The Q Train — Restaurant in Victoria

It does not surprise me going to a venue rated mainly 5 stars and then finding out it's a 2, or 3 at best. What really saddens is the ongoing confirmation that the great majority of people who gives such high ratings have probably a rather limited experience in fine dining, or "casual fine dining", as the Q Train defines itself. My experience in First Class has been disappointing. The major flaws have been the micro-portions, which extended to the first three wines (see the picture of one), promoted as 'half glasses' but in reality a few millilitres. Then two dirty spoons, the pork (Barongarook) which was almost a block of salt (everyone can make mistakes chef, but why serving them?), a tragicomic tiny (like 8 cm long) tin of sardines with two bites of fish and two (my partner one) mussels (Portarlington Dory, with mussels, saffron and Samphire) cooked in the tin, or I should say, overcooked in the tin, as the micro-fish Dory was dry as cork and the flavour was uncertain and leaning towards the capsicum. The beef rib (Short Rib, beef, onion, charcoal and Tarragon) was again roughly 8 cm and a small square block, 5 cm thick. I am sure, as I have heard saying later by one tourist, people would ecstatically say that it was "so tender", but it might have been made in the way semi fast-foods like Ribs&Burgers do it: first boiled and then grilled. Nothing special, nothing "casual fine dining", but just a trick of the trade. The first course was nice because of the idea of the QTrain Picnic Basket, with good, (but again micro-dosed) pickled and roasted baby cauliflowers (but in a picture in the website their jug is almost full!!) and a bit diluted but decent cauliflower little soup. The dessert, Wattle Grove (pear, fennel, honey) was instead the only really good food of all our lunch. The harmony of the ingredients, their consistency, variety and presentation was superb. Difficult to think it's the same chef... But anyway it was 5 stars. And also the wines were very good, for those fractions of a second I had the time to taste them, considering their drops quantity. Besides, the scenery is flat and uninteresting, except when close to Queenscliff, where the marsh adds some beauty. The food is served as it was the result of such high cuisine alchemies to be almost a jewel, as in some 3 Michelin stars restaurants. But it's nothing like that. Our waiter was very kind and did his best. Overall, it was a nice experience: the train, being in a cosy (although pretentiously but not qualitatively refurbished) very small compartment. But NOT the food. Maybe change kitchen management and serving policies? And give realistic portions, pour more wine, and if you want to be real "fine dining", make an effort of distinguishing between provincial taste's satisfaction (nothing 'bad' per se) and true haute cuisine research. ADDED AFTER OWNER'S RESPONSE Dear Owner of the Q-Train (Michael? Andrew? Robin?), you're very welcome. It is in the nature and purpose of reviews to inform other potential customers of what one's experience has been, subjectively intended, of course. That's the spirit. More specifically, I can confirm the first three wines were not 100 ml. And I can also confirm that the quality of the food was not what should be generally expected from a 'fine dining' experience (except the dessert) and again stress that there are reasonably small portions and not reasonable ones, with the latter category applying to what we have been served. I also wish to warn everyone about Master Chef mentions or any award, because today it is mainly appearance and smoke in your eyes. What counts is one's own experience, and mine might not be within the chorus of all your enthusiastic 5 stars, but as far as I am concerned it is honest. So you may be proud, and why not, I think you should: the Q-Train is a nice idea, truly. But as a restaurant, not a train, aiming to the highest rating, there is certainly a great space for improvement. All the best for your...

I got to ride the 1st class cabin recently and here’s a honest review of this experience.

Intro Without doing much research, obviously the Q train prides itself on quality and service. And when it comes to a $200 ticket ($400 total) that goes double for the private cabins.

1st class cabin The cabins are spacious and if you’re 200cm tall you’ll easily fit in there. There isn’t much else other than a radio with nice music and some hooks for cloths. The seats felt soft and firm. 5/5.

Service Perfect! Everyone was super helpful and accomodating! 5/5 here! Feedback would be to serve a glass of water to passengers.

Menu This is going to split on people. The Q train has rotating menus so it’s hard for any review to be reflective here. All I can say is this one was poor. Barely any portions which Q Train lauds as a good thing. No crackers and wine? No grapes, olives, bread basket?

Appetiser was crab with bisque which is fine for those who like it… what if you don’t? You’re stuck. Also, it is inappropriate for the setting. We’re looking at the outdoors viewing animals like duck, birds, cow, and sheep not crabs.

Entree was forgettable: it was chicken “breast” which was the size of 2 little cubes; like a sugar cube x 4 in size. An insult. Why would a main protein be relegated to an entree? And even so, give a chicken breast.

The main was lamb and great… but again, barely any meat. Finally, something that tasted like a restaurant and you barely get any of it.

The second was a vegetarian option which was decent so that’s a highlight.

Desert? The cream and crumble were amazing but they added pear and strawberry which overpowered that amazing taste.

Dark chocolate was also given: one small piece only each. There was also complementary coffee offered at the end.

Drinks for mock tails were amazing! Love to see it! But, hahaha; you have to pay extra in 1st class to get anything else. Not even 1 can of coke no sugar.

Overall $400? No. For your anniversary? They don’t care they don’t do anything to make it more special for you. Crown Melbourne I believe, at their discretion, may have more. It’s business as usual. But, do it for the person you love of course if you need that significant event. It’s the view, crew, and cabin not food. And, alcohol drinks like wine and beer if you like that, but no cheese to go with it or grapes.

Feedback For mains, offer stake and lamb and elevate it. For deserts, give ice cream options for god’s sake. For appetisers, bread or crackers would have been perfect and cheese with wine is a must. The rest, get creative and have fun. As said, staff were amazing! Hats...

Definitely not worth $144 pp. My negative review keeps getting flagged so retyping it. The 5 course degustation meal was below average. Don't believe the 5 star positive reviews. I'm guessing these have been from people who haven't dined at chef hat rated restaurants. No offence intended.

I've eaten degustation meals at many restaurants including AGFG and The Age Good food guide chef hat awarded restaurants and this is by far the worst and poorest value degustation I've ever eaten.

Generally small servings, not properly portioned and over cooked.

1st course was a small glass of cubed salmon in a watery bland bisque.

Entrée was 2 dry over cooked small portions of a chicken breast.

Mains was a very dry gamey tasting lamb curry with rice pilaf and a thick heavy doughy dinner roll. The rice pilaf was hard and crunchy.

Next meal was a tiny 1 inch portion of a whole venison sausage. They couldn't even give 1 whole sausage. It was also meant to come with a piece of pork. Only 1 person of 3 on our table had a small 1 inch size piece of pork.

Dessert was a pear and strawberry walnut crumble. The person that booked the meal forgot to mention I was allergic to walnuts. We checked with staff and they said the kitchen had no alternative on the train. Its appalling they don't even have a couple of spare nut free desserts. We said can you please just bring the dessert and the other 2 people could eat it. We asked twice and it never came. According to my friends the dessert had some nice crunchy walnuts and bland pear filling. This came with an ice-cream scoop and they could have just offered me a bowl of ice-cream. But they couldn't even do that. Drinks are over priced.

The view is very average. On one side, for tables of 4, you get to see farm backyards, plantation forests and see the chickens and lambs which I presume are the local produce on your plate. On the other side of the carriage for tables for 2, the view is baren land and people's backyards most of the time. The most decent view is once you are nearing Queenscliff, but not for the tables for 2 on the other side of the carriage. Worse thing is the train does not turn around, so when you head back each table sees the same views again.

Don't waste your money on this. Pack a picnic meal and go on the puffing...