Da Noi (Melbourne)

[debbieann]

We went for a Saturday lunch at Da Noi and wow - I loved it! Authentic Sardinian served and cooked by people who really care. Everything tasted great, we spent two hours (an ohmygod $250) eating lunch. We chose the chef's choice, where they serve you food until you can't eat any more - we had scallops, and cream of jerusalem artichoke puree/soup w veal tongue, and crispy pork skin with roasted pork and potatoes. We had Sardinian wine and then some Italian wines. We had fantastic crusty bread. We had tiramisu on a tasting platter w three other desserts. salami on thin crispy bread w great huge olives. raviolos w potatoes and mushroom sage cream sauce. eggplant w garlic.

Plus they just took great care of us, I thought, served by the owners. small place, bookings are good, but I called just a couple hours before we went. over. at 95 Toorak Rd in S Yarra.

A meal we couldn't find in Hobart. (plus Herbie Hancock after dinner! definitely a day in Melbourne!). I liked the small cosy restaurant, I loved the food, and one of the few nice meals, where I would be happy to go back - we saw several other dishes we want to try and everything that came out of the kitchen was good.

[debbieann]

and here are the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/haynes/s...

[kersizm]

That roast pork looks incredible. How was it??

[debbieann]

It was great - the skin was crispy and crunchy and the meat was flavorful. It was fatty, but good, the fresh fennel after was perfect. Very filling, meat so tender.

[mr_gimlet]

I hadn't realised they were open Saturday lunch. And just around the corner from the new burch and purchese shop

[debbieann]

oh wow, Burch and Purchese look great, might need to check it out!

[mr_gimlet]

I was at B&P twice last week. Went to FranceSoir for Saturday lunch as I hadn't realised Da Noi was BYO. Next time.

[debbieann]

We had lots of wine at Da Noi - or does BYO mean you can bring your own, I get confused. How was FranceSoir? We were suppose to be back in Hobart, but due to an ashcloud we will be enjoying Melbourne this week.

[mr_gimlet]

BYO is Bring Your Own. Basically it is a lot cheaper than hitting the wine list.

FranceSoir has its place. It is a vaguely stuck in time French bistro and always delivers. Freshly shucked oysters, entrecote with bearnaise, that kind of stuff.

I escaped Melbourne just before the dustcloud (although domestic was closed) and am currently in Ulan Bataar.

[haynes]

The roast pork *was* incredible. Tender meat, juicy and succulent with crispy salty skin. The fresh fennel was a perfect accompaniment and apparently a Sardinian tradition. I've eaten in Caligiari (where there is a "Da Noi Due" aka "us two" restaurant) and this was a lovely treat.