Cho Gao
Editorial
Cho Gao is one of the inner city's best kept secrets. Housed within Melbourne Central, it looks like an upmarket Asian restaurant at first glance - all well and good, but nothing to get particularly excited about. That's a common beginners mistake. Have a look inside and you'll discover a wonderful terrace that overlooks the State library and buzzing Swanston Street.
While the main room comprises of antique, south-east Asian furniture, mixed with contemporary timber and cane themes, it's the outside terrace that gets most of the action. Well, the drinking action. If you're simply after a good Asian meal, then the main restaurant will do the job nicely. If you're looking to knock back a few beverages while watching the world go past then outside is the place to be.
Arrive earlier in the evening and the terrace is notable for it's minimal decor and ample space to swan around. The furniture is a pastiche of contemporary Asian designs - all low wooden armchairs and polished pine benches. Lanterns hang from the ceiling to illuminate the space, and the views over the State library are wonderful.
The drinks menu at Cho Gao is another pleasant surprise. Aside from a large selection of imported Asian beers, they have about 20 different varieties of tequila, vodka and whisky - not what you'd expect from a restaurant/bar in Melbourne Central. Putting all this booze to good use, there's also a varied cocktail list that incorporates classics and Asian-themed variations. Simply put, if you haven't tried this restaurant/bar already you're missing out.
Mikolai, May 2009
User Feedback
Craig Lonsdale
July 20, 2009
Great location but the food and service were rubbish. Overpriced unless during happy hour. A beer at lunch costs $8.50. Never again
Daniel
November 21, 2009
Bar has potential, awful service and unfriendly staff..
Lisa
November 27, 2009
Cho Gao, what's with the service?? You get no vote from me for the service and burnt food.
Kevin
December 18, 2009
Cho Gao - service no good. Rude. Arrogant. Rip-off!!
GL
December 18, 2009
awful service although good location. never go again
Minh
December 18, 2009
Nice place, good crowd. Service = NONE NEVER AGAIN - PEOPLE PLEASE AVOID THIS PLACE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RUIN YOUR NIGHT
ED
May 10, 2010
looks like all of the above comments were written by the same person..obviously turned down by one of the bar staff!
jim
October 27, 2010
great spot, balcony is really nice, food not bad - cheap beer. service was good, maybe i just got lucky looking at old comments
Ariel
November 01, 2010
Bar staff are usually unfriendly, they REGULARLY don't have the advertised cheap beer available and they pack the place out with wankers on weekends. Avoid. Melbourne has far better. Try golden monkey, new gold mountain or double happiness if you need an Asian vibe for your drinks.
LydzLeong
December 16, 2011
I walked in on a regular Thursday on the 15th of Dec 2011 around 4.30pm with a group of work colleagues to attend send off drinks, we walked past the bar and got stopped by a rude security guard who asked us for IDs (isn't it too late as we were already in the venue??). But as I was reaching into my bag for my wallet, the security guard grabbed my water bottle from the side pocket WITHOUT MY PERMISSION and proceeded to dismantle it to "check the contents" - mind you the bottle is clear. Needless to say I was beside myself and demanded he returned my bottle and made it very clear that i was leaving. I walked up to the bar staff hoping to get some clarity but a young nonchalant girl sided with the security and replied that I was not allow to bring water into the restaurant. The security guard proceeded to shoo me out the door by exclaiming, "have you had enough? Don't you ever bring that attitude back again". I am sickly insulted because i was made to feel totally violated and abused.
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