MoVida Next Door
164 Flinders Street
Melbourne, VIC
Knock, knock...who's there? NiCNAC and Miss P were at the door step outside MoVida Next Door. It was a lovely day outside and we both decided to call it a day for our tapas treasure hunt. Since this decision came up unplanned (as usual), Miss P suggested that we could just show up at MoVida Next Door.
Since Miss P and myself went there just a bit after lunch time, we were told that it should take roughly twenty minutes max till we get the table. We managed to find a spot near the bar to enjoy our drink as we waited. Rather than just standing there waiting, I decided to call for a drink to kill the mood. Miss P went with Moritz Lager ($8), while myself had my eyes set on Rebuijto ($12). Great drinks for a sunny day, with a touch of citrus, I felt like summer!
About fifteen minutes later, I would say, we secured our seat at the bar. The staff introduced us to the special menu that they had on the chalk board. Of course, with full description and explanation, 'cause by the name alone, neither Miss P nor myself would have a clue of what they were. Then the ordering time began. Our pick were four choices from the regular menu and five choices from the special menu.
After we made our pick for the day, the bread with olive oil dipping came to our table. Followed with the Tortilla ($3.5). Yummy Tortilla with the right amount of chopped onions, so enjoyable and gone so fast! I guess that what happened to the good food, just couple of minutes, the tortilla disappeared from the plate to our tummies.
Just when I finished off the last piece of the tortilla, the Anchoa ($4.5) was served right in front of us. Surprisingly, the anchovy wasn't salty as I expected it to be. I really enjoyed this combination of anchovy, olive jelly and crouton, it gave a crunch and a springy feeling at the same time. Croqueta ($3.5) also came out from the kitchen around the same time. I ended up chop it in half so that the texture and filling were exposed to the camera. The aroma of wild mushrooms was quite strong, not that Miss P nor myself mind it. We actually agreed that it was pretty tasty - creamy inside and crunchy on the outside.
Arrived with the accompanied spoons was one of the five special menu. Perriwinkles ($14) served on the bed of salt. The snails cooked just right, not chewy nor turned rubbery. The snails were cooked with chunky tomato sauce, it was fun to slowly dig out the snail from the shell and eat it little by little.
A solo Bomba ($4.5) made an appearance right in front of us. It looked like a round golden ball with dollop of two sauces on top. I cracked the 'bomb' open and found it was chorizo hidden inside the golden potato. I would say I prefer the Bomba without the sauce as I found the spicy sauce was overpowering the overall taste of this golden ball. I barely be able to sense the aroma of the chorizo.
We were quite full after stuffing ourselves with the beef dish. I wasn't sure whether it was just a coincidence or the staff heard us moaning. Our next dish didn't come straight after we finished the Lengua. We actually got a little gap between the meal and allow us to rest a little. As we were chattering away, our noses did not stop the job of detecting a good smell of food. There were three grilled prawns on the dish, it was a Gamba ($16)! The prawns were sweet, juicy and nicely seasoned - causing us a mouth watering moment over and over as we tasted -thanks to the freshness of the seafood and the way they cooked them to perfection.
After finishing the Gamba, I started to think what were other dishes that we ordered but yet shown up. The deduction process began and I came to know that now we only had the seafood left to enjoy. The Calamares ($16) came to light and it was calamari cooked in seasoned squid ink. It was buttery, salty and soft contrasting to the dark squid inky look.
As we progressed on a steady pace with the Calamares, Miss P mentioned that we pretty much ordered all sort of seafood for today, starting from the snail then prawns and squid, finishing off with fish, pretty great job in ordering them. Our last star of the MoVida Next Door meal was Pescado ($22.5), the barramundi and clams accompanied with butter sauce, peas and artichokes. Another great seafood dish that was served up. I found the fish and clam went well with the butter sauce as the sweetness of the seafood was complemented with the mild salty and buttery sauce.
By the time we finished the meal, it was quite late in the arvo. I didn't realise till I took a step outside that Miss P and myself were so absorbed into the world of tapas with MoVida Next Door for hours! Gracias MoVida Next Door for a fantastic afternoon.
Since Miss P and myself went there just a bit after lunch time, we were told that it should take roughly twenty minutes max till we get the table. We managed to find a spot near the bar to enjoy our drink as we waited. Rather than just standing there waiting, I decided to call for a drink to kill the mood. Miss P went with Moritz Lager ($8), while myself had my eyes set on Rebuijto ($12). Great drinks for a sunny day, with a touch of citrus, I felt like summer!
About fifteen minutes later, I would say, we secured our seat at the bar. The staff introduced us to the special menu that they had on the chalk board. Of course, with full description and explanation, 'cause by the name alone, neither Miss P nor myself would have a clue of what they were. Then the ordering time began. Our pick were four choices from the regular menu and five choices from the special menu.
After we made our pick for the day, the bread with olive oil dipping came to our table. Followed with the Tortilla ($3.5). Yummy Tortilla with the right amount of chopped onions, so enjoyable and gone so fast! I guess that what happened to the good food, just couple of minutes, the tortilla disappeared from the plate to our tummies.
Just when I finished off the last piece of the tortilla, the Anchoa ($4.5) was served right in front of us. Surprisingly, the anchovy wasn't salty as I expected it to be. I really enjoyed this combination of anchovy, olive jelly and crouton, it gave a crunch and a springy feeling at the same time. Croqueta ($3.5) also came out from the kitchen around the same time. I ended up chop it in half so that the texture and filling were exposed to the camera. The aroma of wild mushrooms was quite strong, not that Miss P nor myself mind it. We actually agreed that it was pretty tasty - creamy inside and crunchy on the outside.
Arrived with the accompanied spoons was one of the five special menu. Perriwinkles ($14) served on the bed of salt. The snails cooked just right, not chewy nor turned rubbery. The snails were cooked with chunky tomato sauce, it was fun to slowly dig out the snail from the shell and eat it little by little.
A solo Bomba ($4.5) made an appearance right in front of us. It looked like a round golden ball with dollop of two sauces on top. I cracked the 'bomb' open and found it was chorizo hidden inside the golden potato. I would say I prefer the Bomba without the sauce as I found the spicy sauce was overpowering the overall taste of this golden ball. I barely be able to sense the aroma of the chorizo.
After many of miniature light meals, the meaty-beefy Lengua ($14.5) was ready. Three slices of Ox Tongue served on the bed of chickpeas accompanied with chorizo. Miss P commented that ox tongue was so.....good! It was tender and as if it was melted in her mouth. The sauce that came with it was a great complement to the dish, made it even more enjoyable.
We were quite full after stuffing ourselves with the beef dish. I wasn't sure whether it was just a coincidence or the staff heard us moaning. Our next dish didn't come straight after we finished the Lengua. We actually got a little gap between the meal and allow us to rest a little. As we were chattering away, our noses did not stop the job of detecting a good smell of food. There were three grilled prawns on the dish, it was a Gamba ($16)! The prawns were sweet, juicy and nicely seasoned - causing us a mouth watering moment over and over as we tasted -thanks to the freshness of the seafood and the way they cooked them to perfection.
As we progressed on a steady pace with the Calamares, Miss P mentioned that we pretty much ordered all sort of seafood for today, starting from the snail then prawns and squid, finishing off with fish, pretty great job in ordering them. Our last star of the MoVida Next Door meal was Pescado ($22.5), the barramundi and clams accompanied with butter sauce, peas and artichokes. Another great seafood dish that was served up. I found the fish and clam went well with the butter sauce as the sweetness of the seafood was complemented with the mild salty and buttery sauce.
By the time we finished the meal, it was quite late in the arvo. I didn't realise till I took a step outside that Miss P and myself were so absorbed into the world of tapas with MoVida Next Door for hours! Gracias MoVida Next Door for a fantastic afternoon.
+Disclaimer: The commentary contained in this blog is purely based on my own opinion and experience at the time of visit. Taste is a subjective and yours and mine can be differed.
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