Mr Tulk

328 Swanston St, Melbourne
Ph: 8660 5700
Open: Mon-Thurs, 7am-5pm; Fri, 7am-9pm; Sat, 9am-4pm

Shhhh. I’ve found a great place for a city lunch but I’m not sure if I can tell you about it. I mean, of course I can tell you about it but I just need to do it quietly. Because the joint in question - Mr Tulk - is in the ever-so-studious State Library of Victoria.

Admittedly, there are no librarians running around the place telling patrons to “shhhh” but it was kind of a nice thought as I sat at the communal table in what used to be the one of the library’s locker rooms but is now a bustling café.

Named after the bloke who was the library’s first chief librarian way back in the mid 1870s, Mr Tulk is clearly the hippest thing the State Library, and any other library for that matter, is likely to have seen.

On a recent Wednesday lunchtime, it was packed. But luckily the space was bigger than I was expecting it to be so between the take-away counter, the inside café and the outside tables there was plenty of room for all.

And not only was there plenty of room, there was plenty of value and variety in the menu. Baguettes with various fillings were $8, toasted flatbreads were between $8-$9 and other dishes – such as the smoked salmon bruschetta with capers, onions and crème fraiche – were priced between $5 to $16.

As well as the regular offerings, Mr Tulk also has an extensive specials menu. And I’ve got to say, as good as the standard options are, the specials are definitely worth a second look. For me, it was the special of farfalle pasta with red wine porcini and rosemary braised lamb ($15).

The pasta was a decent-sized serve and came with a slice of crusty bread and had a hefty, earthy flavour with plenty of tender lamb. I loved it but I was also impressed with some of the other specials, especially the rabbit, prune and pancetta terrine with grilled bread and pear and date chutney ($13.50) and the steamed mussels with moghrabieh (a Middle Eastern cous-cous), white wine, tomato, garlic, basil and chilli with grilled sourdough ($14.50). (I've since been back for both and the two dishes met my expectations.)

Although we were there for lunch my buddy opted for the baked eggs with chorizo and spinach ($13) and it looked amazing and it made me instantly decide to go back for breakfast sometime soon. Other brecky dishes included the scrambled parmesan and basil eggs with sweet tomatoes on sourdough ($13) and the omelette with prosciutto, tomato and rocket ($13).

Thankfully, my uni days are long gone so my use of the State Library is minimal. My use of Mr Tulk however…now that’s another story.

8.5/10

- zoe

Riverland

Vaults 1-9, Federation Wharf (under Princes Bridge)
Ph: 9662 1771
Open: everyday, 7am-midnight

IN summer there is no better place in Melbourne’s CBD for a drink than Riverland.

Located at river level at Federation Square the open-air bar looks south across the Yarra to the rowing sheds and when the sun is shining the vibe is nothing short of pumping.

In winter, Riverland is a little less appealing but when I visited on a recent weekday lunchtime the sun was peeking through so we nabbed a table overlooking the water and soaked it up.

My party of three had only previously been there for refreshments of the liquid variety so perusing the lunch menu was a new experience. I was pleasantly surprised by the range of breakfast and lunch options on offer but the brecky dish that caught my eye was the Moroccan baked eggs ($12.50), which are only available on weekends and take 20 minutes to cook. A serve of sourdough toast ($4.50) also looked good, as did the seasonal poached fruit ($7.50).

But on that occasion it was all about lunch, which seemed to have less of a selection to choose from.

Anyone who has had a few drinks at Riverland is probably very familiar with the gourmet sausages ($7) you can order from the funky outdoor kitchen/bar. Sourced from Wodonga’s Morrison St Butchers, the snags come in three flavours: duck and pistachio; chilli bratworst and lamb and come with sauerkraut, onions, cheese and a selection of sauces.

When you’ve had a few vinos, there is nothing better but my mate proved they also last the distance as a respectable lunch option. She went the duck and pistachio with onions and saurcraut and said while the sausage was brilliant it would have been better complimented with a nicer bun and tomato chutney rather than some of the commercial tomato sauce that was on offer.

Friend #2 went with the soup of the day, which on the day we dined was pumpkin with sage ($9) and was served with two hunks of sliced baguettes.

I was tempted by the vegetarian antipasto platter but my budget didn’t stretch to $18.50 so I opted for a flatbread pizza for a more reasonably priced $9.50.

Riverland has three pizza options: pesto, goats cheese and rocket; hot salami, tomato and cheese and mushroom, herb and cheese. I went with the pesto and goats cheese and, while it looked good and tasted alright, it kinda lacked something.

Perhaps it’s because I was starving and it didn’t really fill me up even though we all shared a bowl of chips ($5) as well.

In fact, that was a common complaint. All three off us still had the nibbles when we got back to the office so while each option was tasty the serves were quite small. More snack than lunch.

Because I like to be full after a meal I don’t know if I’d opt for Riverland again as a lunch option.

Drinks on a Friday night however, that’s another proposition entirely…

7/10

- Zoe

Cafe Segovia

Block Place, Melbourne
(03) 9650 2373
Open: Mon-Sat 7am - late, Sunday 9-5.

IN its heyday it was the place to be. Well we thought it was anyway. For uni students with plenty of free time to lunch, Cafe Segovia in Block Place was classy, cultured... and affordable.


Things have changed since the '90s. A suggestion from a friend to meet in the Block Arcade was a welcome opportunity to revisit an old favourite.

The look is the same: mosaic glass shards, mirrored walls and packed booths, with sought after French cafe style tables in the arcade.

Quality Euro fare beckoned. But the extensive menu was plastic and grotty and no specials were offered. Specials based on seasonal produce is a good thing. Then things really started to fall apart. The $20 calamari salad came with a hair atop undercooked calamari. And it was small - the calamari, not the hair. Cake from the dessert cabinet was necessary.

The best looking was a berry cheesecake. A big chunk arrived for $8.50 with faux-tasting vanilla ice-cream. It was slightly stale. More disappointment.

The lunch meeting was absorbing enough to avoid wallowing in food disappointment.
A few coffees later and a startling $80 bill was presented. Luckily work was paying for this one.

The positives: The buzzy vibe in the arcade. The Block Arcade is truly one of Melbourne's best.

Outside tables are prized, so you feel like a winner being there, despite the lacklustre food. Service is young, eager and friendly.

Go for coffee until things improve. With its former formidable reputation, Cafe Segovia deserves another try down the track.

4.5/10

- Kate