THE DECK

The Deck is one of those bars I would never go to normally, but always seem to end up there for after work drinks. They do have a nice outdoor area, so it’s good if the weather is nice. On Thursday nights they have a $10 pizza + drink deal which is pretty good value. I had a greek pizza with salt & pepper squid, tzatziki and greek salad, it was quite tasty actually.

It does get really busy though on a Friday night, so be prepared! They also play generic Ministry Of Sound music, so why they even bother employing the services of a DJ is beyond me – just whack on the MOS annual, it’s pretty much what you’re playing anyway! So when you’re at the deck, make sure it’s with work people and you go in with an open mind!

THE QUIET MAN

271 Racecourse Rd Kensington, VIC 3031
Ph 03 93766232

We wandered in here on a Wednesday night after our laksa King adventure, and the Quiet Man was a little quiet, but a cute little pub nonetheless. Although even though the pub was dead it still somehow took us 20 mins to get served!! I’ve been told by a girlfriend who lives in Kensington to go back on a weekend before I make my final assessment. So stay tuned.

ARGY BARGY

263 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183


Ph (03) 9527 2122

Are you suffering from 90’s nostalgia? Find that no-one’s getting your Fresh Prince of Bel-Air pop culture references?? Well head down to Argy Bargy on Carlisle St. It’s like being in your mate’s share house lounge room, except this share house has beer on tap and makes wicked pizzas. Argy Bargy is decorated with 90’s images…so there’s a lot of fun to be had remembering how much you loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Captain Planet! Staff and patrons are friendly - I’ve gotten into a few random conversations! Jugs are cheap and they have lots of specials and a happy hour. Try the dirty sanchez.

MADAME BRUSSELS

59 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Ph (03) 9662 2775

Madame Brussels is fabulous. It is one of the many wonderful themed bars in Melbourne – I love them! The Alice in Wonderland, croquet-and-a-Pimm’s theme works a charm, and there is a great rooftop area. And a pool in summer when it’s hot!! The staff all dress in line with the theme, which makes it work even better. They only sell international beers, which I think is a little weird. They have Quilmes though which is pretty nice! They also do tasty Pimm’s jugs (although the amount of actual Pimm’s in the jugs is questionable) and cocktails. Very refreshing after a hard day’s work! Great bar to take out-of-town visitors (like my Mum, who loved the place!!) and great for a knock off or a nightcap if you’ve had dinner down that end of town.

GYPSIES BAR AND CAFE

107 Acland St, St Kilda VIC 3182




This is a cute little place down Acland St in St Kilda. I had a lovely salmon steak and my girlfriend K had a good serve of eggs with salmon and avocado. Prices were reasonable and the staff were friendly. I’m not writing a lot because it didn’t differentiate itself greatly from other restaurants but the food was nice and I would definitely go there again.

NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB

301 High St, Northcote VIC 3070

Ph (03) 9489 3917

One sunny Sunday afternoon, I thought I would head to Northcote and see what all the fuss was about! The social club was a cool place. The deck out the back is the perfect place to while away a lazy afternoon. The social club is also host to some great bands, and attracts a good crowd. The food was good, reasonably priced pub fare. My friend and I shared a vegie burger and a serve of nachos. Both were huge serves and tasted pretty good. Another friend had a calamari salad, and told me that adding pickles to the salad was “a stroke of genius.” So you’ve been told!!

LAKSA KING

Shop 3, 320 Racecourse Road, Kensington, VIC 3031

Ph (03) 9372 6383



Recently I was complaining to a friend that I had not yet found a laksa that is comparable to, or even in the same solar system as the laksa from Chinatown café in Adelaide. This friend told me that I had to try Laksa King, as they did the best Laksas in Melbourne. A big call, but I was keen to check it out! So on a Wednesday night went to Kensington and dragged a group of mates with me.

Well I’m happy to say it definitely was the best laksa I’ve had since I’ve been in Melbourne! The soup was pretty good, I liked the combination of vermicelli and egg noodles, and they didn’t skimp on the seafood either. There was also a good amount of tofu and eggplant in the dish. Some friends got the vegetarian version which looked great too. It was a Wednesday night and the place was packed, there were people waiting for tables and a huge crowd getting take away too.

How does it compare to Chinatown café? Well I am definitely biased since I’ve been a Chinatown café devotee for about 11 years now, so I still like Chinatown café better, but Laksa King is a close second. Check it out!