Atria — Restaurant in Melbourne

An extra star purely for the amazing view of Melbourne. Otherwise, very dismal, disappointing and dissatisfying experience.

Expectations I had were in comparison to a 3 hatted restaurant in Sydney, Oncore - a restaurant also based in a hotel, views of the city, led by a Michelin starred chef. Summary my thoughts below:

Waiters/waitresses just appeared tired and inexperienced. Some dropping cutlery and some I was met with ignorance when asking for the drinks menu again. One highlight was when one of the waitress couldn’t explain the menu properly, we were correcting here on what was an appetizer versus what was an entree, the waitress needed to be prompted to gain a recommendation on the amount of food we should have for our table, the waitress also didn’t know their beer menu when we referenced “Moon Dog” and “Dark Ale” she thought they were 2 different drinks when they were the same, and it was only the 1 dark beer available on the menu…..

Another highlight of this theme was when I asked for recommendations of beers and what they are like - very poor use of adjectives like “complex”, “interesting” just doesn’t cut it. We tried this beer that he recommended and it tasted like sour plum juice! Definitely a restaurant that is in dire need to a sommelier, someone that could explain the balance of flavours for us and how it can pair with the food we ordered. Absolutely amateur for a restaurant at Ritz Carlton.

Food was on another level of “not worth it”! Two highlights of this were the wagyu beef and the “special” ravioli.

The wagyu beef just came in 2 slices ($92) and they looked and tasted exactly like a scotch/eye fillet. Zero marbling and didn’t taste like the melting, buttery taste of a true Wagyu piece of meat. I’ve attached a photo - very underwhelming.

The “special” ravioli was $100. Now this was the definition of a money grab. The filling was simply ricotta and egg yolk, pasta was a bit too al dente. The amount you pay is for some shavings of white truffle. This dish doesn’t scream to me as memorable nor does it reflect a dish that is simple but well executed. For this being a special dish at the Ritz Carlton, very under-par and under performing. This could have been elevated with the incorporation of a protein in the ravioli (like lobster or Wagyu), at least to justify the price more.

Lastly with food, the petit fours were lamingtons. Very dense, thick cakes compared to the lamington we all know being light and fluffy - a restaurant residing in this hotel of its calibre can’t even get a well known Australian dish put together correctly.

Overall ambience salvaged a bit of the experience with great views of the city, which was not complimented well with cheap, ikea-like, tea light, battery powered candles. Why can’t a place like this in the Ritz Carlton, afford proper candles.

I will not recommend anyone to come visit Atria for its food, only for its views. Food is certainly not what the restaurant is known for. Only 3 words come to mind when think of this restaurant - dismal, disappointing,...

Recently, I had the opportunity to dine at Atria, being drawn in by the promise of a delightful culinary experience based on its attractive ambiance and high ratings. However, my visit turned out to be quite underwhelming, resulting in a disappointing dining experience with the family.

Upon arrival at half past 7pm we were greeted by an inviting atmosphere, which initially set a promising tone. Unfortunately, we soon found ourselves waiting far longer than expected to be seated as the table wasn’t ready. Once seated, the wait for a menu tested our patience. After placing our orders, food service took even longer coming at 9pm. It felt like an eternity passed before our mains arrived looking like a kitten’s meal which was frustrating since we were quite hungry.

When the food finally arrived, I had high hopes, but they quickly dwindled. The dishes were looking their best, but average—lacking in flavour. Moreover, the portion sizes were shockingly small for the price $$$$. I found myself still hungry after having half dozen oysters for starters, sirloin steak as mains and chocolate gateaux dessert. Ultimately feeling that the meal didn’t justify the steep prices on the menu.

On a positive note, the ambience of the restaurant was indeed lovely. The decor was stylish, and the lighting created a cozy atmosphere, perfect for dining. We also appreciated the attentive service; our waiter was polite and checked in with us regularly, ensuring our drinks were topped up. However, excellent service cannot fully redeem the shortcomings of the menu and food offerings.

To my disappointment, I found the menu lacking in variety. The selection felt limited, with not much to cater to different tastes or dietary preferences. Additionally, there was no dedicated kids' menu, which was an oversight for a restaurant that appears to welcome families. This made it challenging to find suitable options for the younger members of our group.

Lastly, the parking situation was a headache. There were vert few available spots for valet being a hotel, nearby parking was quite a walking distance especially if one’s dressed and suited for the evening, leading to a frustrating search that added to our overall dissatisfaction. An enjoyable dining experience should begin with a stress-free arrival, but the lack of parking options certainly detracted from it.

In conclusion, my experience at Atria proved disappointing. While the ambiance was delightful and the service was commendable, the long waiting times, mediocre food quality, small portions, and a menu devoid of options left much to be desired. To justify the prices, a significant improvement in food quality, portion size, and menu variety is necessary. Unfortunately, there seems to be much better options for quality, ambience, and value...

ATRIA Restaurant 80th Floor. Thursday 19th December 2024 The attention given to me is something else. Just wonderful engaging people who are enthusiastic at their tasks. Eager to talk about all the intricacies of the food. I love it. Great food & great wine to discuss. I best be careful this might become my favourite go to.

Baker Bleu country sourdough, sourdough miso butter, caramelised whey, treacle. The miso is from fermented off cuts of bread. Butter should not be this good and addictive. Sweet caramel salty butter delicious miso. More please. Wasabi leaf, Albrolhos Island scallops, wood-fired broad beans, pea tendrils, wild garlic Wow this is just amazing stunning deliciousness. Translucent scallop. The homemade miso on its own is awesome. Together it’s delicate the scallop is tasty the whole dish is so perfectly balanced. I am in heaven. Bit stunned to I can’t believe what I just ate. Yuba tart, kombu cream, black pearl, roast onion Rich delicious perfection. Just a beautiful light but impacting morsel. Yuba is miso cooked to a thin layer then baked in to a tart. Southern Rock lobster, Emperor's pearl melon, geralton wax miso, pine Sweet delicious lobster tail you had me at hello. Fresh delicious as always. The paste is delicate adds a layer on the tastebuds of subtle light spice just a hint. The melon is a genius addition. The slight sweetness blends the flavour together beautifully. I love it. Fresh peas, Koo Wee Rup asparagus, mountain caviar Umami fresh greens tasting broth wow. I’ve just started. It’s excellent. Fresh clean pallet meats light yummy greens. Sweet peas sweet asparagus with just a hint of metallic. It is so good. Dry aged Macedon ranges duck, duck leg sausage, Murray Valley red grapes, Schulz dairy yoghurt, preserved cherry blossom Duck glorious duck. The jue is stunning the grapes in the jue are so good delicious. Blackened yoghurt what who thinks of these things. It tangy yummy. Sausage when you slice into it the burst of aroma is amazing. Spicy sweet. Wow that’s good Toasted rice cream, Victorian figs in honey, fig leaf gelato, caramelised Cuveé Bianco, honeycomb You had me at white chocolate. The fig is so delicious. Lot going on but it’s a very light dish. Perfect finish A fantastic evening just blown away. Surpassingly reasonably priced for one of Melbourne’s best...