Food-spotting in Victoria

You're in a city you don't know very well, or haven't visited in a long time. You don't have any friends in town, nor are you the sort who goes on a Google frenzy before each trip to suss out the best places to eat. But like the leader who surrounds himself with experts even if he's not one himself, the hotel concierge can be your best friend.

Of course, not all concierges are created equal. Some are just order takers, the kind who have never heard of the restaurant you want to make a booking at, and if it's full, offer you a touristy suggestion from some dog-eared guide book instead.

Not at the Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto, where the concierge team is the equivalent of a London black cabbie who knows every corner of the city. It prides itself as being among the best in the city, and welcome any challenge you throw at them. They are not miracle workers though, so no, they can't get you a booking at a hot ticket place like Ben Shewry's Attica with only two weeks' notice.