Mr. Miyagi

JAPANESE FOOD. I have never come across anyone who did not enjoy eating Japanese food, and if they didn't... Mr. Miyagi is the place with the power of persuasion. Located on the bustling Chapel Street, Mr. Miyagi is ALWAYS BUSY. What's worse is that it's a 'no bookings/reservations' establishment (unless you're in a group of 6 or more, where you can book a booth in the back). So you have to wait and wait and wait, but I can guarantee that the wait is worth it. To my understanding, the menu has changed a little since my visit in November, but the dishes I tried below are still on there, so be sure to pay a visit. 

After seeing on Instagram the vibrant colours of the food and interesting looking cocktails, I went to Mr. Miyagi to celebrate a close girlfriends birthday. We went on a Wednesday night and waited just less than an hour. The front of house staff were not on their game and were not attentive during the whole waiting/seating process. We got comfortable on the seats at the bar (one of my favourite places to sit because you get to watch the magic happen) and my sour first impressions were overturned by the back of house and waiting staff - genuinely friendly, chatty and attentive. The venue itself is dark yet inviting, played catchy RNB tunes, was nicely decorated (with an Astroboy figurine on the bar) and had a wall full of wine bottles towards the back.

For starters we had the following cocktails - Hello Kitty Sour ($16.00) and Geisha's Blush ($14.00). I would recommend the Hello Kitty Sour for people who have a sweet tooth like me, it's a refreshing lychee flavour with citrus and egg white. The Geisha's Blush is a more acquired taste, as sake is not for everyone's tastebuds. The sake is mixed with cherry, lemon and orange blossom. One of the bar staff even gave us shots of Mandarin sake to try, it was delicious and really enhanced our eating experience as well. But let's get down to the food business. 

Nori Taco - $12.00 each ***A MUST ORDER DISH***

The Nori Taco is one of the highest Instagrammed taco that I have seen thus far... and for good reason. Whoever made up this creation is a culinary genius. They paired sushi rice, grilled Salmon belly, Jap mayo and then added a Mexican taco touch. It's crunchy on the outside, delectable all around and was the perfect size - not too small and not too big. I would have eaten 5 of these alone if I could.

Nigiri and Sashimi Combo (Small / 12 Piece) - $35.00

When we were seated at the bar, we watched all the gorgeous combo platters being made. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the presentation and colours on this dish? You can tell the care that was put into it. The combo was a mixture of salmon, kingfish and tuna. If you asked me which one is my favourite, I couldn't tell you as they were all equally fresh and delicious. 

Kingfish Ceviche - $18.00

This was not your usual kingfish ceviche dish as it's presented more like a salad, rather than individual Kingfish slices. It was super refreshing and had a different flavour and texture with every bite - with ingredients like grapefruit, cucumber, coconut panna cotta, red sorrel and ginger dressing. 

Miyagi Fried Chicken (MFC) - $14.00 for 6 pieces

Sorry for the terrible photo, it does not do justice to how delicious this was. I am a sucker for fried chicken and the way it tasted with the kewpie mayo was on point. With MFC you can either order 6 or 10 pieces, but be sure to save your stomach so that you get to try all the dishes Mr. Miyagi has to offer. 

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Mr. Miyagi

Address: 99 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3181

Contact: 03 9529 5999

Hours: Tues - Sun, 5pm to 11pm (CLOSED MONDAYS)

Price: $$$$

Website: http://www.mrmiyagi.com.au/

 

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Station Hotel

Fine dining will always be my favourite eating experience. I love the ambience, the service, the exquisite menu options and the presentation of the food. I don't, however, like the damage that it causes to my wallet but you get exactly what you pay for and it makes me happy :)

My best friend took me to a renowned steak place in the Western suburbs (Footscray) that looks like your everyday pub from the outside, but surprisingly serves amazing steak. Looks can be deceiving though.

The dining area of Station Hotel was very fancy schmancy which I was a bit taken aback by. Before I had arrived, I had heard mixed reviews about the place. Some people really enjoyed it and some people thought it was pretty average. I personally enjoyed my steak. Please ignore the poor iPhone 4s image quality because I forgot my camera but I still wanted to share my experience with you all.

Complimentary bread. Very addictive. 

FRESHLY SHUCKED OYSTERS! $3.50 each

These oysters were tiny which was a shame. We really should have ordered more because the dressing in the middle complimented the oysters so well. I never used to eat fresh oysters when I was younger but I've grown to like them, a lot.

Duckfish sashimi with tempura oyster, mushrooms, soy and mirin dressing - $18

We also ordered the sashimi for entree and wow, the sauce was SO SALTY. The sashimi was drenched in the dressing so I had to drain it before I ate it. As for the Chinese mushrooms, they tasted a bit better than the ones in Shincup two minute noodles. I probably wouldn't recommend this dish for an entree.

My beautiful steak. 120 day grain fed Black Angus scotch fillet - $38

120 day grain fed? I hope the poor animal was also massaged on a regular basis and fed some wine considering it had that patience. My scotch fillet was cooked to perfection for medium rare. I find that sometimes steak places end up toooooo bloody when you cut into it which I don't like. I was a bit nervous that I couldn't finish 300g but in the end I swapped with Sarah because she couldn't eat her bloody (excuse the pun) Wagyu steak. 

The massive hot chips that are served with the steak are hand cut. Usually I'm a bit skeptical about hand cut chips because they don't have the same great taste but these ones did. The salad (at the time) needed a bit more dressing. 

Sarah's undercooked 450 day grain fed Wagyu X Holstein rostbiff - $36

How cute are the little saucers that the mushroom and peppercorn sauce come in? Sarah's steak was a big blob and was not cooked properly inside, leaving it red and too bloody for Sarah to eat so in the end we had to swap. 

ANOTHER CLOSE UP OF MY DELICIOUS SCOTCH FILLET + TRYING OUT BOTH OF THE DELICIOUS SAUCES. I wish it had more mushrooms in it. 

I have been to many steakhouses in my time but I would definitely recommend the Station Hotel, especially if you live around the area. My experience on the night was superb, and it was also due to the fact that the waiters were friendly. I have mentioned this so many times in my previous posts - service is everything, especially when fine dining. If you don't smile at me, I will endeavour to give you a hard time. Overall two thumbs up for me. Just be careful when finding parking around the restaurant as some areas are permit zones and we watched cars being fined as we were walking out. 

Station Hotel

Address: 59 Napier Street Footscray 3011

Contact: 96872913

Hours: Everyday 11am - late

Price: $$$$

Website: http://www.thestationhotel.com.au/

HOW TO GET THERE:

The Cornershop Cafe

The Cornershop Cafe
Address: 9 Ballarat Street Yarraville
Contact: 96890052
Hours: Mon 8-5:30pm, Tues-Sat 8-9:30pm and Sun 8-5:30pm
Price: $
Website: No website, only a Facebook page

The Cornershop is a tiny cafe located in Yarraville, located across from the well known Sun Theatre. As I was manoeuvring my car through the small streets, I could really sense a taste of what Victoria used to look like in the olden days, where women would wear gorgeous colourful frocks and men would cruise around in their Cadillacs? The area of Yarraville reminded me of one scene from The Notebook where Noah and Allie lay in the middle of a road without a fear in the world. Maybe I've been watching too many soppy movies...

Pot of Chai Latte - $4.50

There is nothing I love more than cafes that serve chai lattes in a tea pot form. It makes the drinking experience just that LITTLE bit better, especially when served with honey. My favourite spot in Melbourne for a pot of chai tea would have to be Industry Beans :)

Baked eggs! Green sauce with kaiserfleisch $14.50

Sarah and I arrived to the Cornershop too late for breakfast and too early for dinner. Thank goodness there was the option of baked eggs (only until 4pm). When the waitress served it to me, the portion looked ridiculously small but when you start picking it at, it's perfect. The kaiserfleisch is like some sort of German ham and had a delicious taste. Two thumbs up from me for this dish. 

Spiced braised meatballs with turkish bread & parmesan $15.50

How cute are the colours on this dish? It reminds me of Christmas. I only got to try a bit of this dish but any dish with lots of rocket is a winner for me. 

Hand Cut Chips with Aioli 

THE CORNERSHOP is definitely a place I would consider "CHEAP EATS". Everything is under $20 bar one dish, pork belly, which is $22 but still quite reasonable considering that it is from the dinner menu. I wish I lived closer to Yarraville so I can soak in more of the culture and enjoy more of the restaurants that they have to offer. I'll make a note to catch public transport on my next visit, at parking was horrific. 

HOW TO GET THERE:

Little Henri

Little Henri is a quaint and not-so-little cafe located on the intersection of Dundas Street and High Street, Thornbury. In my high school years, I used to drive past this location almost everyday. To see the area bloom dramatically with supermarkets, high rise apartments and reputable cafes and restaurants brings me much joy. How cute at the silhouettes on the side of the cafe? They definitely attracted my attention when I drove past.

Cappucino. Tiny ass mug! I could've had that all in one sip.

Best friend typically orders an orange juice whenever she eats brunch. The jar looks like it's from hoisin sauce. Little Henri serves organic orange or apple juice at $4 a glass, or in this case, a jar. 

Don't laugh but this is a picture of me filling out my diary that my good friend Anna gifted for Christmas last year. It's a blank notebook which says on the cover 'CHEFS I MET AND LIKED'. I'm trying to utilise it as much as I can because I have the memory of a fish. The pen is from Red Nose Day to support kids with SIDS. I look like I'm sleeping but I swear I'm not!

Pretty items on the communal bench.

If you want to learn a fun fact about me... it's that I never order salads at a restaurant. EVER.

For a young lady, I have a very big appetite and I don't really understand the concept of going to a restaurant to order a salad when you can make that at home for half the price. When ordering a salad at a restaurant, I always think of one scene and that was in White Chicks when one of the sisters were being woo'ed by Terry Crews... refer to the GIF below ;)

Lo and behold, Little Henri was the exception to ordering a salad at a restaurant. I should learn to never say never. The salad had one main ingredient that I was particularly fond of, that being DUCK. At the time, I didn't feel like something heavy so I went for the salad. It was more like a 'goi' which is a Vietnamese salad. I applaud Little Henri for getting all the flavours and textures right, but maybe they could reduce some of the onion as I am not a big fan of the vegetable. There weren't many duck pieces which was rather disappointing considering the price I was paying for it. 

Thai Duck Salad $17.00

With Asian slaw, ginger, lemongrass and snowpea tendrils. How refreshing!

BIG BOY BREAKY ($19.90)

This dish was highlighted in a red box on the menu. My initial thought that it would be MASSIVE and aesthetic to the eyes when it was served. I'm sad to say that it was not. The presentation was mediocre. For the price that you pay, you would think that the chefs would be a bit more generous with the portions. Try and avoid this dish if you're planning on visiting Little Henri as I don't want others to be disappointed with something that is meant to be 'big'. 

Delicious poached egg perfection! Eggporn much?

Cute, quirky presentation throughout the cafe. It suits the Northcote / Thornbury scene so much! The place also serves alcohol (as you can see from the wine cellar in the background).

The outdoor courtyard. I loved the simplicity of the open spaces. If it weren't too cold/windy on the day, I probably would have opted to sit outside because it looks so cute and natural sunlight for my photos would be fantastic! ;)

I will begin my overview of Little Henri by saying that I would definitely return based on their extensive food menu and quality service from the waiters. The coffee (pictured above) was strong and delicious, however, the mug size is a BIT too small for my liking. I probably wouldn't classify "Little Henri" as a cheap eats location, but I would definitely recommend that you have a look if you're a lover of brunch.

Little Henri
Address: 850 High Street Thornbury 3071
Contact: 94848857
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, 8:30am-4pm on Sat/Sun for breakfast and lunch sittings, and dinner on Fri/Sat from 6pm to late.
Price: $$$ - CASH HONLY
Website: http://littlehenri.com.au/