Philhellene Provincial Greek Restaurant

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

Had dinner here on a busy Sunday night after NYE. We didn't have a booking but we welcomed in by the friendly staff. Our entrees were delicious and were followed with 2 beautiful main meals.

The servings were very generous and the service was fantastic, clearing our table just at the right time. Would have had coffee and dessert, but just couldn't fit it in. Would definitely return here for more great food and service.

Jan 05, 2011 

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

We arrived 8.30 pm on sat night before xmas, without a booking, and instead of the usual "sorry were full, go away look", we were told that we could have a table in 20 minutes, and they would look after us in the meantime with a drink. Suzie, the owner was very accommodating and the waiter was so polite all night.

Lovely service. Of course after this treatment you get off to a good start, and the night is going to be a good one. Food was deliciously superb. Koufes, and the spetiales were so yummy, and the lamb and artichoke dish was lovely. The only let down for me was the baklava, because I like more pastry, and this was mostly the filling. However, I would say this restaurant deserves its rating of 8.9/10, great stuff.

Dec 20, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  8     

Really enjoyed our night here. Had one of the banquets which was more than generous with the servings. Really loved the Smokey Eggplant Dip, Slow Roasted Lamb with Potatoes and Greek Doughnuts with Halva Ice Cream. Service between courses was not really quick but we liked that. Staff are friendly but not too intrusive. Happy to go back again.

Nov 17, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

Philhellene's food is great, the qualities and the quantities. It shows in a lovely starter such as the calamari and ends with loukoumades (greek doughnuts) and halva ice cream. The service is good and it is not too loud. Also the banquets and set menus are extremely good just make sure you are hungry!

Aug 24, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

My family and I had a fantastic meal there last night. We were recommended the provincial banquet and we loved it. Did not receive your usual dips and grills fare but rather beautiful goat, aromatic rabbit, delicious zucchini flowers and cabbage rolls and other dishes which were spot on. The service was great even though it as such a busy night. The manager was very accommodating when we told him that my wife was gluten free. We'll be back, many times!

Jun 13, 2010 

5.8 Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  5     

I wanted to love this, I really did but I just don't think it's quite there yet, or quite the jewel in MPO that it could be. For starters, the ambience is okay, but you don't want to be crammed into the back quarter of the restaurant right near the kitchen when the rest of the restaurant is crowded.

The service was nice and there were also plenty of waiters who were attentive, filling wine glasses and removing plates quickly. However, the food is nothing special and is disappointing by Melbourne's lofty standards. We found the entree's to be superior to the mains which were all very bland tasting and seemed to go for a quantity over quality philosophy.

I ordered the souvlaki which arrives traditional style on wooden skewers. The unfortunate thing was that the skewers had burnt and splintered onto my food which was quite unpleasant. A bit of QC probably wouldn't go astray.

Other than that, we had a fine night, the service was good, the food was passable, all in all, Philhellene was an average performance in a city that demands exceptional!

May 22, 2010 

4.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  5     

Initially, they lost the booking for 8, secondly they were rude and patronising when three girls didn't turn up (we were made to feel guilty and I was embarrassed at senior staffs attitude as they made a table for two from the empty seats), and thirdly we were not told that we had to spend $40 per person on a friday, we could not order an entree or two per person as this was costing them money.

We filled out the comment card regarding their rudeness towards us and mentioned that it would have been nice to have been told of the spending requirement when I made the booking. On my way home at 11 o'clock received an abusive phone call from the senior staff justifying his actions and attitude and saying that if we had gone to the Helenic club they would have charged us $50 per person that didn't show up.

I was reminded that empty seats cost him money and we should have told him beforehand that three weren't coming, a bit hard when you don't know beforehand. He continually spoke over me and wouldn't let me get a word in. He said that we had to spend $40 per person as some people only want to order and entree and this again was costing him money. I told him to get a lesson in customer service as it was wrong for him to speak to and make any paying patron feel guilty and embarrassed the way he did.

Dining should be a pleasant and enjoyable experience and this was not one. We felt the evening was ruined and sadly no apology was forthcoming. Needless to say we won't be returning.

May 14, 2010 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

Absolute shocker! Should have realised we'd be in for an interesting note when we had to ask the mumbling waiter to repeat himself 3 or 4 times whenever he spoke. Then the 2007 shiraz we ordered arrived but it was a 2008 version. When I queried this she said that's all they had! We ordered and the first (bland) course came pretty quickly but the empty plates were left on our table for 30+ minutes.

We knew the main course wouldn't come until the table was cleared so I got up and had to ask them to do this. Well the waitress came over and told us to relax! Well that was it for us, we left and gave the guy at the front a serve. Never to return from us two locals. Pity really.

Mar 12, 2010 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  1      Service  5      Value  1     

Below average food, although wait staff were quite respondent to needs. No food menu was provided upon request, servings were brought out via senior staff's discretion, therefore, we were unaware of individual pricing and selection. Quantities of servings were also miscalculated, again to their own discretion. Sadly, this restaurant would not be revisited.

Sep 19, 2009 

6.3 Average

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  1      Value  8     

Great food and venue, wait staff were also excellent, unfortunately, the senior staff on the night was extremely rude and patronising which ruined an otherwise great evening and sadly we won't be back.

Aug 19, 2009