Dexter — Restaurant in Melbourne

Celebrated my friends birthday here and we were a party of five. Our waitress was fantastic with great recommendations and an easy-going conversationalist. The ambience was nice and relaxing for a great dining experience.

However, I was a bit underwhelmed by our meals. We decided to get 2x Dry Aged rib eye (500g) but it was quite deceiving. It is noted on the menu to be shared but when we received the steaks they were both served with a huge bone which definitely contributed to the weight. It could definitely have been finished by a single one of us. Had we had known the steaks would be so small, we would have ordered a different dish so we could all be fed. Furthermore, what is it with steaks being served at a warm temperature? I understand steaks need to rest but it should at least be more than warm. By the time I had my last piece it was basically cold, and trust me, I am not a slow eater. We ordered other sides and appetizers, such as the rocket salad, beef tartare and chips. Our friend who does not eat red meat ordered the pork dish and it was quite disappointing to realize we all could have been full if we ordered our own dish instead of sharing. The bill ended up being 300+ dollars, which was quite disappointing as we all left hungry.

Additionally, on the booking website they had an option to list if it was a special occasion, which we put as a birthday. Typically this would mean that they would give a complimentary dessert for the occasion. I do understand this is sometimes just a feature on the website and the restaurants are under no obligation to served complimentary desserts. I wanted to double check so we asked if the waitress could prepare a dessert for our friend and she said YES. However, as time went on and nothing was presented, we asked another staff member, whom I presume is the manager, who bluntly said they do not do that. It was a bit of a shame since we did spend quite a lot of money and there was miscommunication between the staff and customers.

As we were leaving, the manager bluntly gave us our bill, without even any small conversation such as "How did you find your meal today" but bluntly stated "320$". I thought this was quite rude, especially since we were already disappointed and let-down by the restaurant. With a restaurant with so many great reviews, do they see customers as expendable or have they lost their way?

All in all, our experience at Dexter was incredibly mediocre and filled with disappointment. This may not be your experience but it was definitely mine, and my wallet is not grateful for it! The manager needs to understand customer service, and even though the establishment is successful, she should definitely be kinder and appreciative we are supporting their business. A simple "how was your meal" goes a long way. I do not think I will ever go to Dexter again due to it leaving such a horrible taste in my mouth.

30/07/2023 - Dinner Service -...

A disturbing experience. I came here because of all the fantastic reviews and thought wow, this place has to be good. I’ll start off with the positives. It was a busy Thursday night and we didn’t have a booking but were accomodated for quite quickly. I somewhat enjoyed the dark nightclub-like atmosphere even though I was there to eat.

Now the negatives. We ordered a Beef Brisket Burger and Korean Beef Tartare. I was going to order the aged cheeseburger but was informed by the waitress that it would be cooked medium-rare. When the burger came out, I was expecting a decent sized bun but was presented with a $16 burger the size of a $3maccas cheeseburger. It had about 20 pickles in it along with like three different sauces and a weird herb which didn’t seem to go with anything. The flavours were a conflict of interest. have had a lot of burgers in my time (you can see my other reviews) and I’m really sorry to say, but this was the worst tasting burger I have ever had, I cringe thinking of it. As for the Korean Beef Tartare, for those of you who are not culinary educated (like the most of us), it is RAW MEAT. We were presented a plate of raw meat, and it was disturbing. Quite reminiscent of the themes in the tv show Dexter, if you fancy getting fed blood and guts by surprise, this is the place for you. It would have been nice if we were informed about this, I mean, the waitress can inform me about the steak being cooked medium rare but not bother to mention the other dish is actually raw meat? The staff member who processed the payment was probably the most helpful as he offered to take the dish off our bill due to being unaware, if it wasn’t for this I would have...

4.5/5

The vibe inside is super laid-back, with dim lighting to set the mood, and there’s a bigger outdoor space for larger groups. The menu has lots of meat varieties, probably more suited to choosing your own main and sharing separate sides with friends. They also have burgers and desserts! The quality hasn’t dropped since my last visit in 2019, and that’s a win because they really know how to cook up some amazing food.

If there’s anything you need to try at Dexter, it’s their famous Hot Meat Donuts. Yes, it is exactly how it sounds. A sugary jam-donut-like exterior, with flavourful, moist minced meat on the inside. It sounds like an odd combination but it works SO well. It’s probably one of my favourite dishes in Melbourne. Order these and thank me later, you will not regret it.

All of the meats are served with house pickles, bone marrow mash, slaw and bread, all of which are absolutely delicious. I wish more restaurants would offer complete meals like this, negating the need to pay for extra sides. It makes sense, it saves us money and it’s still high quality. Both the pork belly and the short rib were fantastic. Super tender and not too sweet despite the ingredients. If I could choose, I’d add a bit more sweetness, but that’s just personal preference. The bone marrow mash is divine and probably one of the only times I’ll eat mash.

I’m glad to see Dexter still doing well and surviving lockdowns because they are really one of a kind and don’t break the bank. I feel like that’s pretty rare these days, making me appreciate it a whole lot more. If you’re into a laid-back venue and top-notch food and drinks, Dexter’s the...