitri at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2023
I had a wonderful meal at ARU, which is located in the CBD and does modern Australian-Asian food.
Friends of mine have also greatly enjoyed going to Gimlet, which has a lovely dining space and would be great for a nice occasion! Even better - if you want just a little pomp and ceremony - the gift card comes in a weighted envelope with a wax seal and can be picked up by your friend at the host desk.
posted by doomsyrup at 4:02 PM on August 5, 2023
Friends of mine have also greatly enjoyed going to Gimlet, which has a lovely dining space and would be great for a nice occasion! Even better - if you want just a little pomp and ceremony - the gift card comes in a weighted envelope with a wax seal and can be picked up by your friend at the host desk.
posted by doomsyrup at 4:02 PM on August 5, 2023
I'm a restaurant critic, and I always love fielding this question for places outside Maine, since I never get to.
Anyhow, my vote would be Embla.
posted by yellowcandy at 6:42 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Anyhow, my vote would be Embla.
posted by yellowcandy at 6:42 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
My recommendation is for Smith & Daughters.
posted by Lil' Blue Goat at 8:41 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Lil' Blue Goat at 8:41 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I’m still craving the crispy pork red curry from Toff of the Town in Curtin House. They have tables inside train carriages that you can pull the blinds and close the doors. It’s fun rather than fancy. They have live music later on some evenings. There’s a sister restaurant downstairs called Cookie, and the same kitchen services both. Up on the 6th floor is a great cocktail bar. There’s also a rooftop bar.
Edit to add: not sure the link worked, it’s curtinhouse.com
posted by MissyMonster at 1:39 AM on August 6, 2023
Edit to add: not sure the link worked, it’s curtinhouse.com
posted by MissyMonster at 1:39 AM on August 6, 2023
not a direct answer to your question, but I once was treated to a special restaurant, and it went like this:
them: happy Z day! I've made a reservation for you at X place on Y date. Is that OK?
me: yes! not sure I can afford it
them: it's all covered, just go and enjoy!
Why I really liked this approach: They had gone to the trouble to make the reservation, confirmed with me that it was cool, and had set it up so the bill was covered. I liked this *much* more than a gift card, as it felt emotionally better - I didn't have to lift a finger, and I didn't have to worry about staying within a fixed budget.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 7:21 PM on August 6, 2023
them: happy Z day! I've made a reservation for you at X place on Y date. Is that OK?
me: yes! not sure I can afford it
them: it's all covered, just go and enjoy!
Why I really liked this approach: They had gone to the trouble to make the reservation, confirmed with me that it was cool, and had set it up so the bill was covered. I liked this *much* more than a gift card, as it felt emotionally better - I didn't have to lift a finger, and I didn't have to worry about staying within a fixed budget.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 7:21 PM on August 6, 2023
Response by poster: Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. We went through all the restaurants' websites and reviews and in the end we went with Longrain. That they have a fancy cocktail bar upstairs that the vouchers are also good for might have been what clinched it.
posted by alby at 12:33 PM on September 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by alby at 12:33 PM on September 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by emd3737 at 12:03 PM on August 5, 2023