Robata Melbourne — Restaurant in Melbourne

Caveat: maybe I caught them on a bad day.

I haven’t heard AMAZING things about Robata, reviews have always been mixed depending on who I ask. But when they were awarded with one hat I felt I owed it to myself to try.

And boy did they fall flat. How on earth, really, was this establishment awarded a hat.

TLDR: I would not recommend to anyone to come here, not worth the money for the inconsistent flavor profiles or the service,

The nitty gritty!

Cold dishes out in 30, amazing, drinks out in 15, delicious cocktail btw, decor is so gorgeous!

Cold dishes - Kingfish, my personal taste palate did not enjoy the bonito cream, and lime gel in addition to ponzu is a little overpowering, way too much acid not enough balance. Marketfish ceviche definitely had some good flavors going however. Wagyu tataki wrapped enoki, nothing to be wowed by, there was so much lacking, I kept searching for more flavor that wasn’t there.

Now, An hour 15 wait for Yakitori and tempura asparagus? Come on. My food even knew it had been too long because by the time the wagyu short rib had arrived on the table it was actually lukewarm-cold. What should’ve been a delicious bite of wagyu short rib in all its fatty glory, was that gross bite of thickened fat that you get when a dish is no longer piping hot. Such a shame because the flavors were actually delicious and I bet it would’ve blown my mind if it were hot.

The tempura asparagus was on the specials so we ordered; absolutely nothing special about it. Don’t get me wrong, the tempura batter was thin and perfect but I was eating bland fried asparagus. Seasoning on the side did nothing for flavor, I had to dip it into a plate of sauce from another dish.

Meatball Yakitori - I was looking forward to this one and boy was it over seasoned, if it’s designed to be dipped in a sauce with cured yolk then maybe dial back on the seasoning, I literally could only eat half and could not bare more. It was washed down with a cocktail….

I did really like the pork belly Yakitori tho!! Delish, fatty and fresh off the grill, incredible seasoning and cook on it, the meat was so tender!

The scallops… with Tobiko I mean yes texturally amazing, but there was no flavor? If half the flavor from the meatball could just transfer over that would be perfect

Mains: tofu steak, shumeji mushrooms Sides: chargrilled zucchini and gem squash, kipfler potatoes w mentaiko mayo

Tofu steak has got to be the absolute highlight of my night here. DELICIOUS! So much flavor in the sauce, such a surprisingly little spice kick, so well balanced with the subtly of the tofu, I would give up meat for this tofu, and the umami of the shumeij mushrooms just added to the little parcel of joy that was this tofu steak.

Look, don’t order the zucchini and gem squash. so much potential from these two ingredients that can be such a vessel for flavor just ruined, some big chunks of bland charred veggies on a bed of mayo. That’s what it really comes down to, feels like there was no thought that went into this dish.

The potatoes confused me, I don’t know if mentaiko is the right ingredient to add to the mayo on the potatoes as it has such a strong saline taste to it, so perhaps my tastebuds just weren’t accustom to this combo.

So the wait was long, underwhelming, our waitress may have been having a bad night? I don’t know, she was incredibly short with us, blunt, abrupt, filled out water from such a height it splashed my friends face, no apology? I was honestly appalled.

Maybe I’m being harsh, but in Melbourne’s food scene, to have good food is the norm. To have average food is acceptable. To have been awarded one hat and have such an inconsistent execution of your dishes and service, is just a...

Walked in on a Wednesday night without a booking made as it was a spontaneous visit. Liam waited out table and he was so wonderful, accommodating and friendly! Thank you so much for enhancing our dining experience here 🫶🏻

After Liam ran us through the menu, we decided to go with the $75pp feed me menu. I’ve seen other reviews talking about how small the portion sizes may be and raised my concerns with Liam, he reassured us that there will be enough food, and if there isn’t he will be able to throw in a lil thing or two for us.

We ordered a plum sake over rocks each to start, it was very pleasant and easy to drink - i would highly recommend! The yuzu one wasn’t bad either, but i would stay away from the shochu if you’re not a big fan of strong hard liquor.

Our food came out fairly quickly, we started off with the edamame, which was pan charred and seasoned a little, which wasn’t mind blowing, very basic stuff. Then we got the seared salmon dish which was great, especially loved it with that mustard miso dipping sauce. Was a great combination with the oily salmon and the smokiness of the charred skin!

The spicy tuna and eel handroll was executed well. I love that they present the rolls open so that the seaweed doesn’t get soggy and wet. It was nice but i do think could’ve used more flavour to give a “wow” affect.

Yakitoris were a little disappointing, i think these skewers have a lot of potential, but the seasonings didn’t quite hit the sweet spots. That tare and cured egg yolk dipping sauce didn’t do it for me either, it simply wasn’t enough to compensate for the lack of flavours in the chicken.

Kohlrabi and persimmon are two ingredients i never thought would go well together, but this dish really surprised me!! That dill dressing was something else, so simple yet so refreshing and packed so much flavour. If you’re feeling adventurous, this is the dish i would highly recommend! Very interesting flavour profiles and textures.

The Mount Macedon Cornfed duck was one of my favourites! That perfectly chargrilled breast paired wonderfully with the plum sauce. Have it with those sancho peppers and you get a little party in your mouth! Highly recommend trying this dish 🤤

The dessert was great! I really appreciated the matcha flavour, strong enough that it is good but not overdone that it leaves a bitter after taste. Black sesame layer was so full of flavour as well, and went very nicely with the matcha. But i do think this dessert is a tad too sweet for my liking.

Overall, i would agree with the other reviews that the portion sizes here are really small. Especially after looking at the prices of each dish, it is definitely not the best value for money. But i do think our dining experience was decent and i had a really good time. As for the food, the lacklustre dishes were identified to be the edamame and yakitoris. All of which could’ve used more flavour and depth.

🍶 Hombo Shuzo ‘Arawaza Sakurajima’ Shochu (sweet potato) 🧊 Kunizakari Muroka Umeshu (plum sake) 🥃 Yoshinogawa Yuzushu (yuzu) 🥒 Edamame 🐟 Seared salmon, Japanese mustard miso 🍣 Spicy tuna, grilled eel handroll 🍢 Yakitori: Chicken thigh, spring onion 🍗 Yakitori: Chicken meatball, tare, cured yolk 🍊 Kohlrabi & persimmon salad with dill dressing 🥩 Mount Macedon Cornfed Duck 🍨 Black sesame and...

I've been eating at Robata since it opened last year and am only now finally getting around to reviewing it, a huge oversight on my part.

Robata is a fantastic venue with a buzzy atmosphere, superb service, delicious drinks, and some seriously good food.

Foodwise, you can expect delightful Japanese cuisine that melds traditional techniques with modern interpretations. Food here is best shared as they offer a range of differently-sized dishes for all appetites. Many menu items change seasonally but there are some core dishes that have stayed on the menu since the restaurant's inception.

My absolute favourite dish here, what I would consider to be the signature dish of Robata, is the seared salmon sashimi with Japanese mustard miso. It has to be tried to be believed. Every time I put a piece of this in my mouth, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. This dish would make my death row meal menu. The smokiness of the seared salmon skin, the butteriness of the flesh, and the savouriness of the mustard miso just melds into perfection and shouldn't be missed. Sometimes I even have it as 'dessert' to end my meal! However, if you're after a lighter-flavoured sashimi option, you can't go wrong with the kingfish or the tuna, which tastes luxuriant. For those who want something a little more substantial, the spicy tuna and grilled eel handroll is punchy and textural. And if you're lucky, they might have some deliciously fresh and creamy uni on hand if you're after an upgrade (see the pictures).

They also have excellent yakitori and kushiyaki items, grilled over binchotan charcoal. My favourite from this section of the menu is hands down the tsukune, or chicken meatball. This is served with a sauce of tare and cured yolk. Bold and bursting with flavour! The miso-marinated pork belly and chicken thigh are also fantastic.

My second favourite dish on the menu at Robata is the chargrilled barramundi with miso marinade. The fish is always fresh, beautifully cooked (flakes gorgeously), and the delicacy of the barramundi flesh stands in wonderful contrast to the savoury miso marinade. If seafood isn't your jam and you're after something more meaty, I can recommend the O'Connors scotch fillet.

A meal wouldn't be complete without a side and my current frontrunner is the roasted pumpkin with miso garlic mayo and pink peppercorns.

In terms of desserts, honestly, I don't often get there because I always over order from the savoury dishes, but on the rare occasion that I attempt to show some restraint, I am a big fan of the black sesame and green tea parfait.

The drinks menu is fairly extensive and has a wide range of alcohols, as well as some delicious house cocktails - chat with the staff to find out what the newest additions are. I'm always a sucker for the yuzushu with soda and ice.

I would absolutely recommend visiting Robata for a great...