Tender Trap

9.5 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

Lovely atmosphere and delicious food. The service was excellent and you can see that the place is run very well, which I would imagine is due to the owner/ manager. The food is very fresh and high quality. It is a little expensive but definitely worth to pay that bit extra for 5 star service and food. Our bill for 2 mains and 2 glasses of wine each was a little of $100 so it wasn't a lot more than what you would pay somewhere else. I would highly recommend this place!

Dec 03, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

My family and I were very impressed with the quality, creativity, and presentation of the food. It was a comfortable and relaxed environment with great ambience. The waiter who served us was polite, patient, and informative.

The price is obviously higher than your average restaurant and rightfully so because it's much better than your average restaurant! If I were rich I'd be dining there every night!

Mar 09, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

Last night was our third time dining at this restaurant and we all enjoyed the meal so much that I thought I should spend the time and write a good review. I highly recommend the entree, "Peppered beef braciole served with tuna remoulade, Sicilian anchovies and parsley dressing" amazing! I order this every time.

Jun 09, 2010 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

This was a really pleasant, unexpected surprise in this location. In East Doncaster, surrounded by takeaway food joints, and this is elegant and professional - very well done.

Four of us had mains and drinks only, and everything was faultless and delicious. A lamb pie was perfect, melt in the mouth lamb in a tasty sauce and perfect pastry lid. Crispy skinned snapper was just that, with moist perfectly cooked flesh, and an angel-hair noodle wrapped king prawn.

A very minor criticism - two very small chunks of fish was taking "dainty" just a bit too far... though admittedly the fashion for less than generous portions is widespread in upmarket restaurants. The other 3 mains were not so tiny.

Being open on a Monday night is nice too - was certainly far from full, and service was very good - friendly and professional.

Mar 30, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

My husband and I got out for a rare dinner together alone and it was not wasted at Tender Trap. The food was well cooked, well seasoned and delicous flavours. The staff were very helpful and pleasant and the wine was terrific. Thanks for a fab night.

Mar 21, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Dined here on Valentines Day with my partner. Was very happy to see there wasn't a set menu. Service at the beginning was a little slow, but that probably had something to do with a packed dining room. Started with the tapas platter for two, and it was sensational. I'm a relatively fussy eater, but liked 7 out of the 8 tastes offered. My partner willingly scoffed down the part I wasn't so keen on!

For main my partner had the roast lamb with mushroom and rocket tart topped with goat’s cheese, beetroot tzatziki and parsley puree, served on what I think was a wooden chopping board. Beautifully cooked meat, perfect portion size for a three course meal, very impressed. I had the herb risotto, with asparagus, pumpkin and quail. It was unbelievable! Probably the best main meal I've ever had at a restaurant. Again, perfect serving size for a three course meal.

For dessert my partner had the Greek donuts (loukoumathes) drizzled with honey, cinnamon and pistachio syrup, served with baklava ice cream. So yummy! I had the caramelized lemon tart served with milk chocolate parfait and shaved chocolate. Sensational dessert! The chocolate parfait was incredible!

All in all, a fantastic evening, great food, great wine, and great service! Will be going back very soon!

Feb 26, 2010 

5.3 Average

Drinks  3      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  5     

Let me say first of all that the food here is of an extremely high standard and great value for money compared to some highly lauded restaurants in the CBD and inner suburban regions. A must try is the shared Tapas platter and the four mains chosen were all given thumbs up and the service was efficient if seemingly a little off hand. But - thats where the good stuff ends. My beef is about corkage charges.

There were four of us, all involved in the Wine Industry, we like to bring a bottle or two of something new to taste. On this occasion there were 5 bottles on the table, only one bottle required the involvement of the waiter (to remove the cork, the other four were screwcap). We had a Riesling (rejected after a mouthful each and put aside), 2 Pinot Noirs and 2 Roses (only half of each bottle was consumed). At no stage were we offered clean glassware for each style of wine (let alone each bottle) and having left the equivalent of two full bottles of wine, we were not amused when the bill arrived with corkage charged on 5 bottles at $8 per bottle.

Will I go back? My heart says yes because of the outstanding food but if I do, it will only be on one of my Alcohol Free Days!

Nov 18, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Drinks  8      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

You are sure to have an excellent meal at Tender Trap and excellent service to match. The Tapas platter for 2 is a good way to start your meal. Unfortunately, the last time we dined at Tender Trap a number of items on the menu were unavailable, which left us having to chose some of the more expensive options (for both food and wine).

That was slightly disappointing, and means haven't marked this restaurant as high as I might have, if those items were available. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this restaurant.

Apr 27, 2009 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Drinks  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

A gem of the suburbs! I found this restaurant one night on my way to picking up some take away pizza and made a mental note to try it out sometime and I'm glad I did!

I've been to Tender Trap about 5 times now and have never been disappointed. If you come across the Age's harsh review, well Mr Letho must've been on crack whilst writing that.

Prices are a tad high but you definitely get what you paid for. Service is great as is the decor, shop looks a little out of place amongst the strip of cheaper restaurants/ take aways but it doesn't deter from their charm. Must try!

Nov 11, 2007 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Drinks  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

Excellent! You wouldn't think to find such a wonderful restaurant in the location where it is. Decor is simple but stylish, meals are excellent and tasty. Chris (the owner/host) friendly and really into the industry that he has chosen. Place might seem bit pricey but food is great and the menu is wide. Recommended for a long leisure lunch. However, open for lunch only Mon - Fri. Dinner Mon - Sat.

Oct 30, 2007