Vue de Monde

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

This place can not be described by any words! Amazing, brilliant whatever you say it purely exceeds expectations.

We came in here on a Tuesday night, booked months ahead as we are from Sydney, we had no issue getting in. Now from the moment you walk in you see the quality. No expense has been spared and with the great sweeping views across Melbourne it truly made for a great to start.

As for the food. We took the waiters recommendation on the 7 course tasting which they design for you, so everything is a surprise. Every dish was above and beyond great. Lots of twists and turns on modern flavours and high quality ingredients. Our favourites were probably the Marron and the Lemon pie, sounds boring but its nothing what you would expect.

The service was amazing. It was very 5 star, but not in your face and over the top, much more of a true relaxed fine dining.

Overall this is one dining experience that was worth every penny (even though it was $220 ea), and truthfully we would have not had an issue if it had been more expensive.

We have been to a few fine dining restaurants around the world and its great to say that this was our greatest! If you are in Melbourne and love your food Vue is a must!

Feb 01, 2012 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  10     

Visited Vue De Monde recently for the first time after wanting to try this place out for years as I am from Sydney. Despite booking weeks in advance, I could only secure a 9pm booking. I was concerned about the late booking as fine dining can often take hours.

Vue de monde did not disappoint! The experience was very theatrical and unique, starting with the lift ride up to level 55 in a dark elevator and then lead to an automatic door that revealed the very stylish decor and phenomenal view of Melbourne at night.

Another highlight was the extremely open kitchen where you feel like you are almost having a chef's table experience. The tables were nicely spaced although the noise was a bit more than what you would expect from a fine dining restaurant.

The appetisers were fantastic and unique. We initially decided to just have 4-course a la carte but the atmosphere and experience was so good that we were convinced to try the 10 course gastronome after been told it will take on average 2.5 to 3 hours to finish. It's $250 per person and you can choose to have less courses as the night goes, with $10 deducted for each course. However, we weren't presented with a menu at all so that was a bit awkward. Rather, we were just asked whether we have any dietary preferences.

I really like the idea that the chefs actually presents each dishes at the table accompanied by some sort of interaction e.g. freshly shaving generous amounts of truffles, infusing consomme with pine needles and pouring liquid nitrogen over micro herbs and flowers before grinding them!

Also, you get chefs from all level, right from junior chefs to Shannon Bennett himself, who came to our table twice! (a rarity these days that celebrity chefs even work in the kitchen!). The food were all mostly delicious except for the spiced mushroom consomme which tasted like herbal medicine and the tuna dish which tasted so fishy that my friend couldn't even finish it.

The service overall was efficient and not too in your face. No doubt, there is always a sense of snobbiness from some of the waiters but sadly that has become what you face with from most top end restaurants these days.

The meal did finish in approximately 3 hours and the flow was great without long periods of waiting. As you leave the restaurant, they also give you a breakfast bag with a mini brioche loaf, honey, tea, biscuits, muesli and tea (but not for each person!).

The overall experience was probably the best dining experience that I have ever had. Having dined at all the 3 hat restaurants in Sydney, VDM beats all of them, not just with the food, but by providing a unique and fun experience to diners without overdoing it. Yes, if you are a real foodie, there are faults with the dishes but no one is ever perfect. This place is definitely worth trying and I will be very happy to visit it again in the near future.

Aug 22, 2011 

5.8 Average

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  1      Value  5     

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face when I sat down at the new Vue De Monde last night. The fit out looks great and the views are of course amazing. It was my 30th birthday and I was so excited to be among the first to dine at the new restaurant.

Unfortunately, VDM left my husband and I sorely disappointed. The food, I have to say, was brilliant. The wagyu was the best I've had, and the duck egg was perfection. The food didn't let us down at all.

The service? Another story. When we arrived, we were given a lovely, clever amuse-bouche, before our waiter provided us with two sealed letters, one offering us "freedom" (a degustation menu) or "choice" (a la carte). The waiter returned after a few minutes to explain that the freedom menu was 10 courses for $250, and the choice menu was four courses for about $150 (I think).

We decided we couldn't fit in ten courses, and eventually managed to painfully extract from our waiter that there was also a seven course option for $195. We decided to go ahead with the seven course degustation, prompting a very odd face from our waiter.

We were served throughout the evening primarily by the kitchen staffs themselves, which should have been brilliant. They all seemed to be treating the service as a huge joke amongst themselves that the patrons weren't in on though. Twice our odd, face-pulling waiter. Our waiter tried to take my plate away before I'd finished. It all really left me feeling quite uncomfortable on what should have been an amazing night.

We also opted for matching wines, and received six of the smallest glasses of wine I've ever seen (only six because apparently the amuse-bouche counted as a course. Hmm.). The six glasses altogether would have equalled two regular glasses of wine. I've had plenty of degustations with matched wine before, but have never encountered such a lack of generosity.

As we left (after none of the staff saying a goodbye, much less accompanying us to the lift), I spied carry bags in the lobby, and remembered that VDM provide diners with bread for their breakfast! We unfortunately were not offered a carry bag. Sigh.

The bottom line? It didn't feel generous or special, and for $660 for two people (before tip) I just expected so much more in terms of service and that 'big night out' feeling. My expectations were high, and I left feeling disappointed and deflated. For a big night out with impeccable service, I'd recommend Jacques Reymond instead.

Jul 10, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

This is no ordinary restaurant, it is food with theatre. You watch the food being prepared which is an experience in itself, visually the food we received was quite spectacular, I also liked the fact that your details are kept on their system so that on subsequent visits when you have the degustation menu you are served different dishes, ingenious.

One of the dishes I was served was the whiting and basil ballotine with tomato it simply melted in your mouth, it was memorable because it was so fresh and sophisticated. The staff were professional and unobtrusive yet helpful.

It was pricey but you expect that from high end fine dining, I still think it is worth a rave review even if you only go as a special occasion or when you need to spoil your senses.

Jul 02, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I believe that Vue de Monde is one of those special places that cannot help but place a smile on peoples faces. It has been the single most enjoyable time I have had in years, and I would never have guessed that such great enjoyment could come from beautiful food and impeccable service.

Jun 27, 2011 

2 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

First time, after hearing good things. I should have read the reviews first. I was genuinely embarrassed for the wait staff. They actually thought and acted as if they were "heroes". They simply brought the whole place down, hopelessly fake! They thought we knew nothing about truffles. Making a song and dance about the $7000kg the maitre de blurted out whist serving. They show little or no respect for diners and are consumed by self importance. Sad. Food was interesting but pretentious. Hardly one star michellin. Give this place a miss, there are much better options in Melbourne.

May 31, 2011 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  2      Service  3      Value  1     

Genuinely disappointed! We booked for a very special evening, I was proposing to my fiancée. Let me start by noting absolute offence we took to the waiter taking us to our table and literally dumping us there to pour a drink for someone two tables over. The food is very clever, but priced to the point of being a rip off. Drinks wise, the matching wines are mostly good, but cheap and not worth the prices. At the end of the day these people need to realize is that they are fake to the point of being embarrassing.
We hope that the chef revisits his philosophy and takes greater pride in his work.

Apr 20, 2011 

2.3 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  3     

After a couple of visits to Vue de monde, like some of the other reviews, I can't hlep thinking that this type of restaurant is a remanant of a time gone by. The way the staff speak, their demeanour, their aloof attitude just makes them look like idiots. Refusing to inform guests of what is on the menu is purely childish and insulting, indicative of what I'm saying. There is no doubting the skill of the Chef, the industry accolades are justified given several dishes we sampled.

But then to intentionally serve disgusting, inedible dishes, as noted by other reviewers, reflects perfectly the "character" of these people. Also, beware of the matching wines option. They appear to have several options they can serve, the good and the downright terrible. Which one you will get will depend on whether they think the guest knows anyting about wine. Always ask to sample the wine before they pour, and don't be afraid to tell them you don't like it. The esatblishment appears to promulgate an approach to business which focuses on exploitation of a brand for maximum financial gain.

Also, don't be fooled by the sitting times offered when booking. 6pm or 8.30pm. This is just in case they are poorly booked, so guests getting there at 6 or 8.30 won't be surprised when they see empty seats, thinking either it is early, or it is late and other guests have already left. Not surprising to see Vue de monde slide down the tripadvisor rankings. I won't be going back!

Feb 28, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Loved our experience here. Is expensive... but you get what you pay for in terms of quality and inventiveness. Read our full review at our blog.

Read more on my blog

Jan 11, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

My husband and I ate at Vue de Monde for the first time last night, somewhat hesitantly due to some reviews I read. As soon as we walked in the door these reviews were out the window.

We had nothing but excellent service, friendly waiters, great wine choices to go with our meal and many of the dishes were simply divine!

Some of the highlights of the evening for us were the Marron with Butter Emulsion, the Goats Cheese Snow with Baby Peas and Bacon, Kangaroo with Chocolate and Coffee Dirt, The Wagyu dish, and the Golden Gaytime Inspired Souffle. As we were walking out of the door we were also given a little bag which contained breakfast ingredients for the next morning. Such a lovely little touch!

I think that what some of the previous reviewers need to remember is that it is impossible to please 100% of people 100% of the time, especially when it comes to something as individual as food.

And as for the price of the restaurant, my husband and I were pleasantly surprised by the bill. It was an experience that was more than worth the cost, and is something that we will be doing again.

Jan 07, 2011