Impressive Italian Places

Sprucing up the dining scene in the Buona Vista area is Paddy Hills, a beautiful space that should be high up on your list of places to visit. The menu is diverse and refreshing, with a fusion of several cuisines. A feast for the eyes, the Berry Ricotta Hotcake ($19) is served with mascarpone, blueberry sugar and fresh berries, inspired by Melbourne's Top Paddock. A crisp exterior gives in to a fluffy interior tinged with maple syrup — a must-order dish that tastes a lot more cake-like than the usual hotcakes. The Japanese-inspired Squid Ink Tagliatalle ($23) features tobiko, ikura, mentaiko, puffed rice, and seared scallops. Also order the Cauliflower Fritters ($12) served with masala yogurt, and the Toasted Spicy Rice Cakes ($15) with gochujang mayo to snack on. Besides the usual coffee and tea, they have cocktails, ciders and wines as well.

Burger Italiano, Rump Steak and Crispy Squid. Burger was good, lettuce was super fresh and the tomatoes were juicy and tangy. Bread was slightly charred but added a nice smokey taste. Would have preferred if the steak was more flavourful though! Squid wasn't crispy :( Loved the truffle tagliatelle when I came previously!