Bella Vedere

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  7      Value  7     

It is amazing! Fantastic setting, beautiful quaint restaurant. The food is absolutely orgasmic. It really was a gastronomic experience. And as for the desserts the flavours were just splendid. I definately reccommend this restaurant for a date night or a sunday lunch. It's just that good.

Feb 26, 2011 

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  4     

Fabulous setting. Food good but restaurant somewhat pretentious. I'd heard a lot about the bread but it was uninspiring, I feel they would be better advised to buy it in from a bakers who are more practised in the art. Visited on a saturday night and witnessed the bizarre prior meal spectacle of a line of chefs each talking about the course they had prepared, to be greeted by a sycophantic round of applause by the diners.

Mar 29, 2010 

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  6     

Great food value for money and ambience for our special occasion but the event was somewhat soured only by the unpleasant manner of one "maitre d' hotel"

Aug 09, 2009 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

I took my elderly parents to this establishment on the occasion of a birthday luncheon. Admittedly booking late, upon arrival I requested a move to a less noisy area, considering other tables were available, the maitre d's refusal to relocate was somewhat bemusing, given my parents health and hearing capacity.

What followed was a farce of: client service standards, efficiencies, attention to detail, and most critically the professional behaviour of the maitre d'. During the next half hour, whilst his staff, intent on "appearing" busy, the maitre d' had absolutely no qualms fawning over a table for 20 - 25 minutes whilst "his" restaurant suffered from lack of guidance and management.

Our initial drinks order was promptly taken, pity we had to request that our glasses be refilled, and upon such request to be made aware that they had lost the half full wine bottle. Our meal order was also taken although lost/forgotten.
Mistakes will be made, this I understand all too well, however: it is not what happened, it is how you fix it.

Is it not the job of the maitre d' to ensure that they make themselves responsible to capture these errors and ensure that they do not become costly to the business, after all could they not be considered Senior Management? However, rather than managing his business, and the interests of his employers this particular maitre d' appeared to be more interested in managing his appearance with those he considered important enough, poor, very poor.

Food, being a passion of mine, finds me eating out rather often, possibly too often, in and around Melbourne, and never before have I experienced such complete disregard of customer service standards and hospitality professionalism in an establishment of this calibre. I will be urging my friends and colleagues to think very carefully before entertaining the thought of going to this particular restaurant, and I urge you to do the same. I admit that the food may be wonderful, pity that I never got to experience it.

Aug 09, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

We went for a birthday dinner and were very pleased with the service and presentation. Almost theatrical in the presentation at the beginning of the evening. One very delicately flavoured dish didn't enthuse everyone at the table. Just lovely to walk around the kitchen garden before dinner with an aperitif too.

May 05, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Good use of locally sourced foods and wines. Particularly impressed by their 'silk purse' dish, a pigs ear slow cooked then stuffed with chicken/lemon mousse and deep fried. Beautiful setting in vegetable garden overlooking the Yarra Valley.

Nov 14, 2008 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

Very interesting experience, great atmosphere and food. Friday and Saturday dinners are the best. Try also their own bread. It is very good.

Oct 12, 2008 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

If you're visiting the Yarra Valley and would like a 'special occasion' meal then this place is a great choice. The food, service and ambience are all great and most seats offer a view of the kitchen or over the vineyard or both. There is also an outstanding bakery there so you can take home bread when you're finished.

Aug 03, 2008 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

The food is well prepared, always delicious and beautifully presented. We go there for special occassions. the atmosphere is of a warm, cosy, rustic country kitchen but with class. You immediately feel welcome and comfortable, without any formality or pretension. However, the service is always friendly and attentive without being intrusive. I just want to keep going back because eating there for me is AN EVENT.

Dec 22, 2006 

4 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

One of the worst meals ever, not to mention the unsavory breath from the staff.

Sep 20, 2006