Asia Joe's - not authentic

After reading the reviews about this restaurant from TripAdvisor, I was quite excited to check this place out, taking precedence over its neighbour, Thai Lucy.  This restaurant is situated in Bay Lane which also has a number of restaurants next to each other.  

The restaurant is not big, probably only sits about 40 people but it was a buzz given it was the long weekend.  We didn't have to wait long to get a table as the tables turned over pretty quickly.  It's BYO so, one could hop across the street to get a bottle to go with the meal.

We ordered a Chicken Pad Thai and a Tom Yum Soup.  While the serving was quite substantial, we were totally disappointed with the taste.  The Chicken Pad Thai did not taste like the Pad Thai I was expecting while the Tom Yum Soup was bland and tasted just like water...

Would not recommend this place at all unless ... this is your first foray into Asian food.

  

Monga Sweet Cafe

I love walking around in Melbourne, there are plenty to see even late at night and you could be lucky to stunble upon this treasure.

During my last trip to Melbourne I was walking around looking for supper and I saw this read door on Russell Street.  The red colour was really striking and this sign post was at the bottom of a stairs.  Hmm.. I was not sure what was up the stairs and hesitated for a second.  During the second, there were quite a few people going up and down the stairs.  I thought, it must be worth checking out.

Heading up the stairs, it's as if one has stumbled upon Aladdin's cafe.  This sweet cafe is quite small and is decked out in typical Hong Kong style although the lighting was a bit dim.  The kitchen looked neat and clean though and is open for those waiting to take a look.

I took a look at the menu and wished I had come with a group of people to share and sample the food.  The menu consists of a selection of desserts.  For the sweet soup, there are choices such as red bean soup with lily bulbs and lotus seeds; black glutinous rice & sago sweet soup with coconut; black sesame / red bean / peanut filling rice ball with ginger soup.

Additionally there are also a great selection of grass jelly desserts, double boiling sweet soup, basil seed desserts, sago desserts and a drinks menu.  For those looking for something a bit more filling, the sweet cafe also offered double boiling rice set, or set meals.

I think the name Monga is synonymous with Mango as their specials included Mango Sago Dessert with Pomelo, Mango Sweet Soup with Popping BoBa, Pomelo, Sago and Grass Jelly (very nice but costs $9.50!).  

This Monga outlet also has a dessert lounge in Box Hill, a Sweet Express outlet at Glen Waverley and soon to be opened Sweet Lounge, also at Glen Waverley.

Sigh... how I wished we had this type of a dessert lounge in Sydney which not only offers great Asian desserts but stays open until 3am!

Kazbah

Although I've visited the new Top Ryde shopping center many a times, I hardly head to the La Piazza eating precinct which is located on the upper floor, close to the cinemas.

There are so many restaurants there now, Thai, Asian, cafes and the famed Hurricane's restaurant.  On this Sunday afternoon, my friend and I decided to meet at Kazbah for lunch.  While waiting, I walked around the quadrangle and it was obvious that Kazbah was by far the busiest of the lot, the restaurant was busy with most of the tables filled.

Kazbah, an "Arabian" restaurant micro-chain featuring food from Morocco, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran and more has expanded over the past few years.  Starting from their initial outlet in Balmain, it now has outlets in Darling Harbour and has recently opened in the Top Ryde shopping center.  It is a good choice as it caters to the demographics of the surrounding areas.

 The restaurant is decorated in Moroccan style with lamps hanging down from the ceiling.  The menu itself is varied with Breakfast being served until about 3pm.  There is so much to pick from - there is also a lunch special of two courses and a glass of wine for $35 per person.  Hmm... too many choices and what to have as they all look good!

Kazbah offers one of the best breakfast food in Sydney as is evidenced from the menu and I decided to try their scrambled eggs with mushroom while my friend had the eggs benedict.  The food came very quickly... The scrambled eggs were not the runny eggs as I was used to and would have preferred but these were nice as well accompanied by the mushrooms. 

I wish there were more of us to share as across from where we were sitting, a group was having their banquet menu and the food looked great!!

Definitely a place to revisit.