Altus Rooftop, Bar & Lounge — Restaurant in Melbourne

I was looking forward to coming to this “high end “ restaurant . The hotel and bar are beautiful, but the restaurant layout is a bit odd and when we were ushered away from the beautiful bar with the amazing view where we thought we would eat when we booked it to the odd little restaurant that overlooks the carpark we were disappointed. We were seated next to a walkway to the toilet, which could easily have been screened off from people walking past but had a tiny plant instead , and you can’t see the view from the walkway side without interrupting someone else’s meal (the whole point of eating there is meant to be the view). There was a very loud group at the bar table, and as there is no music playing in the actual venue (only from the bar next door, which is closed off with a curtain and so muffled - as if you’re missing out on a good party) so we listened to every conversation they had for two hours. The ambience is odd, when you pay you have to go and stand awkwardly at a doorway loitering next to someone trying to enjoy their meal, when they could easily move the payment area to the maître de table at the entrance.

We waited a long time to be able to order drinks, which took 20 minutes to arrive which set the tone for the evening. Our mains were semi cold, and although the chef put great effort into presentation and the food had a nice flavour it still felt like bulk food we would receive at a nice wedding rather than the 5* dining establishment they are priced and advertised as ($69 Each for two courses, without drinks).

The people at the table next to us were also very disappointed, their deserts had clearly come straight out of the fridge (again, not the workings of a high end restaurant). The staff were helpful and apologetic when we explained our meals were cold and offered desert, and when we declined they provided us a discount on our bill but this was still $190 for two people who had only 4 drinks between us.

I’m happy to pay accordingly for a good meal and nice ambience but this was a lot of money for the experience we had. I hope they can do better with a few tweaks in the future because the restaurants downstairs have a great vibe at half the price, and the bar is by far the...

Overall, a pretty disappointing high tea experience. I specifically booked the Hello Kitty high tea as I saw positive reviews prior especially seeing the Pop-up Cafe on the other end of Chadstone receiving bleak reviews. Sadly, my experience was below subpar re- the food. The sweets were probably the best items on the 3-tiered stand in terms of taste, the lychee cube cake and blue mousse dessert were the highlights as they did carry the Hello Kitty theme, the panna cotta was decent but nothing spectacular. The savories were all mostly terrible, the brioche parmesan fingers were stale and chewy, the brioche chicken roll was very dry, not just the bread but the filling was also lacking any moisture to give any pleasant mouthfeel, I was forced to gulp water to force it down and prevent my airways from being blocked. The salmon sandwich was stagnant and also dry. The worst was the beef, mesclun and tortilla wrap... it had a much fancier name on the printed menu, but it was basically something you'd regret ordering on a Jetstar flight but somehow worse. Again, it was dry, tasteless and chewy. The thin beef slices were stale and chewy, but the lettuce was just as chewy if that's even possible, as though it was filled with the most fibrous parts of the plant, I felt like I was chewing cud like a cow, pair that with the generic white flat bread and I came to the conclusion that in my 40 years of many high tea's from luxury hotels, tea rooms, restaurants & picnics this had to be the worst high tea experience of my life. The blue cheese croquettes were replaced with mac & cheese and wagyu pie was nothing special. I was so over everything being so substandard and completely ripped off with the barely there Helly Kitty theme which was below half-assed and even worse food. The space was beautiful though, chic decor, brooding with art deco elements. Staff were polite and friendly however the floor beneath our table was littered with crumbs and bits of food from the previous occupants and my chair had so many mystery stains on the upholstery. For $80pp the high tea would have been worth it if it was...

Dietary need at Altus was not catered for I have an intolerance to yeast & can get severely ill Pure Sourdough bread is easily available

We booked my Birthday for High Tea over 2 weeks prior, with plenty of notice to the Venue, and the hôtel did not cater to my intolerance, as i can have quite a severe réaction

They informed me on the day as we had sat down, that the Soudough bread that they purchase contains Yeast

Effort & attention to detail seemed à bit lacking for à hotel of international standard

Paying $170 for 2, plus extra for drinks, almost 200, it is a lot to pay when more attention would have been appreciated, especially on such a special day, once in my life.

THE WINDSOR HIGH TEA is of a much much higher level & quality I was lucky enough to win à Prize for High Tea at the Windsor & would thoroughly recommend it, & would go back for how wonderful it is. Their Gluten Free Yeast free bread were of the highest Boutique quality - not dry. I expected something similar there at the Altus, but i was mistaken - they do not seem specialists in High Teas, like at the Windsor Hotel, which provide IMPECCABLE QUALITY , TEXTURE & TASTE with their sandwiches & pastries

My 21 year old son had invited me for my Birthday for what we thought would be a very Special treat

The Waitresses were pleasant, - but the catering lacking in real care & concern for the patron's dietary need & request

Did not feel personable, more like an imposition, & à bit cold coming from Prince, - i think he was the manager A bit of an Apathetic attention to important customers...