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Growing up, my palette really only knew Vietnamese/Chinese food. Rice was a staple and dining out was an odd rarity. I had always loved food, but was never really cultured and had never experienced different cuisines despite living in a multicultural society. It was not until the past few years and I dare say mainly this year, where I broadened my horizons; allowing for my appreciation for food to truly grow.
And thank the heavens for that - or else I would've never tried this beauty of a restaurant.
From the warm lighting, to the friendly staff who greeted us - all the boxes of a perfect dining experience were been ticked off for me. The place is lively, but nothing overbearing. We were seated in area that was slightly secluded from the rest, leaving us to get lost in content with our food together with indistinct chatter among other diners could be heard in the background.
Our night first kicked off with some specials - first, oysters. There is nothing quite like some large, fresh oysters to begin a meal for me. The distinct taste of the sea delighting your senses for that brink second before it slips down your throat and excites your taste buds for the evening.
The next special, a bacon glazed nugget-looking dish came out quite quickly. As you can tell, I can't remember exactly what it was called (I get a baby brain when I eat and just enjoy the food). The outside of the nugget was crumbed and provided a light crunch element, while the inside was full of goo-ey melted cheese. The bacon was not overpowering in saltiness. So far, I was beyond ecstatic at the quality of food that was been placed before us.
Unfortunately, after this we had to wait for quite some time for our next dish to come out. We were eager and hungry - it kind of felt like MoVida was teasing us by making us wait for our next entree. But then, lo and behold, after a long wait, the lamb came out.
Now to be honest, when it first hit the table I was a little underwhelmed. I couldn't help think, "Oh." in disappointment. I couldn't understand why I was made to wait so long for a tiny piece of lamb. But I became all too forgiving when I tried my portion. This small serving of lamb was tender and absolutely perfect when paired with smokey mashed eggplant. If heaven could be described in a bite, this was it. Quality, not quantity for sure. There was a whole story in this mouthful, and it was a darn beautiful one.
For mains, bub and I chose the Arroz Caldoso (Spanish wet rice) and Cecina (Air dried wagyu).
The wet rice evoked the sense of the sea in every way. Visually, the plating was stunning. It looked like the sea, smelt like the sea and very much tasted of the sea. The texture of the rice was perfect for me - It wasn't soggy and tasted very much like the ocean through the extract of seaweed (I think?). It was of a perfect representation of umami. The octopus was also cooked well; it had been char-grilled just right to develop an underlying smokiness to the dish, which accompanied the rice well. The clams were plump and had taken on some of the flavour of the rice.
The air dried wagyu was served with truffle foam and a poached organic egg. My friend had recommended for bubba and I to try this dish - and I am so thankful she did! Our waiter had told us to mix the egg and truffle together, before folding it into a little parcel to eat. This little DIY part allowed us to first enjoy the presentation, and get a little hands-on with our food (which is always a bit of fun to the night!) The creaminess of the egg and truffle foam married well against the saltiness of the thinly sliced wagyu.
Our night concluded with desserts to 'churros' up as we did not want this dining experience to end. Unfortunately, our churros were a bit of a disappointment - the consistency was not quite right and was a little denser and heavier than expected. However, the green apple sorbet with sheep's milk yogurt was a lovely finish to our evening. It was refreshing, and had a terrific composure between acidity from the rhubarb and sweetness from the meringue. It was light, clean and the combination worked.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best tapas (share plate) restaurant we have been to. I will definitely love to come back, and also venture to their sister restaurants in the future. The food is refined, but relaxed. A good dining experience is not just about the food, but considers other factors within the four walls as well. The waiters and staff, are more than knowledgeable about their foods and will happily help out with recommendations. The mood, lighting and how the joint just flows takes you on a poetic food journey. MoVida is easily one of the best Melbourne restaurants I have had the privilege of dining at, and I thank them for every thought and precision they placed in each dish.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best tapas (share plate) restaurant we have been to. I will definitely love to come back, and also venture to their sister restaurants in the future. The food is refined, but relaxed. A good dining experience is not just about the food, but considers other factors within the four walls as well. The waiters and staff, are more than knowledgeable about their foods and will happily help out with recommendations. The mood, lighting and how the joint just flows takes you on a poetic food journey. MoVida is easily one of the best Melbourne restaurants I have had the privilege of dining at, and I thank them for every thought and precision they placed in each dish.
A: 1 Hosier Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: 9663 3038
