Stokehouse St Kilda — Restaurant in Melbourne

It's pretty disappointing experience overall. We chose to have chef tasting menu for a lunch with the wine paring. I told to the staff that my partner was looking for a car parking and would arrive in 5 mins, then they started to be unhappy. The staff were keen to rush to throw all the dishes as fast as they could as they have 'seating hours' for each table. We felt pretty shocked as we thought it was 'fine dinning'. The entree was ok except beef tartare, as the sliver skin wasn't removed properly in my portion. The second course was a seafood platter as shown on the menu picture I uploaded. It wasn't perfect dish as well, as the baby lettuce root already turned red/brown (red circle in my picture). I believe everyone knows it means it was not fresh. Third course was John Dory with Tarragon sauce. Yes, you didn't read wrongly. It was tarragon sauce which was already used in the seafood platter with abalone. I felt surprised that when the chef picking what to be on this tasting menu, why to choose 'duplicated' ingredient. Then I found under the fish, they used 'fresh' part of baby lettuce as the base. I checked their website to have a look at their normal menu, then I figured out why there are 'duplicated' courses on the tasting menu. It's because the chef didn't create the tasting menu but just simply chose what they have on the normal menu and copy paste onto this fine dinning menu. Before the fourth course, the waiter pour the matching wine into my partner's glass when he went to the rest room. So he had a glass of 'unknown' wine with no explaination as to what it was for the wine paring. The last dessert was directly sent to our table with the simpliest explaination - That's coconut sorbet with chocolate ball - that's the original wording from the serving staff. I was shocked again, as I believe such a complex dessert having more introduction/explaination about the ingredients and how to cook, but obviously the staff didn't want to spend time on it. If the staff themselves don't feel proud of what they can provide to the customers, how could customers feel pleasant? Once we finished the dessert, one staff told us to leave the table asap as the seating time would expire soon. We spent $578 including the drink for two. I believe everyone will expect more from this price point, but apparently we didn't get it. We've been a lot of fine dinning places in Melbourne and that's the first one I will leave the negative feedback. The reason why I gave two star is one for the view and the other one for the chef who did create/cook the dish and had no idea how the service staff treat their hard working. I don't understand why Time Out lists this place as top 50. The place would like to do more things rather than casual dinning, but the staff didn't get trained well for the fine dinning experience. There are much more for this restaurant to improve. The beach view is the advantage, but it shouldn't reply on this point only to get a sustainable path and longivity in this industry. By spending this price point, there are a lot of other...

Stoke House is unequivocally my favorite restaurant from my first visit to Melbourne. In fact, I would seriously contemplate relocating to Melbourne solely for the pleasure of dining at this remarkable establishment.

It raises a curious question about Michelin inspectors—do they truly have less work to do? It's perplexing why Australia has yet to be graced with any Michelin-starred restaurants, especially Stoke House.

The absence of recognition for such an exceptional venue is baffling.

The quality of this restaurant is outstanding, and it has firmly established itself as the finest dining experience I have encountered thus far in Australia.

While I have grown somewhat fatigued by mediocre dining options, Stoke House transcends this, offering not only exquisite food but also an unwavering commitment to impeccable service.

For example, any glass touched by staff is promptly replaced, ensuring that each subsequent guest receives a pristine dining experience. Their attention to detail is truly commendable.

On the second day of my stay, we opted to have lunch at Stoke House again, and as soon as I tasted the second dish, I couldn't help but approach the owner with a request to return for lunch the following day.

I wanted to ensure that this Melbourne trip left no room for regret.

Thus, we dined there for lunch on two consecutive days. Unlike the first day, we were seated in a prime location with breathtaking views. I ordered the Winter Experience Menu once more, and each dish was nothing short of extraordinary.

Particularly unforgettable was the Yellowfin tuna belly paired with melon bite.

The moment it touched my palate, it melted like butter, enveloping me in an exquisite flavor that felt transcendent.

I was in culinary heaven. As depicted in the accompanying photo, I couldn't resist ordering two additional pieces to prolong that blissful experience.

If you find yourself in Melbourne this winter, I implore you to indulge in the Winter Experience Menu; to forgo it would mean missing out on a plethora of fresh and delicious seafood offerings.

On the second day, prior to enjoying a beautifully prepared duck and steak, the kitchen surprised us with a sizable black truffle, expertly shaved into nearly ten generous slices.

The indulgence was remarkable. This is a rare instance where I have developed such an admiration for a restaurant;

I sincerely hope that it garners more visibility and acclaim, particularly from Michelin representatives. Surely it’s time for them to take notice.

Moreover, the preparation of the duck skin was executed with finesse, resulting in a dish that was both crispy and juicy—truly impressive.

There are countless other details I would love to reserve for my own digital platform.

In conclusion, Stoke House, I eagerly anticipate our reunion in October.

I am determined to visit Melbourne at least twice a year for this outstanding restaurant, hoping to see your menu continue to reflect the allure of your star-quality...

We went to the Stokehouse in St Kilda for my girlfriend’s birthday dinner as a special treat on a Saturday evening. Our booking was at 8:30pm, and we stayed until around 10pm. The venue is absolutely stunning, with a relaxed bar downstairs for casual vibes and an elegant restaurant upstairs. The upstairs space features a seated bar waiting area, a formal dining room, and a small outdoor patio that offers gorgeous views over the beach.

We started with drinks while waiting for our table, and the cocktails were fantastic. Although they didn’t have Malibu rum, the drinks were strong and well-made, no complaints there! Once seated, we were presented with menus, including a caviar menu, which we didn’t indulge in but is a great option for fans. The main dining area was beautifully set up, with creative seating arrangements and a serene ambiance. The view of the beach was the cherry on top, making it a lovely setting for a special occasion.

For our meal, we worked with our waitress to craft a selection of dishes. We ordered potato cakes, chips, lamb cradle, tuna bites, and asparagus with hummus. I personally loved the potato cakes, while my girlfriend couldn’t stop raving about the lamb cradle, describing it as beautifully flavoured and perfectly cooked. The chips, however, were underwhelming for a restaurant of this calibre. They lacked seasoning and didn’t stand out. Aside from that, the food was creative and enjoyable.

One small downside was the lack of guidance after dinner. After declining dessert, we weren’t quite sure how to handle the bill or follow up on the small birthday cake I had discussed with staff before booking. Unfortunately, I didn’t know who to ask about it, so we missed out on the cake. Despite this, our waitress was exceptionally kind and helpful throughout, especially when recommending dishes.

Overall, our dinner at the Stokehouse was a wonderful experience. If you’re looking for slightly upscale Australian cuisine in St Kilda, it’s an excellent choice with breathtaking views to match. Be sure to book ahead and dress appropriately, as the venue has a no-thongs or tank tops policy. It’s a perfect spot for a special occasion or just a memorable night out...