Hardware Lane is an institution in Melbourne dining, cuisine and atmosphere. During the day you can lounge in the sun watching passers by with a light meal. In the evening low beats surround the lane with gentle mood lighting and a fantastic array of food options from Italian to Greek, Modern Australian and an array of Asian eats including Japanese and Thai.
This recent visit I went to Grill Steak Seafood. The maitre d's of each restaurant have a different style in luring you into their restaurant and I was quite impressed by the lively nature of the restaurant and staff at Grill Steak Seafood.
The menu is influenced by the Mediterranean and Italy. There are simple but elegant salads, pastas, steak, seafood, poultry, an array of desserts and a generous children's menu.
This particular eve I dined on a weeknight. I ordered a Greek salad (which was on the menu as a side but for $16.50 it was upgraded to main). My partner ordered a Ceaser salad and to share we had mash potatoes and a glass of Chardonnay each.
The wait on the food was quite extensive and unfortunately mine arrived with onions after ordering without. Once this was rectified I enjoyed a delicious salad seasoned throughout with herbs including feta, a few olives, salad leaves and a gentle olive oil dressing. My partner said of the Ceaser that it was nicely seasoned with a generous portion of each ingredient, which included cheese, crunchy cos and a creamy dressing. The chicken was a touch overdone but otherwise a great dish. The mash was soft and creamy.
Prices are moderate to high but the atmosphere was excellent. Our bill total was $59.
