Shop 5, 566 Chapel St, South Yarra
(a few doors down on the side street, Oxford St) (map)
9826 1114
I'll admit it - I pretty much can't stand the South Yarra end of Chapel Street. During the French Film Festival, best-friend-K and I were seeing two films at the Como on the same day (the trashy-yet-sorta-enjoyable U.V., and the much better Un Secret), so we had four hours to kill between films. B-f-K and I invariably end up cranky if we spend too much time up the South Yarra end of Chapel Street, because we both dislike just about everything about it: the "classy" fashion boutiques, the stereotypes (the snooty society matrons AND the hot-headed wankers in big sunglasses and souped-up cars) and almost all of the restaurants - which is often a problem when we're looking for a bite to eat before or after a film at the Como.
So thank God for "lb." (aka Pound), a cafe near the Jam Factory but just off the beaten track, with a slick interior, excellent food and busy but friendly staff. If only it were open in the evenings too!
I had the Steak Sanga for $14 - it contained homemade pickled beetroot, caramelised onion, Swiss cheese, rocket and horseradish cream. It was PERFECT. The dream combination of ingredients in a steak sanga, if you ask me... :)
Kate had the Chicken Summer Burger for $12, which matched the chicken with tomato, cheese, pineapple, sweet chilli and rocket. I'm not a fan of pineapple in savoury dishes (with the exception of certain Thai curries), but b-f-K assured me that her burger tasted great.
Am I being too harsh on the South Yarra end of Chapel Street? What Chapel Street restaurants in your opinion serve good quality food at a good price?
