Sebastian Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

My partner and I had swooned for months about booking a table at Sebastian, and agreed to have our anniversary dinner there in November 2020. Alas - lockdown. I booked for May 2021 - alas a sudden circuit breaker lockdown. But as soon as that was lifted, I rebooked for 26 June and hooray, we were able to attend and indulge ourselves in quite the culinary experience. As a great lover of Spanish food and having spent some time in The Bay if Biscay, I was keen to see what the menu offered. But first, let me say that all communication with Sebastian was superb. From my initial booking that was postponed through to the night we attended, I was continually kept informed and up to date on what was expected and the Covid restrictions in place. Very professional. Perfect. I totally respect places that are compliant with regulations and keep their guests informed. We arrived on time and parked out the front. Note to visitors - you may have to pay for street parking. Wearing facemasks, using hand sanitiser and checking in with the QR code, we were shown to our table. Our waiter, Jack, was attentive and helpful as we perused the menu. He explained the menu and specials and delivered olives and bread to our table, which was the perfect starter. My partner had a champagne, myself a sangria because heck, I love Spain, the home of sangria. I wasn't disappointed. The menu, although small, is full of gastronomic delights. I’m not a lover of seafood but my partner is somewhat of an aficionado. He was in heaven. After the olives and bread, my partner ordered the ceviche (raw fish, lemon creme fraiche with radish and the basque crispy mussels fermented with chilli aioli. I ordered the leek croqueta with leek ash aioli and the salted baked beetroot with burnt apple, feta and saltbush. Our taste buds were alive with flavour and texture, some of which are unfamiliar to our palettes. Now I know I said I don’t eat seafood but I did try a piece of each and I can see why people love their seafood, because when it's good, it's amazing. For main course, I ordered the charred cauliflower, mojo picon, pinenuts and currants and my partner ordered the O'Conner's rump cap black angus cooked rare. And yes, it was beautifully rare when it arrived at the table. For sides, I ordered the brassicas, sauteed mixed with burnt butter, tahini yogurt plus patatas bravas with romesco, hazelnuts and the third side was the leaf salad with pickled shallot, fennel, house dressing. All the servings were generous in portion size and in flavour. It was refreshing to see so many vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options for diners. My partner ordered a glass of Corporate Wine 2015 Shiraz. Such a wonderful full bodied wine, that we snapped a photo of the bottle so we can order some for ourselves. We spent 2 and a half hours, slowly savouring our meal, conversation without phones and soaking up the setting we were in. Alas, Wen couldn’t fit in dessert or coffee - maybe next time. Big shout out to the entire team of Sebastian. From Jack our waiter, to the chef, meet/greet staff and everyone else who have weathered the storm of Covid and having it open - close - open - close with restrictions. You should all be proud of what you've achieved despite the roadblocks put in front of you. We lookg forward to returning to Sebastian in the future for more dining adventures. Ps - the toilets are amazingly clean and beautifully decorated. Sorry photos aren’t great but the lighting is subtle and...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Absolutely incredible experience from start to finish! I organized an interstate birthday surprise for my boyfriend, and Kylie managed the entire process seamlessly. Her team was fantastic—professional, fast, and they took all the stress out of planning from afar.We had to reschedule less than 24 hours out because the surprise birthday boy Leon came down with influenza, but the team didn’t miss a beat. Even with last-minute changes, they made sure everything was flawless and was so empathetic about the unforeseen circumstance. There was some credit left on our prepaid booking (due to change in numbers) so we converted it to drinks. We ended up one drink short, and they graciously offered us an extra on the house so everyone could toast without worry! The surprise went perfectly—wonderful staff, incredible venue, divine food, and even a customized lunch menu they printed for us, which is now a keepsake for our scrapbook.They provided complimentary cakeage fee, easel for the signage, very accomodating with the menu for our dietary requirements, complimentary tablecloth which added an elegant touch and making the day feel extra special. Big shoutout to the amazing team who made it all happen:• Kylie - for coordinating everything effortlessly• Louisa - our lovely host on the day• Leigh - the manager who kindly rescheduled for us• Kaelen - at the bar, who kept our drinks flowing and helped with knowing where the best lighting was ;) • Trinity & Holly - October hosts who made us feel initially feel welcome on the original booking date Thank you Sebastian’s for making this surprise truly perfect! I can’t recommend this place enough and will...

We recently hosted our lunchtime wedding at Sebastian Restaurant and from the very beginning, the service was outstanding. The staff's friendliness and professionalism stood out from the moment we arrived. They were incredibly accommodating, attentive, and made us feel special throughout the entire event.

The food was a highlight of the day, with a menu that delighted all our guests. Each dish was beautifully presented and delicious. Our guests are still raving about the food and quality of the dishes, from the crudo to Basque cheesecake. One of our top priorities was ensuring that all our guests could enjoy the meal, regardless of dietary restrictions. The restaurant excelled in this area, effortlessly accommodating allergies and food intolerances without compromising on flavour or presentation.

Their attention to detail, clear communication, and willingness to cater to our specific needs made all the difference. They were responsive, flexible, and genuinely invested in making our day perfect, which truly showed in the final result. The combination of stunning location, exceptional service, delicious food, and the ease of handling special dietary needs made it the perfect venue. We couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate our special day, and we wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an unforgettable...