Lady Lunchalot

1. Bala’s
Unbelievably good curries, samosas and curry puffs. Also has a fridge full of lassis and iced green tea. Best to takeaway and eat on the beach with a friend so you can pinch some of theirs when you finish yours. I can’t go past the chicken curries.

2. Cicciolina
One of Melbourne’s best restaurants. Get there early and go to the back bar for a drink, because they don’t take bookings. If they’ve got the blue swimmer crab soufflé on the menu, order it. Trust me.

3. Claypots
You can’t book here, so make sure you arrive early. This is not the place for people who don’t eat seafood. Fortunately, I am not one of these people. Order one of the fantastic platters of fish (it’s supremely fresh) and a couple of claypots crammed with all kinds of goodies (I like the Moroccan ones). In summer, try and get a table in the courtyard out the back.

4. Edelweiss
Great deli with a display of salads in the window that make me press my face up against the glass and drool shamelessly every time I walk down Acland St. This place was one of my first food discoveries when I moved to Melbourne in the late 90s, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

5. Clamms Fast Fish
The window displays at Clamms used to be really cool, with eels doing battle with huge tunas and that kind of thing. However they tamed them back a couple of years ago, which is a bit of a shame. But the fish and chips are still good. Eat ‘em on the beach with your feet in the sand.

6. Scheherezade
You can’t go past Scheherezade for nanna-style nostalgia. This place even has that gold-printed velour wallpaper that my grandparents had in their “good room”. The schnitzels are so big they flop off the side of the plate, and the matzo ball soup is chock-full of home-cooked goodness.

7. Krua Thai
Great Thai takeaway, and they deliver in the local area. I lived around St Kilda for several years, and this was always my first choice for a quick home delivered meal.

8. Gruner’s
For traditional European meat and sausages, head to Gruner’s Butcher. Between the ham hocks hanging from the ceiling and the Polish wedding sausage (yes, you heard me right) it’s a little piece of the old country right here in Melbourne.

9. Greasy Joe’s
The ultimate hangover greasy breakfast joint. Can’t go past the standard fry-up. Bring your sunglasses and St Kilda attitude.

10. 7 Apples
Finish on a high note with a gelati from 7 Apples. This gelati is almost on par with the tiramisu gelati for which I changed hotels while in Manarola, Italy (my original hotel was just too far from the gelateria). 7 Apples makes all their icecream from seasonal ingredients. Go in summer though – they close for winter.