Uncle St Kilda

I was looking for a place to have a late casual Sunday lunch and come across this little gem. Uncle in St Kilda is an Asian inspired restaurant/​bar that serves up a tapas style menu. The menu was well structured with something for everyone’s taste. The highlight was the grilled corn with a laughing cow cheese foam. It was so good we ordered a second round.
The service was casual and attentive and the team was always on hand to make recommendations.
This is a great place for any occasion, be it a first date or a group celebrating a birthday or any other milestone.

I ordered the Ho Chi Mama — a citrusy gin cocktail with lychee. It wasn’t too sweet and sparkled with effervescence from a splash of Prosecco. We shared the salmon & barramundi rillete and chicken steamed bao for starters, as suggested by our server. The rillete was served in a dish made out of a rice cracker and reminded me of tuna salad, but better. If any of you know me you know I don’t like tuna salad, but I really enjoyed this rillete. It was light with nice acidity, while still being rich and creamy. The consistency was similar to pâté. The chicken steamed bao was equally delicious. Chicken tenderloins were lightly breaded and fried then served with steamed bao (buns), Vietnamese mint, and pickled vegetables. You basically make your very own Vietnamese-​style Chic-​fil-​A sandwich and drench it in Sriracha and hoisin (Chinese BBQ sauce). It was yummy and so fun to eat. I could’ve had 5 of them, but Izzy and I shared the 2 on the plate like ladies. I ordered fried rice from the side dishes for my main course — lucky for me the fried rice portion was huge and only $ 10. Mixed in the rice were bits of beef brisket, dried shrimp, and pickled cabbage. It had a lot of flavor and I doused it with a nice helping of Sriracha and hoisin to make it even better. The rice was perfectly balanced with the salty, umami kick of the dried shrimp and the briny pop of the pickled veg. The rest of the table got mini-​bowls of phở served classically with sprouts, lemons, and plenty of basil. Izzy and I have a great phở place we go to and, unfortunately, UNCLE’s didn’t measure up to Saigon Street Eats. She said that the meat was tender and had good flavor, but the broth didn’t have as much going on. And any phở fan knows that the broth is where it’s at. While UNCLE did have a full house, the service still should have been a little better. Our waitress was extremely nice and helpful once she first came over to us, but we didn’t see much of her for the rest of the night. We weren’t even asked if we wanted to put another drink order in until we were about to get the check (it’s Friday — I want more than 1 cocktail with dinner)! Nevertheless, we had a wonderful night full of laughs, a great (single) round of cocktails, and classic Vietnamese dishes that had a mod-​twist in a young and vibrant atmosphere.

This is a great neighborhood asian fusion restaurant. The flavors were Vietnamese and Thai inspired. We had the pigs ear rolls and I really enjoyed them. They were cut into slivers and deep fried for crunchy texture. Then they were salted. To be fair they are unlike any other type of pig’s ear I have had, but I would order this again. They remind me of thick cut potato chips in strips and without the starch. The roll was soft and the mayonnaise had enough acid to cut through the fat. Since I love spicy food, I had to add Sriracha to give it some spice. We ended with a small bowl of phở and when I say small, it’s a normal size bowl enough for one person. It’s made so you can order other food and not just eat phở. I wish other Vietnamese restaurants did that, but as I said from the beginning, this is an asian fusion restaurant so you won’t see this soon.

Very nice indeed. Modern Vietnamese. Lovely food and good friendly service. Every dish was lovely. The highlight dish for us was the chicken tenderloin (?) in a bun. It was exceptional. But having said that, everything else was nice here too including the brisket which was exceptional. A pat on the back for the waiter too. It was a young crowd in and he was very pleasant to us older folk. Two slightly negative comments. The lighting in the place is rather dim. It’s rather hard to read the menu. The inset in the middle of the table is whacko. There were four of us and the inset basically meant you couldn’t share dishes properly as you are always trying to find a place beside it which is usually too close or too far away from some people. No matter. It didn’t detract from the quality of the food. It’s not cheap, but Uncle is a terrific culinary experience.

Apart from no actual Vietnamese people in sight lol… This hipsteresque upmarket Vietnamese restaurant has a great menu with a bit of something for everyone. Prices aren’t too bad. The space itself is nice and comfortable.
I had the Phở as its one of my all time faves but I didn’t enjoy it at all. The broth had no flavour, the large portion size was about the size a small/​regular in most other places. I didn’t end up eating it unfortunately.
The one thing I will say is the staff were fantastic, on the ball and attentive, pleasant and very helpful!

What an awesome find. We loved this place. Carlisle street can be a bit dingy with not too many fantastic munch/​drink venue options, but we found this and loved it. Really cool layout, bar downstairs, and eatery upstairs. We had a super friendly waitress. And ordered a selection of small dishes like rice paper rolls, phở, oysters, banh mi, and a leafy wrap. All were made well and light and super tasty. Great experience. I’d def return here and recommend to anyone hungry/​thirsty in the area.

After a few microbrews at the Local Taphouse next door, my friend and I were looking for a bite, and decided to check out Uncle. At 9pm on a Saturday, there was a 20 – 30 minute wait for tables, so we did, at the downstairs bar, with yet another beer.
We got seated in the rooftop dining area, which is a very nice space. I grabbed a bottle of wine from their small but well-​chosen list, and we ordered some pigs ears bahn mi as a starter. They were tasty, with the pigs ears delivering a nice salty crunch. After that came the Spanish mackerel with holy basil, and the wagyu beef with chili salt. Both were very good. The mackerel took a couple of bites to get used to, as it brings much more subtle flavors rather than the usual chili/​lime/​fresh herbs punch of Vietnamese. The service was good, and the staff was knowledgeable.
Definitely worth a visit. I might just have to go back there the next time I’m in Melbourne.

Uncle St Kilda is another one of those places if you don’t know where your going you’ll walk right past it. Even using the map app on my smartphone I walked right by it! But it is well worth the hunt. A very open, light atmosphere when you walk in to the lower level bar. This continues as you walk up the stars to the right into the upstairs dining room and outdoor court yard. This place has been packed both times I have been here. First time we lucked out and got a table for 2 right away, the 2^nd time was an hour wait for a table for 3. But no matter, the food is worth the wait. Both times I had Uncle’s Knows Best for $ 48pp. An awesome way to experience the menu of small bites and mains. Of all the items on the menu, I have to say the Pig Ear Banh Mi is my absolute favorite. Next time I think I might order 4 for my dinner :-) I consider Uncle St Kilda as a new member to my dining family. Must try!

Absolutely amazing
Fabulous menu and they know how to cater for gluten free
Rest assured if you are coeliac they will look after you here!

Wagyu beef was gorgeous, as was everything else.
I just wish they did the phở downstairs. This neighborhood could use a phở bar that ppl can pop into an grab a quick bowl.
Great stuff!

We ate pork & lemongrass skewers downstairs while we waited for a table. They were perfectly cooked, really tasty.
Upstairs we had the fish Bahn Mi which were good, the fresh dill really made it work. Still not sure they are worth $ 6.50 each though. For main we had the scotch fillet and that was so tender and delicious. It was a really good quality piece of meat and the wasabi leaf garnish was a good addition. Would have liked more of that. We also got sides of the mixed leaf salad and a fried rice. The salad had all the right ingredients but sadly was a little poorly assembled. Everything was a bit too big to mix well together and it was overdressed but the flavours all worked well. Was really a Japanese salad with sesame dressing.
The ambiance is good. We were seated outside and it was a lovely night so it was good to be able to enjoy the fresh air, bamboo and nice lighting.
Service was pretty good. We never had to wait very long for anything and it was a busy night. Music was great. Mostly old disco tunes that kept everyone happy.

It was either leftovers, or going out on a Friday night. My mate opted for the latter — guess he didn’t want another round of my homemade chili!!! Asian seemed in the stars, so he sent me a few choices while getting groomed at Manhor. After reading some of our fellow Unilocalers’ reviews, we decided to give Uncle a visit…
A short tram ride from our home drops us off right in front of Uncle’s pad (at the corner of Carlisle and Chapel Streets). It’s one of those nondescript fronts that one might easily pass-​by without even looking in. One enters at street level to a long bar area, with plenty of blond woods, topped by brightly colored Asian-​style overhead lamps. It’s all very clean-​lined and highly appealing. The main dining area is up a long flight of stairs to the second level. Once upstairs, the space expands to three different dining areas (street side, back side, and terrace), including a smaller dining bar. Despite not having windows with a view, the whole spread shone brightly with natural light. There was a fine open feel to the whole space, and the contemporary edge was winningly seductive. We were greeted by an enormously friendly crew. The noise level was quite high, as we are finding with many eateries here in Melbourne. The joint was packed by the time we arrived 7:30-ish. We had our choice of a small table at the front of the restaurant, or a couple of seats at the bar — the wait for an outside table was not an option. We chose the table.
A bit surprisingly, Uncle’s menu consists of (almost) two pages of food, and six full pages of drinks. Can’t ask for a better way for starting off the weekend, I say!!! An Uncle’s Brew (Cavalier) ($ 8) was a nice start. It’s always a bit daunting going to a new restaurant and not knowing what to choose, esp. if the culture is foreign. As a Yankee, Vietnamese is not something I’ve eaten often, other than the ubiquitous Phở dishes. We decided to let the house do the selecting by going with «Uncle Knows Best,» which is described as «all our best bits» (at $ 48 per person). Our lovely wait-​gal gave us a rundown of what was in-​store for the night’s meal. We awaited ravenously for the feast…
The start was delicately presented lime-​cured hapuka (New Zealand fish), coconut, pomegranate, and chili, served on a betel leaf ($ 5 each). The flavor was sublime and utterly fresh. The pomegranate added the perfect tang to the bite-​sized betel leaf purse. Next up was two rice paper rolls, stuffed with black vinegar eggplant and jackfruit, served with nouc cham (a Vietnamese dipping sauce) ($ 7 as an individual starter). I am normally not a fan of the divisive aubergine; however, this flavorful roll had a nice meaty texture that matched well with the fish/​chili sauce. A perfect second course!
Making a switch to a Hightail Tap ($ 8), our third and fourth courses arrived. I will say upfront that I am not a chicken wings kinda guy; and, too, the sound of a pig’s ear sandwich was far from appetizing to this neophyte. That said, the deep-​fried chicken wings (3) (with chili, lime and «Maggi» sauce) ($ 12 as an individual starter) was wonderful. The only thing negative I could say about the dish was the fact that they served three wings to two people! (Fortunately, I’m attempting a «diet» so I let my mate have the third piece.) For me, though, the highlight of the entire meal was the crispy pig’s ear (with pickles and peanuts) Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) ($ 6.50 each if ordered as a single dish). OMG, it was amazing!!! I mean, for me, pig’s ears are something I buy in a package for my pooch to gnaw on; I’ve never thought of it (for me) as something edible! (Yikes!) My preconceptions went flying out the window with this phenomenal-​tasting sandwich! The crispy slivers of pig’s ear were out of this world good! (Yes, exclamations abound for this one!!!) The Hightail brewsky made a perfect complement to the fried goodness.
As a main, we chose the grilled whole fish (with ginger soy and fragrant herbs) ($ 33 as an individual meal). The fish was delicate and light; the sauce and herbs, impeccable. This was served with a bowl of white rice, as well as side salad ($ 10) of mixed leaves, shiitake, and candied cashews, with a Nashi dressing. The salad was incredibly fresh and healthy, with a mix of various lettuces and whole mint leaves, and it worked well with cleansing the palate as a finish.
The dessert course was a tropical fruit salad, with an out-​of-​the-​park coconut whipped cream, intense mango sorbet, topped with sprinkles of «honeycomb» that tasted like marshmallows cooked over an open fire. WOW!!! A glass of Woodford Reserve (bourbon) over ice ($ 10.50), with its strong vanilla overtones, made for a perfect capper to this amazing meal!
This was one of our best meal experiences ever! I’m thinking this might be my favorite relative!!! (Haha!) Can’t wait to bring our friends to visit Uncle’s real soon!!! :D

Loved the building, especially the rooftop meals area! Food was surprisingly good, as we went expecting a ‘not the real thing’ experience. Turns out the nailed it!
Entrees were the ‘Slaw and Skewer’ which was Pork, marinated in Lemon grass and Condensed Milk (yum!). Mini Phở for Main, and killer balanced desserts.
Leaving full and tipsy for under $ 50, alongside the friendly Service, Uncle will have us back again :)

Love love loved Uncle! We went for the first time tonight after many great reviews from friends, and we weren’t disappointed! Yummy cocktails & bar snacks while we waited for our table, then we had the oysters, bahn mi, veggie curry, salmon in banana leaf & salad, finishing up with poached pear & chocolate pudding.
The food is amazing and the staff are lovely, plus we thought very reasonably priced.

Uncle is a relatively new arrival on what is becoming an increasingly trendy stretch of Carlisle Street in St Kilda. It’s a sweet little Vietnamese place with a bar at street level and another bar and restaurant upstairs, which also has a largish outdoor terrace with bamboo filled planters lining one wall and some communal tables if you’re feeling sociable.
The menu is fairly limited — half a dozen starters, three varieties of phở, a few mains and some sides — but what they do they do really well. After ordering the obligatory post work cocktail I went straight for the sole special of the day — oysters topped with watermelon, cress and caviar. Gorgeous. The oysters tasted like they’d just come out of the water and the melon added a lovely freshness that was deliciously offset by the salty roe. A bargain at $ 3.50 a pop.
Phở comes in two sizes; main and mini. I ordered a mini of the chicken variety. It came with a little bowl of bean sprouts, fresh basil, lemon wedges and chilli paste, all of which I added to the soup. Tasty, and despite the name, a generous serve and a steal at only $ 6.
For main I had the clams served in a chilli cream sauce with lemongrass, slivers of chilli leaves and slices of fresh green chilli, topped with coriander. Another winner. The sauce was just spicy enough to lift the dish without overwhelming the subtle flavour of the shellfish.
This is my second visit to Uncle and both times it’s been full — and deservedly so. The food is very good, the staff friendly and the service fast without giving the feeling that they’re trying to get you out the door so they can recycle your table. It’s noisy, bustling and kid friendly — a lot like Vietnam really — and for $ 70 not the cheapest Vietnamese restaurant in town, but certainly one of the best I’ve been to.

Oh Uncle you are now on my top 5 Melbourne venues.
Amazing food. Fantastic drink menu. Let’s not even mention how great the staff are.
We sat up top and relaxed for literally hours enjoying what’s on offer. I’m seriously in love!

Everything about Uncle is beautiful. From the lovely light space, the rooftop courtyard to the handmade ceramic plates — just a lovely atmosphere from the moment you arrive. These guys know they are selling the experience, not just what is on your plate.
The food is super cheap and interesting. A handful of options in each course will keep you going while you work your way through the interesting cocktail and wine list. With a sunny spot on the rooftop, we tasted more than just a couple… our lovely hostess even brought us some sunscreen so we could extend our stay without going home looking like a lobster.
While I wouldn’t rave about the food, it’s an enjoyable outing and I’d definitely come back with a small group of friends for more.