The Travel Hop reveals the Melbourne takeaways that are well worth the splurge
Amidst the crappy Coronavirus climate of shutdowns and isolation, it’s important to look for the smallest glimmer of hope. Enter the fine dining takeaway
Melbourne’s bevy of top tier eateries are not going down without a fight and are instead launching delivery services to customers who want to forgo the greasy, fast-food takeaway of yesteryear, in favour of something more refined.
From internationally lauded heavy hitters offering cut-price meals, to hipster Asian foodie favourites serving signature dishes with ‘no reservation required.’ Whet your appetite and read on for our pick of the city's at-home dining experiences that your stomach will thank you for.
Attica: a world class fine dining experiences in Melbourne
Open for more than a decade, Attica has been a frontrunner in the city’s fine dining scene. Helmed by Kiwi chef and owner, Ben Shewry, the signature tasting menu has seen the culinary institution lauded internationally. And in usual circumstances, scoring a table here would equate to a three month wait list and a scary bill after your meal. However, given the current climate, anyone can get a taste (pun intended) of Attica.
During the current lockdown the restaurant are offering various delivery options, including variations of the staple Attica tasting menus (‘Classics at Home’) and a more casual - but equally as tasty - family meal offering, including Ben’s ‘family lasagne’ paired with a garden salad and pull-apart garlic bread.
Chin Chin is a longtime favourite with Melbourne locals and visitors alike
A perennial on the country’s best restaurants lists since opening in mid-2011, the Asian-inspired, hipster restaurant has attracted a steady stream of crowds with hungry foodies queueing almost every night of the week. But in this city of laneways where new eateries pop up (and often close) in rapid succession, curiously Chin Chin’s popularity hasn’t lessened, in fact, it has increased.
After a constant steam of press and an appearance on MasterChef, the restaurant has become a must-try for visitors. Given this hype, it stands to reason that there had been a fair few celebs making their way to the Flinders Lane eatery, including superstar singer, Pink and Serena Williams
.
Now, for the first time ever, the asian eatery are offering their signature favourites - caramelised sticky pork and the famed butter chicken, included - as takeaway with home delivery coming very soon. Plus, if you’re a healthcare worker, you'll get 50 per cent off your bill.
Ishizuka: Japanese fine dining Melbourne style
Characterised by intricately plated dishes and an intimate, below-ground-level setting, Ishizuka is the ultimate in Melbourne Japanese fine dining.
A set tasting menu marries fresh produce and precise and intricate Japanese cooking and presentation techniques. Indeed, the food here is so pretty and well presented, it’s almost a shame to eat it - almost! Typical in-house meals include the likes of delicate sashimi, spanner crab, sea urchin and truffle and quail egg, and this gourmet sensibility has been applied to their new luxury bento new takeaway offering too. The limited edition single and premium boxes (catering from one to four diners) feature the highest grade Australian and Japanese produce. But you’ll need to pre-order. Only 10 of the single boxes are made daily, while only one lucky diner will be able to take home the daily premium box.
The Instagram-worthy fare at Higher Ground in Melbourne
One of the newest - and easily most stylish - additions to the city’s dining scene, Higher Ground, is housed in a heritage-listed former Victorian power station. Its cavernous space and sky-high rafters (15-metres high, to be precise) prompt serious neck craning, and the light-filled space could easily have been transplanted from an ultra-hip boutique hotel in London or Manhattan. But we’re not here to talk about the location.
Wow-factor aside, the eating is similarly as good looking. In fact, this place has developed cult following on Instagram thanks to its visually appealing foodie fare. And, best of all, whether you’re after a business brekky, lunch, or dinner, Higher ground offers takeaway and delivery of their favourites.
There are a number of ramen joints in Melbourne, but for ramen hyperbole, then Shizuku comes out on top. One of the city’s most beloved ramen spots, this place serves up some of the best soupy noodles from its two outlets, both of which pair killer food with killer creative combinations, as well as a cracking selection of craft beers.
Their passion for the Japanese staple has translated to one of the most comprehensive ramen selections in the country, from the black truffle ramen (as good as it sounds), through to the ‘Angel’s share’ ramen, which marries spirits and soup (a creamy pork bone broth pepped with Japanese single malt whisky and Junmai sake). There’s also a large selection of zensai (sharing dishes), including bao (the crab and lobster are both must-try’s), grilled octopus balls, gyoza, fried chicken, and more. But it’s the slurpy soup that is the real jewel in Shizuku’s crown.
Home deliveries are available via Menulog and you can even add one of the rotating selection of both Japanese and local craft beers (amongst other beverages) to your order for the ultimate dining in experiences, and for the perfect ramen pairing.