Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

GREAT DEALS ON DINING 541
Il Solito Posto NORTHERN ITALIAN This below ground restaurant is
split into two parts. The casual bistro has a blackboard menu offering good pastas,
soups, and salads. Then there’s the sharper and more upmarket trattoria,
with its a la carte menu offering the likes of steak, fish, and veal dishes. The coffee
is excellent.
Basement of 113 Collins St. (enter via George Parade).& 03/9654 4466. Reservations recommended. Main
courses A$15–A$17 (US$9.75–US$11) in bistro, A$25–A$33 (US$16–US$21) in trattoria. AE, DC, MC, V.
Mon–Fri 7:30am–1am; Sat 9am–1am; closed Sun. Closed late Dec to early Jan.
Irish Times IRISH/MODERN AUSTRALIAN An Irish bar more authentic
than most, the Irish Times is a character-filled eating and drinking escape from
the rush of the city outside. It serves up generous portions and Guinness on tap,
and popular dishes include the warm chicken salad, mussels in a creamy broth,
Caesar salad, and Irish dishes such as “boxty”—patties of mashed potato, leek,
and onion with an accompanying tomato relish. There’s a live band on Thursday
and Friday evenings from 9:30pm and on Saturday from 10:30pm.
427 Little Collins St. & 03/9642 1699. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$10–A$25
(US$6.50–US$16). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 5pm–midnight; Sat 5pm–3am.
Nudel Bar NOODLES A favorite with city slickers, the Nudel Bar serves up a
variety of noodle dishes to the crowded tables and bar. Examples of what you
might find here are cold spicy green tea noodles, and mee goring (a noodle dish
with peanuts and here, often chicken). Sticky rice pudding is a favorite for dessert.
76 Bourke St. & 03/9662 9100. Reservations recommended Fri–Sat evenings. Main courses $13–A$18
(US$8.40–US$12). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 11am–10:30pm; Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 4–10:30pm.
Sheni’s Curries SRI LANKAN This tiny, basic but very busy place (it seats
30) offers a range of excellent-value, authentic Sri Lankan curries. You can either
dine here or take your lunch special to go. Choose between three vegetable dishes
and a choice of meat and seafood dishes. All meals come with rice, three types of
chutney, and a papadam. You can also buy extra items such as samosas and roti.
Shop 16, 161 Collins St. (on the corner of Flinders Lane and Russell St., opposite the entrance to the Grand
Hyatt). & 03/9654 3535. Lunch specials A$5.50–A$12 (US$3.60–US$7.80). No credit cards. Mon–Fri
11am–4pm.
Supper Inn CANTONESE Head here if you get the Chinese-food munchies
late at night. It’s a friendly place with a mixed crowd of locals and tourists chowing
down on such dishes as steaming bowls of congee (a rice-based porridge), barbecued
suckling pig, mud crab, or stuffed scallops. Everything here is the “real thing!”
15 Celestial Ave. &/fax 03/9663 4759. Reservations recommended. Main courses A$10–A$15 (US$6.50–
US$9.75). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 5:30pm–2:30am.
Worth a Splurge
Flower Drum CANTONESE Praise pours in from all quarters for this
upscale restaurant situated just off Little Bourke Street, Chinatown’s main drag.
Take a slow elevator up to the restaurant, which has widely spaced tables (perfect
for politicians and businesspeople to clinch their deals). Take note of the
specials—the chefs are extremely creative and utilize the best ingredients they
find in the markets each day. The signature dish here is the Peking duck,
although the buttered garfish is my favorite. The king crab dumplings in soup
is a great starter. You can also prearrange a banquet for two or more diners where
you’ll be served more unusual dishes, such as abalone, though for this a 1- or 2-
day advance notice is required.