Coda is a truly wonderful restaurant, located just off Flinders Lane, among a row of banner restaurants in the Melbourne, Australia’s Central Business District. A colleague and I found ourselves in need of lunch one day last week between meetings. It was one of those stressful days, where work takes precedence before all other things, and we just needed somewhere to go for sustenance before our next round of training.
Less than a block away, Coda seemed a great choice. It was well reviewed, we’d walked past it a number of times, and the menu looked interesting. As Americans, especially southerners, we tend to eat lunch earlier than most so we were the first to arrive at straight up noon. The staff was welcoming and warm, and seated us in a corner spot which allowed us to review our work materials while enjoying a great view of the entire restaurant.
The menu, which tends towards tapas style, gave us the opportunity to sample a number of dishes and linger for an hour over sumptuous selections. My lunch companion (who is also a bit of a foodie) proclaimed this Coda feast as the best lunch of his life. Indeed, it was a perfectly composed menu from which we made stellar selections.
We shared: 1. Chargrilled lamb cutlet with harissa and honey yoghurt $8 that was simply divine – a perfect blend of savory with hint of sweet, it was perfection on a bone (and if I’d been home alone, I would have gnawed the bone a bit!). 2. That’s Amore Buffalo mozzarella, zucchini fritters, mint and pea salad$22 – which went perfectly with the lamb. 3. Yellow fin tuna, daikon, green apple salad with pinenuts, ponzu and fresh wasabi $22. 4. Wok fried bok choy and lettuce with garlic and ginger $8 – which was lovely, the way I wish bok choy would come out as I cook it at home.
I highly recommend visit Coda, it was spot on both with service and flavors. Plus for the Melbourne CBD, was very reasonably priced.
Open 7 days – Lunch: Midday to 3pm, Dinner: 6pm to 10:30pm.
Basement 141 Flinders Lane (Cnr Oliver Lane) Melbourne 3003 Map
They recommend Secure Parking, 114 Flinders Lane
Telephone +613 9650 3155 Facsimile +613 9662 2117
info@codarestaurant.com.au
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