Chinta Blues

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Runner up: Best establishment under $15
Page 94

The Malaysian coffeehouse feel: tables outside, busy open kitchen and cool music playing, make Chinta Blues a happy place to visit at all times of day, to eat a little or a lot. In this strip of Acland St abutting the Prince of Wales hotel it's become such a favourite for locals for lots of reasons. "Always a good fall back," is how one described the Chinta group. But the ease with which people can go to Simon Goh's four restaurants means that his regulars go so often that they become "chinta'd out". The predictability of the menu is a security that can become boring for some. "The menu doesn't change. They do it really well, but you can get tired of it."

But for visitors from Malaysia it is a must. They find comfort in the nostalgia of the old Malaysian coffeehouse style and find fun in the heavy blues music played there.

6 Acland Street
St Kilda
Malaysian & Indonesian Cuisine
Melways reference 57:K9
Phone: 9534 9233
Opening hours: Lunch: Mon-Sat 12 noon-2.30pm, Dinner: Mon-Wed 6-10.15pm, Thurs-Sat 6-10.45pm, Sun 12 noon-9.45pm
Licensed & BYO
Corkage: $2 per person
Accept credit cards
Seating Inside: 60, Outside: 24
Features: Kids encouraged
Favourites: Curry laksa $8, Ayam ria $13.50, Blachan spinach $8.50