Carino Tapas Bar

A taste of Madrid in Moonee Valley

Since its opening in July 2011 Carino Tapas Bar oozes with Spanish affection. Owner Isabel McGeary and her three daughters have created a Madrid inspired space to form two dining rooms. Creatively, the outdoor area in the back has been transformed into a Spanish style patio. 

McGeary's dream to run her own tapas bar has seen fruition. Cooking up home-style tapas, raciones (larger dishes), paella and postres (desserts), the dishes stem from great Valencian traditions.

On Wednesday evenings enjoy the smooth sounds of live Spanish music with a glass/jug of sangria.

With the growth of cafes and restaurants among the popular Mt Alexander Road strip, Carino will rage ahead (with the bulls).

Eat: I've dined at Carino a few times now and tapas is the way to go. Kick things off with the chorizo with spiced tomato sauce, crispy fried calamari in Carino's spice blend with roasted garlic aioli, or something a little larger from the raciones.

The menu delivers something exciting to get any Spanish heart racing. The paella (for two or more) is prepared the old family way, from scratch, so be prepared to wait (40 minutes). Leave room for dessert, as you can't go past the churros accompanied with an espresso shot of warm chocolate dipping sauce.   

Chorizo con Sidra
Confit pork and manchego fritters with spiced tomato sauce

Squires Loft (Essendon)

Revisited

This steakhouse continues to be a local favourite in Essendon as word spreads of their house speciality, the steak!

I visited the Squires Loft in October and upon devouring a delicious eye fillet steak ($34/200g), a return visit was imminent.

Meat lovers revel in delight as your carnivore tastes will be satisfied.

Eat: On this occasion, my meat parcel of gold delivered once again. Flavoured with the house baste, the grill marks speak for themselves.

The porterhouse ($25.50/200g) is equally as delicious.

Eye fillet with mushroom sauce and chips

 

Tom Phat

Casual dining with contemporary Asian fusion
 

Local Brunswick institution, Tom Phat, delivers on all fronts of the surging 'casualisation' of contemporary dining.  Focusing on breakfast, try the famous roti omelette, the menu extends to both lunch and dinner and reins supreme on the liquid gold stuff; organic teas and fair-trade coffee.

 

From the bar, try one of the house classic cocktails or draw on the extensive wine list.  For the warmer months, there's even 'summer in a jug'.

 

With Buddha looking down on you from a corner of the bar, the dining space is warm and welcoming.  The service is equally as good. 

There isn't the novelty factor of Chin Chin, rather a traditional wok of delicious balanced tastes. 

 

Eat: Staple Thai dishes including Pad Thai and green papaya salad feature on the 'eat me' menu. Don't ignore the specials where you can find duck, calamari and beef that exemplify creative cuisine flair.

Calamari curry served with rice

Drink: Eye of the Tiger, fresh ginger muddled with lime & lychee juice shaken with white & dark rum.