Ms Batterhams — Restaurant in Victoria

Ms. Batterhams – A Saturday Night in February.

Some places wear their history like a second skin. Ms. Batterhams is one of them. Solid red brick, no nonsense. A dark, smoked-glass door, the only hint that behind it lies something worth stepping into. The kind of place where, once you’re inside, the outside world stops existing. You descend—not literally, but in a way that feels like slipping into something deeper, richer.

Inside, there is a hum in the air - —the unmistakable sound of a room in full swing. Laughter, glass-on-glass, the controlled chaos of a kitchen at peak service. A space built for long nights and even longer conversations. Walls the color of midnight, soft velvet couches like a lover’s embrace, rich leather seats that make you want to linger. The kind of dim, golden lighting that makes everyone look about 20% more attractive than they actually are - this certainly works for me!

It’s a Saturday night in February, and the place is full—shoulder-to-shoulder with the kind of crowd that knows good food and drinks are worth showing up for. The bar is a monolith of polished stone, stretching long enough to park a goddamn Isuzu Truck on top of it. Behind it, bartenders move with the kind of cool confidence that comes from knowing they own the room. Sharply-dressed, handsomely poised, effortlessly knocking out cocktails for a crowd that drinks like they mean it.

We’ve arrived early eager to get thing going with a Negroni on my mind. Ellis the Maître d clocks us from the other side of the room reading us immediately—a bunch of riff-raff, hungry, thirsty, and ready to raise some hell. Beardy’s birthday. A table of eight. The table is not ready, does it matter, No! Ellis and his team don’t flinch. They descend on the table like a Formula 1 pit crew—stripping, flipping, resetting—by the time we reach it, it’s pristine, waiting, glassware like diamonds under the warm lights, plates like heavy river stones, cutlery solid enough to shank someone with.

And just as we settle, Annabelle, that absolute legend, has already set the tone. A bottle of local 2017 vintage fizz lands on the table. Tall flutes, fine bead, tight and racy, Chardonnay fruit laced with honeyed toast. A local sparkling that could rip the throat out of any big-name French house’s NV. Thanks Annabelle.

Negronis for the boys. Cocktails for the wives. The bartender doesn’t just make drinks—he crafts them with the quiet confidence of a hitman assembling a sniper rifle. The Negroni is textbook—bitter, rich, seductive. But then comes the "Winefried". A signature cocktail that walks the line between classic and unhinged—Navy-strength gin, lime, mint, but with a wicked left hook: earthy, sweet cinnamon. Served in a coupe, it lands with authority.

Then comes Madeline. The kind of server you want—quick, razor-sharp, warm but in a way that tells you she could handle a table of drunken bankers or a celebrity meltdown with the same level of poise. She doesn’t just take an order; she orchestrates an experience.

We opt for the Chef’s Selection menu - because when the kitchen knows what they’re doing, you let them take the wheel. But we come with a challenge: a vegetarian, a couple of gluten-free "Glu-Tards," and a collective appetite for excess. No eye-rolls, no hesitation—just a cool, effortless nod from Madeline. “No problem.”

Then, the kitchen whispers. A gift. An amuse-bouche to set the mood. Olives locally foraged for the Glu-tards, and something golden, crunchy on the outside and melty and delicious on the inside... cool! To...

MS BATTERHAMS – 10 Mackenzie Street, Bendigo

I am a big fan of Bendigo. It is a beautiful town with a vibrancy to it. There is also some good food to be enjoyed and Ms Batterhams is now the number one choice in the town after getting to experience it earlier this week.

Located in Mackenzie Quarters the setting is beautiful and you feel good being there. A warm welcome was received as we arrived and I have to say the team looking after us were just superb. Our main server was a local lass who beamed with pride as she spoke about her hometown. It genuinely added to the experience.

Let’s talk about the food, because it is very very good. The approach is share plates which is my favourite way to dine. You get to try it all.

We began with Croquette de elote with chipotle mayo (order one each at least) . The creaminess of the filling was melt in your mouth good and the flavour just delicious.

Saltbush cauliflower was served with a scorched eggplant, and medjool date puree with toasted pepitas. The cauliflower was tender and full of taste and the puree was a surprise treat. It was an unusual blend of flavours but they certainly work together.

I love a saganaki but am fussy about it because I have had some of the very best. Ms Batterhams got their offering just right with perfectly fried cheese accompanied by a honey and muscatel dressing and, on this evening, some caramelised figs. Absolutely delicious..

The fish of the day was splendidly grilled Ling with a smoked harissa and tomato sauce that tickled your tongue in the nicest of ways. We paired the fish with roasted kipfler potatoes served with piquillo peppers and chipotle mayo. It was a wonderful way to round out the mains.

Thankfully there was room for dessert and my partner enjoyed a beautiful Brulee whilst I indulged in a very naughty but nice Pavlova with poached plums and raspberries accompanied by a saffron and honey ice cream that was as smooth as silk.

Ms Batterhams is definitely worth the trip to Bendigo. You can take in the sights and sounds of the town while you are there but, make sure you enjoy a fabulous meal in a...

Disappointing experience. First the ambiance is great. The staff were nice. However the food left a lot to be desired. For 180$ for two people we expected better quality and presentation. They serve a set menu, but do not be surprised if people at another table get different food. We felt we were shsring left overs. Cutlery wasn’t replaced between dishes andthe portions to share were small. There was no cohesion in the different courses and most of the dishes arrived lukewarm at best. Baby octopus with goat cheese and beef carpaccio to start. Such a weird combination and the presentation was nothing special. Followed by a duck leg with lentils which had to be shared between two people. The main was lamb. We both ended up with two small pieces of lamb with a lot unrendered fat. The desert was a deconstructed lemon merengue. Normally this would be served to one person, but to our surprise this one dish also had to be shared. It felt like we paid for two people but only got served for one. We shared our disappointment with the staff, with very little acknowledgement. Also emailed the owner and received a standard response. This was the most disappointing dinner we had in ages. You will get better value for money at other restaurants in Bendigo. Food is a matter of taste, but the customers next to us were not impressed either. I had high expectations but was embarrassed I took a friend for dinner to this restaurant. I don’t recommend going there unless they change their concept and allow selecting your own dishes. I agree with some of the other reviews about the lacking quality of the food in...