Sunday, October 27, 2013

Maedaya and Cabinet bar and balcony

They are both bars that serve tapas, more than meals. They are both popular places for students and workers alike. One of them is in the city and the other is in Richmond.  We went to both of them.







Maedaya
Maedaya is a Japanese Izakaya (which is predominantly a Japanese bar/pub). They have an iPad ordreing system but if you need help the friendly Japanese staff can assist you in making choices. They are also very attentive.

They only open for dinner.

The place is clean and after 7pm on a weeknight it can get quite busy. So do come before then as they don't take bookings for groups less than 8 people. Routes 48 and 75 go past the place all the time.

The place is really clean and it reminds me of the Japanese bar I saw on Kill bill as it had that intimate feel. They have so many sake on offer.

The bathrooms are out the back and you have to press a green button to exit.


Note they do have proper meals and they are famous for their skewers. The skewers are priced from $2.50-$3.50 per plate. There is a skewer tasting plate for $12.  I loved the onigiri skewer. Yum. I also love their inari kushi which had a chilli kick to it.

I also had their chirashi ($13.50) I loved the fish, but there was too much avocado in there. The rice was just ok.

The agedashi tofu ($6) was just ok. There was no moving bonito which I would have loved.

They do have free green tea for all.

I'd love to invite the Japan club for a meal out here.

Cabinet Bar and Balcony





This is behind the Tivoli arcade in a little laneway called Rainbow Alley. It might be a bit tricky to find but if you can find the corner of Swanston and Little Collins st you can look left and the laneway is to your left. Its better to wear flat shoes to this place as you'll have to climb some stairs.

They are more of a drinking place rather than an eating place. But they do have some amazing tapas there.

On Wednesdays they have $10 flatbreads. On Mondays they have $10 champagne cocktails.

I had the chance to visit this place with my library group once before and loved the flatbreads, eggplant chips, chips and the antipasto plate. Oh and I loved the big olive bowl. The eggplant chips were favoured by everyone as it went in minutes. Same as the flatbreads. Oh and I loved the poppers in the antipasto plate.  Not everyone loved the chips as there were heaps left and it got cold.


Their soft drinks are $3.50 but they come in a big glass.Or after dinner in any case.

We'd be happy to come again just for drinks before dinner.

I would only come just for the drinks, mainly the mocktails and the flatbreads.

Maedaya on Urbanspoon Cabinet Bar & Balcony on Urbanspoon

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