Jazz Ria, Balwyn

Ben Coffee and Kitchen, Balwyn

Relish Palace, Balwyn

After years of buying great takeaway Chinese food from the Relish Palace in Balwyn, I decided to try eating in for a change! I had dinner there with my gorgeous girlfriend and the food was deliciously and absolutely massive!

The atmosphere, the drinks and the interior design inside the restaurant were above average and could use a little more finesse. However the service was excellent!  

We started the night off with an entree with Spring Rolls ($5.00).

My partner opted for the Fried Hor Fun with Beef and Egg Sauce ($12.80) and I had the Nasi Goreng ($12.80). Both of these dishes were tasty, but were so massive that we could not eat it all! The proportions were ridiculous! 

Overall, we enjoyed our time at the Relish Palace, but it lost marks for its proportion sizes.

The PURE (Perfect Ultimate Ratings for Everything) score was:

Food	10/10
Atmosphere	10/10
Service	10/10
Drinks	6/10
Interior Design	10/10
TOTAL	46/50

Relish Palace Opening Hours

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday-Sunday NOON-10 PM 

Focus Melbourne Cafe, Balwyn

If you ever want to pick a nice and quiet café, I would recommend the Focus Melbourne Cafe along Whitehorse Road in Balwyn. The menu is refreshing and the staff and the atmosphere are extremely accommodating.

My partner and I recently went to the Café and we have now grown to love it. I had the Wagyu Beef Burger ($18.80) with Kimchi puree, tomato, Gruyere cheese, and pickles and served with a satisfying serve of chips. 

 

 

My partner had the refreshing Matcha Green Tea waffle ($16.80), which is topped with roasted nuts, seasonal fruits and coconut ice cream. I had a try of this magnificent dish and I agree with my partner that it was terrific!

 

  To cap off our delicious feast, we both had a Latte ($3.50) and I tried a Chocolate Milkshake ($5), which was extremely rewarding!

The Focus Melbourne Café ticks every box. It is a great place for the family, for couples and for any single person who just wants to have a satisfying experience.  

The PURE (Perfect Ultimate Ratings for Everything) score was:

Food	10/10
Atmosphere	10/10
Service	10/10
Drinks	10/10
Interior Design	9/10
TOTAL	49/50

Focus Melbourne Cafe Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday 7AM-5PM

Chimes Indian Restaurant, Balwyn

I would have never guessed that I had an Indian Restaurant as great as Chimes so close to home! Situated at the corner of Balwyn Road and Belmore Road, this Restaurant really does bring ‘Legendary’ Indian Cuisine. 

I had dinner there with two companions and it was hard to find any faults with regards to the décor, the food, the atmosphere and the service. The only thing that I could pick out would be that the drinks seemed to be flat. 

For dinner, we shared two meat curries and a vegetarian curry with coconut rice. My favourite was the delicious Chicken Korma ($15.90) and it featured chicken combined with sauce made from nuts and fresh cream. 

  

Overall, we loved our time at Chimes Indian Restaurant.

The PURE (Perfect Ultimate Ratings for Everything) score was:

Food	10/10
Atmosphere	10/10
Service	10/10
Drinks	5/10
Interior Design	10/10
TOTAL	45/50

Chimes Indian Restaurant Opening Hours

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday 5-10PM

Wednesday 5-10PM

Thursday 5-10PM

Friday 5-10PM

Saturday 5-10.30PM

Sunday 5-10.30PM

Colombo's Family Restaurant, Balwyn

 

 

In the middle of Balwyn lies the accommodating Colombo’s Family Restaurant. This Restaurant features Italian cuisine with Steak, Chicken, Veal and Seafood dishes. I was amazed by the amount of people that were seated and the overall size of the Restaurant. 

 

 

For dinner, I shared the Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza ($21) with my partner and it included roasted seasonal vegetables (like cauliflower), fresh tomato, bocconcini, olive oil, garlic and herbs. The pizza was quite tasty and it was a great meal.

 

 

To go with the meal, I had a Hot Chocolate ($4.50). Sadly, the drink did not meet the expectation that was established by the pizza. 

 

 

Overall, my partner and I enjoyed our time at Colombo’s Family Restaurant and would be glad to go again.  

The PURE (Perfect Ultimate Ratings for Everything) score was:

Food	8/10
Atmosphere	9/10
Service	9/10
Drinks	5/10
Interior Design	8/10
TOTAL	39/50

Colombo’s Family Restaurant Opening Hours

Open 11am-10pm everyday! 

Norma Loves Joe, Balwyn

After walking past this fine local café many times, I just had to try and see what it was like!

 When you first walk into the café, you notice the hospitable staff and the pleasant vibe.

                                     

With my partner in crime we began with two Lattes ($3.90) that were accompanied by quotes from famous people. I thought it was quite an elegant touch.

As a man who has a fetish for burgers, I thought I would try the Yankee Burger ($19). I loved the way the burger was presented with some potato chips on a wooden board.

This incredibly delicious burger comprised of lean beef, swiss cheese, rocket, pickles, fresh tomato, caramelised onion, mustard, and aioli. I was fascinated by how the mustard and the pickles did not dominate the taste.

 

My girlfriend went for Mushrooms on sourdough with garlicky parsley puree and a poached egg ($17). She said that her meal was delightful!

Overall, we had an extremely positive experience at Norma Loves Joe and would love to go again!

The PURE (Perfect Ultimate Ratings for Everything) score was:

Food	9/10
Atmosphere	9/10
Service	9/10
Drinks	8/10
Interior Design	8/10
TOTAL	43/50

Norma Loves Joe Opening Hours

Monday 7am-4pm

Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday 7am-4pm

Thursday 7am-4pm

Friday 7am-4pm

Saturday 8am-4pm

Sunday 8am-4pm

Snow Pony, Balwyn

Hello fellow food lovers! I could not resist the temptation to blog about a local cafe, Snow Pony!

After much thought glancing through the menu, I decided to try the Pony's Cheese and Bacon Burger. This $22 burger comes with aioli and fries and consists of a blend of pickles, bacon, cheddar, tomato relish, american mustard, wagyu patty and a brioche bun.

The blend of the american mustard and the pickles seemed to dominate what could have been a fantastic and delightful dish. Sadly, the burger also consisted of an undercooked wagyu patty and was accompanied by a plain side of fries.

I expected more from a dish of that price.

The burger may have been disappointing, but the service and the coffee was excellent. My girlfriend and I had a great Latte ($3.80).

The atmosphere and the background music was really lively and seemed to strengthen the hospitality.

Overall, the PURE score is:

Food	5/10
Atmosphere	9/10
Service	8/10
Drinks	8/10
Interior Design	8/10
TOTAL	38/50