Dinner & a movie: Where to eat @ MIFF2012

The Melbourne International Film Festival comes around only once a year. Click here for my MIFF1012 recommendations. It’s sometimes your only chance to see great films before they disappear forever or the one opportunity to say “I saw this 12 months before anyone else heard about it”. The plan is seeing 20 films this year. I have been scouring the reviews from film festivals such as Cannes, Toronto, SXSW, Sundance to ensure I know what’s worth seeing and what to avoid.

I have previously attended the London International Film Festival, and what Melbourne has going for it is the close proximity of the cinemas to each other. Only here are you able to walk out of one film and try to get into another that you have heard on the grapevine not to miss – with virtually all venues a few blocks from each other.

In light of the madness that sweeps the capital – we have decided to compile a list of places where you can get your sustenance in and around the CBD/cinemas. These are places we will be hitting on a regular basis. We have sorted them into two groups:

Quick Eats – Where to go for that quick feed if you only have 1/2 an hour to spare before trying to secure the best seats in the house. And…

Late Night Eats – For when you see tow or three films on the trot and you find many places closing their doors on you just as your stomach is about gorge on itself.

Click on the Urbanspoon link to go straight to the address and ensure they are open at the time you need – but all places are found in the CBD and within walking distances of most venues. I also went out to the Twittersphere for opinions – so if you take someone’s recommendation and enjoy it, feel free to share the love.

Quick Flick Eats

Chin Chin  - The Double Chin never fails to disappoint. See if you can get an early seat perched at the bar (you will never get a quick table). Or keep it as an option for a Late Night Eat.

Hoboken  The Team at Hoboken has just started opening at night and are serving quick fire burgers and beer in the alley behind Chin Chin. – They will now look to launch burger night again in the spring.

Touché Hombre  - So far the best tacos in town. They are well sized and the fillings are perfecto. Seeing a horror movie? Try their secret taco of the day. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

The Moat –  Seeing something a bit more uppity? Head to the Wheeler Centre just off Swanston where you will be provided with small plates of goodness.

Huxtaburger –  Mini Blockbuster in the making. Huxtaburger will have you in and out of their joint in 15-20 mins after delivering one of the best burgers Melbourne has ever devoured.

+39 Pizza –  Love Italian cinema? Then this pizza joint will be waiting for you. Many a quick meal has been done here – just let them know you are in a rush.

Pho Dzung  - If you need to ready your stomach with both solids and liquids then grab a large pho of your choice and you will be prepared to sit through any sort of movie marathon without needing a choc top.

Miss Chu –  Need more than just pho? Miss Chu is a Vietnamese hawker stall of sorts that will serve both eat in or take away (If you have the guts to try and smuggle it past the usher).

By Korea –  Perfect for any Asian flicks you may be seeing. This is my favourite Korean in the CBD and the bulgogi is big enough to feed two. Unlimited Kim Chi is an added bonus.

1000 Pound Bend  This bar just off Swanston has a great range of beers and food – with the burgers being one of their standouts. Also has free wifi for you to tweet your thoughts to your followers.

Yak Pasta Bar Artigianale –  The king of carbohydrates reins supreme in this lively watering hole.

Caboose Canteen – Classic and contemporary European is what this place does best.

Other Asian food stops worth considering include:

Ramen Ya – Bourke St  Basic Ramen served in a jiffy.

Purple Peanuts  A small Japanese joint virtually at the bottom of The Age Newspaper building. Great value sushi and curry abounds.

BrimCC Organic Soup & Japanese Cafe  Great value Japanese organic cafe with some authentic curries on offer.  

Twitter Recommends:

China Red –  This place is fast. Order your food via touch screen and within minutes Chinese FBI agents will deliver fresh parcels of goodness to your table. You literally don’t need to converse with anyone.

Shanghai Street Dumpling – recommended by @BeeDreams & @TwoMunch  —–

La Notte – recommended by @First_Angle. Seeing something at Cinema Nova on Lygon Street? @First_Angle suggest you stop for some fantastic Italian.

Wagamama - Good value and an easy feed if you need it.

Journal Canteen –  Journal Canteen is situated in the same building as Journal Cafe. And if you are looking for a decent plate of food that hasn’t been Australian-ised look no further. The blackboard has around 5 dishes a night and as they sell out of them they get struck off one by one. A great feed.

Creperie Le Triskel – recommended by @BeeDreams  Arrogantly French – in the best possible way.

Don Don – Recommended by @Two Munch  Some of the cheapest and best sashimi you are likely to find in Melbourne. They do a decent chicken teriyaki too.

The Cellar Bar (Grossi Florentino) – Recommended by @Two Munch  Rustic Bar cum Diner by the well known celebrity chef.

Workers Food Room –  Open breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday, this new opening has had good word coming out of it since day one.

Late Night Eats

Gingerboy –  High energy dining with Southeast Asian punchy flavours – on the pricier side but well worth the extra dollars.

Chin Chin –  I have had many a meal here at 11.30pm and they are still pumping out some of the best food in Melbourne.

Waiters Club – recommended by @Bern_Morley  Not that easy to find – up the stairs behind the Myers Place Bar -a homely Italian feast awaits you.

Funky Curry & Funky Curry II –  Two of Melbourne’s best CBD curry houses are situated right next to each other and have a following like no other.

Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar –  A Melbourne landmark. Italian comfort food of dreams.

Von Haus –  The menu is ever-changing. The cheese platter is sometimes all you need.

Shark Fin Inn –  Shark Fin is one of our favourite Chinese restaurants in town. Yum Cha does not disappoint.

Supper Inn –  Known as the Chinese choice for Melbourne’s top chefs when they knock off work at 1am – Big serves in a small space. BYO is a godsend.

Bar Louinha –  Spanish and Latin American tapas – these guys have done their research during a six-month exploration overseas.

The European –  As per the name – old-world rustic charm serving Mediterranean-inspired offerings at a slightly higher price point.

City Wine Shop –  Wonderful understated wine bar with a decent chef hitting the mark. As you would expect from one of the cities best wine bars, the cheese is second to none.

Nam Loong –  Need something fast but tasty? this place serves some of Melbourne’s best Char Sui Bao (aka Roast Pork Buns). They are served fresh from the bamboo steamer and you can be in and out in 30 seconds.