Movida Bar De Tapas - Review

Duck liver parfait with a Pedro Ximenez Foam served with a crispy toast.  A glass of very forgiving Gewurztraminer.  Movida Bar de Tapas on Hozier Lane is the obscenely popular heart of Tapas in Melbourne - I am happy to test it out.  More dishes crowd up our bar level table wedged between the kitchen pass and the bar where spots turnover every thirty to forty five minutes.

The low lighting and high ceilings partnered with the distinctly gritty lane scenery out the warehouse style windows create a quasi bohemian setting.  The menu is split into single tapas serves and sharing plates, specials are recited with a little difficulty which I think is splendid as it means only one thing that they are todays specials and not the monthly chalk board stalwart.  The saturday lunch time throng is pushing through the door and I feel extremely lucky to have been sat, fed and wined with such attentive efficiency.  We concur on our order over another glass of white and our list seems to be growing: Jamon of course, Braised beef cheek with a superbly creamy cauli puree, portobello mushrooms in a punchy sauce, roast garlic, tomato and herb breads which seem to be our palette cleanser, two roast quail breast with braised quail flesh, croutons, and grapes.

The food in general is very enjoyable and a touch daring that you would feel enriched by the endeavor but not so much challenged by any stretch.  The real draw card is the popularity of the venue and its detractor is the heaving populous standing at the door waiting for more.  Seven days a week lunch and dinner, not many venues can do this and do it so very successfully.  The tuning is near perfect on this purring machine, not even a drip of oil could slip this engineered status symbol up.

Giles

Italian Passion.

There are institutions and then there is Glenside mental health facility, Lucia's is the former and is well and truly treated with an untouchable treatment.  We picked up some produce and slipped by Lucia's for a black coffee (very, very Italian) and a milk / thick shake with some Minestrone soup and a Papadelle with napoletana sauce.  The Minestrone was the perfect solution to a widening gap on a cold morning at the Central Markets, the Pasta was luscious, with great texture. The sauce however was a real let down, lacking any sort of passion, the sort of passion you might find in an Italian staple like a Fiat 500!  Not even cheese and seasoning could save the splitting failure.  I will return and order the same again and be heartily comforted as usual, but on this occasion there was disappointed - perhaps not unlike a italian engineering perhaps?

Giles

Queens St. Cafe

Queen St Cafe in Croydon is a well established (and supported by other small venues) cafe that has strengthened its hold on the sit own trade for a smart breakfast or lunch.  We enjoyed the re invigorated regulars of Avocado on dark rye now with speck, genius move!  As well as Belgian waffles with berry compote!  The coffee is really good - whilst not trying any pretentious frothery (?) The interior suits the range of eclectic neighbours and I am pleased the Queen St Cafe is now secure as a consistent performer!

Lime is complimentary (for free!)

Giles