Shanikas Pakenham — Restaurant in Melbourne

Top spot! We chose Shanikas Pakenham to celebrate my mum's birthday last night and it was the perfect place. Even before we got in the door, a member of staff about to start work stopped to ask if we wanted a picture together and held the door open for us to enter the restaurant. Next, a very friendly Italian waiter greeted us with a friendly face and made a lovely comment about him not seeing anyone over said age of my mum and wished her happy birthday! This was a great personal touch and also set the standard during our night for us having an amazing experience.

We ordered the garlic & herb bread for a starter to share among the 3 of us and it was delicious. We followed up ordering some tasty lamb dishes, as well as the beef cheek. All dishes were so well presented, each ingredient working well with the overall dish which was full of flavour and we 100% didn't regret our choices. The waiter was also very honest when I asked whether I should get the lamb or steak, the latter being $10 more expensive, with him saying it's a super night for the lamb cutlets given the warm weather...! But we'll be back for the Black Angus steak as he said it's one of the best he's tried after working all over Melbourne :)

Lastly, we ordered a mandarin sponge cake to commemorate the night which was so much fun to eat! Between the citrus curd, mascarpone and toasted coconut, it was simply one of the best desserts we've tried. Better yet, it came with a candle on it and the staff initiating a HAPPY BIRTHDAY song for my mum which was really genuine and made her night! The embarrassment level was 10/10 for her but without even asking them to do this, it was arranged. It truly felt like such a well-run establishment with the most friendly and professional staff members. I highly suggest you celebrate your next special occasion with this classy place!

Thanks to all the team and you deserved the tip,...

WOW!!!!

If I could give this place 7 stars out of 5 I would, that is how good it is.

We are not from the area, but we're traveling past while on the way back to Geelong from Sale and decoded to stop in for a bite to eat and all I can say is just WOW.

As soon as we entered we were received in by a beautiful host who, despite wearing a mask you could tell was smiling and was happy to see us. Actually all the staff in there, again, despite wearing masks were all so happy and always smiling throughout the whole night.

We had wonderful waitresses, despite all our questions and constant hurdles we threw in front of her during the night, she constantly went out of her way to help us out and seemed to do it with ease.

Gluten free and low fodmap not an issue at all.

The food....well, sorry to say it again, but wow!! It was all so beautiful. We had entrees, mains, desserts and a range of different drinks and all were absolutely delicious.

It's funny, when we first arrived and looked at the menu and the prices on there, we were slightly worried as we thought it might have been a bit expensive. But now that we have eaten and know what the quality is like we would happy pay even more.

Not sure if the workers there read these reviews, but if you do then guys do 👌👌👌👌👌👌 well done, congratulations on making the restaurant such an amazing place of which guest can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere.

It turns out that we were lucky to get in as they were quite busy and yes, now that we have been I can see why it is so busy.

I have since posted some photos to Instagram and have had a heap of replies from people saying how good it is, so I guess it is a lot more well known than we realised. If you haven't been yet and are trying to decide of you should or not, well decide no more, it's a definite go to, you...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This review is long overdue but I couldn't miss the chance to give a shout out to Shanika’s Restaurant in lakeside Pakenham for making our wedding an unforgettable experience a year ago. First of, Saying the food was amazing is an understatement. Each dish was crafted to perfection, bursting with flavor, and beautifully presented. Our guests are still raving about the exquisite menu. We have returned multiple times even on random days just to indulge in their delicious dishes and satisfy our food cravings.

The service was equally stellar. James led the team with exceptional professionalism and warmth, ensuring that every aspect of our special day was flawless. The staff were incredibly attentive and coordinated, handling even the smallest details with care and precision with everyone’s dietary preferences and allergy restrictions. Their dedication allowed us to relax and fully enjoy our celebration without a hitch.

The atmosphere was simply perfect. The ambient lighting, warm and welcoming vibe created the ideal setting for our wedding. Every visit back reminds us why we chose Shanikas for such an important occasion.

Thank you, Shanikas, for making our wedding day so special and for continuing to provide outstanding dining experiences. You truly deserve this recognition! And We highly recommend this gem of a restaurant to all of our friends and anyone looking for an outstanding...