Bring The Ruckers
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Bring The Ruckers

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THE AQUARIUM CAFÉ


The Aquarium Café has only been around for a little over a year, but seemingly overnight, this new bakery café has become an absolute must-visit destination on High Street.

The setup of the place is quite unique. When you enter, fantastic café and bakery aromas greet you, and you find yourself in a very large and invariably busy and bustling room. There is also an adjoining, smaller room for a slightly more intimate experience.

The staff are friendly and attentive to a fault, seemingly always with smiles on their faces, even when the place is very busy. The coffee always arrives within five minutes maximum, which is always a welcome surprise. And speaking of which, the Aquarium’s coffee is among the best in the area.

Then there’s the food. It’s quite sumptuous, and as consistently high quality as can be. The big veggie breakfast certainly lives up to its name, it is large in serve and in flavor, and the Aquarium’s BLT fairly melts in the mouth. Try the Moroccan Patties for something very different and exceptionally tasty, and their specialty, the falafel burger is an absolute sensation. But the menu is extremely extensive and caters to all tastes. And it’s all extremely manageable, price-wise.

THE WILD YAK TIBETAN CAFÉ

The Wild Yak Tibetan Cafe has become a High Street institution for diners wanting a hearty but extremely affordable meal out. It is familiar and familial, as well as quaint, but not in a cheesy way. And it’s thoroughly authentic, in a highly unpretentious manner. The décor is looking a little tired, but you don’t come here for that. The staff are always on the ball and the food comes out very efficiently. Speaking of the food, it is unique and quite wondrous. Initial impressions are, once again, of rather unassuming fare, but this just hides the delights available on the extensive menu. Both vegetarians and meat eaters are generously catered for, and the food itself is bountiful in its serves and its flavours.

Geographically, the Nepal/Tibet region lies between the population and culinary colossuses that are China and India, and the food from this area is truly a fusion of both. If you enjoy the cuisines of either or both, you will find much to love here. Possibly the best thing about the Yak lies in its astounding value for money. If you bring your own wine, two people can eat to their heart’s content, enjoying an extremely filling entrée, mains and rice each for well under $40.

CURRY MASALA

Speaking of India, there is also the Curry Masala on High. This classic sub-continental restaurant combines authentic and humble ambience and décor, with again very attentive service. One is immediately struck by the extensiveness of the menu, with all tastes catered for, with many meat, chicken, seafood and vegetarian items to choose from. And of course, the many exotic flavours of India abound in the feasts they offer up, served with lashings of rice and naan bread.

Being only very slightly more expensive than the Yak, Curry Masala also offers phenomenal value for the dollar. Two people can walk away with a very full belly for under 40 bucks.

NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB


Then of course there is the mighty Northcote Social Club, which hasn’t taken long to become a Northern suburbs institution, and which is kind of a ‘one stop shop’ for your weekend (or indeed weekday) evening’s entertainment. The dining area is an extensive, two level deck, where you can enjoy a magnificent ‘pub grub’ style feast of grilled T-Bone, chicken or eggplant parma or fish and chips, washed down with a frothy or ten, or a wine from their excellent selection. They also cater well for kids and their dessert range is small but delicious. All this before you rock out with your proverbial out to your favourite Aussie or international rock, pop, metal or indie act in the small and intimate but professionally decked out band room. What could possibly be better?