Mr McCracken — Restaurant in Melbourne

A Surprising Bite at Mr. Mcracken's

Mr. Mcracken's, nestled within the Hotel Hyatt, initially struck me as a standard hotel restaurant – a convenient, if uninspired, option. However, my expectations were pleasantly, and somewhat dramatically, overturned.

The ambiance is a curious mix of classic hotel elegance and a slightly quirky, almost theatrical, undertone. Think plush velvet booths juxtaposed with vintage, slightly mismatched, silverware. It's a bit like stepping into a period drama, which, depending on your mood, can be either charming or slightly unsettling.

The menu leans towards modern interpretations of classic comfort food, with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. I started with the crispy calamari, which was perfectly cooked and served with a tangy aioli that had a subtle hint of lemon zest. My companion opted for the roasted beet salad, which was vibrant and beautifully presented.

For mains, I decided on the pan-seared salmon, which was cooked to perfection, flaky and moist. The accompanying asparagus and lemon butter sauce were also delightful. My companion chose the braised short ribs, which were melt-in-your-mouth tender and served with a rich, decadent red wine reduction.

The service was attentive and friendly, though perhaps a touch overly formal at times. Our server, while knowledgeable about the menu, seemed a little stiff, lacking the warmth that truly elevates a dining experience. However, the food arrived promptly, and our water glasses were consistently refilled.

The dessert menu was tempting, but we opted to share the chocolate lava cake. It was rich, gooey, and everything a lava cake should be.

The Pros:

High-quality ingredients: The focus on local produce was evident in the freshness and flavor of the dishes. Well-executed cuisine: The food was cooked to a high standard, showcasing technical skill and attention to detail. Unique ambiance: The slightly eccentric décor added a memorable touch. Convenient location: Perfect for hotel guests or those seeking a refined dining experience.

The Cons:

Service could be warmer: While efficient, the service lacked a certain personal touch. Slightly pricey: Expect to pay a premium for the quality and hotel setting. Potentially polarizing decor: The unique decor may not be to everyone's taste.

Overall:

Mr. Mcracken's is a surprising gem within the Hotel. While the service could benefit from a touch more warmth, the quality of the food and the unique ambiance make it a worthwhile dining experience. If you're looking for a refined meal with a slightly quirky twist, Mr. Mcracken's is definitely...

Came here to celebrate my birthday on the weekend and chose this restaurant based on the good reviews. Unfortunately, our experience was a little underwhelming. On arrival, I was greeted promptly, but the hostess couldn’t find my booking in the system—there was a Natalie and a Natasha, but no Nicole. Something about the tonality of the interaction came off a bit dismissive 😑. Thankfully, I noticed my guests were already seated and waiting, so I joined them. My friends mentioned that another hostess had no trouble locating the booking, so it may have been an individual error.

I inquired about the set menu, hoping to order quickly and relax, but was told it’s only available for groups of 10 or more (we had 7). Later, when we requested the cake and candles, the servers initially said they couldn’t find the candles, so the cake was served without them. After we insisted, the waitress was able to locate the candles a short time later.

Another thing we noticed was that one server was very attentive to the table next to us, even lowering the window shades for their comfort when it got too sunny. However, no one asked if our table was comfortable, which made the difference in attentiveness feel noticeable.

Aside from that, the ambiance and restaurant setting were lovely. The space accommodated large and small groups and kids too which was nice. My daughter received colouring pens and paper to keep her entertained. The food was overall very delicious especially the tiger prawn tagliatelle and croquettes.

Overall, while the food and atmosphere impressed us, the service felt inattentive and impersonal, which took away from...

I took my husband here yesterday for his birthday and the experience wasn't as great as the first time I was here. We made a booking at 12:00pm and arrived early so we sat in the hotel lobby until the restaurant opened. We were first greeted with "Hi ladies" then were taken to our table. We were the only customers at the time, then there were 2 other tables with 3 people and 4 people. We ordered our food by 12:10pm and the entrees came at 12:25pm, our mains did not arrive until we asked at 1:10pm. At the time we were both so hungry so we ordered a pizza on top of our mains. While we were waiting for our food, we saw the people from other tables getting their mains first and those people have already finished their meals and went off to pay while we were still waiting for our food to come. We've ordered beef steak and chicken and both mains were cold and very mid. The pizza was bland, though the presentation was good.

The standard for food and service overall seems to have dropped since the last time I was here for dinner. The atmosphere felt really different and wasn't as positive as before. After our meals, we went to pay and there seemed to be some issue with the customer's card queued before us. We waited again for the staff to put through the transaction before we could pay for our meals. Then finally someone came out to bill us on a different register.

This is such a beautiful restaurant and the location of it being next to the Grand Hyatt makes it really luxurious but the service was pretty poor. This has dropped our experience...