My workplace is just round the corner from Massi so I walk by during the day very often as I travel between our different CBD locations. I've always dismissed it as a businessmen luncheon kind of place and I think it's because of the lettering on the window, the coat rack in the doorway and the dark wood seating. But in spite of that I've also been intrigued so when a Monday night catch up with a girlfriend needed a venue I put Massi forward.

We made plans to meet for a drink at Bar Vue across the road and as I made my way there I noticed that it looked like Massi had set up one big long table down the centre of the dining room for a big booking and there didn't seem to be many tables left so I poked my head round the door to see if I could get a table for an hour or so later. We didn't think to book given it was a Monday night. The Restaurant Manager was super friendly and assured me all would be well...

When we arrived we were shown to a table in the corner that is cosy but also roomy and we can spread out our bags and stuff we tend to carry round with us. 

As we browse the menu we put an order through for the mozzarella, charred peppers, ricotta snow and balsamic and that goes to the kitchen straight away as we deliberate on everything else.

The mozzarella arrives quickly and it's plump and delicious with the charred peppers and balsamic adding that acidic tang to offset the cold creaminess of the cheese.It's classic and it's good.

We follow up with the dusted and fried calamari, Sicilian life guard style, salmoriglio (unpictured) not knowing what Sicilian lifeguard means or salmoriglio but it's doesn't matter we don't know our Sicilians because it tastes good.

My friend goes for the special pasta of the day which is a bucatinie with a Wagyu ragu and radicchio. I order the ​ricotta gnocchi with braised beef osso buco and tomato ragu.

We both enjoy our dishes - hearty, comforting and familiar. Our summary of the dishes are that they are pleasing and heartwarming. We don't think they're quite at the Tipo 00 level but the small shortfall is made up by the comfy surroundings and relaxed atmosphere. I find Tipo 00 a bit frantic to relax in sometimes and it's hard to get a table.

Higher Ground - a place of worship? Well I did drop in two days in a row for breakfast so almost a regular church goer! Undeniably a beautiful fit out, sympathetically done and with a calm zen about it; almost holy perhaps? It's great for solo diners who can share communal benches or tables but also good to for those that like to dine with a friend or two.

My first breakfast was the much lauded kale and cauliflower salad, miso, almond hummus, avocado, poached egg, puffed rice and I added the cured kingfish. I wasn't completely sold on fish for breakfast but I guess the Japanese do it so why not me...There's a lot of green on the plate with a splash of violet form the purple cauliflower. The textures of the veggies are crisp and the flavours clean, intense and fresh with the almond hummus adding creaminess and nuttiness. It's a good dish; simple but packed full of flavour and light on the tummy. It puts a spring in the step. And my cuppa tea was a good one too.

So after a successful breakfast, I found myself in the same place the next day and gave the Eggs Benedict a whirl. No photo I'm afraid. It was delicious. Served more like a toastie on sourdough rather than an English muffin and the vinegar powder adding a delicious piquant tang. This was clever and inspired and delicious.

I was impressed by the saintly offerings of Higher Ground although when I first read the menu I wasn't too taken as it's not the traditional fare that is on offer. Minced lamb fry up isn't the first thing on my list for breakfast but now that I've been there twice I'd happily give it a go a third.

I was taken here by a couple of Greek friends and we sat on the outside terrace suspended high above the beautiful Melbourne city centre. There night was dark and the sparkling city lights made it a magical place to dine. The night breeze was kept out by the layers of plastic and sliding screens. It felt like we were in a traditional taverna on the inside but the view reminded us we were definitely in the city.

Service was friendly and we secured a table without a booking. The live music was a lovely touch and we ordered a variety of dishes to dig in and share. Feast and friendship are great things and Melina supported this premise with her whole heart.

Saganaki, pitta bread, dips, chips, lamb, octopus, salad were warmly received and they were delicious. Traditional, simple and hearty. Special mention goes to the tender lamb and the lemon flavoured octopus.

We loved the unpretentious nature of this rooftop gem and I'd sure be up for their hospitality again.

Work lunch with Lenka took us to Sam Sam where we were quickly seated in a funky little dining room. I ordered the spicy stir fried pork belly and Lenka went schnitzel. Both dishes came with rice. 

Servings are generous and tasty and arrived quickly. The pork was a little sweet so I think I prefer the Seoulja Boy version plus that one has a runny egg which makes all things better. However this was still good and we both enjoyed our meals and concluded that Sam Sam is decent place for a Korean lunch.

I visited SPQR in a group of 6 for a pre theatre feed. We were actually running about 15 minutes late and I gave them a quick call and they were really friendly and accommodating. Our table was waiting for us when we arrived and drinks orders quickly taken and an order for some antipasto and a serve of their daily dip to share put through. 

Antipasto is sold for 2 or 4. Knowing we were going to feast on pizzas we went for 4 between 6 and there was certainly enough for us. The flatbread that comes is delicious so it was a great convivial way to start.

We were told the pizzas only take 90 seconds to cook in their impressive wood fired oven and whilst it took a bit longer than that for them to arrive, it was certainly fast enough. We gorged on 6 different pizzas selected from the blackboard. There's plenty of variety with tomato based and the less common but not unusual bianco type.

The pizzas are thin and crispy Neopolitan style with a tasty blistered char to the dough. Toppings are not heavy and whilst I think they could have taken the sauce and toppings closer to the edge, it's only a minor quibble. My personal favourite was the Amarice which was guanciale (pig cheek bacon) with Parmesan and with the San Marzano tomato base. My least favourite was the one with ricotta and n'duja as I found it slightly weirdly sweet and the textures to soft but my least favourite was someone else's favourite so winners all round!

The Aperol spritzes we ordered were too heavy on the Aperol to be refreshing and were a bit cloying and thick but a quick word meant more soda water was added to lift them up. And the waitress noticed one of our party didn't drink her's even after the addition of soda water and knocked it off the bill for failing to hit the mark.

We were in a rush to leave because of our theatre booking but as luck would have it, the credit card machine didn't work. Eventually it did and we were on our way but I received a call from the restaurant 5 minutes later explaining that the last credit card payment one of group made was actually overcharged by $30 and they'd return the money if we popped back in. We appreciate the honesty and the effort they made.

SPQR is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus which takes me back to my high school Latin classes...Caecilius est in foro...amo, amas, amat...anyway, it means the Senate and the People of Rome...patriotic pizza for the people and certainly what SPQR offered our party was pleasing enough to the people.

It's been a long time that Emporium has had Calia hiding behind construction work. All that time has resulted in an attractive and appealing shop front with a bistro style restaurant and retail outlet with classy looking offerings.

A midweek lunch with friend / colleague tempted us in and we were quickly seated at a large shared table. Service was pretty quick and friendly.

Bowls of food are served around the $20 mark with a couple of more extravagant options. Our YOLO attitude saw us splurge the 30 plus dollars on the Calia chirashi bowl and the Calia Wagyu bowl. 

Both dishes were beautifully presented and came quickly so perfect for a lunch hour. The sashimi is undeniably good. Stonkingly fresh, the toro just melted in the mouth as it should. The soy based dipping sauce was delicious and the rice just right. Often I find the rice a bit too vinegary. This was a joy to eat. It's definitely a light lunch though but I don't begrudge the $35 as the quality is definitely there. 

My friend also did not begrudge the $32 for the Wagyu beef and declared it delicious. The perfectly cooked egg did look very appealing and I know I'll be going down this route next time.

Whilst I don't think the price point a turn off and it's on balance with the quality of produce, and the fit out is evidently classy, it still feels like a restaurant in shopping centre so there's no big sense of occasion or 'destination dining'. I think it will appeal to those from cities with swanky malls where it's the norm to have fine dining venues within them; the Hong Kong, Singapore type of shopping centre. My parents would love it as it's quick, good service, can bring the children and not feel they're going to be a problem and the food quality is there.

For me it doesn't feel like I'm going somewhere special for my feed although the actual feed is a good one.

I'd heard of this mythical noodle joint hidden in the dark depths of a CBD car park. Finally an attractive Instagram photo that cropped up on my feed convinced and reminded me to follow up on my commitment to give it a whirl.

Headed there on a warm lunchtime with my lovely friend and work colleague, Lenka and as we headed further and further into the car park, we were transported to the back streets of Bangkok. The menu is small but the little tick sheet helps with the decision making and we went up to the cash register to order.

I wanted to try the house speciality boat noodles but my head was swayed by the lure of tom yum with pork and prawn. Tom yum is my ultimate fave. Lenka ordered the boat noodles though and I'd heard portions were small and people have had two bowls so we upsized. And ordered Thai milk tea to add to the occasion.

Food arrived quickly in homely plastic crockery. Plenty of meat in both bowls; not as much noodle as I'd like for $15. The tom yum actually had a couple of prawn dumplings as well as pork. It's a light fragrant broth that has a bit of zip and tang but not really the intensity of what I've had previously. It's tasty though but just not quite what I was expecting. I made use of the condiments on the table to amp up the flavours.

My limited experience of boat noodles is that it's a bit too intense for me but I was open to trying as I've not had it that many times. I took a slurp of Lenka's and whilst it was less murky and intense as what I've had previously, it's still not my favourite form of soup noodles. The lighter, clearer flavours of broth like in pho and the tom yum are my cup of tea. Speaking of which the Thai iced milk tea was delicious; perfect blend of flavour, creaminess and sweetness.

Both bowls of noodles were good but could do with more zip, zing and whallop. I like it enough to return though. Besides it's fun to spend a lunch break in a car park right?

I'm going to be controversial and upfront! I'm not a fan of The Townmouse which is Embla's sister restaurant. I haven't enjoyed the food the two times I've been there and I don't find it a comfortable place to eat. I almost gave up on the little stool I had at the bar to eat standing up...

But many people have urged me to give Embla a go and we found ourselves there for a pre theatre feed on Saturday. It was just after 6pm and there were a few seats left. We chose to sit at the kitchen bar, just to the side of the wood fired oven to try and stay a little cooler and it was a great seat. I'm so pleased to say that the stool was comfy and there was a little ledge to support my short legs. Great start Embla and I like you already!

We found the welcome warm and friendly and there was a good pace to the food coming out; leisurely enough to be enjoyable but speedy enough to keep the momentum going. The service is friendly and personable and again, when ordering drinks midway through the meal they arrive promptly which is well received.

We start off with:

• Snapper carpaccio, sour peppers
• Whipped nduja (unpictured)
• Whipped cod roe

The snapper is so thinly sliced, it almost looks like charcuterie and there's a pretty pinkness to it. It's so fresh and clean tasting with the tang and smokiness of capsicum.

The whipped nduja is much more robust and punchy and with the crispbreads it's a great alternative.

And the cod roe on soft warm flatbread is salty and creamy and again provides another taste dimension. We're a fan of all three dishes and just lapping up the flavours and the feels of this wine bar that offers sensational food.

Next up come:

• Stracciatella, anchovy, basil and fermented zucchini
• Duck leg, yoghurt and ratatouille

We can't see the anchovy on the stracciatella but there's a distinct saltiness that is offset by the cool creaminess of the cheese and then there's a tangy touch of pickled zucchini.

The duck leg is sliced and on top of a bed of Mediterranean vibrant ratatouille. The meat and the sweetness of the vegetables with a hint of yoghurt is a simple, homely but so satisfying combination. I defy anyone not to enjoy this!

And we continue with the journey of enjoyment as our final dishes come out:

• Black Angus flank steak, tarragon salsa verde
• Tomato salad with smoked goat's curd

Perfectly cooked beef with a flavoursome crust of char and a blushing pink centre. The beef is tender and so flavoursome with such intense 'beefiness' and a delicious richness that lingers in the mouth. The salsa verde is quite strong with the tarragon flavours and I only need a teeny bit. I love the beef so much I don't want to overpower it.

The intensity of the beef goes so well with the fresh tomatoes that are zingy and fruity enhanced and amped up by the addition of the smoked goat's curd.

Undeniably this was a delicious meal. Watching the busy kitchen and seeing that wonderful wood fired oven that just cranks up the flavour notes in the dishes is delightful. In some ways, the cosy, intimate, wine bar feel makes it perfect for couples but the delicious food and generous flavours means the hospitality needs to embrace groups of more than just two! Embla creates a certain magic that just works.

I decided to call it Thirsty Thursday and started with the Uncle Tom's Collins described as West Winds The Sabre gin, Canton ginger liquer, smoked beetroot shrub, yuzu and lemon. The waiter said it was a good, refreshing choice. I was hoping for something long, cold and fruity. It certainly looked the part with its berry shade of pink and it was long and cold but certainly not fruity. It was pretty sharp and then had a weird smokiness from the shrub. I think a touch of sugar syrup would have helped.

Anyway Kirsty soon arrived and we quickly moved onto The Paris End which is West Winds The Sabre gin, basil syrup, lychee, Angostura bitters, lime and prosecco served like a martini and this was much more up my street...

Hungry tummies meant we got out the starting blocks quickly with:

• Lime cured hapuka, coconut, pomegranate and chilli on a betel leaf
• Hot and sour chicken wingettes with ginger and kumquats
• Young rice prawn banh mi with avocado puree, sriracha mayo and dill
• Braised beef short rib bao with morcilla and flavours of bun bo hue

The betel leaves arrived first loaded with snowy white fish and coconut shred. Oriental flavours of sesame, coconut and chilli came through and the whole two bite morsel was just delicious. A bright, light and fresh start.

The chicken wingettes were a generous serve and so so tasty. Definitely finger lickin' good with a yummy ginger and kumquat dipping sauce. The baos were nice enough but I think the betel leaf and chicken were better. The prawn one was crispy but I felt there was just a touch too much bread to prawn ratio. The short rib bao was heavier on the protein ratio but you can order extra baos if necessary. The meat shreds and the morcilla adds a savoury hit. I think I was expecting more chilli heat because of the bun bo hue reference. I think the meat could have been softer and juicier. Tasty but not amazing.

Our shared main course was impressive:

• Master stock crispy pork hock with banh hoi, lettuce wraps, fragrant herbs and nuoc cham

Loved the banh hoi which are essentially noodles shapped into little squares. We also ordered some grilled roti whichw as a good call to dip in the sticky glaze and make the lettuce wraps a bit more substantial. I found the meat tender and juicy, the glaze was a little sweet but the dipping sauce helped as that was pretty zippy. It's a messy dish but there's joy in being up to the elbows in meat juices and sticky sauce!

We were so full after that but Kirsty enjoyed another cocktail and ended proceedings with a strong and sweet Vietnamese coffee.

There are plenty more dishes to try on a return visit and the food was certainly good enough to warrant that. The wait staff were also very friendly; personable and casual but certainly not lacksadaisical. If you like Lucy Lui and Chin Chin, this is a good alternative but more Vietnamese in its cuisine. I am surprised by the current low score of 2.9 on Zomato as whilst not perfect, Uncle deserves a bit more love than that!