My suggestion is to head to the Mornington instead of the Valley. Get to 10xTractor.

I'd also try Conway's in Footscray. I'm sure with enough notice they would be able to do it for you.

As much as I love Pope Joan, it's more a brunch type place than a lunch spot. Maybe it is worth recommending Cookie or Chin Chin for lunch. Stylish, good Asian food, hip, reasonable prices (for Melbourne) and I think they are "very Melbourne". No fancy clothes needed.

As a Fitzroy boy, I can't help but point you towards Huxtable, Builders Arms, Rockwell & Sons, Casa Cuiccio, Cutler & Co (Cutler would be your fancy dinner). If you want to stay just in the city; Cumulus (although recent reports from friends say it has gone down a bit - can anyone confirm?!?!).

Ahh Federal and Wolfe! Completely forgot about that place. Was my favorite cafe in Auckland when I was there in 2011. Great coffee and vibe.

It's Vietnamese recipes... but very Australian; The Secrets of the Red Lantern by Pailine Nguyen (Luke's sister) is a fantastic cookbook.

It's modern - few NZ ingredients thrown in here and there.

http://www.clooney.co.nz/

Espresso, Ristretto and 'Long Black' have no cream or milk.

Not that I have the inside information but I image Nic received an offer he couldn't refuse. His whole brigade has moved to Brooks and from all reports the cooking is still as good.

I loved Clooney, KEN Yakitori and Murder Burger in Aukland.

You could always do San Telmo ... but steak before a matinee?

Embrasse served its last meal last night. Luckily I got to dine there 4 times and always enjoyed the experience.

It's not all bad news though. It's my understanding that the whole team from Embrasse is going across to Brooks which opens on October 17.

Carlton Espresso for cheapish Italian is great.

Carlton Wine Room is good for a bit of a drink and some dinner. Can get pricey though if you are ordering a proper 3 courses though.

I ended up at Bar Americano last night. Excellent, excellent, excellent! but.. It's tiny. 8 people in there will make it feel packed. It has a real speakeasy feel, being hidden away. The bartender Jacob knows his stuff!

I recommend anyone into cocktails get there before word really gets out...

Pope Joan, de Clieu and Proud Mary are more cafes than casual dining. While they are excellent, they are hyper busy, hyper popular, hyper trendy ;) Pope Joan would be my pick of the three.

Der Raum is stupidly popular. They have opened up a sister bar, Bar Americano. I am actually off there this week to check it out. You could also try Gin Palace. If you want to take a travel out to the burbs you could go to Yarraville's Acqua e Vino. Bar Lourinha is not so much a cocktail joint and more a wine bar with serious food (I'm off there for dinner tonight).

Cumulus is pretty well priced. I like to take out of towners there.. I think it is very Melbourne.

Been there a number of times and I really like it.. however on a night when Andrew McConnell wasn't in the kitchen the cooking wasn't up to standard. It is a lot like Bar Lourinha but the fire pit gives them more options.

Need to get to Loam and Provenance.

I'm kinda surprised the McConnell's new Builders Arms Bistro didn't get one hat? It's definitely on par with Cumulus.

Chin chin was OK..

Great fit out and space. The staff seemed too busy being fashionable.

I ate at a lot of the 2 Hat places last year. The best meal I had out of those listed is 10xTractor.

I had good meals at Matteo's, Ezard, Press Club, Cutler & Co .. The only thing that seems to lift them out of the 1 Hat is the price, ambiance and the fit out?!?

Tea Rooms is great but 2 hats?!

My personal view is Embrasse is superior to Matteo's, Ezard and Press!

The Wayside Inn! It's Sean Donovan's (Station Hotel) new place.

That should hit the mark.

I'm off to Chin Chin for lunch today, finally. I'll report back.

San Telmo for steak.

Ditch the tram cars!

Millsbucks has been closed and the building knocked down.

I'd replace that with:
Lunch at Journal Canteen (that;s the upstairs one)
Dinner .. I would jump on the 86 tram for a 10 minute journey to the Bistro at the Builders Arms in Fitzroy. Mind you that would be 2 Andrew McConnell meals.. but the BIstro is pretty price competitive and fits the old building & romantic vibe.

You could also throw in Izakaya Den and Bar Lourinha.

I had a great meal at Clooney when I dined there solo in Feb 2011. I highly recommend it.

I didn't book but my girlfriend was able to book for us on a Saturday night with a couple of weeks notice.

Just to follow up on this. I went to Tempura Hajime last weekend. It is still excellent and one of the most "japanese" restaurants in Melbourne.

If you can't afford the airfare to Tokyo, it's a great place to go.

Lots of good recommendations in here... but a couple of things -

I'm not that keen on Chillipadi. While the environment is generally ok, I think it is quite overpriced and you can have much better (and cheaper) Malaysian food at Nasi Lemak House in Carlton.

As someone who has eaten a lot in Japan, be warned Japanese is pretty hit and miss in Melbourne.

Press* was pretty fun. I ate there twice when I was in Adelaide a few weeks ago.

Imagine Cumulus with more meat.

How did the winery tour of the morington peninsula go?

Just quickly as I'm running to Adelaide to eat at Press. ;)

Casa Ciuccio is the new place from the team that brought you Bar Lourinha. Matt McConnell is in the kitchen so the food is very similar, however, there is the addition of a BBQ Pit and lots of small cold tapas type dishes in the front bar.

I ate; peppers stuffed with crab, house cured bonito, green figs with basil, rabbit croqueta, anchovy toast things (which were fabulous), sweetbreads with cider vinegar and honey, suckling kid (from the pit) & dulche de leche with peanut praline for dessert.

All very good and washed down with a Curly Flat 2011 white pinot.

Casa Cuiccio has only been open for a week and a half and was pumping last night. Unlike Bar Lourinha, though, they do take bookings.

They will also be opening up a produce store next door and I also believe the McConnell's have taken over the builders arms. It looks like the McConnell brothers are taking over Gertrude Street!