Top restaurants to claim your Midweek Melbourne Money

If you’ve never tried Melbourne institution Flower Drum, there is no better time.

The iconic Cantonese fine diner is an icon of our city. With its professional and polished wait staff, and its excellent Chinese food, Flower Drum is a unique Melbourne experience.

With both lunch and dinner banquets as well as an a la carte menu, there’s plenty to sample and excite, including the not-to-be-missed Crispy skinned chicken and a top-notch version of Peking duck.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Cantonese style roast duck served with a sour plum sauce ($70 whole/$40 half)

If wholesome Sicilian fare served in a spacious, modern setting overlooking the leafy green trees of Little Bourke Street sounds like a good enough reason to head into the city, then Rosa’s Canteen is for you.

With Rosa Mitchell in the kitchen, your midweek dining bucks will be well spent on a three course meal from her Summer menu. We enjoyed the Salami and potato fritters with pickled pepper sauce, followed by Housemade ravioli with eggplant and fresh tomato sauce and finished with that most Sicilian of sweets, a cannolo. We think you will too..

There is also a fab list of Aussie and international wines by the glass to choose from, and you can finish your meal with one of the many Italian amari on offer.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Housemade trenette with fish, mussels and nduja pangrattato ($32)

No35, situated on level 35 of Sofitel Melbourne, is a great place to sit back and enjoy Melbourne views and great food.

The extensive dinner menu is sure to please. A sample vegetarian three course meal could be the Koo Wee Rup asparagus for entree, the cumin-braised eggplant for main, with a fresh strawberry tartlet for dessert.

Or, you could go for the yellowfin tuna tartare, the corn-fed chicken breast, followed by the homemade sorbet.

Midweek diners please note that No35 is not currently open for lunch, but dinner is served from 5.30pm, making it the perfect choice for famished folk who have just knocked off work.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Three courses and a side ($98)

Asian-inspired share plates and cocktails are the order of the day at Lucy Liu’s. Not to be confused with the Hollywood actress, this establishment is one of Melbourne’s favourite off-Flinders Lane icons.

Midweek visitors can choose from the Vegan Lucy (sample menu: tofu betel leaf, spiced cauliflower, green papaya salad, yellow curry, rice and roti), or the 5 Plates (sample menu: oyster with dipping sauce, tempura pork, soft shell crab, pan-roasted barramundi, and drunken chicken.)

Lucy also dishes up express lunches, small bites like dumplings, larger main meals, and sweets. Embrace your inner kid and order up some good ol’ fashioned banana fritters with vanilla ice-cream to top off your midweek meal.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Pork hock, apple kimchi pancakes and hoisin ($46)

Housed in the city’s historic Normanby Chambers building, Chancery Lane offers patrons a classic European bistro dining experience under the watchful eye of top chef Scott Pickett. The decor here is all old-world opulence.

Kick things off in grand style with some caviar served on buckwheat blini, then move onto the Cape Grim porterhouse on the bone with a side of pomme frites. Finish off with the delicate summer berry trifle with chantilly and almond.

Dish Cult’s top pick: John Dory, sardine and squid ink risoni ($45)

Farmer’s Daughters is located on the second floor of a three-level food emporium, with a rooftop bar on level three and a deli on level one.

All of the ingredients used on the menu are sourced directly from farmers in Gippsland in Victoria’s east, and sold in the deli.

The Gippsland Getaway features seven courses, and there are vegetarian and vegan options available as well.

We reckon the highlight here is the soda bread with cultured cream. But the Alpine trout and the Smoked O’Connor scotch fillet are sure to please too. Finish with the unusual sounding but delicious Mirboo blueberries, Cuvée white chocolate, goat’s milk and sorrel. Yum!

Dish Cult’s top pick: Gippsland Getaway ($125 p.p.) with matching wines (additional $85 or $120 p.p)

Old-world European dishes combined with fresh Australian produce makes for an old-meets-new winner on the Melbourne dining scene at Gimlet.

Prop yourself up at the handsome marble bar for a plate of oysters and a Cavendish House martini, or plonk yourself in a comfy leather booth and order from the a la carte menu.

This menu offers some sumptuous mains: King George whiting, duck breast, or grilled lobster, to name a few. And speaking of grilling, a wood-fired oven is the centrepiece of Gimlet’s kitchen.

Order the Baked Valrhona chocolate with crème frâiche for dessert, and you will go home feeling like royalty.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Caviar Service: Giaveri White Sturgeon 30g with traditional accompaniments ($160)