Samesyn — Restaurant in Victoria

Samesyn is a truly important restaurant, that needs to be discovered by a wider audience. Absolutely stunning food, and an even more impressive message behind the menu. Please go try it!

GO for some really spectacular food - right up there with the very best Australian restaurants. GO there to support Feed Me Surf Coast - all the profits from the restaurant are donated to this charity which provides upwards of 7,000 meals a week to those in need. GO there to better understand how much can and should be done with the food that we throw away; and GO there for an incredible experience. GO!

We walked into a disconcertingly empty restaurant on a wintry Saturday afternoon, but were warmly welcomed by the owner / chef Graham Jeffries at the door who soon put us at ease - and the restaurant subsequently did fill. Graham explained the philosophy and the statistic behind the re-launched restaurant: to produce spectacular food with little to no waste. Graham embraces all the standard practices of a responsible modern restaurant - seasonal, sustainable and local produce - but then takes it several steps further. Graham also explained that he wants his chefs to interact with the diners, so that the message is crystal clear, and that is why it is his chefs who will meet and greet clients, and will manage front and back of house simultaneously.

We absolutely loved this interaction, and it truly allowed us to connect much more closely with our food. We agreed to share three tasting menus between our family of four. Everything was flexible and formed part of a conversation, which made us feel like incredibly special guests: we would ask for something lovely to eat, and Graham and his team would then run off and go and cook it for us. The reality soon matched the ‘feeling’! We agreed to select a few items from the menu that really appealed to us - I chose the ‘Pork neck, fried ears, burnt apples’, as eating the less common cuts of meat is one of my passions; my wife chose the ‘silken macadamia tofu, mussels, beach herbs, seaweed’, my son the ‘beet tartare with grated horseradish’ and my daughter the ‘salt and vinegar pork scratching’ - and then let Graham fill in the gaps in the 9 course tasting menu. The macadamia tofu was probably my favourite of these dishes, but that should not stop you ordering any (all) of the others! The beet tartare was a clever play on steak tartare - and more than good enough to turn me vegetarian (for a bit!).

Each dish has at least one element of recycled or rescued ingredients. The most iconic dish that we tried was the ‘Chewy carrots’ - an extraordinary flavourful umami bomb that delighted the senses. The undoubtedly wonky carrot had been slowly dehydrated to firm up the texture and then rehydrated with carrot juice to leave it meaty and with a delightful chewy texture. It was sweetened with a magnificent reduction of pumpkin glaze, a wild onion mayo and then the sweetness offset using a foraged nasturtium leaf. It was only a couple of mouthfuls (sadly), but the sensations linger on several days later.

Our drinks were no less spectacular. The children delighted in the fermented Coastal Daisy and finger lime cocktail which was seriously good and not too sweet. The Riz Riesling that Graham recommended was extraordinary: earthy and vibrant and unusual. All the wines we chose were local.

We knew that we had to order all of the desserts after such an incredible meal, and - again - it was the right thing to do. We all had different favourites to the one we had ‘chosen', and they were all winners. I loved the Daintree Chocolate mousse and whey ice cream, but don’t miss the Milk Jam, banana ice cream and caramelised walnut or the Persimmon and Passion Fruit Eton Mess!

This was truly an epiphany of epic proportions and I urge you to please give...

Unfortunately, my date and I had an unpleasant experience at Samesyn #2 which spoiled our romantic weekend away.

One of our 'waiters' Graham Jefferies (who set up Samesyn #2 ), gave us the whole Samesyn #2 story - which we accepted without questioning his claims. We were encourage to have the tasting menu at $99 each. There are no printed menus so you have to scan the menu online, plus scan again for drinks menu (this is meant to save paper) but it is confusing.

I pointed to at $16.50 sparkling wine by the glass listing on my phone as my drinks order. Graham said 'it only comes by the half bottle' which was confusing but being in a good mood I reasoned 'a little more sparkling wine will not hurt'. Somehow when it came to pay, I had ordered $150 half bottle of French champagne - something I would not order in a million years. So as not to make a fuss in front of my date, I paid over $350 for our meal. The next day I rang and spoke to Graham explaining I was not happy. Graham was adamant that it was my fault and turned down my offer that I pay cost price for the champagne as clearly a miss-understanding had taken place.

Graham makes many bold claims about the ethical, socially minded and sustainable culture of Samesyn #2. Neither Graham nor Feed Me Surf Coast would tell me how much Samesyn #2 have donated to Feed Me Surf Coast. As a non for profit- do they make any profit at all - or do they lift wages to the point were they donate $500 / year to Feed Me Surf Coast. It would be great if Samesyn #2 was upfront with their claims and made their accounts available to the public. I note, Samesyn #2 claims to be sustainable - but there are no...

I've had the privilege of dining at some of Melbourne's top fine dining establishments over the years, and I thought I'd experienced the best of the best. But a recent visit to Samesyn in Torquay has left me speechless.

Tucked away in this coastal town, Samesyn is an unassuming gem that's pushing the boundaries of culinary excellence. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable – warm, attentive, and knowledgeable.

But it's the food that's the real star of the show. Each dish was expertly crafted, with flavors and textures that danced on the palate. The attention to detail was stunning, from the delicate presentation to the thoughtful wine pairings.

What's remarkable about Samesyn is its ability to balance innovation with approachability. The menu is adventurous, yet accessible; the flavors are bold, yet nuanced. It's a delicate balance that few restaurants achieve, and Samesyn nails it.

In short, Samesyn is giving Melbourne's top fine dining establishments a serious run for their money. If you're a food lover, do yourself a favor and make the trip to Torquay. Trust me, it's worth it.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Recommended for: Special occasions, foodies,...