Dale La Pau — Restaurant in Melbourne

Summary: Incredibly overpriced, tiny portions, very dry and chewy meat, food was cold on pickup despite waiting in restaurant. Possibly due to visiting at off peak, unfortunately can not recommend.

Recently I’ve been enjoying exploring Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne and while trying find some for some friends in camberwell Dale La Pau stood out to me, good reviews, nice restaurant decor.

A major selling point was their tagline “The Rendang Specialists” for $35 dollars they offer a “family serving” of 9 different types of Rendang. Despite the price I assumed both quality and quantity would ensue or at least one of the two. Not only did the ordering experience make no sense and came with no sides or suggestions on how to approach a “family sized” Rendang, but the term “family sized” may have lost its meaning as my serving couldn’t feed 3 people.

The Rendang was prepared almost immediately and placed in my bag as they prepared the rice, roti and eggplant side I ordered. By the time I received the order the rendang was cold and had spilt oil into the bag.

On opening, I got to see the 4 small hunks of beef sitting in what I can only assume was once a tasty sauce. An overboiled rice portion that was easily enough to feed 8. And finally my eggplant dish that clearly wasn’t pre-made was under cooked to rush it out with the rapidly cooling rendang.

I don’t usually warn customers from trying a restaurant as this one seemed quite inviting and the employees were nice enough. However the gut punch was only worsened as I remembered handing over $70 cash to avoid their credit card surcharge only to realise that there was no change. I had paid $70 for a family dinner which was not even enough food to feed 3 people.

To add to how astonished I was by this, this is the only time I’ve taken photos for a review. With an additional video to show how hard the beef was.

I do wish the best to the staff and owner and hope this was a once off and perhaps lunch is a better time to come. But being open 7 days a week may be ruining your product and reputation if...

Drove more than 40 mins to try this place , google reviews seemed pretty good ! I guess I will have to believe them 🤷‍♂️. On entering the place which was hard as the door has no handle from the outside and when closed only someone from the inside can let you in , was helped by a customer to enter , I thanked them and had a laugh . Got seated pretty quickly by a maybe chef waiter not sure and menus given to us , water was served ! We had enough time to study the menu about 40 mins , giving the benefit of the doubt that there was 12 other people inside the restaurant maybe we came at that sweet spot of service , it was 7.30 pm .. but on looking at the tables there was only six meals missing , a table of 2 and table of 4, I questioned to my friend something is not right . 40 mins and no one has served us a Couple that had come in after us where eating before us .we only know this becuse we had to let them in , paying the favour forward . did they order and come back for there meals was that how it works ! We had been there 1/2 and hour and had not seen them .Within 7 mins of them coming in they had drinks and food on the table . Now knowing the menu back to front and the publisher and how many stickers there was inside the menu to change the prices ,we where finally served (yes) was the greeting , like we had disturbed him from what ever he was not doing or doing right , that aside , we asked for satay chicken , to that the response was we are sold out , the cherry 🍒 ontop . I excused my self said thank you we are leaving .. just a smile on a face as he turned around and walked back to the kitchen.. not an explanation not a sorry . maybe we got a bad night ? Maybe covid saved this one by a fluke who knows .....

Mixed feelings abt our visit. The much raved-about brunch special that seems to be on their Instagram and was in the Saturday Age, the rendang shaksouka, is apparently seasonal/breakfast only during summer/at the chef's availability. We arrived at 11.30am, asked for the shaksouka: not avail so we chose the lamb soup. Also not available because apparently that's lunch, but we're still in the breakfast timing (but shaksouka is also not avail ????). Very confusing and the young man at the reception seemed very irritated while I tried to understand what was going on. We settled on two sets on roti with rendang. My partner got the shredded beef, I got the beef chunks but it seems the beef chunks are not a good idea as it was tougher and drier. All in all, a good meal but it felt like I was mostly paying for salad (very weird with rendang and roti). Two portions + lychee tea and jasmine tea = $60. Good to try out what was featured in the Age but would I return? Highly probably not.

To add on since DLP has replied: visited today. Outlet was closed at 11.25am so we came back at 11.30am. Same timing is stated on your website and on Google, no morning timings. Brunch menu does not mention time either. Information I got abt the shaksouka was from your waiter who made zero mention whatsoever that your outlet was open earlier, only that the item was seasonal when the store opens earlier in the summer.

Looking at your response, DEFINITELY...