Besha Rodell

Chief restaurant critic

Besha Rodell is the anonymous chief restaurant critic for The Age and Good Weekend.

This decade-old CBD favourite is still as dynamic as the day it opened.

This opening from last spring is flying way under the radar. And we’re the ones losing out.

The mood-lit restaurant plays it safe with a selection of greatest hits from Michael Lambie’s pan-Asian playbook.

Clara Luna serves bar food, but it’s also soul food; Middle Eastern and South American, but also Australian.

Melbourne has plenty of neighbourhood wine bars, but not many have Arnold’s creativity and heart.

Focused on the food of Portugal, Marmelo is one of the more exciting restaurants to open in recent memory.

Why can you only get very cheap or very expensive sushi asks Besha Rodell. Nori Maki delivers high-quality sushi in a setting that feels special.

Chris Lucas’ ambitious four-level venue is Melbourne’s “opening of the season”. Here’s our critic’s verdict.

It might have little to do with its namesake Hollywood hotel Chateau Marmont, but it’s serving sexed up and lascivious cornbread.

After visiting hundreds of restaurants and sampling countless dishes, Besha Rodell looks back in hunger at the seven that rose above the pack.