With a twist to the European deli/restaurant idea, Calia brings to Melbourne diners an affordable Michelin-starred-chef-designed menu featuring Asian inspired dishes, artisanal desserts, and gourmet goods. Almost 18 months after its opening, the place is still jam-packed with people. Does it live up to the hype? The piggies are here to do some digging!
The shop half is almost as big as the restaurant with produce sourced from local Australian suppliers as well as some imported goods that may be hard to find elsewhere.
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| Cake Cabinet (from Bibelot) |
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| Crispy Roast Pork Bowl $17.9 |
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| The King $18.2 |
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| Salted Egg Yolk Chicken $11.9 |
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| The Marbled Sukiyaki Bowl $16.9 |
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| Matcha Latte $5.5 |
The matcha latte was almost too cute to drink... and that's fine, we ordered it for the latte art an have to say it was money well-spent. The drink only comes sweetened as the matcha is premixed into a syrup.
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| Matcha Mia Tiramisu $10.9 |
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| Matcha Lava Cake $15.9 |
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| Hojicha |
Being tea-lovers we also ordered the Hojicha, which looked absolutely serene and elegant. Unfortunately, the taste didn't live up to the aesthetics. There was a mere whisper of hojicha in the thin brown layer. This dessert should have been better named the Plum, as the sour plum centre dominated the overall flavour and we didn't really know what the hojicha was there for.
We could definitely see why Calia is a popular destination for friends and families. The environment is modern and casual, and conveniently located in a shopping mall in the heart of Melbourne. The price is affordable and the menu is extensive. Most of all, the food looks pretty, and certainly instaworthy. Nevertheless, for fellas looking to satisfy the palate as much as the eyes, this may not be the ideal place.
Food: 5/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Highlight:
- A cool atmosphere
- Diverse menu
- Affordable prices
- Not for serious foodies
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