Helllloooooooo!!
I am back! This time, with a restaurant review! Been meaning to get this posted up since a while back and actually had been empty promising the waitress in the restaurant that I'll do it but I was just too caught up with uni until I didn't have time.
And because I went back for a second visit on Friday, I think it is more than about time for me to write up about this fairly new place because it definitely deserves a good ol' blog post on it!
Location;
It is about 5 minutes walk from the #8 Peel st/Victoria st tram stop if you go on the 57 tram OR stop #10 if you're on the 55 tram :) If you feel like "wait, I don't think there would be a restaurant here...", just keep walking, it is there!
I first came across this place was about a month ago when we were out to dinner with Celine. She was the one who said, "you might like Table by S, fusion Korean, they're pretty good" when we were discussing about a whole bunch of other Korean restaurants around and deciding which one we should go to. And since I haven't been to Table by S and have never heard of them, I know I could count on Celine for some good recommendations so..., Table by S it was!
And apparently Table by S is only a couple of months old. No wonder I have never heard of the place before! I was excited to try! :D
It took a while to locate the restaurant initially but when you do get there, it looks like it is a pretty nice place from the outside.
Since dinner that night was for five, we were tucked comfortably at the corner of the restaurant because at the middle and the other side of the restaurant was only with tables for four or a large communal table that could fit around 16 people. And on this other side of restaurant, there were a couple of tables that could sit six people. It isn't a huge place I must say but the ambience was rather nice and cosy. The lights were a little dim and there were some music playing in the background.
We were there on a Saturday night and there weren't that many patrons on that day. I think, only about three to four groups including ours. I guess because of it's location, there isn't much of a walking traffic on the street infront of the restaurant and it is one of those area where people will kind of doubt that there will be a restaurant located there.
Anyways, once we were seated, we were greeted by a friendly and bubbly waitress, Corinne (:D I hope I spelled her name right!). She was explaining to us about the menu and their specials and also went through the beer list with us. Down to how each beer tastes like and where they were from.
Most of us went ahead with this beer and it was not bad :) I would still say that I prefer Corona over this tho :D HAHA!
Corinne said that they have just gotten in their Premium grade 9++ marbling Wagyu beef and of course when I heard it, I was like "OK, we will definitely have that!" And she also suggested that we order about 2-3 tapas to start off then one stew dish and the Wagyu beef which is the Stone Grill Sal Chi Sal.
So we went on ahead with....,
*Tapas*
Ddeokbokki!! Celine said that it is good and I have to try it. Anddddd it was really good! So different than the ones I usually eat. This was crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the inside! SO YUMS! And those cheese on the top just made it taste a whole lot better :D
These were some specials that I don't remember what they exactly were. All I remember is that they tasted pretty good :)
The Sal Chi Sal!
It was cooked in an unconventional way. Using the blow torch and the stone grill together. At one point there was even some "firey thing" which is shown in a picture below. I guess it was more for presentation and performance purpose but also, it cooked the meat pretty fast!
I don't have a picture of it's final cut-to-bite-sizes look.... ): I sat towards the inside plus everyone was already hungry so I didn't want to disturb the boyfriend to capture a picture for me. But on the brightside, during my second visit below, there is a picture of it!
So instead, I just popped the meat in my mouth after dipping it into the sauces without even thinking how good can it be. And turns out, I was MIND BLOWN! Literally mind blown!
That first piece literally brought me to foodgasm! It was so so SO GOOD! I have never ever experienced a "OMG that piece of steak melts in your mouth and SO GOOD moment" before! Ever! And now I guess I finally know that that feels and tastes like!
The meat was just OMG! And before I know it, it was almost all gone ): All I wanted was more more and MOREEE!!
Then then, the Spicy Beef Stew came!
A pot that could be shared among 5 people or so.
This was just so so SO GOOD as well!! The meat was tender and so soft! Plus the stew was just so flavourful!! Literally, there isn't a single bad thing about this dish! Tastes good, more than just good, GREAT!
It is one of their specials, so ask if they have it, and if they do and you like beef, ORDER IT! You will not regret!
Those were the dishes we had that night for a dinner of five. I know I left the place with a very happy tummy and more than satisfied tastebuds! And also, I felt like we have made a new friend. The waitress, Corinne was just a really friendly person and made the whole experience @ Table by S that night felt even nicer :)
She even escorted us on the way out of the restaurant and held the door for us. I noticed that all their staffs do the same thing to the other customers too. I know this maybe a small gesture, but it really makes the customers feel extra nicer.
Both me and the boyfriend felt like that night, we had the best beefs in our life. It was just too good!
So..., we then raved it on to the bf's uni mates. And because a farewell was coming up, they decided that they'll have it @ Table by S too!
I was excited yet nervous because it was a dinner for 15 people and since it was sort of our recommendation, I don't know what the rest would think about the place.
When we arrived, we were all comfortably seated on the longest communal table in the restaurant. This time, the place was busy. When we got there it wasn't really, but as we sat longer, the place started to fill up! So so much busier than the last time I was here! I think more and more people got the word of mouth! So glad that the place is getting the recognition that they deserve but also a little sad that if it gets busy means I'll have to fight for a table with the crowd and book way earlier than usual HAHA!
Anyways, for the night, I was sorta "in charged" with ordering the dishes for the table because I have been here before. Of course I needed help, and I shameless kept calling out to Corinne for recommendations :D
Since our table was a long table, I decided that it'll be split into three. Which means, we will have three of the same dishes throughout our table. And because some don't eat beef, I'll have to tailor the dishes around a little.
But of course, at a korean restaurant that serves alcohol with the boyfriend means we will definitely start with some :P
It has become the bf's favourite. Raspberry wine :)
This little bottle could fill up around 8 little cups. It's sweet and easy to drink but me not being a wine fan to begin with, thinks that it is still too winey for me. But don't get me wrong, it does tastes nice!
The side dishes. The only thing that attracted me to take this shot was this little blue polka dot baking dish! HOW CUTEEEEE!!! And anyways, the kimchi was pretty nice. HAH!
On to the dishes for the night! All shared across a table of 15 people :) And of course, these are only the food on my side of the table. But the other two sections was pretty much the same as ours except maybe a salt and pepper calamari?
Still the best ddeokbokki I have had!! Seriously was so so good! It makes the normal ones feels so normal...and this feels so extra delicious! :P It's crispy on the outside, soft and chewy in the inside and to make it even better, it is topped with cheeeeeeese!!! Oh I love this!! I can eat two trays of this to myself man while smiling like cray person :D
One of the best scallop dishes I have ever ever had!! SOO GOOD!! Scallops with king oyster mushrooms and cream sauce and idk what other sauce and some potato mash! The scallops were cooked to perfection!! Yummmeeeehh! :P
Then the boyfriend went on for somemore beer and another friend took a stout :) The beer was "ok" and the stout surprisingly tasted not as bitter as the stouts I have in mind..
Then, onto the most exciting dish of the night for me! The Sal Chi Sal! I order three pieces of the premium Wagyu mentioned earlier for the table! Corinne was saying that they only have five pieces left for the night and the first thing I ordered was this so that I could snag three for our table first! IT IS THAAAAAT GOOD!!!
*The way they cooked it*
This is what I mean by the "firey thing" earlier :D
Burn and cook away! TO PERFECTION!!
The final outcome! THE BEST BESTEST PIECE OF MEAT I HAVE HAD EVERRRR!! Table by S equals to awesome premium 9++ marbling Wagyu beef (aka Sal Chi Sal)!!! You guys have to order this if you're ever there! It is just TOO DARN GOOD!! I never thought a piece of meat can taste like its life changing but this was to me! All I know is I wanted more and more and more!! :P #toodamngood
But I did something horrible that night. I was luring the people who doesn't eat beef to try it =X And they did! Andddddd they said that it is really good! For someone who doesn't eat beef and to say that it is good, IT IS GOOD! Enough said.
As I said I wanted more! But when I asked Corinne if they still have it, they didn't anymore... ): Nevermind! I am sure to be back for more of this in the future!
Then....,
The awesome spicy beef stew! I don't think I need to repeat how awesome it is! Just order it! This was sitting right infront of me and eventho the meat and vege were all gone, all I kept doing the whole entire night was spooning the stew soup into my mouth :D I just kept sipping and sipping! SO GOOD!
Excuse the zoomed in picture. This was for the peeps who doesn't take beef. I ordered two spicy beef stews and one of this Octopus Bean Stew! Didn't really taste much of it but from memory, I like the spicy beef stew WAY MORE!
Korean Fried Chicken. This was just okay. I have had better KFCs around Melbourne. But the wedges were awesome tho! :D
Somemore BBQ meat for the rest of them who doesn't eat beef :)
SOJU! I am a girl and I just love the taste of fruity sojus and rice wines! They taste SO GOOD!! I can just keep drinking and drinking and never think that it is alcohol! :D YUMMY! This was a Corinne mixed up soju for us :)
All of us :D
Overall, I must say kudos to Table by S! Really good service and really good food! No complaints whatsoever! I even went around surveying from the rest if the food was good and everyone I asked said the food was good! It was also to make me feel a whole lot better that my recommendation was more than alright! :D
I can see myself coming back more often and definitely definitely bringing my mum here when she is in Melbourne next!
This place has officially become one of my favourite Korean restaurant in Melbourne! Although this isn't like a super authentic Korean restaurant, the fusion food is enough to convince me that Korean food with a twist can be this good!
Wheeeeee I love doing reviews on places I love! Makes me feel extra happy writing this and salivate even more when I see the food pictures and make me want to go back and eat this instance.
Wokays, that's all for today! Hope you guys enjoyed it :)
Much love,
Shereena.
M
