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Inside the Barragunda dining room.
Good Food hatGood Food hat17/20

A ‘bargain’ degustation and two hats: This gorgeous new regional fine diner is something special

The Mornington Peninsula restaurant on a 1000-acre estate gives critic Besha Rodell hope for the future of dining in Victoria.

  • Besha Rodell
Morning Market’s hot cross buns are swirled with Pastis and generously studded with brandy-soaked dried fruits.

The Good Food team’s picks of Melbourne’s best hot cross buns

Whether you’re anti-peel, pro-cardamom or a fan of a wildcard hot cross bun, this highly personal list is guaranteed to set off a bun fight in your household.

  • Good Food team
Spice up taco Tuesdays with fried squid and a quick and easy jalapeno slaw.
EASY

Taco Tuesday just got interesting again with this simple crispy squid twist

Lift your taco game with this filling combo of crispy fried squid, quick jalapeno pickle slaw and sour cream.

  • < 30 mins
  • Jessica Brook
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Frozen dumplings are good to have on stand-by.

The frozen foods a dietitian always has on hand (and how to use them)

Keep these ingredients on standby in the freezer and you’ll never be stuck for a healthy, speedy dinner.

  • Susie Burrell
Dunkeld Old Bakery is one of the standout regional bakeries doing everything from scratch.

Ten country bakeries worth a roadtrip (and where to find the best pie)

A vanilla slice that “puts others to shame”. Pies and pasties made the old-school way. And what might be the country’s best lamington. These standout bakeries are worth a detour.

  • Richard Cornish

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Eating out

Sana’s udon carbonara comes with charred kaiserfleisch, smoked dashi, a soft egg and heaps of black pepper. 

From udon carbonara to a hot-choc haven: Five new cafes to try (and what to order)

Find one in a famed Melbourne garden, another in Australia’s largest shopping centre, and others tucked in the backstreets.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Morena

Your April hit list: The hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out this month

The restaurant shone a light on First Nations ingredients.

A groundbreaking Federation Square restaurant has suddenly closed

  • Emma Breheny
Love a croque monsieur? Chances are you’ll be a fan of the American monte cristo, a truly decadent sandwich that’s said to have French origins.

Ham and cheese, but make it ‘hectic’: this salty-sweet monte cristo is seldom seen in Melbourne

  • Tomas Telegramma

Lists & guides

Chadstone

Chadstone’s shiny new Market Pavilion is a spectacle, but does it deserve the hype?

Potato bolani at Afghan Bolani comes with many different choices of sauce.

What to eat at Melbourne’s booming new Ramadan night market

Julia Busuttil Nishimura will prepare the World’s Longest Brunch in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Everything you need to know about Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Crumbed pork (tonkatsu) is the focus at Katsuhon, where it comes with many condiments.

Relive your magical trip to Japan at these nine Melbourne venues

The “Benny Nest” (eggs benedict on kataifi pastry).

Your March hit list: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out

Walrus in Brunswick has built a following for its US diner pancakes.

From syrupy to ultra-fluffy: The best spots for pancakes in Melbourne

North Fitzroy Arms has been a hit with its new menu and new look.

Pubs to pizza joints: 30 top spots from Victoria’s restaurant young guns

Oyster salad at Thai Baan, one of the spots in a booming Thai Town in Melbourne’s CBD.

10 of Melbourne’s latest and greatest Thai restaurants

Omnia’s pork cotoletta lunch special.

10 set menus for less than $50 at wine bars, hatted restaurants and more

Cocktails at Olympia sneak in Greek ingredients like ouzo.

From posh to party, these new rooftop venues are built for anything

10 new Melbourne CBD spots for lunchtime noodles, banh mi, coffee

10 new Melbourne CBD spots for lunchtime noodles, banh mi, coffee

Earl Grey and candied pistachio at Nuvoletta.

11 new and underrated ice-cream spots (and flavours) in Melbourne

Recent reviews

The Savage Coffee Parabolic fillter coffee ($30).
14/20

Is it worth paying $30 for this cup of coffee at Fitzroy’s shiny new cafe?

  • Dani Valent
Inside Patsy’s.
Good Food hat15/20

This hatted vegetarian wine bar was always nice, but it’s bloomed into something special

  • Besha Rodell
The premium Indian restaurant seats 130 in booths or on elegant folding chairs.
Good Food hat15/20

This hatted restaurant is a jewel, nestled in our critic’s least favourite location in Melbourne

  • Dani Valent
Assorted dishes at Jollof Vibe.

Inside a roller-doored garage in Kensington lies a truly great little dining gem

  • Dani Valent
December will mark the ten-year anniversary of Embla.
Good Food hat15.5/20

This dark, bustling, wine bar is our critic’s go-to because it’s what Melbourne does best

  • Besha Rodell

Good Food Guide 2025

The Age Good Food Guide Awards 2025, held in the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne.

Everything you need to know about The Age Good Food Guide 2025

***EMBARGOED FOR GOOD WEEKEND, JUNE 18/22 ISSUE*** Good Food  / Good Weekend review by Dani Valent : Amaru Photograph by Chloe Dann (photographer on contract, no restrictions)

Every Good Food Guide hatted restaurant to add to your bucket list

The Baba’s Place crew, winners of the inaugural Bill Granger Trailblazer Award.

Everything you need to know from the SMH Good Food Guide 2025

Former staff at top restaurant Moonah have made allegations of poor treatment.

Good Food revokes Moonah’s major award, hats, score

  • Charlotte Grieve
A selection of iconic dishes from Sydney restaurants for the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.

The 40 defining dishes from 40 years of the SMH Good Food Guide

  • Callan Boys and David Matthews

Recipes

Miss Trixie’s Honey Joy Slice.

Is this updated honey joy slice even better than the OG?

Here’s what happens when a baker reimagines the cornflakes-loaded school fair stalwart. Plus two other retro baking recipes to try.

Feel free to add some sliced prosciutto as your protein.
EASY

Torn fig and mozzarella salad with almonds and balsamic dressing

  • < 30 mins
  • Danielle Alvarez
Raise your brekkie roll game with home-made bagels.

This creamy burrata, egg and bacon-filled bagel is the Sunday brunch of dreams

  • Giorgio Linguanti
Chickpea and tuna ‘chaat’.
EASY

Chickpea and canned tuna ‘chaat’ is a flavour explosion – no cooking required

  • < 30 mins
  • Rosheen Kaul

Recipe collections

Cilbir with Ramazan pidesi (Turkish eggs with flatbread).

Five simple but impressive brunch dishes to whip up this weekend

This budget-friendly tray bake is an all-in-one dinner winner.

20 fantastic foolproof recipes guaranteed to work every time

Romesco pasta with ricotta.

Five things to do with romesco, the Spanish flavour bomb (and how to make the sauce at home)

Steak with artichokes

14 high-protein, low-carb meals to cook this week

Jill Dupleix's green herb isotto with optional poached eggs.

10 recipes that make the most of garden herbs

Andrew McConnell’s blood plum crostata.

At their peak, plentiful and affordable: Five plum perfect bakes for the weekend

This Thai-inspired green curry-flavoured chicken dish comes together quickly.

14 simple meals made in under 30 minutes using 12 ingredients or fewer

Pickled celery adds the right amount of crunch.

Better than takeaway: Five new chicken burgers to make this weekend

Clockwise from top left: North African-spiced ratatouille; Cabbage rolls; and stuffed tomatoes and capsicums; buffalo mozzarella lasagne.

14 recipes to make this week (but they’ll taste better the next day)

Avocado salad.

Five new seasonal salads from Adam Liaw to try this weekend

Teriyaki salmon bowl.

14 excellent dinners to cook when eggs are hard to find

Sumac and charred lemon chicken thighs with tzatziki.

One marinade for chicken thighs, plus multiple meals to make from them

Our recipe writers

Explore recipes

Tips & advice

Australian salmon should be avoided according to the experts.

Want to avoid farmed Atlantic salmon? Get hooked on these alternatives instead

  • Ardyn Bernoth
Mint is an easy herb to grow.

Don’t let ‘plant shame’ stop you: These herbs are easy to grow, even in a small space

  • Nina Rousseau
Chicken breast and vegetables in containers. Top view. Flat lay Generic images for meal prepping for Good Food online. Quinoa boiled eggs, grilled chicken etc. Ingredients to prep for the week ahead. Image downloaded via Good Food account. March 2022

Adam Liaw on the joyless grind of modern meal prep

  • Adam Liaw
Ortiz tinned fish is a colourful - and instantly recognisable - addition to a grazing board.

A dietitian’s guide to the best supermarket tinned fish – and what to watch out for

  • Susie Burrell
Jane’s tart plum gummies.

Why gummies are the protein-packed health trend you’re seeing everywhere right now

  • Jane de Graaff

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Drinks

Joji bar manager Pino Montis.

Why are non-alcoholic cocktails as expensive as the boozy ones?

  • Daniel Herborn
Cilbir with Ramazan pidesi (Turkish eggs with flatbread).

Five simple but impressive brunch dishes to whip up this weekend

More from Good Food

Australia’s authority on food goes daily, with the launch of a dedicated Good Food page

Australia’s authority on food goes daily, with the launch of a dedicated Good Food page

  • Good Food
The brand new Good Food app is like having a reviewer in your pocket.

The Good Food app is live, with new Guide reviews, maps, recipes and more

Popular on Good Food

Dunkeld Old Bakery is one of the standout regional bakeries doing everything from scratch.

Ten country bakeries worth a roadtrip (and where to find the best pie)

  • Richard Cornish
Frozen dumplings are good to have on stand-by.

The frozen foods a dietitian always has on hand (and how to use them)

  • Susie Burrell
Adam Liaw's spaghetti with pumpkin, thyme and brown butter recipe.

20 of Adam Liaw’s all-time best autumn recipes to have on hand

Morning Market’s hot cross buns are swirled with Pastis and generously studded with brandy-soaked dried fruits.

The Good Food team’s picks of Melbourne’s best hot cross buns

  • Good Food team
Miss Trixie’s Honey Joy Slice.

Is this updated honey joy slice even better than the OG?

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood