Massive Wieners

We love: Massive Wieners (http://www.massivewieners.com/)

Where: 113 Greville Street, Prahran Victoria

Good to know: The sauerkraut goes well with any hotdog choice (nom nom nom)

We love ratings!

Food rating: A

Coffee rating: N/a

Price: So cheap! For around $9 you'll get a 12-inch wiener (which is meal size)!

Okay so in Melbourne there has been the rise and rise of cheap eats, food vans, food 'stand'-y type places, burger joints, hot dog joints etc etc. Some of them are done really well. Some are a little...yawn.

Massive Wieners. Not yawn. Yum (really yum).

It's this super cute new hot dog place on Greville Street in Prahran. It's super cute. More importantly, it's super delicious. I ordered the hot dog with pickles and my boyfriend added 'sauerkraut' to my order. I frowned and said I didn't want it but he convinced me and the lovely employee said I could go halvies at least.

OMG. So glad he did. Sauerkraut sounds a bit eek but it was delicious and it went so well with the mustard.

If you're looking for a real hot dog. Not too much fuss, just delicious. Don't go past Massive Wieners.

Palate Restaurant Bar

We love: Palate Restaurant Bar (http://www.palate.com.au/)

Where: 132 Greville Street, Prahran Victoria

Good to know: Sit outside or inside! All Day Breakfast! Amaaaazing coffee!

We love ratings!
Food rating: A

Coffee rating: A (consistently)
Price: Pretty decent. $20 will get you brekky and a coffee. Check out the menu here.

I recently moved back to my beloved 'hood Prahran. I live near the Grattan Gardens in a beautiful spot, quite close to Greville Street. The huge trees in Grattan Gardens are just lovely to sit under when it's sunny. Beautiful spot.

So, my boyfriend discovered Palate and now it's probably our most frequent haunt. They do brekky, lunch and dinner and the food there is incredible (although I can only vouch for the breakfast there I haven't yet been any other time). 

Their coffee is consistently amazing. Smooth, rich, creamy. Yum.

The hash browns are to die for and so are the banana pancakes. My boyfriend is a huge fan of the fried egg bruschetta (he gets it with an extra fried egg). Everything we've had there to date is just delicious.

If you want somewhere guaranteed not to dissapoint, on the food and coffee front, Palate on Greville is your best bet!

Dukes Coffee Roasters, Chapel Street

We love: Dukes Coffee Roasters (http://www.dukescoffee.com.au/)

Where: 169 Chapel Street, Prahran Victoria

Good to know: The window seat rocks, but some of it will usually be taken by me.

We love ratings!
Food rating: A

Coffee rating: A (consistently)
Price: Pretty decent. $20 will get you brekky and a coffee.

Oh I love Dukes. I love that the serving sizes aren't too massive (except the pancakes, which are impossible for me to finish). My boyfriend LOVES the scrambled eggs, they are soft and delicious and drizzled with some kind of delicious oil.

The coffee is always amazing and I think they actually roast it on the premises. They have trained baristas, of course, and a keen sense of good coffee. They even get the soy lattes right.

I highly recommend to add a potato rosti as a side, they're amazing. The fresh squeezed orange juice is also a favourite of mine.

Enjoy!

Newtown, Fitzroy

We love: Newtown SC
Where: 180 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Good to know: The menu isn't hugely detailed but they don't have a full sized kitchen. I go for their home-made muesli, which is delicious.

We love ratings!
Food rating: B (A+ for home-made muesli though)
Coffee rating: A (consistently)
Price: Decent. $15 will get you breakfast

Right up that other end of Brunswick Street, a bit before you get to Gertrude Street, is Newtown SC. It's a teeny tiny little cafe that serves consistently brilliant coffee and delicious food.

I love to go and order their muesli, a coffee (of course), and a freshly squeezed OJ, and sit at the window seat and read the paper. The muesli is served with fresh fruit, and honestly it doesn't get much better than that.

Trippy Taco, Fitzroy

We love: Trippy Taco (http://www.trippytaco.com.au/)
Where: 234 Gertrude Street Fitzroy
Good to know: Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available! Licensed venue.

We love ratings!
Food: A
Price: Very decent! A main will set you back around $10.

Do you love delicious mexican food? Are you vegan or vegetarian (or can you tolerate meat free dishes)? Can you stand waiting in line with hipsters for a while and eating in a packed restuarant (this being a good sign)?

Then Trippy Taco is for you!

Delicious mexican tacos, burritos, quesadilla plus a whole lot more. Served with delicious sides and hot or extra hot chilli sauce. Gluten free and vegan options available. No meat on the menu. Get yourself down there and eat eat eat!

Pellegrini's, Bourke Street Melbourne

We love: Pellegrini's (link on Urban Spoon)
Where: 66 Bourke Street Melbourne
Good to know: A Melbourne icon.

We love ratings!
Food rating: A+, traditional authentic Italian food, not jazzed up.
Coffee rating: A+, they know what espresso is
Price: Not too bad, $20 will get you lunch or dinner

I love Pellegrini's. You walk in and immediately you know they haven't updated the decor in forever. Probably since they opened. The Italian men who work behind the long bar are lovely. Friendly and helpful. They'll get you your lunch or dinner in no time.

It's proper Italian food, not jazzed up, just authentic and traditional and delicious.

I find it hard to go past the spaghetti Bolognese. I also recommend the granita. A perfect combination.

It's usually packed in there so either get in early or be prepared for a short wait.

Grazie!!

Huxtaburger Restaurant, Collingwood

We love: Huxtaburger Restaurant (http://www.huxtaburger.com.au/)
Where: 106 Smith Street Collingwood Victoria
Good to know: If you love a good burger...just go!! Small burger sizes, so get a side of chips.

We love ratings!
Food: A+
Price: A burger will set you back $10.

I am slightly obsessed with Masterchef. And so when (during dude food week) Daniel Wilson (chef and owner of Huxtable Restaurant, Smith Street Fiztroy) came on to face off against Tregan - I was pretty much hooked on the idea of going to Huxtable Restaurant.

Imagine my excitement when I overheard my barista telling another coffee patron one morning that she went to Huxtaburger Restaurant the previous weekend...for a, get this, hamburger. Not just any hamburger. A Huxtaburger, which is infinately more delicious than your average chip shop ensemble.

It's a perfectly cooked hamburger patty, with fresh lettuce and tomato, melted cheese (they do the melting  on the grill), on a slightly toasted and deliciously light brioche bun. The burgers are not oversized, and the choices are classic (see the menu here).

Absolutely incredible.

Spud Bar, Fitzroy

We love: SpudBAR (http://www.spudbar.com.au/Spudbar_Website/Welcome_to_Spudbar.html)
Where: 368 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Good to know: If you think potato is fattening, they have baked sweet potato

We love ratings!
Food rating: B
Price: $12 will get you a baked spud
It's not rocket science, but they do a baked spud pretty well.

Madame Sousou, Fitzroy

We love: Madame Sousou (http://www.madamesousou.com.au/)
Where: 231 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Good to know: If in doubt, get the Croque Madame Sousou

We love ratings!
Food: A+
Coffee: A bit hit and miss. A good one is an A, for sure, but if they miss it's around a C
Price: A hot brekky will set you back $20 plus the cost of drinks, it's not a cheap brekky.

A delightful french inspired cafe in the heart of Fitzroy, with deliciously rich food for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Fantastic menu. The food is a tad pricey but absolutely worth opening your wallet for.

Recommended dishes include the Croque Madame Sousou, of course, the baked eggs (Ceufs En Cocotte), French Crepes or the Spanish Omlette. Yum.

The Mess Hall, Bourke Street Melbourne

We love: The Mess Hall, Melbourne (http://www.themesshallmelbourne.com/)

Where: 51 Bourke Street, Melbourne (Spring Street end)
Good to know: Beautiful atmosphere. Well priced. Delicious. It doesn't have a huge shopfront though so it's a bit easy to miss. It's near the corner of McIlwraith Place.

If you love simple but wonderful food, and you're a fan of Italian, this is the place for you. The menu isn't ridiculously long and the prices are reasonable. But no mistake, the food is wonderfully satisfying, and absolutely delicious.