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!
Oliver’s Garden - Moonee Ponds
Date: Tuesday 30th November 2010
Restaurant: Oliver’s Garden
Address: The Strand, Queens Park - Moonee Ponds
Phone: 03 9372 0438
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
A picturesque cottage is the focal point of the park with its idyllic surrounds, which is now home to Oliver’s Gardens (a newish café that was once Max’s at Queens Park). A gravel path surrounds the lake where seats and picnic tables are provided beneath old established exotic trees. A rose garden and a sunken garden are part of the many attractions of the park. Concerts and other entertainments are common on weekends.
Next Door Diner - Northcote
Date: Sunday 28th November 2010
Restaurant: Next Door Diner
Address: 204 St Georges Road, Northcote
Phone: 03 9939 1350
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
Sunday night was not my first visit to Next Door Diner, but it was the first visit since I have started supplying wine to this restaurant. Like the venue, the wine list and menu is small but perfectly formed. The venue is zoned with a bar section and window seats at the front and raised back section scattered with a wall-counter and stools; communal table and selection of ‘by two’ and ‘by four’ tables.
Mercer’s Restaurant - Eltham
Date: Monday 1st November 2010
Restaurant: Mercer’s Restaurant - Eltham
Address: 732 Main Road, Eltham
Phone: 03 9431 1015
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
It was almost a year to the day that I found myself back at Mercer’s Restaurant, only this time it was to take part in a winemakers degustation.
Wine Bank on View - Bendigo
Date: Wednesday 20th October 2010
Restaurant: Wine Bank on View, Bendigo
Address: 45 View Street, Bendigo
Phone: 03 5444 4655
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
For those of you who have not heard of this venue, where have you been? Wine Bank on View has firmly placed itself as a regional ‘must visit’ on the food and wine trail. Sitting proudly on View Street, this old bank building offers the selection and service you would expect at a fine establishment in the heart of CBD Melbourne. So it should carrying three goblets for its wine list (from Gourmet Traveller Wine, 2010), ranging an incredible selection of wine from the local region, plus the best from other regions in Australia and imports.
Box Hill Golf Club, Box Hill
Date: Tuesday 19th October 2010
Restaurant: Box Hill Golf Club
Address: 202 Station Street, Box Hill
Phone: 03 9720 3850
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
What a night to look forward to and I was not disappointed. Just over 12 months ago I was invited to showcase a wine dinner at Box Hill Golf Club and the night was a huge success. Chef Glenn Thomson was in charge again and for this reason I knew we would be in for a treat.
Gingerboy - CBD, Melbourne
Date: Sunday 17th October 2010
Restaurant: Gingerboy
Address: 27 - 29 Crossley Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 4200
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
Opening in October 2006 the aim of Gingerboy has been to offer a modern interpretation of South East Asian street food and hawker identity within an efficient, relaxed and friendly setting. Since 2008 the venue has held a one hat status, and is a delightful compliment to sister restaurant Ezard, also located in the CBD.
Seamstress Restaurant Bar – CBD Melbourne
Date: Monday 4th October 2010
Restaurant: Seamstress Restaurant Bar
Address: 113 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03-9663 6363
Commentary: Sarah Andrew
For those of you who visit our restaurant review site, you may recall a review on Seamstress mid last year. The reason for re-visiting this venue is simple, there was an ownership change earlier in the year and with that a few changes in general. Tally Konstas is now the owner and brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the venue (think Tony Starr’s Kitten Club and The Apartment). The other reason for selecting to dine at Seamstress last Monday night was simply because so many venues are closed in the CBD on a Monday.
Woodlands Golf Club - Mordialloc
Date: Friday 20th August 2010
Restaurant: Woodlands Golf Club - Mordialloc
Address: 109 White Street, Mordialloc
Phone: 03 9580 3455
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
What a venue to behold! Over the past 12 months I have seen a transformation of Woodlands Golf Club from a venue in need of attention to what it is today - an opulent club house with first class facilities. When the opportunity arose to put together hosting a wine dinner at the venue I jumped at the chance.
Nihonbashi Zen - CBD, Melbourne
Date: Wednesday 11th August 2010
Restaurant: Nihonbashi Zen
Address: 87 Little Bourke Street
Phone: 03 9639 7050
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
Love Japanese but never been here? If so you are missing out on the real deal! I can understand if you have walked straight past, as to enter requires heading below ground via a few stairs off Little Bourke Street (just at the intersection of Exhibition Street). The venue is small and is often closed between lunch and dinner but has a high rate of repeat customers who know that they will experience genuine Japanese, including some of the freshest sake in Melbourne.
Pepper Café - Flemington
Date: Wednesday 11th August 2010
Restaurant: Pepper Café
Address: 44 Pin Oak Crescent, Flemington, VIC
Phone: 03 9372 2726
Commentary : Sarah Andrew
This is another little gem worth knowing about if you are off the beaten track looking for a great coffee, somewhere for a bite to eat for breakfast or lunch or just a space to sit and relax with a glass of wine. Pepper Café caters for all of the above plus functions. The space is small but versatile with outdoor seating and an enticing open fire in the back room.