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Ito Japanese Noodle Cafe
Ph: (03) 9663 2788; 122 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000
Japanese, $
Open 7 days Sun-Thurs noon-10pm, Fri & Sat noon-11pm, Closed Christmas & Good Friday; Licensed, BYO bottled wine only, Corkage $2 person; AE, BC, DC, MC, V, Seats inside 100, Private room 30
Mietta's Review
A Japanese diner that is Chinese owned and run, in the middle of the city's cinema district. It's good for a quick bowl of ramen or plate of sushi before stuffing yourself full of popcorn. As well as noodles the menu lists a huge range of traditional Japanese dishes, in a casual and relaxed environment. Before Ito moved in, the space used to be a hamburger joint, part of a chain, thus Ito inherited the leather-upholstered booths and unnaturally high black laminate tables, it is all very Happy Days.
Other published opinions
Herald Sun Donna Coutts score 14/20 12/10/04 "The little booths up the front are populated by pairs who are served immediately and order as soon as they walk in or, quick as a flash, from the express lunch menu. The place has a quick-lunch look about it, despite the fact it's a hot spot for tea,-It must be all that McDonaldesque black-and-white tiling and primary colours."
The Age Cheap Eats 2004,Good,'By day,a mix of suits and students pack the blondewood booths or perch on bar stools at this bursting Japanese caff...The lunch menu has been edited for speed feeding...At night,the pace slows somewhat and the menu expands.'
The Sunday Age, Eat Streets, April 2001 Carolyn Holbrook. "Ito used to be a burger joint and still has the black vinyl booths. Its roomy with an open kitchen and plenty of room. The menu runs from sushi, sashimi, rice dishes to noodles done 18 different ways, to a list of mains like teriyaki and teppanyaki. Futomaki (sushi rolled with omelette and shiitake) was first class while pieces of octopus and fish served in a delicious sweet and sour vinegar dressing with vegetables made a refreshing entree. A platter of tempura prawns and vegetables came artfully arranged on a black platter."
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