Dining Reviews
Purpose of the Restaurant Review Section to the website
Our aim in this new section is clear and simple: to share positive dining experiences with other food and wine loving individuals. The decision to set up this section on our website came as a result of regular requests to provide family, friends and other business contacts information on good places to wine and dine.
We are naturally drawn to our own client’s cafes, bars and restaurants as we like to show them support in return. We also know they will have good wine on their lists, and we make it a rule never to order the wine that we supply.
So you won’t find ratings and you won’t find damning reviews but you will find bright and breezy overviews commenting on the food, service, ambience and of course wine!
If you have a recommendation yourself for a venue we may not know about please let us know. Also, should you act on one of our reviews and have a great time we would like to know too.
Cheers and happy dining!
David’s Restaurant, Prahran
Date: Sunday 2nd December 2012
Restaurant: David’s Restaurant
Address: 4 Cecil Street, Prahran
Phone: 03 9529 5199
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
We had the pleasure of dining with Swan Michel (winemaker from Georges Michel) and her husband and friends at David’s restaurant one Sunday evening. We chose the restaurant on the basis that the Georges Michel Sauvignon Blanc is on the list and the food is good! We opted for the six person banquet at a very reasonable $205 and were not disappointed.
Gingerboy - CBD Melbourne
Date: Monday 10th September 2012
Restaurant: Gingerboy, CBD Melbourne
Address: 27 - 29 Crossley Street
Phone: 03 9662 4200
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
We had the pleasure of dining with Georges & Huguette Michel and their son Naik, owners of Georges Michel Wine Estate in Marlborough. Given their Sauvignon Blanc is being poured at Gingerboy we thought this was the perfect venue for a meal together. We opted for the Spring Banquet Menu, and were taken on a culinary journey over the next few hours.
Taxi @ Transport Hotel - CBD Melbourne
What more could you want on a Wednesday night (hump day is officially behind you), Taxi Restaurant is the venue and Soumah and Tellurian Wineries (from Yarra Valley and Heathcote respectively) pair up to host a wine degustation. I arrived early and well I did as the skies opened and a massive downpour hit the CBD. The vista from the first floor of Transport Hotel was amazing, and highlighted Taxi Restaurant as one of the top venues in the city for panoramic views.
Carolina - East Brunswick
Date: Friday 1st June 2012
Restaurant: Carolina
Address: 11 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
This is a first venture for David Henderson and Melanie Hayes, who opened on Australia Day this year. We had the opportunity to see an incredibly rapid transition from building site without a garden in early January, to a trendy little café / bar offering breakfast and lunch, plus later a liquor licence to serve boutique wine, beer & cider with light food accompaniments.
Hell of the North - Fitzroy
Date: Wednesday 21st March 2012
Restaurant: Hell of the North
Address: 135 Greeves Street, Fitzroy
Phone: 03 9416 6660
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
‘What’ you say - 'never heard of it'….intrigued by the name….you should be! This bar come bistro may well be the hottest thing Melbourne has seen in a while, and it is backed by brothers Adam & Christian Ferrante and Mark Grixti. I have known Mark for some years now, and have been patiently waiting for this venue to open, mind you that is nothing on what the guys behind the business have been through - however the wait has been worth it!
SUD Food & Wine - CBD Melbourne
Date: Wednesday 21st March 2012
Restaurant: SUD Food & Wine
Address: 219 King Street, CBD Melbourne
Phone: 03 9670 8451
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
We just snuck in one last ‘Express Lunch’ offered during the Melbourne Food and Wine. This time I booked at SUD Food & Wine, an intimate dining room tucked between Little Bourke and Lonsdale Street. I had arranged to meet a good friend there who had not dined at SUD before, but I was confident he would enjoy the experience……and I was right! SUD (s’ood) is Latin for South and the venue offers lunch and dinner Monday to Friday. Private and corporate functions can be catered for offering an intimate setting.
The French Brasserie - CBD Melbourne
Date: Friday 16th March 2012
Restaurant: The French Brasserie
Address: 2 Malthouse Lane, CBD Melbourne
Phone: 03 96299222
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
Embracing the ‘Express Lunch’ offered during the Melbourne Food and Wine, myself and three friends descended on the restaurant for a 1pm booking. Two guests really had to ‘express’ whilst two of us were able to take a more leisurely approach to the experience…..I was one of the lucky ones!
Mercer’s Restaurant - Eltham
Date: Friday 3rd February 2012
Restaurant: Mercer’s Restaurant - Eltham
Address: 732 Main Road, Eltham
Phone: 03 9431 1015
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
It was with much anticipation that after a very busy week, Friday afternoon arrived and I remembered I was meeting friends for a birthday celebration at Mercer’s Restaurant in the evening. The anticipation came from the fact that I had already decided on my choice of dessert - very unlike me as those that know me would vouch!
The French Brasserie - CBD, Melbourne
Date: Friday 16th December 2011
Restaurant: The French Brasserie, Melbourne
Address: 2 Malthouse Lane, CBD Melbourne
Phone: 03 9629 9222
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
The journey begins from the moment you step inside this contemporary and very chic CBD restaurant. The staff present as bright, friendly and super attentive and the vast space with soaring ceilings and glass create an atmosphere where time becomes irrelevant. This is a venue not to be rushed and by that I mean don’t book a ‘quick’ meal as you will miss out on the whole experience.
Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne
Date: Wednesday 28th September 2011
Restaurant: Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne
Address: Stall 101, South Melbourne Market
Phone: 03 9645 5779
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
This relatively new venue is located at South Melbourne Market. This is an iconic seafood bar, whose success in St Kilda and Fitzroy is well known. Owner and chef Renan Goksin has gone for a Teppanyaki style restaurant on this occasion, drawing from super fresh seafood, which is all on display in the centre of the restaurant.