Citrine Bistro & Bar, Olinda — Restaurant in Melbourne

Our recent visit to Citrine Bistro & Bar in Olinda was nothing short of exceptional. This charming restaurant truly exceeded our expectations and provided a dining experience that was both elevated and authentic. The moment we stepped into the restaurant, we knew we had discovered a little gem nestled in the heart of Olinda village. The ambiance was delightful, with the venue filled with natural light and a serene outdoor seating area at the front. Surrounded by towering gum trees, we couldn't have asked for a more picturesque setting to enjoy our meal. The menu at Citrine Bistro & Bar offers a fantastic selection of fresh and contemporary dishes that showcase the best of seasonal produce. The calamari fritti with green salad and lemon aioli was a perfect start, with the calamari perfectly crispy and flavourful. The heirloom tomato and fresh buffalo mozzarella salad was a refreshing and vibrant dish that showcased the quality of the ingredients. For the main course, I opted for the grilled flat iron steak, a 250g grass-fed beef served with a layered potato cake, braised cabbage, and a delectable red wine and peppercorn jus. The steak was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy, while the accompaniments added layers of flavour to each bite. To end our meal on a sweet note, we indulged in the Valencia orange creme Catalan, and it was a true delight. The creamy texture and the subtle citrus notes made it a fitting conclusion to an incredible dining experience. Apart from the fantastic food, the friendly and attentive service added an extra touch to the overall experience. With its relaxed yet sophisticated ambiance, exceptional cuisine, and warm hospitality, this restaurant creates an unforgettable dining experience. I highly recommend visiting Citrine Bistro & Bar when you find yourself in the Dandenong Ranges. Prepare to be captivated by the magic of this hidden gem in the...

I’m sorry to say that my experience here was not very good at all. I came here with a group of three including me, we were all disappointed by the food. The first thing we noticed about the waitress that came to serve us was that she seemed mildly arrogant and a bit snobby. We ordered a glass of wine, the waitress served us the wrong wine. When we told her that she gave us the wrong wine she was quite rude, she acted like she was right and kept trying to justify herself rather than admitting that she had made a mistake. The oysters came slightly after that, they were average. They weren’t very fresh. It took over an hour for our mains to be served, the waitress apologised that they didn’t have the cheese that was supposed to be on the fish of the day or the sauce. This was a disappointment. The dish was flavourless and wasn’t what we ordered. Next came the two gnocchis. The first thing we noticed was they looked completely different when they were supposed the be the same, one had almost no sauce and one was drowned in sauce. The gnocchi was soggy and flavourless, the sauce tasted like milk mixed with water. We called the waitress over who brought over the manager. The manager was quite rude to us and kept trying to tell us that the food was good, even though we strongly disagreed. She was also very arrogant and treated us like we were crazy for being disappointed by their terrible food. The lighting in the restaurant was also very bad. Very disappointing. Looks like fine dining but it worse than fast food. I had never once before tasted food this terrible. I think Gordon Ramsay needs to...

Really wanted to love this restaurant given its location and aesthetic but was such a disappointing experience. The interior and design is lovely and spacious. The hostess was super bubbly and friendly. However, the menu was different from the menu on the website which was okay, that happens. But then once we received the menus, which are very small, we were told 2 items were not available. So after choosing something different, 3 of us ordered the chicken dish. After waiting a while, we were told only 2 serves were available so someone had to change their order. When the chicken came out, it was just the chicken and a handful of salad leaves dressed with olive oil - no lemon or kolhrabi remoulade as per the menu. After asking where the rest of the dish was, we were given the lemon but were told they were out of remoulade so gave us salad leaves without telling us before hand. The chicken was cooked nicely and the crumbed mushrooms were nice albeit small. The roasted beetroot tasted tinned. Those who had the seafood linguine enjoyed it. The worst part was, after being charged $32 each for a piece of chicken with a handful of salad leaves, the $53 service charge we noticed when we got home. Given we didn’t receive what we ordered and the stuff arounds, even for a long weekend this was offensive. We were told once we received our food that there was a new chef there today so hopefully this is a teething issue but you should only charge a service fee where you have provided a good service which was not our...