Sunday 15 July 2012

Shark Fin Inn and Lake Mungo


Readers of this blog know that I enjoy my cheesy Australian horror movies. Sometimes the cheese pairs perfectly with the food and in the case of "Crush" which I reflected on the other day the perfect match would have been some three star mince in $1 Coles pasta with a side of tasty cheese. 

Yesterday I screened a flick from 2008 called "Lake Mungo" and if attributed to a fine beverage that is available at The Waiting Room or Der Raum, this unknown and obscure Aussie psychological horror should be matched with something spectacular on the level of what is offered at Vue De Monde. I never heard of this film back in the day but considering in 2008 "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" was ranked #2 in world-wide earnings, I am sullen and disappointed in humankind. Why people would actually pay money to see the latter when this brilliant movie was produced domestically and could not achieve any takings is a mystery to me. It really makes Paranormal Activity (insert version) look foolish and I encourage anyone that is reading this to find this movie and watch it if you fancy the genre if not a great use of television time.


As I leer out the window at the Crown Casino, I am a bit annoyed that punters are enqueued for pork buns at the Shark Fin Inn takeway outlet in the food court. Not to be confused with the proper restaurants (yes, there are two) that are located on Little Bourke Street, this is not a place to be ignored late at night and makes a fantastic substitution for the dodgy kebab (think Ali Baba in Southgate) or Maccas in Freshwater Place as a reasonable and tasty alternative to mediocrity. If you are at Crown Casino in the wee hours, take a few minutes to count your winnings in the food court and enjoy a pork bun at the Shark Fin Inn takeaway outlet. The quality nearly matches its big brothers in the CBD.

After frequenting the Shark Fin Inn (both locations on Little Bourke Street) a few times over the years and most recently as a substitute for seeing Bluejuice at the Hi-Fi and a mate's birthday party, I can attest for the fact that it is quality yum cha. The place is packed all of the time. The carts crash into you with impunity. The buzz affects you more than a fly in Sydney in October. The chicken feet, pork buns, duck, calamari and prawns will put a spell on you that will be as potent as anything Harry Potter can. As you look around you will see the venue is frequented prominently by the Chinese and some of the best advise I was ever given with respect to Chinese food... if the place is packed with Chinese, it must be good. How often do you see the Chinese at Hungry Jacks?

What I discovered is if you manage to avoid the duck, despite it being awesome, a table for two can escape for under $50. Now that is what I call value. Don't waste your time ordering beer as it will take ages for it to be delivered. Enjoy the Melbourne tap water, stuff your face with everything that comes delivered on the carts which arrive as frequently as the city circle trains and enjoy the best of what China Town has to offer. Afterwards head directly to Manchuria or Croft Institute if you stumble outside in the evening.

Shark Fin Inn, Bourke Street, Melbourne

Shark Fin Inn
Link to review
50 Little Bourke Street  Melbourne VIC 3000
(03) 9662 2681
http://www.sharkfin.com.au
My Rating: 14/20
Service: 2.5/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Quality: 4/5
Value For Money: 4.5/5
Comment: Saturday afternoon yum cha



Twitter: @epicurean3006
e-mail: epicureanofsouthbank (at) gmail (dot) com
web: www.epicureanofsouthbank.com

At the time of this post, I fully agree with the other 81% of the reviwers on Urbanspoon who liked this place.

Shark Fin Inn on Urbanspoon

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