markd

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Simple but well executed lunch menu based on the chicken/porcini pie. Busy so service a little stretched. Nice setting, and gallery not bad either.

Mar 08, 2010

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  6     

Disappointing suburban Japanese based on 1 visit for lunch. Had the bento box which was expensive and mundane. Perhaps, the a la carte menu lives up to the rave reviews?

Feb 04, 2010

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Been here a couple of times now both yum cha and dinner. Very good quality food, probably the best yum cha in the area. Dinner service not as good as you would expect in a Western restaurant but the food does come out quickly. Not cheap but some other Chinese restaurants in the area are grossly overpriced in comparison. Very busy for yum cha so get in early.

Feb 04, 2010

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Reasonably solid but not outstanding successor to 312. Our entrees were very well executed, smoked quail and salad lyonaisse. The Dory main lacked punch although the wild barramundi was excellent. The beetroot icecream was delightful but the ricotta cheesecake was uninspiringly bland. Service was cheerful but let down by an irritatingly long wait to settle the bill. Despite the rave reviews there is some room for this restaurant to improve.

Sep 14, 2009

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Without doubt one of the best degustation menus we have ever eaten. A carefully constructed and superbly executed crescendo of Italian-inspired flavours started with a simple and refreshing tuna carparccio and ended with a richly flavoured wagyu beef/veal tongue combination. The highlight was the pine-needle smoked quail with candied quince and prosciutto which was beautifully composed and the quail wonderfully tender.

More impressively though, there was not one weak course (the desserts were simple, but we did not consider this a fault given the richness of the latter "main" courses), which is an outstanding achievement even for a top notch restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed the robust flavours, faultless technique and lack of pointless complexity.

Expensive, but still worth the $195/head price (food only). Service was attentive, ambience was "old world" which we found pleasant, but might not appeal to everyone. Highly recommended.

Jun 20, 2009

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Simple but well executed lunch menu based on the chicken/porcini pie. Busy so service a little stretched. Nice setting, and gallery not bad either.

Mar 08, 2010

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  6     

Disappointing suburban Japanese based on 1 visit for lunch. Had the bento box which was expensive and mundane. Perhaps, the a la carte menu lives up to the rave reviews?

Feb 04, 2010

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Been here a couple of times now both yum cha and dinner. Very good quality food, probably the best yum cha in the area. Dinner service not as good as you would expect in a Western restaurant but the food does come out quickly. Not cheap but some other Chinese restaurants in the area are grossly overpriced in comparison. Very busy for yum cha so get in early.

Feb 04, 2010

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Reasonably solid but not outstanding successor to 312. Our entrees were very well executed, smoked quail and salad lyonaisse. The Dory main lacked punch although the wild barramundi was excellent. The beetroot icecream was delightful but the ricotta cheesecake was uninspiringly bland. Service was cheerful but let down by an irritatingly long wait to settle the bill. Despite the rave reviews there is some room for this restaurant to improve.

Sep 14, 2009

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Without doubt one of the best degustation menus we have ever eaten. A carefully constructed and superbly executed crescendo of Italian-inspired flavours started with a simple and refreshing tuna carparccio and ended with a richly flavoured wagyu beef/veal tongue combination. The highlight was the pine-needle smoked quail with candied quince and prosciutto which was beautifully composed and the quail wonderfully tender.

More impressively though, there was not one weak course (the desserts were simple, but we did not consider this a fault given the richness of the latter "main" courses), which is an outstanding achievement even for a top notch restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed the robust flavours, faultless technique and lack of pointless complexity.

Expensive, but still worth the $195/head price (food only). Service was attentive, ambience was "old world" which we found pleasant, but might not appeal to everyone. Highly recommended.

Jun 20, 2009

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Lovely period setting with great views from the elongated dining room. Interesting modern menu generally very well cooked. The confit of ocean trout was excellent, the Dory main was a little disappointing, but the duck main was very good. Efficient service, quite reasonably priced for the setting and overall experience in a mid to high end restaurant in the yarra valley. Definitely one to consider for a special occasion.

Apr 18, 2009

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Characterful, rustic Spanish fare in a small bustling Gertrude St setting. Tapas-style menu with distinct and authentic regional flavours efficiently served by friendly staff. Very reasonable prices. Go for the 2nd sitting if you want to linger. Absolutely recommended.

Oct 12, 2008

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  6     

We went specifically to try the non-traditional "signature" dishes so can't comment on sushi/sashimi etc. Certain dishes were very good, eg beef tataki, black miso cod, beef salsa and the moreton bay bugs. The others were OK but not particularly innovative or flavoursome. We did like the tasting plate of desserts - well executed with fresh and robust flavours/textures. Service was friendly and competent. We paid about $140 each (excluding drinks) so not too pricey but you can definitely get better food for less in this town.

Sep 26, 2008

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Dark and cosy ambience balanced by really solid cooking and ingredients produce a most satisfying dining experience. Not haute cuisine nor contrived eurofusion, just quality Spanish/French/Italian style food served unpretentiously by efficient staff. Reasonable prices to boot.

Jan 21, 2008

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Few years between visits but based on dinner upstairs a few weeks ago still a solid contender in the Melbourne restaurant scene. Gorgeous setting overlooking the bay, with tasty and well cooked modern European food to match. Not cheap, but well worth the money for a special occasion or to impress overseas visitors (which was our excuse). High service standards remain.

Nov 13, 2007