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.
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.
Refined Filipino. More pan-Asian. Superlative service. Expertly prepared food.
open
Dinner Wednesday to Monday
Lunch Thursday to Saturday
Cocktail bar on rooftop
reservations
phone
email
instagram
address
167 Exhibition Street, MELBOURNE, VIC 3000
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.
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
A take on Thai. Addictive cocktails. Dine on Thai inspired deliciousness with an atmosphere that envelops like Thompson silk.
open
Tuesday -Thursday 5 pm – 10 pm
Friday 5 pm – 11 pm
Saturday 1 pm – 11 pm
address 4 Saxon Street, Brunswick 3056
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.
open
Dinner:
Tuesday – Saturday 5 pm – 9.30 pm
Lunch Friday
reservations
phone
email
Instagram
address Shop 263 Lygon Street, CARLTON 3053
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.
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
Lyon strikes Melbourne? Like a bouchon in that it’s owner operated with a mix of classic French dishes and nouveaux treats.
open
Open seven days 12 noon until late
reservations
phone
email
instagram
address 8 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, 3057
One big table that seats fourteen and a few two-tops. Small space. Huge heart. Always delivers the right stuff.
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
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.
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
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.
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
How lovely this place is! Skillfully executed French inspired food that has me singing repetitive praise.
open
Dinner Wednesday to Saturday
Lunch Sunday
reservations
phone
email
instagram
address 6 Newry Street, Fitzroy North, Melbourne, Victoria 3068
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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
We have 42 years history at the highest level
in the food and wine industry and the passion for our craft remains undiminished…
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