Or perhaps ...

Cafe Platia (03) 9813 0800, 885 Burke Rd, Camberwell - The cafe is bright and modern with its doors opening right out onto the busy street. Chargrills are popular as well as risottos.

Chi Wa Wa (03) 9882 8228, , 212 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East

Geebung Polo Club (03) 9810 0032, , 85 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn - At night there are queues of young people for a drink and the live entertainment. At lunch there's a much more mixed crowd of business people.

The Greek Spot (03) 9818 3312, 559 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn - Booking is a must at this popular inner suburban restaurant with good, traditional Greek food, particularly noted for seafood.

Italy 1 (Camberwell) 9804 0944, , 823 Burke Rd, Camberwell - It's a popular local lunch and dinner place for good standard Italian dishes. Faux-Italian atmosphere done well.

Jacksons (03) 9819 4939, 336 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn - There is a warm relaxed feel to this long narrow restaurant with its red brick walls and soft lighting.

Kabana Bros (03) 9891 1377, 623 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn

Kabana Bros Restaurant (03) 9819 1377, 623 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn

Monk & Me 9813 3261, 9 Evans Pl, Hawthorn East - An upmarket Malaysian restaurant with jazz from Simon Goh (Chinta Ria). Fast pre-theatre service.

Nataraj (03) 9882 6872, 213 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East - A regular describes Nataraj as cosmpolitan. Certainly that's the aim of the menu at this long-established Camberwell restaurant.

The Undertaker Bar & Restaurant 9818 3944, 329 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn - The Undertaker is doing a lot for the life of Hawthorn with its brace of bars and restaurant below