Or perhaps ...

The Algarve (03) 9531 2926, 97 Brighton Rd, Elwood - Politely fashionable, fairly fishy, food at reasonable prices, a minimal wine list and a pleasant courtyard area are found in this Elwwod eatery.

Alluvial Restaurant 8627 1567, , Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto, 495 Collins Street, Melbourne

The Apartment (03) 9670 4020, , 401 Little Bourke St, Melbourne - Cafe at lunch tapas and drinks later - pleasant 'corporate' scene with live music at weekends

Arintji 9663 9900, Federation Square, Swanston St cnr Flinders St, Melbourne - Arintji has Federation Square's prime spot, and on Jacques Reymond it certainly isn't squandered. This is a very professional set up.

Barca Food & Wine 9822 8515, 1007 High St, Armadale

Bar Corvina (03) 9537 0244, 157 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - Nothing ground breaking but a great feel. Bar Corvina, as the French say "fits well in its skin".

Bar Humbug (03) 9642 0115, 586 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

Birdcage Restaurant (03) 9534 0277, 129 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - Seriously groovy young things swarm here for the hip style, cool location at the mouth of the George Ballroom.

Blue Bar (03) 9529 6499, 330 Chapel St, Prahran - Cool and stylish bar that attracts a young crowd. Music most nights and drinks till late.

Bluecorn (03) 9534 5996, 205 Barkly St, St Kilda - The food is Mexican, the chef is trendy, prices are reasonable and the service minimalist.

Brighton Savoy - Seaview Restaurant (03) 9592 8233, , NULL, 150 The Esplanade, Brighton

Caboose (03) 9663 4448, 4 City Sq, Melbourne

Cafe Chagall (03) 9523 0289, 326 Glen Eira Rd, Elsternwick - The quintessentially cosmopolitan Cafe Chagall is a very family-friendly restaurant.

Cafe Excello (03) 9650 0990, 99 Spring St, Melbourne

Cafe Max (03) 9600 1697, 56-58 Hardware St, Melbourne - People like the buffet food at lunch here. There's usually a big display of salads available or you can order from a menu of pastas and grills.

Cafe Orange 9529 1644, 126 Chapel St, Windsor - It feels a bit like a student house albeit an orange one and it has a great hidden garden with a big old peppercorn out the back.

Camy Shanghai Dumpling & Noodle Restaurant (03) 9663 8555, 23 Tattersalls la, Melbourne - For dumpling addicts this is a wonderland. Camy Shanghai serves steamed or deep fried dumplings and other Shanghainese dishes.

Chez Olivier Le Bistro (03) 9525 2273, , 121 Greville St, Prahran

The Church Street Pantry (03) 9591 0393, 1 Church St, Brighton - This great cafe in Church Street, overlooking the ground of St. Andrews Church, is a well-kept secret.

Coda 9650 3155, Basement, 141 Flinders La Cnr Olivers La, Melbourne

Collins Quarter 9650 8500, 86A Collins St, Melbourne

Colonial Hotel (03) 9670 8599, , NULL, NULL Corner of King and Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Council House 2 9639 7778, Shop 1, 218-240 Little Collins St, Melbourne

Cumulus Inc (03) 9650 1445, 45 Flinders La, Melbourne

Daguerres (03) 9510 3355, 322 Chapel St, Prahran - A funky Prahran cafe whose charcoal grey and orange walls are adorned with coloured photographs that Daguerre could only have dreamt of.

David Jones Foodhall (03) 9643 2222, Basement David Jones, 290 Bourke St, Melbourne

Eat Drink Bento (03) 9642 1136, 115 Hardware St, Melbourne

Elwood Food & Wine Bar 9531 3339, , 201 Ormond Road, Elwood

Essence Restaurant 9660 1183, , Cnr Exibition & Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Flying Duck Hotel (03) 9510 1173, 67 Bendigo St, Prahran - This old pub has a good environment with a courtyard and a beer garden and open fires in winter.

The Fringe Cafe (03) 9593 8550, 73 Acland St, St Kilda - Busy commercial operation in a central Acland St position. Well priced, something-for-everyone menu.

Gingerboy 9662 4200, 27-29 Crossley St, Melbourne - Gingerboy is a very disorienting room - a sort of culinary rave party. You'll either love it or loathe it. And, lots love it

The Great Provider (03) 9525 5855, St Kilda Marina, Marine Pde, St Kilda - A fabulous situation. Perched on the water's edge at the St Kilda Marina The Great Provider's generous windows look out onto a busy nautical scene.

Harry's Restaurant (03) 9659 1592, , NULL, 111 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Hotel Max 9529 1006, , 32 Commercial Rd, Prahran

HQ's on William 9322 8177, , Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens, 380 William Street, Melbourne

Idea Fine Food & Wine 9663 8829, 146 Little Bourke St, Melbourne - A Chinese restaurant with Japanese (and Cantonese) food with a huge bargain priced wine list.

Lezzet Modern Turkish Cuisine (03) 9531 7733, 81 Brighton Rd, Elwood - A bright cheerful Turkish cafe turning out pizzas, kebabs dips and all the other things that make this such an attractive cuisine.

Lill's Backroom Bistro (03) 9531 4331, Elwood Rsl, 2 Pine Ave (Cnr Ormond Rd), Elwood

Lime Cafe 9205 9954, , Mecure Hotel, 13 Spring St, Melbourne

Lime Cafe Bar Restaurant 9924 8160, , 562 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The Mint Bar And Bistro (03) 9602 5622, , 318 William St cnr Latrobe St, Melbourne

Monroes (03) 9534 5472, , NULL, 79-81 Fitzroy Street, St. Kilda

Mt Erica 9529 5770, , 420 High Street, Prahran

Niche Cafe (03) 9250 2222, , Bayview Eden, 6 Queens Road, Melbourne

One Fitzroy Street (03) 9593 8800, 1 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - The large room follows Fitzroy St around the corner and overlooks the yachts at St Kilda Marina. Food in the modern manner - mains around $32.

One Fitzroy Street Bistro (03) 9593 8800, 1 Fitzroy St, St Kilda - A basic bistro at street level below the One Fitzroy St restaurant. Good wine list

Pitchfork Restaurant (03) 9528 5788, , NULL, 476 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick

Prahran Hotel (03) 9529 8577, , 82 High St, Prahran

Punch Lane Wine Bar 9639 4944, 43 Little Bourke St, Melbourne - Classy bar with an excellent wine list and a great selection of Australian and international cheeses.

RAB Bar and Restaurant 9611 4567, , NULL, 33 Spencer Street, Melbourne

Railway Cafe And Bar Middle Brighton (03) 9610 6260, Platform 1, Middle Brighton Station, Brighton

Riva St Kilda 9537 2224, St Kilda Marina, Marine Pde, Elwood - Great views of the bay over the St Kilda Marina, this modern cafe is a splendid place for a leisurely summer meal

Royal Melbourne Hotel (03) 9629 2400, , NULL, 629 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Sails Brasserie (03) 9243 9805, , NULL, 52 Queens Road, Melbourne

Salto (03) 9629 1500, , 530 Little Collins St, Melbourne

Sapore (03) 9534 9666, , 3-5 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Sarti (03) 9639 7822, , 6 Russell Pl, Melbourne - A lovely rooftop space with courtyard serving simple but well executed dishes. There's also a cheaper bar menu.

Sofi's (03) 9653 7744, Hotel Sofitel, Reception Lvl, 25 Collins St, Melbourne

Soupanatural (03) 8604 5097, 32 Hardware St, Melbourne

Sous Sol (03) 9642 1733, 25 Bank Pl, Melbourne

Spudbar (03) 9534 8888, 43 Blessington St, St Kilda

St Kilda Snack Bar 9525 3326, 167A Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Stokehouse Downtairs (03) 9525 5445, 30 jacka Blv, St Kilda - This really is a lovely room - dark but with great windows onto the beach with an open fire and lounges at one end for the winter.

Suger (03) 8530 8888, The Marque Hotel, 35 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Syracuse 9670 1777, 23 Bank Pl, Melbourne - This is a wine 'lounge' with good food. The room is beautiful, high ceilings, Greek columns and an eclectic mix of Victorian furniture and marble. The focus is on the enormous wine list.

Terra Rossa (03) 9650 0900, , NULL, 87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

The Establishment (03) 9670 6380, 192 King St, Melbourne

The Palate 9521 5540, , NULL, 132 Greville Street, Prahran

The Street Cafe 9525 4655, , NULL, 23 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

Three Degrees Bar Brewery Brasserie (03) 9639 6766, QV Square, Swanston St cnr Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Tjanabi (03) 9662 2155, Atrium, Federation Sq, Melbourne

Treasury Restaurant (03) 9211 6699, 394 Collins St, Melbourne - The Treasury, is situated on one side of a large open space that used to be the lobby. It's open for breakfast & dinner daily, lunch Mon-Fri.

Verge 9639 9500, 1 Flinders La, Melbourne - This is a place to enjoy. There's a fabulous view over the Treasury gardens, the service is particularly well judged

Vineyard (03) 9534 1942, 71A Acland St, St Kilda - The Vineyard is a food and drink joint by day and a dance and drink spot by night. Popular amongst all who frequent St Kilda

Za'Ba Cafe (03) 9534 9229, 92b Acland St, St Kilda

Zartowa (03) 9525 6937, 114 Ormond Rd, Elwood - It's particularly well positioned, with a large space outside cribbed from the road which is ideal for 'parking' the dalmation.