Steak Bank Charcoal Grill

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

If you want a cheap steak, go to the pub! If you want great meat, perfectly cooked by Phil, go to the steak bank. Cheap meat is cheap, beautiful beef you pay for, so if you enjoy a great meal, come here. Also if you want to try something different, try the kanga, camel, croc or buffalo , char grilled octopus , or succulent grilled quail, the food is fantastic, the chips are great, and the salads are also good, comes with all mains.
Go here for a great feast, and if you want a challenge try the Country beef ribs.
And to all those that think the steaks are expensive, they clearly haven't been to Rockpool or Mortens, and wouldn't know a good steak if they fell over one.

Feb 02, 2012 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  2     

$60 for 1 green tea, salad, steak and a crepe is expensive. Wait staff staring out the windows is not helpful either. Charging an extra 3% on amex when it is illegal is also an insult. This is good pub food with 5 star silver service price. If you haven't eaten for a week, desperate and rich, then I'd highly recommend this place. Steak was very average but the chips are great.

Jan 08, 2012 

5.3 Average

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  3     

Great steaks, but a bit pricey, the service level is very casual, and leaves a lot to be desired. Corkage at six dollars per person is expensive. Only go here for special occassions.

Dec 06, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I am often asked to take international guests to an "Australian" restaurant. This is harder than it seems in the wonderful gastro-friendly city of Melbourne, where you can find great Italian, Thai, Greek etc but Australian? This was a concern until I found The Steak Bank a few years ago, buried in the suburbs.

If you want silver service, clone-like staff who say "yes sir" or "certainly ma'am" or delicate nuevo cuisine, then this is not the place for you. If, however, you want a fantastic steak (be it beef, kangaroo, camel or many other varieties) and you want to sample some excellent "small vineyard" local wines and you want a casual atmosphere where you can have a bit of banter with the owner and his delightfully acerbic sense of humour, then this is the place to bring your guests and let them experience quintessential Australia.

If you want formal dining the likes of which you can find anywhere else in world, this probably isn't your place. Every guest I have bought here, without exception (and there have been many) have come away well fed and happy, and all have commented on what a great night they had. Most of my return visitors insist on another visit.

So leave your pretentions at the door, come inside and let them serve you one of the best steaks you will ever eat and allow yourself to enjoy this little piece of Australia with all its humour and casual fun. If you do that, you won't be disappointed.

Dec 11, 2009 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

I have eaten at Steak Bank many times and it consistently (easily) provides the best cooked steak I have ever eaten. I am a bit surprised by the negative comments from some, do they know a good steak? I agree it may look pricey at first glance but the steaks are massive and as stated the best you'll ever get, so in the end I think it is good value.

Plus make use of the BYO, it means you can enjoy a really good wine that the perfect steak demands, without paying excessive restaurant prices. I have trouble going past the massive on-the-bone rib eye, but there is a great selection of other cuts, all on display. There are also non steak dishes available although I have never bothered. If you love steak don't hesitate to go here and ignore the negative feedback on this site. Just remember to book if it is a Friday or Saturday night.

Aug 24, 2009 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

I have been a patron of the Steak Bank for nearly 20 years and find the negative reviews on here nothing other than complaints by opposition restaurants.

It is easily the best restaurant in the area. The steaks are always tender and taste delicious. The chef has been here for may years and knows just how to cook any of the wide variety of steaks on offer. It is a great family restaurant and the ambience and service are first class. John who is the maitre d' has always been warm and friendly to me and my family so the negative comments about him are preposterous.

All in all a great night out. Food price is a little high but it is the price you pay for good service and good food. Long may this restaurant reign as king of the south.

May 10, 2009 

4.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  2     

I read many reviews before we visited the Steak Bank in July 2008, with an international guest in tow. I'd discounted the first review (by anonymous) because I'd seen that review in a couple of places and that person obviously has an axe to grind. From the others, I'd gathered that the place wasn't flash but served honest, fairly no-frills food and was value for money. This was mostly what we found. The steaks were good (but don't try to order your steak any way other than rare/med-rare [yeah, yeah, steak-snobs know that's the way to eat it but if someone's paying for the steak, cook it whatever the

Our waitress was lovely and attentive. The guy who hovered around the whole restaurant was awful, rude, dismissive, unwelcoming, unhelpful. He more or less laughed at the orders of a couple of people at our table. It was also obvious that he favoured certain patrons. So: food was nice enough (though expensive for what you get, that included salad was no great shakes), service from certain staff was good, ambience was OK (don't expect too much, fireplace is nice), and I think there's better value (and less food-snobbery) elsewhere.

Apr 16, 2009 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

This restaurant is arguably the best steak restaurant I have eaten in. I visit the Steak Bank very regularly both on business and pleasure, and the experience is always the same. I'm absolutely shocked by the negative reviews I have read because if anyone is fussy it's me.

I would've been out the Steakbank door long ago if the quality of service and food were not there. I will continue to dine at the Steak Bank and I will continue to enjoy every mouthful of my favourite cut of meat. Thanks John, Phil and the team, I always look forward to seeing you.

Oct 01, 2008 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

The Steak Bank is one of our local restaurants, and we eat here regularly. The steaks are great, and we find them value for money. The owners are friendly and helpful, and we will continue to visit. It is truly a pleasure to enjoy dining there. We have taken many overseas visitors and they all agree that they would love to visit again.

Apr 24, 2008 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Really disappointed with the level of service/cleanliness and hygiene, all combined together with an overpriced menu and poorly cooked steak has made me make the informed decision of not returning. When I visit a steak restaurant I have high expectations. I want a steak that will be better than the one I'll make at home.

Jul 26, 2007