28 July, 2022
David's has been in operation for over two decades in Prahran, and in the past couple years it has attracted attention from the veg*n community for its vegan yum cha options. We met some friends there for dinner, and were all happy to rely on the banquet menu for a tour of David's best. David's Veg Classics runs to $55 per person; though it's not explicitly stated, it all looks to be vegan-adaptable. Gluten-free veg*ns would need a more extensive conversation with staff to figure out a suitable selection.
David's got that first tick from me when I saw a clear menu of fun non-alcoholic drinks. The Aloe-Spritz ($9) was my perfect foil the couple of spicy dishes ahead.
Our meal commenced with san choi bao, made with shredded seasonal vegetables and hoisin. I feared for the potential blandness of the thick, pan fried radish and chive xian bing pockets (no dipping sauce?!), and I was proven very, very wrong. My pancake was golden-crisp on the outside, lightly doughy beneath and had a very flavourful, shredded-vege filling. A highlight for me!
Michael was predictably more taken by the mapo tofu dumplings - what a fabulous fusion of two beloved comfort foods!
Our main course also arrived as a group of three. The braised tofu and mushrooms reminded me again of mapo tofu, with its bean paste and Szechuan pepper, and it was topped with crispy-battered enoki mushrooms. The shiitake bok choy soy fried rice looked tamer but held a surprisingly deep, savoury flavour of its own.
We underestimated the eggplant based on its monochromatic look, too - with sweet vinegar and soft garlic cloves, it was yet another umami king. Mindful of the dessert still to come, we resisted eating the lot and David's staff were happy to pack up our leftover rice, tofu and eggplant to take home.
Dessert was less inspiring - Michael's never keen on a banana fritter and in any case, these were soft and starchy and seemed to have been sitting around a bit too long. The accompanying vanilla icecream and drizzled chocolate were pleasant but unremarkable. Our companions were served ramekins of mandarin crème brulée with pretty edible flowers, and the fancier banquets include white chocolate dumplings, so this may be an odd one out.
A lacklustre dessert couldn't dim this sweet-tooth's enthusiasm for David's! The savoury dishes were memorable, packed with flavour, and each a little different to what we're accustomed to ordering elsewhere. Lunching on our leftovers prolonged the magic. After so many years overlooking it, David's is now an instant southside fave.
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David's has been extensively blogged over the years! The vegan yum cha gets coverage on Messy Veggies, and there's omni praise on Olive Sundays, fo0die (freebie), gastrology (freebie), State of Steph (freebie), The Penguin Eats (freebie), The New Fave, The Melbourne Glutton, Eat Play Love Travel, Table To Paper, foodie about town, Sarah Cooks (freebie), Not Quite Nigella, The Chommery, Food of the Soul, Almost Always Ravenous (freebie), I'm So Hungree (freebie), Melbourne Din(n)ing Blog (freebie), The Bakeanista (freebie), Ichigo Shortcake (freebie), Sew Delicious (freebie), Gastonomical Ramblings, and MSG: The Melbourne Social Guide. (My, that's a lot of free meals!) Only Snow Crab Nebula, MoMo & Coco, and please sir, can i have some more were underwhelmed.
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David's
4 Cecil Place, Prahran
9529 5199
Accessibility: Not good! There is a step and a very small foyer on entry, and a couple more steps between dining sections inside. Furniture is densely packed and the chairs aren't comfortable - in particular the wooden ones with arms aren't suitable for wide thighs. We didn't visit the toilets.
I love mapo tofu dumplings.
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