The best and worst reviews of Melbourne's favourite restaurants MELBURNIANS are serious foodies with serious opinions about their dining experiences. From the wildly enthusiastic "OMG you have to taste this" to the ripped-off feeling of "what's all the fuss about?" this list of the best and worst online reviews of some of Melbourne's favourite restaurants proves one thing - sometimes it's better to go cold turkey and find out for yourself. Got something to say about one of your dining experiences? The Hardware Societe, Hardware St, City. Picture: Belinda Oneill Source: News Limited The Hardware Societe Tucked away in Hardware Lane and ranked fourth best restaurant in our food-obsessed city on TripAdvisor, The Hardware Societe is considered a Melbourne-must for a decent brekkie. But not everyone seems to be so smitten with the cuisine at this local gem - don't you just hate it when the menu doesn't specify your lasagne comes with an unwanted side of "rockets"? The Good: I want to roll up in a doona made from bread and eggs from The Hardware Societe. Everything was just amazing. I would move to Melbourne for this breakky! The food is to die for! The Bad: I ordered the fried egg with bacon and toast; it came with lots of rockets, which was not stated in the menu description. My friend had lasagne and was surprised to find that it came with garden salad that was full of rockets too. Disappointing experience. ..."not sure what all the fuss was about! Felt like it ran like a well-oiled machine minus the personality. You need a dictionary just to know what you're ordering. Don't bother. The Ugly: Are you guys all smoking crack? This place is terrible. You're not a Melburnian until... Reader reaction: You're not a Melburnian... ChinChin. Picture: Matt Murphy Source: News Limited ChinChin Capitalising on the social media storm generated around its opening, this hip Asian fusion restaurant has built a solid reputation with Melburnians lining up in hungry hordes to get in on the ChinChin feeding frenzy since it opened over a year ago. I finally popped my ChinChin cherry on Wednesday night and absolutely loved it. ChinChin has done it again! Taking taste to a new level. I have been there several times and never had a bad meal. "There is a mural explaining that ChinChin means "hand, hand" - which also explains why they give you no knife, knife - which ended up being a problem, problem." We didn't see any Asian people in the floor as customers and same in the kitchen, so how is it possible that this restaurant is called Thai and is one of the best in Melbourne? Meals were too salty I couldn't enjoy them. Went home that night and had diarrhoea too. If Melbourne were a movie... Welcome to cool Melbourne Vue de Monde on the 55th floor of the Rialto. Picture: Ben Swinnerton Source: HeraldSun Vue De Monde Shannon Bennett's baby is known as a Melbourne icon with its fancy multi-course cuisine and sweeping views of the city from 55 stories up in the Rialto. But not all have been so taken with the service at this culinary experience in the sky. There is a reason this restaurant hits the top of the list- a taste sensation with a view to match. Fabulous, exquisite, innovative, tongue-tingling, beautifully presented ten or so glorious courses from warm, passionate staff who obviously love their work. Right from the moment we walked through the door we were blown away! Cannot fault this place, the view was amazing. Probably the best fine dining restaurant I've been to. I went there with a friend, a well-heeled doctor. Apparently he wasn't wearing the right gear that evening, because the maitre d' looked him up and down, and said, 'Sir, are you sure this restaurant will meet your budget? True story. It is an experience of over-the-top proportions and the end result is you paying a lot of money and still being hungry. At almost $800 for two people, I expect not to have to refill my own wine glass! Stupid, self-indulgent idiots run this place. Melbourne's 25 best breakfasts Melbourne's best burgers Cumulus Inc restaurant at 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Cumulus Inc. Built in what was once a gallery space at the top of Flinders Lane, Cumulus Inc has quickly built up a solid reputation of culinary prowess ensuring its "packed to the rafters" status at meal times. With its trendy, no bookings policy however, it has polarised some Melbourne patrons. One of my favourite places in the food Mecca that is Flinders lane - reliably good, inexpensive and always buzzing with people. It's probably the place that represents Melbourne and its food the most. Cumulus Inc is everything I love about dining out in Melbourne... sensational food, knowledgeable and friendly staff, relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere and an amazing wine list! I think this is my new favourite breakfast place in the CBD and I can't believe it took me so long to pop in. Maybe I don't count because I'm 50, but I think my money is just as good as the 28 year-old hunk that got fabulous service while I was ignored. Half-filled, cold lattes and tiny serves all presented in an atmosphere of oppressive and totalitarian cool. The menu is set and cannot be altered which I can understand but when the waiter delivered this news to us with such arrogance and attitude, I think he really hammered nails into our foreheads. The coffee was rubbish; I couldn't even drink the latte. The baked eggs were so over-cooked they were hard and the bliss sausage was some blood sausage patty. The muesli was bland as was the fruit and yoghurt which accompanied it. I will never go back due to the rude service, awful food and dull atmosphere. Melbourne's best dishes Melbourne's best desserts Mamasita Mexican Restaurant. Picture: Nicole Cleary Source: HeraldSun Mamasita It's no secret Melburnians have a love affair with Mexican food; one look at the smashing success of Mamasita will prove it. This hidden gem is mobbed by hungry Melburnians every night of the week, with solid queues spilling out the door and round the block just to taste the extensive tequila list or the famous corn starter. Ahh Mamasita. Just mentioning the name makes me want to go back for more. Every time I've been it has been a rollercoaster of excitement and taste explosion. People are prepared to line up for an eternity on occasions to get in to this place - the wait is worth it. As I say a touch of Mexican sun in Melbourne... Mamasita is hands down the best Mexican restaurant I've found in Melbourne. It is upscale with an extensive and exciting menu, an impressive list of quality tequilas, and a buzzing atmosphere of happy guests. "The staff asked "do you know how this works?" Umm... order food, eat, pay and leave? When our table was ready I wondered whether I should introduce myself to the people next to me, because the tables are so close together I really did feel like I was dining with them. After paying three figures for a few glorified tapas and beer, I left and returned home where leftovers soothed my empty belly. Now about my empty wallet...? Everybody has been crappin' on about Mamasita. The price adds up quickly, which I wouldn't have minded if half way through the meal we weren't dreaming of getting a popcorn chicken snack box from KFC to fill the hole. Melbourne's best and worst moments all reviews submitted to Urbanspoon, TripAdvisor and Yelp.