Melbourne is one of the world�s most livable cities and eating out here is like experiencing Europe in the Southern Hemisphere, writes Indian restaurateur JASPAL SINGH GANDHI. He has settled there with wife ARVIND and owns Melbourne�s popular Indian restaurant Bombay By Night with son RAVNISH. Melbourne offers great dining experiences where you can eat quality food for under $10, he says.

ELEONORES RESTAURANT

Places like the Chateau Yering do Melbourne proud. Primarily it is a luxury retreat built only four years ago. Although the Yering Station winery which until recently was a joint property was established in the mid 1800�s, making top quality wines with local grapes.

Eleonores restaurant is named after Eleonore De Castella, the original owners of the Yering Station. Chef Gary Cooper, a protege of Mossimann, heads the kitchen brigade at Chateau Yering. The restaurant is superbly decorated in the Victorian design, and professionally appointed.

Gary�s menu includes lots of local produce - his speciality of Barramundi (fish), oven-roasted and served with gingered pear, sweet breads, stewed cabbage and port wine foie gras reduction, tops the list of my favourites. Of course, as recommended, served with a glass of TarraWarra Chardonnay, it is a super combination. Incidentally Chateau Yering is located in the heart of the Yarra Valley which is a prime wine producing area of Victoria (approximately two hours from Melbourne).

I would specially recommend the vegetarian cutlets made of mushroom, cracked wheat and onion served crumbled and golden with asparagus and cauliflower sauce. I think here�s a chef who actually makes an effort to look after vegetarian gourmets. A day in this region will always be well spent for tourists visiting Melbourne.

Chateau Yering Historic House,
Melb Highway, Yering, Victoria

ITALY ON THE BAY

THE RESIDENCE, Mauritius, is really a turn-of-the-century colonial mansion that nestles between tropical gardens and a kilometre-long beach of powdery white sand. It is a combination of bygone charms and modern comforts, an embodiment of ultimate refinement, that Resident Manager Frederic Chretien would like guests to simply walk around in and unwind.

The hotel prides itself on its cuisine whose symphony of subtle aromas, tastes and colours can be savoured in its three restaurants. The Dining Room, made entirely of wood and delicately poised over the swimming pool, is where you discover the thousand and one flavours of a sophisticated cuisine. The Verandah serves light lunches around the pool. The Plantation, a planter�s house by the beach, offers a wide range of seafood and a selection of dishes cooked with local herbs and spices.

The spacious yet intimate bar, whose walls are hung with a fine collection of engravings of scenes from Mauritius� history, is the right spot for a late breakfast, traditional tea or an exotic cocktail.

As the focal point of the hotel, the Dining Room displays all the native produce of the island through its creative and authentic selections. In the morning, a sumptuous breakfast is offered featuring Western and local specialities as well as a selection of freshly pressed fruit juices. The atmosphere and cuisine in the evening shifts to a more a la carte menu, drawing its inspiration from the food and spices of the island with accents from each of the three major cuisines: Indian, French and Creole. It is open between 7.30 and 11.30 a.m. and 7 and 10 p.m.

The Verandah�s lunch menu features a generous buffet or a choice of exciting light dishes, and an impressive selection of homemade ice-creams and sorbets.

It is open from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Plantation is a marriage of spectacular oceanfront setting with the freshest seafood and Creole cuisine in Mauritius. Fish and shellfish are served for lunch and larger portions of different flavours and textures for dinner. Guests can also enjoy live Sega performances and other local entertainment.

56 Bay Street,
Brighton,
Melbourne

THE CONSERVATORY

Located on the first floor of the Crown Towers, at the top of the grand staircase or the impressive atrium, The Conservatory offers causal and elegant ambience. It is a five star hotel brasserie featuring and specialising in a buffet service throughout the day.

It offers a variety of dining options from soups, sandwiches, seafood and steaks and a specialised Thai menu. You can have a feed from $12 to the fish speciality of the day for $25.

The buffet caters to vegetarians also. Of course there is an attached all day lounge bar which overlooks the atrium.

Crown Casino Complex,
Melbourne,
Victoria

BOMBAY BY NIGHT

The Good Food Guide of the �Age Epicure�, which is to Australia what the Michelin Guide is to Europe, writes: In a precinct that lacks good eateries, one stands out like a fiery Indian beacon. Bombay by Night has been consistently serving fine Indian food for a decade, with chef-owner Jaspal Gandhi at the helm. The restaurant, which has two dining rooms in an old shopfront, is simply but stylishly decorated, with halogen downlights alongside prints created by Gandhi�s son, Arvind.

The restaurant runs regional culinary evenings, which are a good opportunity to explore the diverse cuisines of the Indian sub-continent, but from the a la carte menu, we love the South Indian bonda - zesty potato balls dipped in a well-spiced batter of chickpea and rice flour.

Here, chicken tikka masala, the standard bearer of good Indian cooking, is spicy, moist and succulent, in contrast to the sweeter, creamier kid gosht - lamb pieces with cashews, cream and coconut milk. We�d urge dessert lovers to try the house-made kulfi, packed with cardamom and almond flavours, which is quite beautiful. The wine list with some good boutique selections, is well chosen and reasonably priced.

355 North Roa,
South Caulfield,
Melbourne

JJ�s BAR AND GRILL

Absolutely my personal favourite haunt, something like this must immediately be made in Bombay or any big city of India. Located adjacent to The Conservatory, this modern art deco bar provides an eclectic atmosphere and a feeling of �Welcome stranger�. For those travelling alone it is an ideal early evening to late night spot.

The main a la carte menu features top quality cooked steaks, poultry and Asian influenced dishes. There is a supper menu from 11 p.m. for the late diners. Live music is on most nights, featuring a two piece combo.

The staff is very friendly, atmosphere semi-formal, the food sumptuous and prices reasonable. As a visitor to Melbourne one can stay where one wants, but one must visit JJ�s.

Crown Casino Complex,
Melbourne,
Victoria

CAFE BIZZARI

The Bizzari family has a strong foundation in the food business. Silvano, the father from the old school of maitred�s, has worked at the legendary Florentinos in Melbourne. His outstanding chef son Anthony cooks with his team and Sandro, the younger son, looks after the front of the house.

This cafe restaurant can easily boast about the best Italian/Mediterranean cuisine in its price range. I have personally seen while dining at this eatery some of the top personalities in Australia. Their beetroot gnocchi is done the way Anthony�s mother Ida cooked at home and fed her siblings in Italy.

The entree of fresh figs rolled with proscittuo and rocquefort and baked, is something to die for. Sandro and his team ooze with enthusiasm to serve their customers. You can expect one of the greatest dining experiences.

Toorak Road,
Toorak,
Melbourne