Bergerac Restaurant

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

Adored this place! Found it by accident with my partner one evening, and we were both extremely impressed. Service was wonderful, and the staff were more than happy and willing to alter one of my dishes in order to accommodate a food allergy I have. The meals were all delicious, although the Escargot seemed to have a little too much garlic for my liking.

Regardless though, it was still pleasant and one of the best French dining experiences I've had in a long time. Will definitely be returning on my next trip to Melbourne.

Jan 25, 2012 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

My partner and I came here for a 'date' on a Friday night recently and we were beyond disappointed! Our booking was for 8pm but we realised we would run late so phoned in advance and changed the booking to 8.30pm with no problem. When we arrived there were 2 or 3 other tables but, mostly, the restaurant was empty.

We were greeted warmly and our french waiter was actually really great. Unfortunately, we were out of there by 9.30pm! Halfway through eating our mains another waiter started putting chairs in tables around us! Incredible! I've never experienced anything like it!

It seemed that several of the staff or friends of the staff arrived during our meal and were sitting at a table near us. We wondered if they were all going out after work. If we knew in advance they wanted to close early that would have been no problem - we simply would have gone somewhere else to enjoy our night.

We were offered dessert, but with chairs on tables around us and a group of staff/friends to the side of us seeming to be waiting around for something, we decided to get out of there - never to return! The food was lovely but we felt the evening less than value for money since we felt pushed out.

Dec 05, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

I had a lovely meal here. The room is very brightly decorated with a strong red theme and lots of chintz. Like a very elaborate granny's living room but it really works. Completely unpretentious. The food was very yummy, well-cooked, bistro-style food. I had an entree of scallops with a leek fondue sauce, very rich and delicious. Then for a main my fellow diners had steaks (fillet and porterhouse) both beautifully cooked. I had the confit de canard, incredibly tasty and rich.

This is not fine dining but gorgeous French comfort food at its best. Crepes with fruit for dessert were fabulous. The service was fast and efficient but unobtrusive and unrushed. The place wasn't busy on the night that we went, it was the day after boxing day and we were surprised at how quiet it was. I haven't given full marks for value simply because I think that the prices are a shade too high.

The food is gorgeous but why are restaurant prices in Australia so ridiculous? I can got to J Sheekey in London which is as good as it gets, with flawless waiting service, and the prices are generally the same or less than this restaurant! It's not just Bergerac but everywhere I seem to go in Sydney and Melbourne, I feel that I'm being fleeced all the time which is not a nice feeling! That being said I would return here in the blink of an eye, very enjoyable.

I compare this place to a restaurant I went to for lunch on the southbank of Melbourne where I paid $75 for some oysters and a couple of glasses of wine and the service was embarrassing. Bergerac is perfect for what it is, I will be back.

Jan 03, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

We were fortunate to have been accommodated when we made a last minute reservation for Saturday night as the restaurant was expecting a full house for the evening. Perhaps, that explains why we seemed to be rushed through. No real 'breathing space' was allowed for between courses and the sense that we were being "pushed through" was highlighted when my husband and son's plates were cleared (which was fine, as they had finished) but I still had food on my plate and my cutlery was placed in the "I'm not finished" position and the waitress moved in to take the plate away.

I had to point out to her that I wasn't finished, and then she 'hovered' nearby until the last mouthful was eaten and I'd put the cutlery down. However, it wasn't all 'bad'. The food was absolutely sensational. Authentic French cuisine and beautifully cooked.

We will definitely go back for the food and maybe the service will be a little less "enthusiastic" next time!

Nov 15, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

Very French both in cuisine and interior. Looks like something out of the 70s (just like most restaurants in France!) and they do not stray too far from the french classics.

And they do them pretty well I think. Having spent a lot of time in France, I feel that french cuisine is one cuisine that never reaches the heights outside its' native shores.

But if you get a craving for some french classic, this place will do it well and you will feel for a short time like you are sitting in a traditional french restaurant in France.

Oct 20, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  7     

Love this place. I went there for a romantic meal, and it was well worth it. Service was great and not too overbearing. I loved the french music and i was lucky enough to be seated next to a table of 10 french people. It was a lovely experience!

Oct 11, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  8     

A very French like restaurant except for the serve sizes. Serves are large and generous and does not sacrifice overall taste. Quality of food seems consistent every time I go, a solid 7/10.

Service is slightly above average, nothing special. They are friendly and prompt but does not offer special treatments such as hanging of coats, pre-emptive servicing etc, though the French accent is definitely a plus.

Apr 30, 2010 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

We had been wanting to try French for so long and seeing how highly recommended this place came. The service was brilliant, the food was fantastic. We will definitely come back.

Oct 03, 2009 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

The Bergerac is an absolute favourite of mine and my late husband who passed away very suddenly last year. Bergerac was the last restaurant we attended before the fateful day of his passing that almost destroyed me.

I have since, prior to the first anniversary of his passing, attended on my own (although I am sure he was with me), and have also attended with friends.

Needless to say, the Bergerac will always be a very special place for me.

The Bastille festivities are fantastic and all concerned do a wonderful job of making the diner feel special.

Well done guys!

jayjay

Aug 11, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Went to Bergerac in May 09 and found it to be an excellent French restaurant, very much like French restaurants in France. Good comprehensive menu with a number of classic French dishes, the snails are lovely. The waiters all had a French accent, which my girlfriend liked, me not so much. We came late and at the end of the evening when we were the last people in the restaurant the staff sat down and had their dinner a couple of tables up.

In all service and food was very good. If I had to nitpick the only down was the fact that the bread was not very good at all, not crunchy enough, and to dense. Still highly recommended.

Jun 10, 2009