Lilac Wine — Restaurant in Melbourne

Came here for a social dining event where strangers meet over a meal. The booking was for six, but only three of us showed up—which was out of our control as it was arranged through the app.

The food? Very decent! The quality was genuinely good and enjoyable. Maybe a bit overpriced given its portion, since it’s not a traditional fine dining place.

The atmosphere? Lovely. Beautifully designed space, vibrant and tasteful music. Perfect for a lively group vibe. Can be loud if you want some deep talk.

Where I feel a bit unsure is the service. The male staff member appeared professional, but his interaction with our table felt oddly dismissive at times. There were light jokes about someone being vegetarian or not ordering “enough” food. Maybe these were meant to be humorous—but they didn’t feel warm or appropriate.

Personally, I eat meat and ordered what I’d consider a reasonable amount (about $110 worth), so I didn’t feel too uncomfortable. But all three of us sensed a difference in how we were treated, which left me wondering: • Was it because fewer people showed up than expected? • Because someone was vegetarian? • Because our total bill wasn’t high enough? • Or maybe the staff was just having a bad day?

I don’t usually write reviews, and I wouldn’t say the experience was bad. In fact, we had a lovely time chatting, and the food and vibe were genuinely enjoyable. The female staff member who gave us drink recommendations was absolutely lovely—shoutout to her!

I understand that when only half the party shows up, it may cause some inconvenience. But as individual guests, we had no control over the turnout. If this impacted the restaurant’s operations, I believe that’s a matter between the venue and the booking system—not something that should influence how guests are treated by staff.

Honestly, I really like this place. But for me, service plays a huge role in the overall experience. I don’t feel confident recommending it to friends or returning myself, because I’d worry: if someone just wants to enjoy a light meal or a glass of wine, would they be treated differently?

We were planning to give some feedback when paying the bills, but even the male staff at the counter had a wired attitude. So we just stay quiet and left.

I hope this feedback is received in the constructive spirit it’s intended. I believe this place has great potential and could attract even more positive attention. But every guest—regardless of dietary preference, group size, or order amount—deserves to feel equally welcomed...

Lilac brings a unique charm to Melbourne’s wine bar dining scene, offering a rustic, loft-like atmosphere with dim lighting, spinning disco balls, and retro vibes. Perfect for a casual yet elevated night out, the menu features bold, creative dishes that deliver on flavour and presentation.

What We Ordered:

Chicken Mousse on a Potato Crisp ($10 each) - Gone in one bite, but absolutely delicious. A bit pricey for the size, though. Lamb Skewer with Garlic and Chilli Sauce ($14 each) - hands down the highlight of the meal, it was so tender and the meat fell off the skewer, we literally had to order another round for each of us because it was so good. Mussels with Fermented Chilli Sugo on Woodfired Sourdough ($32) - The sugo was rich and well-balanced, with just the right amount of spice. The sourdough was perfect for soaking up the sauce. Lilac Cheeseburger ($20) - I was a little unsure when ordering but a pleasant surprise! The patty was juicy, and the flavours were well-balanced. Charcoal Chicken with Carrot Butter ($42) - The carrot butter was an unexpected but delightful pairing with the perfectly cooked chicken. Duck Fat Potatoes with Kefir Cream ($14) - I’m not the biggest potato fan but I really enjoyed this, the duck fat gave lots of flavour and the potatoes were crispy (just how I like them!) Sticky Date Pudding ($22) - One of my favourite desserts so we had to order it, but this version had strong alcohol undertones from the flambé presentation. A cool touch visually, but it slightly overpowered the dessert’s flavour .

Lilac offers a $65 chef’s menu, but we opted to go à la carte, allowing us to tailor the experience to our tastes while enjoying two bottles of wine with the meal for a similar price. There’s also a $39 snack set that I’d love to try next time.

The service was excellent, with friendly and attentive staff who made the experience even better.

Lilac is the kind of place where good food meets a lively atmosphere. Whether you’re here for the food, the vibes, or both, it’s a spot worth visiting - especially for that...

lilac is the grungy, back-street wine bar in a tall, open warehouse that feels something like a late night dinner party in a new york loft.

nestled in the back-streets of cremorne, this is a spot worth hunting down. if the smell of woodier doesn’t tempt you, the vast dining space, lengthy bar, spinning disco ball and mellow vinyls will.

they offer a dynamic menu fitted with changing snacks and share plates, as well as an impressive wine list. however, we didn’t look much further than a glass of their mdi friulano skin-contact, which was quite clear and peachy.

one dish that never leaves the menu is their chicken mousse eclair. perfectly dense choux pastry and a sweet yet so salty black garlic glaze you might mistaken it for vegemite. whether you savour small bites like me, or inhale it in one go like @delishdump it’ll be a flavourful experience either way.

their housemade soft curd had the lumpy texture you’d find in stracciatella, but the thickness and pleasantly sour taste taste of yogurt. wiping this up with their woodfire sourdough, bubbled and charred to leopording perfection.👌🏽

we (after much debating) arrived on the half duck for main. perfectly rosy, tender, melt-in-the-mouth and not at all chewy. me and my sensitive Invisalign teeth loved this!!!! the carrot puree was a heavenly pair, I wanted a bowl of it. I loved the abundance of wilted greens and veggies that unexpectedly complimented the dishes, was glad we didn’t end up ordering a leafy salad!

finishing it off with their flaming hot, sizzling sticky date pud. it was as good as it looked. boozy, fresh and so moist, we dived right in!

a satisfying and relaxing dine. I’d pop by again for a cheeky late night wine. another wine bar happily ticked off the list…..as I add...