March 2019 - Present

 
Din Tai Fung (DTF) opened up quite sometime ago above the Emporium (new mall) though we've never really gotten around to it till now. Mainly to avoid the disappointment that so man dishes have pork, though we've discovered many dishes don't have pork, yay!

It's a very popular place, absolutely huge, the biggest chinese place I've ever been, with plenty of space, some tables have a laundry hamper for your bags, air con, air, a dates worthy atmosphere, and a little jazz. Overheard someone say it's chinese food for white people, costs more cause you're paying for atmosphere, but I'd pay for that. As oppose to people yelling at me, sitting on stools in an eatery balancing my bags. I do love dumplings but for all those reasons I'd never dine at a chinese place not in a nice mall alone.

How it works is you go up to the podium, grab a buzzer and a menu to fill out. However at the picture menu cause that's the one with the prices. Soon you get called up, podium girl with a work name circles your table on a map, and you're in. Smart people order as they are seated, though there's a menu book at the table (with prices).

March 2019












Our first visit was late one evening, we ha potstickers, truffle fried rice, chicken & corn soup, a bao, drunken chicken (cold) and mango pudding for dessert. Surprizingly I only have photos of the food. Didn't take notes on our first visit. 

July 2019



Beef and egg truffle oil rice, smells amazing! More of a side to something else I felt rather than a dish on it's own. Needs more stuff in it.


Crab and corn soup, a twist on the classic chicken and corn. 
Needs pepper. Wouldn't get again.



Chicken mushrooms pot stickers, quite nice though I'm missing chicken and prawn dumplings which they don't do here, we'll get chicken dumplings next time.







Taro spring rolls with sesame, so I ordered the wrong dish, this was meant to be a taro bao. It was savory...

Tuesday night, I've never been given a map to go find my own seat before, but it was busy almost a full house. 

December 2019



Seafood potstickers so good! Not too salty but just right though the bottom of the dumpling (are potstickers dumplings?) were a little oily. Would get again. Order these asap.




We actually had dessert first as pot stickers take 20mins to make. Mango pudding for two whoops, just the salted egg lava bun and lychee drink (with mint hence green) would have been enough.

Damage $36

January 2020



First one in on a Monday night, 5pm when they opened in between work and the studio. People flowed in quickly. We got the perfect seat by the window above the mall with perfect lighting.




Chicken and mushroom dumplings with special shallot sauce. So good.

Crispy fried Prawns with mayo and pineapple. Sounds strange but so good! Eat fast though, it's not nice cold. This is meant to be shared, whoops.

Golden lava mini bun, with a salted egg filling. The perfect size dessert.

Service fast and friendly. Yes we'll be back though it's pricey so we don't dine here without an offer from dimmi (50% off) or Liven tbh.

This place fascinates me, modern Chinese with big airy spaces. Clean and nice, which is reflected in the prices. Not really a fan of lack of prices on order forms though. Though it's quite efficient the system, get a buzzer thing, order forms, sit down ready to order.



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May 2018 - Current



Dinner at Melati, we haven't been here since ownership changed (before May 2018). Liz and Eric are now retired and passed on the family business to their nephew, who's redecorated the place, modernizing it. Ripping up the carpet and removing those vertical blinds (from the 80/90s) in favour of fairy lights, floorboards and modern lighting.

Located on a quiet strip at an intersection, you're not going to believe how we first found this place. One random day on my way somewhere on the 75 tram I looked up and saw Eric in the window! We've known the past owners for years from church and knew they had a place though never actively looked it up.


From Tues to Thu you can get a three course meal for $24, the perfect chance to visit! I realize after many visits that no one needs to consume a three course mid-week meal but whoops. Next time I'll just get a main. They're closed on Mondays.






Bakwan Jagung - Sweet corn and spring onion fritters with chilli mayo.
 
These were amazing, light and not oily at all, full of flavour. I'm told the secret is using fresh not frozen corn. I'd get this again for sure. Edit - By the time (2yrs later) when I post this we realized this is my absolute favourite dish here, and something we almost always order.
 


 
Not served as hot as expected in heat this creamy coconuty curry is perfect for me as I don't like it hot :P Not sure about the salad pairing though... maybe add veg in the curry itself? That or I've just never had a fresh crisp salad with a curry before. What I thought was carrot was actually tomato in the curry. The chicken was tender and perfect. The serving size was just right though I thought they'd be more sauce like jap/indian curry. Love that it was a pretty well balanced meal, which is rare.



Pisang Goreng Nangka/Dessert Springrolls
 
Jackfruit and banana deep fried with ice cream, palm sugar syrup, with jackfruit and strawberries. It was very nice and not so sweet (I'd say asian approved levels perhaps?).


This place is literally next to the tram stop, or there's parking around the corner out back.


November 2018




Nasi Goreng - a little bit spicy, though a large serve (it's bigger than it looks) I can't finish it all... the rice is smokey, with a little chili and it's pretty good.




There was that beautiful crackled top, though I'm not sure about the mango flesh as a separate layer under the creme part. Would have been better purred as one.

Another Visit










My favourite dish. I like to try a different main each time, but these fritters are THE corn fritters. We tried them at another place (Bangpop) and they definitely weren't the same.


Kare Ayam - Indonesian chicken curry cooked with aromatic spice, baby potato and tomato.
 I've had this before, it was perfect. Gosh I think I like every main I've tried here. It's all about what are you in the mood for.





Not pictured was tomorrow's lunch. Nina also ordered takeaway, something pork.
 
Mie Goreng $15 - Indonesian wok tossed fried egg noodle with shredded chicken breast, sweet soy sauce, prawn cracker and omelet on top. I had this for lunch the next day cold, at a BYO food music festival, a hint spicy but perfectly so! Loved it.

Service as lovely as always, thanks Eric. The vibe was pretty chill with acoustic versions of popular songs from the 2005-ish.


Not really sure if it's available instores unless you ask/or only on certain days (the $15 menu used to be on the window but not recently) might be a menulog thing only? But they have these $15 'sets' which include the main with a salad and rice. Perfect for dinner for one. I'll find out and update this.

A lovely spot for dinner anyday, better offers Tues/Thu (off peak) it's a quiet spot we like to stop by during the week in between meetings and classes.



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 A Rainy Thursday Night



A seat by the window, watching the many trams go by on a gloomy and wet evening (in this case it's a good thing as it hasn't rained for quite some time). It's lovely, just perfect.




We start of with garlic bread while waiting. These tastes like magic with that garlic butter, parmesan and bitter garlic crisps. Just the right size for a entree for two.




Oddly the sauce isn't included, but it's like a small bowl! You get a choice of chips or salad. We did have a debate though went with the fries. There's a salad on it's own too but it's big - unless you're sharing. My dinning companion tonight ended up at another branch of M&W Co, also near the trams...

Slipping away into a food coma with 20% to go, this serving is larger than it looks, that or the garlic bread just got to my stomach and is soaking up all the water I had. The steak was perfect medium. Glad I tried the garlic sauce but that's a try once, wanted to try something new as I always get the mushroom sauce. Chips were perfect serving size with the perfect crispy and fluffiness inside.

They have a dessert menu! Unexpected as it's not listed online. 



Pavlova $12

If you like just the hard parts and not the marshmallow, you'll like this. I love marshmallows so it was a little disappointing but it was nice. This was definitely made for two, with a mix of fresh and frozen berries.



Busy on a Friday night, warm glowing light. There's a room upstairs too. Our waiter John was very easy on the eyes, very friendly and explained the different cuts well.

Overall we had a great time with the best view looking outside, the only table looking out. Service was excellent and we're so glad to finally tick this place off our to eat list. Yes we'll definitely be back. 






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Tuesday in January 2020


A quiet Tuesday dinner by the station. We thought it was a Mexican place though they served 'traditional dishes inspired by the culture and flavours of the Americas and the sounds of 1970s Latin America'. More bar for snacks than restaurant. A nice place for an afternoon work meeting over drinks.

SWEET POTATO, CHORIZO & SWEET CORN QUESADILLAS $18
 
Blue corn tortilla filled with sweet potato, chorizo, sweetcorn, 
onion, jalapeño, oregano, served with a Pico de Gallo Salsa.

Tacos need sour cream, these were taco sized.

  

SPRING PEA GUACAMOLE & CORN CHIPS $10
Blue Corn Tortilla chips served with a house-guacamole made from Spring Peas, 
Jalapeno Peppers, Coriander, Lime juice, Mint, Lime Zest, Cumin, Red Peppers & Salt.

ALFAJORES $12
Traditional South American sandwich cookie filled with 
dulce de leche and served with home made citrus mascarpone.

HOUSE-MADE BANANA- COCONUT ICE CREAM $12
Sweet & fresh house-banana & coconut ice cream served with shaved dark chocolate.

We both desserts to share. The cookie was strange, as the cookie part was like a salada cracker... but the ice cream was good, banana with toasted coconut bits.



Friendly service on a quiet night, only two other tables were taken though it's a small place.

Everything was good though nothing really stood out. 
A fun though expensive bar good for snacks, but not a meal.

Damage unknown but we got 50% via dimmi.

 

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