Holmesglen Institute's Cilantro Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

Cilantro restaurant within the Moorabbin Holmesglen Tafe Le Gordon Bleu cooking school offers a 3 course lunch for $38 per person + drinks. We had been meaning to get there for ages and finally we went. The menu was different from that initially listed when we made our booking which was a shame as had a really nice sounding vegetarian entree that thankfully contained no blue cheese which I absolutely loathe. Unfortunately the new menu's vegetarian option was blue cheese souffle! But they were able to offer me vegetarian fricassee instead. Husband had scallops with chorizo and pea puree. While for mains he had the salmon with snowpeas and potato while I had the mushroom tortellini. We were also given sides of broccollini with almonds, green beans and carrots (note the menu didn't list that mains came with extras). Then for dessert I had crepes suzette (disappointingly not set alight at the table) while husband had cheese platter (cheddar, goats and brie). We were also given nice little warm dinner rolls to accompany the little pots of herb butter on the table. And for drinks, 2 Chandon sparkling for me and Shiraz for him and coffees (soy lattes and flat white). 7.6.23 back for another $38 3 course meal. Husband had salmon rilette, 8 hour lamb in filo parcel and lemon mousse while I had pearl barley risotto, ratatouille in filo parcel and chocolate mousse. We also had coffees (flat whites and soy latte, unfortunately no decaf) and Proseccos. All up $108, can't beat that. Look forward to dining in next year. 3.8 lunch for 4,...

Well this was my first visit to Cilantro, the hospitality and training restaurant run by hospitality students at the Holmesglen TAFE, Moorabbin campus, located at the back of the Holmesglen Private Hospital, at 488 South Road, Moorabbin, and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed.

This was a High Tea served with a variety of beautifully presented and absolutely delicious authentic French food including soft rolls with smoked salmon, cream cheese and chive, Mini baps with roast beef, horseradish cream and rocket, Rye Viennawith ricotta, basil pesto, grilled aubergine, red capsicum, pea shoots, Scones, Crepes suzette, French patisseries, mousses and chocolates as well as tea and coffee. Just check out the mouth watering photos here.

It's fully licensed and has an extensive beverage list including beers, spirits, cocktails and mocktails, as well as a wine list that includes house wines and cellar releases. The trainee staff are very polite and friendly and will go out of their way to make it a most enjoyable experience. The table service was excellent.

Cilantro is only open during the Holmesglen school term and you do need to book as the sessions are extremely limited.

Highly...

Dined at a small and pleasant Cilantro restaurant and were really happy with students service and personal presentation. Well done guys! The only serious let down was food! At the time of booking we explained that we are strict vegetarians and Cilantro promised to accommodate. What we were served was a risotto with a large grilled mushroom cap and some dressed lettuce leaves. Perhaps this may have been classed as good vegetarian food in the 1950s, but I hope that Australia has since moved on in its appreciation of what good vegetarian food looks and tastes like. This review is not meant to discourage the budding student chefs, however, the world is changing and more contemporary instruction of vegetarian quisine...