TAVERNA — Restaurant in Melbourne

As an introduction, we are not pro when it comes to fine dinning. We are the type of couple, who enjoyed celebrating date during the year and therefore go time to time to fine dinning. It doesn't make us expert, however it allows us to have a pretty good understanding on what to expect.

Let's start with the + The atmosphere is really nice. We went to Epocha during a pretty warm Friday and the feeling inside the restaurant is much better that what the pictures on the website can suggest.

The service is professional and not "pushy".

The price compare to other fine dinning option place Epocha on paper to the middle range of what can found in Melbourne

Now the - Lack of the "mind-blowing factor". What is written on the menu is hardly deliver on the plate. The entree were really promising and really get us looking forward for the main. The portion for the entree were small (but it is just the beginning of the meal therefore it is coherent). The asparagus were nice and all the element inside the plate helped to complement it. The eggplant was also well seasoned however the sauce coming with it although good did not bring much to the dish. The main were clearly not at the level of what the Epocha is or try to be. The barramundi was indeed small in size and lack of ambition when it comes to the flavour. We are not expert in fish therefore this feedback can come from a lack of knowledge on our side of the product. But when it comes to the duck, my husband being from a part of France where duck is available in all kind of way and in different restaurant (bistro, fine dinning ... ) it is obvious the chef did not know what to do with it. The size of the serving of duck was also extremely small. The duck needed one notch more cooking time and it will be perfect but it is coming from someone who have been spoiled in the past. When it comes to the elements inside the plate to complement the duck it is simply not working. Individually all the component on the plate tastes good but put all together it just not "popped in the mouth". The desserts serving size is decent but the quality is similar to a good bakery, again not what you can expect and find in other fine dinning restaurants in Melbourne.

In conclusion two things One , we might just came when the menu was not suitable for us. We can sense Epocha try to let the product be the star of the show but there is a difference between keeping thing simple and being too simplistic. Second in a light of the serving Epocha ended up being pretty expensive for what it deliver.

I suspect also, the full experience in Epocha might be enhance if you enjoy eating and drinking. But if you are just looking for a solid option to have spectacular food , Epocha might not be you first option, you have more suitable places in Melbourne it will cost you more but will certainly offer higher experience.

We are disappointed but not totally put off, given the fact the menu is changing throughout the year maybe we will give an...

ORDERED: 3 courses ($110pp) 🍞​ House baked bread, olive oil & rosemary 🐟​ Yellowfin tuna crudo, blood orange, fennel aioli, sea grapes ​🧀​ Fior di Burrata, zucchini, peas, borage, Cretan vergus 🍃​ Barberry and mushroom dolmatha, silverbeet, avgolemono

🦆​ Aylesbury duck, carrot, St Germain elderflower 🐟​ Grilled market fish, white bean, clams, fennel

🥔​ Duck fat potatoes 🌿​ Forged greens, red wine vinaigrette

🍰​ Lemon & olive oil cake, lemon sorbet, granita 🍫 Epocha Tiramisu, chocolate kahlua

REVIEW: Overall felt extremely satisfied with the quantity of food and the service from Epocha!

Extremely generous options for the entrees. You get all 4 dishes, although small portions, it's a great amount to get you ready for the mains. Loved the duck. Flavour that's moist, fatty, and not overwhelming - it was well done. With lots of sides to choose from, from the carrot to having it with the potato or salad, you really get flavour and choice with every bite. My favourite duck is still from Aru though! Fish was okay but nothing really wow'ed me. Grilled and presented on a bed of white sauce, it was easy to eat and so great to share with your friends. I also loved the Epocha Tiramisu. Definitely the highlight of the day. We watched it be carved and served from a bigger portion, which made us feel more engaged with our dessert. It was light, delicate, but also had a sharp contrast with the espresso and cocoa powder. Possibly the best I've ever had. Sour food is usually my vibe, but the lemon & olive oil cake was too much. It was great, but had me pulling faces!

Service really stood out for me. Silver service where we had our food served directly on our plate - especially if we had a bit of food left in our communal plate. Really attentive, and had a fantastic brunette waiter who was so joyful. Atmosphere was warmly lit, with quite intimate vibes. Found that majority of diners were tables of 2! Whether that was with their partners, or with a friend,...

The other night, my family and some friends visited Taverna in Brunswick to celebrate my dad’s birthday. Unfortunately, our experience was a little disappointing, mostly due to timing issues with the service.

We were a group of eight with a 7pm booking, and when we arrived, the place was absolutely packed – buzzing with energy and filled with other large groups. The staff were welcoming and friendly from the start, and we were seated and served drinks fairly quickly, which we appreciated.

We ordered a few entrees and quite a few mains. The dips and bread came out not long after our drinks, but it took another 30 minutes for the rest of the entrees to arrive. After we finished those, the real wait began — we were left waiting nearly 40 minutes for our mains. It became frustrating, especially as we noticed that other tables around us had already received their food, eaten, and left.

When we flagged it with the staff, they were very apologetic and acted quickly to check on our order. To be fair, the kitchen did seem understaffed that night, which may explain the delay — but when you’re hungry and celebrating, a long wait like that can really take away from the experience.

To their credit, the staff handled it graciously. They did their best to get our food out as quickly as possible after that, and generously offered us a few complimentary dishes, desserts, and drinks to make up for the delay. That gesture didn’t go unnoticed and was much appreciated.

The food itself was quite good overall — classic Greek flavours, fresh ingredients, and a nice variety. One small personal wish: I was hoping for lemon potatoes, which are always a standout in any Greek meal!

All in all, Taverna has potential, but I think the large size of the venue might be working against it. A slightly smaller space might allow for better kitchen flow and a more consistent experience. I’d still be open to returning, maybe on a quieter night, to give...