The best things the Time Out Melbourne team ate in 2023

I was obsessed with cold mugs of Milo as a kid, but this inspired parfait from Lagoon Dining, Carlton’s contemporary Chinese-fusion restaurant, takes that malty childhood flavour to the next level. It was unexpectedly one of my fave sweet treats of the year, slipping down seductively with dulce de leche, a lick of raspberry and puffed rice to add a bit of addictive crunch on top. This is how you do nostalgia in an elevated dessert.

Looks like a classic chocolate eclair, but this is a playful savoury version loaded with chicken mousse, black garlic and honey. The essential first bite of the night and something I continue to go back for. Conor Mitchell, Lead Designer

I came to Waku Waku on my lunch break a few weeks ago on a rainy summer’s day (classic Melbourne), and the Hokkaido-style curry quickly rocketed up to rank as one of my most comforting eats of the year. You can choose your type of protein, so I got mine with a tender chicken leg. Was my T-shirt splashed with heaps of curry sauce from trying (quite poorly, I might add) to tear the meat off the bone with chopsticks? Sure. But it was well worth it. The soup is beautifully rich and buttery, and served with jasmine rice on the side, it’s a lick-your-lips lunch that’s tasty, filling and overall great bang for your buck.

When you’re after really good pizza in Melbourne’s north, you can’t be blamed for making a beeline to Lygon Street. But if you venture just a block away to Leonardo’s, you’ll find a veritable pizza haven. The zucchini pizza was incredibly tasty, with lots of garlic, smoked mozzarella, Sicilian olives, ricotta and a drizzle of honey for a touch of sweetness. I took a short stroll to Carlton Gardens, sat in the sun while I ate and washed it down with some natural wine. It was bliss.

Cheese and pasta are obvs a match made in heaven, but Al Dente Enoteca’s take on cacio e pepe borders on orgasmic. Instead of bathing noodles in the classic creamy, peppery cheese sauce, the Italian-born chefs here are filling silken parcels of tortelloni with the stuff instead. Simple yet extraordinary (as most simple things are), it’s a must-order if you dine here.

The meatball sub from Rocco's Bologna Discoteca hits every spot imaginable. It's hearty, homely and humongous. Reminds me a lot of growing up and making a leftover spaghetti bolognese toastie, but – no offence, mum – much better!

Best tacos ever. ‘Nuff said.

I’m a spaghetti bolognese girly (if it’s on a menu, you bet I’m ordering it), but after having what I can only describe as a spiritual dining experience at 1800 Lasagne earlier in the year, I’m extremely close to switching sides. The humble lasagne is elevated to a whole new level at this retro-inspired Italian joint on Thornbury’s High Street – it’s rich, creamy and melts in your mouth, without being too indulgent. This is death row, last meal on Earth vibes – if you go out with a chunk of this in your belly, you’ve done pretty well for yourself.

The French-leaning menu at glitzy new CBD restaurant Reine and La Rue certainly isn’t short on devourable meaty mains, but it’s this understated veggie starter that holds a special place in my heart. Served with a vinaigrette, hazelnuts and a light dusting of cheese, these wood-roasted leeks are ultra velvety, smoky, somehow creamy and just the right amount of piquant. I could eat this dish every day.

It just slaps. Jack Puglielli, Designer

The best things I ate this year were the vegan pintxos from Follies Bar. This fully vegan Fitzroy haven specialises in bite-sized eats, so you can choose whether you want a lil’ snack or a full-on Girl Dinner. The pintxos I’ve tried so far include the famous arancini, countless crostini with veggie toppings that make me want to actually eat my greens, vegan blue cheese that’s right up there with the real thing, and the tastiest green olives of my life.

Luscious gamey rabbit and uniformly slim strips of tajarin made with egg yolks are tossed together to create a dish that’s somehow both satiny rich and delicate at the same time. It’s a ten out of ten.

This lil’ morsel happens to be both the smallest and the cheapest thing you can order on this list. A miang kham (betel leaf wrap) is a tiny parcel of herbs, nuts and fried shallots, typically enjoyed in Thailand and Laos. Thai Tide's version is spicy with red chilli, sweet and coconutty all at once. A textural riot, and as far as beer snacks are concerned, elite.

Brazilian-born Peterson Maio Machada Correia at Oshan is one of my favourite sushi chefs around Melbourne right now, and his signature sashimi tiradito dish explains why. The expertly prepared fresh fish comes in the most wonderful savoury sauce – chef Peterson is a master of sauces – and you drink it like a soup at the end. What's in it? It's a secret, of course!