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  • Thu 11 Mar 2004

box cafe restaurant - 189 collins street melbourne 3000 9663 0411

it's a bit like a box. not much wider than your average bathroom but probably much funkier. unless you live in a converted warehouse in abbotsford in which case you're a pretentious wanker so you can fuck off. but we're getting off the point here. box is pretty schwik. because it has that minimalist look and very arty furniture, you'd expect the waiters to be an 'i'm better than you' dickhead. but they're not - quite the opposite in fact. they know how to wait, how to serve, how to pour wine. the one who served us even had a great sense of humour. going on a bit about the staff but we really liked them.

we can't quite remember the food but that is probably because we had to down two large g&ts very quickly. why? too drunk to realise we didn't have to rush to get to the restaurant at exactly 8pm. too drunk to realise each of us had ordered another round for the other which resulted in the downing which was mentioned previously. anyway, the veal thing was interesting. and the other tasted like chicken. it might have been chicken or possum or something.

but not to take away from box, i really like the place. the wine was very good and we were talked into a chocolate dessert. watch out for waiters taking advantage of you when you're pissed and forcing you to eat dessert. and coffee.

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1 Comment

  1. bigmouth makes this comment

    18 November 2009

    i thought i should probably comment here because i was at box the other day and it has really changed. same decor, but it no longer has the edgy minimalist feel- has it been overdone by every other restaurant in melbourne? probably. what was cool and fresh a few years back could now be mistaken for the entrance of mcdonalds. well, ok, not quite, because mcdonalds is across the road and up a bit.

    whilst lunch at box was undoubtedly nice, there is nothing funky about this place anymore. on the weekends, it is awash with the urban professionalites, sans the hugo suit but complete with a polo player on every breast and back pocket. so if you feel like overhearing conversations about which private school andrea and anthea should be sent to, it's the place to go.

    whilst we were there, the waitress asked us about our favourite cocktails (italian lovers, natch), as she was thinking of putting together a cocktail listing... should i have been flattered that she was asking? i don't know- it just made me feel that she really didn't have a clue about cocktails. what happened to the suave waiters here? all a bit disappointing really.