The Independent Gembrook — Restaurant in Melbourne

The food was simple, but adequate. The wait staff were generally good and the couple that lacked experience made up for it with enthusiasm. But, the entire evening was ruined because one person (Laura the manager) was in a job they shouldn't really be in. I was there with around 40 people who had paid $110 each to hear Australia's foremost expert on orangutans and orangutan conservation give a short talk. As the presentation began, I asked Laura the manager if the speaker directly above where we were located could be turned down so we could hear the presentation. Upon, being told that the speaker could not be isolated, I then asked if the music could be turned down a little as it was very difficult to hear the talk. Her reply, in the most arrogant and disdainful tone, was "You haven't booked out the whole restaurant you know". This was of course true, but by this time of the evening there were only two tables of four left in the entire building and they all seemed engrossed in their own conversations and so reducing the volume of their (very bland, generic) music would almost certainly not adversely effect them and therefore, did not seem an unreasonable request. Laura did not see it that way, this was 'her' restaurant, she was in charge, things would only be done when she decided. The twenty people who sat closest to the presenter heard just fine and will no doubt go forth and spread the pearls of wisdom that were imparted upon them as to how to save this incredible species from seemingly imminent extinction. The other twenty of us will have to hazard a guess, all because Laura the snooty manager decided that she was too important to consider the wishes of (many) others and was too inexperienced to know how to compromise and prioritise. Some people are just not suited to the...

When entering the venue we were immediately greeted with a warm and friendly service and shown to our cozy private dining area. We were amazed by the size of the large room, the comfortable furnishing and decoration. The wait staff were welcoming and attentive in our requests. We had pre-ordered our meals where we started on Lime cured scallops, shallots, green chilli, cauliflower and Crispy calamari, hummus, aioli. Both starters were a hit with the party of 10 and complimented how fresh and palatable it was. The highlight of the occasion was the suckling pig, which was moist, pale and tender with a thin crispy skin. Our taste buds were in heaven. Every guest said it was the best pig they have ever eaten. The pig was served with smoked maple carrots, chilli, coriander, peanuts, Iceberg lettuce with mustard dressing, cheddar and Roasted potatoes, garlic & herbs and chips. The main meal’s presentation, taste and smell enhanced the high quality of the cooking. We finished off with the birthday cake that we were able to bring in and the staff presented it on a beautiful plate with the lit candles

I like to say a big thank you to Laura with whom I had been liaising with over the course of the last 3 months. She promptly responded to my emails, was able to recommend ideas with the meal selections, greeted us warmly and acted in a high professional manner. Thank you to all at the Independent, the chef, staff for ensuring that my birthday celebration was such a success.

We hope to visit again for a most amazing service,...

We booked a table for two on a bit of a whim. We were spending a few nights in the area, a nice getaway from the city before getting back to the daily grind. A few good positive reviews on Google was all it took to convince us to give it a go - and it had a lot to compete with, as we have been to some high end Argentinian restaurants in the past where the cheapest steak was just under one hundred dollaridoos. The atmosphere was great. A nice and relaxed, pub style venue with some Argentinian artwork on the walls. The service was incredibly prompt. The waiter made himself available to his area of the restaurant and was very charming, genuine and polite. He earnt himself a nice tip at the end of the night. Sadly I forgot his name but he was a young man with mid length/wavy brown hair, reasonably tall. Thank you for being so kind and welcoming mate. You're an asset to the restaurant and I hope they treat you well. And the food was absolutely fantastic. While steak was surprisingly not on the menu, we sampled almost everything else. I couldn't pinpoint anything in particular that stood out, as it was all exceptional. As were the desserts. The donuts and ice-cream were definitely the winners here though, although I couldn't criticise anything at all. Thank you to the chef/s. The quality was unexpectedly high end and I would certainly recommend The Independent to anyone in the area looking to try Argentinian food for the first, or the tenth time. A solid 10/10 from...