Melbourne food

Went out with a friend to a local Italian restaurant called Tender Traps at Blackburn Road.

It was this - or yum-cha at Taipan - but its noisy like hell in that dim sum restaurant, and hard to hold a civil conversation with dozens of loud shrill voices in the background drowning everything out. Lively but sounds like a fishmarket. Can't some people learn to have a decent conversation quietly? lol.

Tender Traps was vastly more pleasent to dine at. Its a great deal more quieter  and the food and service is usually of high quality. The restaurant is pleasantly decorated with modern finishings - and would look perfect on Chapel Street or Holland Village for that matter. Teak flooring, grey plastered feature walls, plush leather seats, hidden lighting etc.. gives it a nice ambiance.

I ordered the linguini with fresh seafood, bits of fish and mussels.

My female companion ordered the fish of the day, a quick grilled snapper which also came with prawns and fresh mussels.

Kilpatrick oysters were for starters. Nicely laid out on a wooden platter on a sea salt bed.

It was overall very nice. I didn't like the linguini so much though - it was rather heavy with dark sauce. Not lightly done with a hint of olive oil as I would have preferred. Tasted a bit like egg noodles with soya sauce.

We also had a glass of wine - Sav. Blanc - slightly fruity but tasted insipid. Should have ordered a more drier white wine instead.