tom  neal tacker

One of those people who lives to eat, Tom’s career in food, wine and travel began aged 20 with a sommelier’s gig in Chicago’s best restaurant at the time.

After years of travel while eating and drinking around the world he settled permanently in Australia, which segued to media with a weekly column in the Cairns Post aged 29. He began writing weekly restaurant reviews for a Sydney newspaper in 2000.
Three years later still in Sydney he, with two colleagues, founded a publishing company with a mish-mash of magazine titles.

That led to regular radio gigs on Sydney’s 2BL talking about wine, food and travel which led to working with Doug Mulray on Australia’s first online television show as the “Wine God”.

A move to Melbourne in 2006 secured a successful freelance writing career specialising in food, wine and travel.

Writing over a thousand stories for mainstream media and just about any publisher that paid, running Australia’s Festival of Travel Writing, appearing as a speaker at Melbourne’s Literary Festival, Sustainable Living Festival and Bright’s Festival of Photography, he settled into working as a consultant in the food, wine and travel industries.

Melbourne is still home but his itchy feet keep him peripatetic.

COPYRIGHT © TOM NEAL TACKER 2025

Mad about melbourne 2025

Here’s a winter update for  Melbourne. Same guy, Tom Neal Tacker, new recommendations.

Remember, these are all fairly new restaurants apart from Soi 38, which relocated a couple months ago from its quirky carpark location to larger premises, so it’s sort of new anyway.

As always, selections are based on small businesses typically run by small, dedicated and gifted teams. My 2024 list stands click here to go to the list.

TNT [LOL]…Tom Neal Tacker

click here to go straight to Tom’s 2025 Melbourne restaurant list.

Please note these lists are in alphabetical order and not in any preferential order.

CHAUNCY…IMAGE © COPYRIGHT CHAUNCY
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE ON TNT’S 2024 LIST

askal

askal cecil sour…IMAGE © COPYRIGHT askal
click on the image to see more

Refined Filipino. More pan-Asian. Superlative service. Expertly prepared food.

website  

open
Dinner Wednesday to Monday
Lunch Thursday to Saturday
Cocktail bar on rooftop

reservations
phone
email
instagram

address
167 Exhibition Street, MELBOURNE, VIC 3000

BAR THYME

BAR THYME…IMAGE © COPYRIGHT BAR THYME
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

Cozy? Yep and warm. Like a loved glove, this place always fits. $50 Wednesday three course set price dinner is one of Melbourne’s best value delights.

website

open
Winter trading hours
Wednsday to Saturday from 5 pm
Sunday from 12 noon

reservations
phone
email
instagram

address 227 Barkly Street, Footscray, Victoria 3011

bar spontana

bar spontana…IMAGE © COPYRIGHT BAR SPONTANA
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

A take on Thai. Addictive cocktails. Dine on Thai inspired deliciousness with an atmosphere that envelops like Thompson silk.

website

open
Tuesday -Thursday 5 pm – 10 pm
Friday 5 pm – 11 pm
Saturday 1 pm – 11 pm

reservations
email
instagram 

address 4 Saxon Street, Brunswick 3056

lagoon dining

LAGOON DINING…IMAGE © COPYRIGHT LAGOON DINING
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

Leans towards Chinese with pizzazz. A place local chefs rave about. Me too. Menu changes fast. Go with whatever a friendly waiter tells you to eat.

website

open
Dinner:
Tuesday – Saturday 5 pm – 9.30 pm
Lunch Friday

reservations
phone
email 
Instagram 

address Shop 263 Lygon Street, CARLTON 3053

morena

morena…IMAGE © morena CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

Slick! Classy. But approachable. Eat here. Drink here. Nowhere else like it. South American ingredients not seen much in Australia, same goes for the wines.

website

open
Breakfast Monday to Friday 7 am – 11.15 am
Lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday

reservations
phone
email
instagram

address 73 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

Ninety Eight
Lygon Street
Bar and Bistro

ninety eight lygon street bar and bistro..IMAGE © COPYRIGHT ninety eight lygon street bar and bistro
click on the image to see more

Lyon strikes Melbourne? Like a bouchon in that it’s owner operated with a mix of classic French dishes and nouveaux treats.

website

open
Open seven days 12 noon until late

reservations
phone
email
instagram

address 8 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, 3057

Public Wine Bar
& Shop

Public Wine Bar & Shop..marinated eggplant, spicy green sauce, citrus and fresh herbs
IMAGE © COPYRIGHT Public Wine Bar & Shop
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

One big table that seats fourteen and a few two-tops. Small space. Huge heart. Always delivers the right stuff.

website

open
Winter kitchen hours
Dinner Monday – Friday 4 pm – 9.30 pm
Saturday all day dining 12 pm – 10 pm
Sunday all day dining 12 pm – 8 pm


reservations

phone 
email 
instagram 

address 179 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North, Naarm [Melbourne] 3068

Serai Kitchen

SERAI KITCHEN..IMAGE © COPYRIGHT SERAI KITCHEN.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

Filipino. Score a bar seat and ask the chefs to cook for you. Knock your head off cocktails. Tastes that linger in your memory like sweet dreams.

website

open
Monday closed
Tuesday and Wednesday 5.30 pm – 10 pm
Thursday to Sunday lunch 12 noon – 3 pm : dinner 5.30 pm – 10 pm

reservations 
phone
email 
instagram 

address 7 Racing Club Lane, Melbourne 3000

soi 38 melbourne

SOI 38 MELBOURNE…IMAGE © SOI 38 MELBOURNE
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

If you’ve had the pleasure of eating Bangkok street food, then you’ll love this place. Authentic. Endearing. Noodle dishes are the go-to but honestly, everything is good.

website

open
Monday to Thursday lunch 11 am – 3 pm : dinner 5 pm – 10 pm
Friday and Saturday lunch 11 am – 3 pm : dinner 5 pm – 11 pm
Sunday 11 am- 3 pm & 5 pm – 10 pm

no reservations
no phone 
email 
instagram 

address 38 Royal Lane, Melbourne 3000

suze

Suze…IMAGE © COPYRIGHT SUZE
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

How lovely this place is! Skillfully executed French inspired food that has me singing repetitive praise.

website 

open
Dinner Wednesday to Saturday
Lunch Sunday

reservations
phone 
email
instagram 

address 6 Newry Street, Fitzroy North, Melbourne, Victoria 3068

"

ANN OLIVER

favourite MELBOURNE RESTAURANTS

Not a new list by any means but still relevant, in particular il Bacaro where authentic Italian remains supreme and a wine list to match… click here

RISOTTO, SAFFRON, CUTTLEFISH, SQUID INK, ZUCCHINI FLOWER
IMAGE © COPYRIGHT IL BACARO
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE

ABOUT

We have 42 years history at the highest level
in the food and wine industry and the passion for our craft remains undiminished…
read more

ON cuisine-extreme

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our newsletter
to get the latest news, tips, and advice.
 
.……… ann_oliver

COPYRIGHT © TEXT AND IMAGES ANN OLIVER 2024 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED