Sometimes just walking through the door will tell you if you are going to enjoy your dining enjoyment and enjoy this place I did.
The menu was well balanced and to be honest there was nothing on the menu I would not have eaten.
My only gripe was that nothing jumped out on the wine menu and grabbed me, but you get that sometimes ordering by the glass. That being said the staff were very knowledgable .
I have an affinity with this space having been a regular when it was a pub and the lay out and decor have added to the charm.
To the food: simply outstanding and our waitress did a fantastic job of matching sides and "up selling " us on entrees. That to me is a good indication of a professional team and they are. The stand out strangely though , of a stand out meal, was a side salad of walnuts , pear, radicchio and cheese. It complimented my partners barramundi perfectly and my suckling pig. Again the waitress is to thank .
Simply one of my new favourites!!!!
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We are so impressed with our meal tonight that I’m writing this review on the tram on the way home. We live in the city but the 10 min tram ride to the burbs of Fitzroy North was so worth it tonight.
We started with the oysters, kingfish, parfait, croquettes & my 1st highlight of the night- the Black pudding & pear tartin - my new favourite dish of 2018! The flavours are outstanding.
Next we had the scallops and the stuffed quail. The scallops were beautiful but the quail was my 2nd highlight. So perfectly cooked, no bones & perfect flavours makes this a dish to return for!!
Next up we shared the barramundi fillet that left us wanting more and we finished with an amazing chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice cream - the ice cream balanced out the dish so perfectly.
Staff were very attentive and I was the best meal for a long time! The wine list was expansive with many interesting reasonably priced drips on offer. We have already booked to return in a few weeks time to try some more from the menu. Just go.
Gorgeous food, lovely atmosphere and WONDERFUL staff with outstanding service ! A shout out for whipping up custom made drinks n going that extra mile!! Thank you! Loved it!
Everyone makes you feel so welcome the second you walk through the door, you're thoroughly taken care of the whole time you're there, the food is beautiful especially the chocolate mousse! I cannot recommend this beautiful place enough.
Amazing food and wine, a warm welcoming atmosphere with friendly, knowledgable and attentive staff. We couldn't have asked for more from a dining experience.
Beautiful restaurant, delicious food, excellent service and amazing staff! A 5 star restaurant all around!
The dining area is beautifully presented and the waiting staff were very friendly and competent. The entree and main courses were beautifully presented and I enjoyed my bbq chicken. The desserts - fantastic! I had Bombe Alaska with apricots. Perfect - soft, oozy merangue inside a crisp exterior. The plum tart dessert were also fantastic. Mmmm. All in all, a lovely space for a lovely meal. P.S. Did I mention the home cooked bread and churned butter?????
Two friends and I had dinner at The Rereation Bistro dining room. The dining area is beautifully presented and the waiting staff were very friendly and competent. I have a sweet tooth so will start with the desserts - fantastic! I had Bombe Alaska (yes, an old fashioned dessert I know) with apricots. Perfect - soft, oozy merangue inside a crisp exterior. The two other desserts were also fantastic - marscapone cheescake with rubarb and icecream and a peach and raspberry tart. Mmmm. The main courses were also beautifully presented and I enjoyed my Maryborough lamb. As I was focused on dessert I didn't have an entree but the offerings looked delicious. All in all, a lovely space for a lovely meal. P.S. Did I mention the home cooked bread and churned butter?????
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4.5
We caught up with friends today who had just recently taken in a rescue puppy. The Recreation was a perfect halfway point on our walk for some wine, spritz and a few nibbles. I took a pun of the Andalusia Spritz but I knew from the combination of animus gin,fino sherry and lime. Others all took on Aperol spritz but I think I was the winner. We had some ceviche in a mild wasabi sauce and were wowed by the cod croquettes, I could have eaten a plate of these all to myself. The complimentary bread and house made butter was a nice inclusion but I was really reminded of how much I appreciated the great service in our earlier visit. Well recommended.
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Previous Review
It’s amazing how much the Fitzroy North/ Clifton Hill area has changed in the 10 years since I lived there and The Recreation is one such place that has moved into the hood. I was impressed by the fitout on entry. Quite a homely feel with exposed brick, dark wood tables and a friendly welcome. Then there was the wall of wine ... quite the collection.
The four of us sat on a round table which was very generous is size. Hungry we ordered some oysters and stuffed zucchini to go with our breads and pre dinner drinks. I enjoyed The Butcher Red IPA which was a good hoppy ale. The oysters were well shucked and had subtle lime pearls.
For mains I had to go for the scotch fillet, served with chimichurri and hand cut chips. The meat was tender and cooked the medium rare that I asked. It also came with a horseradish sauce that I was a serious fan of. Not sure why I don’t keep horseradish at home to be fair ... love the stuff.
For dessert I opted for the classic almond (frangipane) cherry tart with a rhurbarb ice cream. Delightful and I’m so glad I stuck to my guns on this one. The food of others also appealed.
Wine list was impressive and we had a European wine expert dining with us, so enjoyed some superb bottles.
Service was standout for me. Waiting staff provided an exceptional service and were friendly and helpful and gave us the space and time we needed to all catch up.
Really enjoyable experience.
A fantastic gastropub with excellent dining options and brilliant drinks. An extra mention to the staff, who are more than willing to cater to requests and give the place a very homely and welcoming feel. A really good place for that special occasion, dining with good friends or treating someone special in your life. Very highly recommended!
Real score 4.3 out of 5. It’s not pub grub here. It’s almost fine dining. The food is excellent. Everyone gets a good view of the pass which is always fun. I had the cappelletti of tiger prawns and crab with crustacean sauce. It was utterly delicious. Couldn’t fault it. Others had char grilled calamari with sweet corn which they reported as being very good too. We had a side of char grilled brussel sprouts which were very good too. Service was excellent overall and the atmosphere terrific. It’s pricey here but it’s a very good restaurant. Recommended.
Fantastic restaurant, my local favourite amongst a host of great eateries, amazing wine list, fabulous food and excellent staff. Good prices. Quintessential Melbourne streetscape with the elms on Queen's Parade. I maybe go a little often and have worked my way through the menu but never a disappointment.
We had a large group family get together at the Recreation just before Christmas. Staff couldn’t have been more helpful. Food was absolutely delicious and service excellent. Highly recommend
A standout newish restaurant in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Wonderful wine list, BYO (!) and a menu mixing classics and some interesting creations.
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Maybe I shouldn’t give this place such a a good review... wouldn’t want it to get so busy I can’t get a table! Came to my attention when I saw it got a hat this year.
Then I realised - I could walk to it, it was BYO ($20 corkage) and the menu was very reasonably priced. Winner!
We had an earlier dinner and the next table must have been there from lunch and
sounded like that they had been drinking that whole time. A quiet word to the waiter
and they were duly dealt with and despatched outside! Excellent; quite reflective of
the excellent service we got all night. Anyway, through out the course of the evening
the restaurant became completely full; very impressive for a Sunday and I'm
guessing it's quite likely most of the patrons walked!
The food was truly impressive. They make their own bread and butter which was
really stunning in taster. The terrine was very impressive with the pickled vegetable
accompaniment. I had the roast pork - it was the most crispy crackle I've had
anywhere and contrasted by the melt in your mouth feel of the pork belly itself. Not only was the meat great, the vegetables were some of the most tasty, delicious
heirloom varieties I've had anywhere. The attention to detail was just amazing. lt is truly a fine dining restaurant disguising itself as a bistro!
Then they gave us a little candle to go with the bombe Alaska which was a nice
touch. My only complaint was they didn't light the thing on fire!
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We are so impressed with our meal tonight that I’m writing this review on the tram on the way home. We live in the city but the 10 min tram ride to the burbs of Fitzroy North was so worth it tonight.
We started with the oysters, kingfish, parfait, croquettes & my 1st highlight of the night- the Black pudding & pear tartin - my new favourite dish of 2018! The flavours are outstanding.
Next we had the scallops and the stuffed quail. The scallops were beautiful but the quail was my 2nd highlight. So perfectly cooked, no bones & perfect flavours makes this a dish to return for!!
Next up we shared the barramundi fillet that left us wanting more and we finished with an amazing chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice cream - the ice cream balanced out the dish so perfectly.
Staff were very attentive and I was the best meal for a long time! The wine list was expansive with many interesting reasonably priced drips on offer. We have already booked to return in a few weeks time to try some more from the menu. Just go.
Beautiful and relaxing space, matched by fantastic food and a great beer and wine selection, only to be topped by perfect service. Will visit again.
Wow!!!! What a place! Couldn’t fault a single dish we tried! The husband and I shared a zucchini flower (delicious), grilled sardines (divine) and spaezle (think Mac and cheese on steroids) for entree. Sweet Jesus that was good! And if that wasn’t enough the mains followed. Mine was the barramundi with a sauce so delicious I was very close to licking the plate. My husband’s chicken was also absolute perfection and a generous serve also. We had the fries on the side (husband’s idea) and despite me not being a fan of fries usually, these were absolutely fantastic. We finished with a bombe Alaska to share (luckily because it’s a very generous desert and we were stuffed). Again a dish I couldn’t fault, the berry coulis it came with was devine!
Overall, the service was excellent and attentive but not annoying and in your face. Food came out quickly and didn’t leave us starving despite being fully booked. Excellent experience we will be back soon!!!
I love this place. I've been a few times now, both as part of large and small groups, and they have nailed it every time. It is a really well oiled machine - the food is fantastic and the service top notch. The fact you can BYO wine for $20 a bottle (or choose from their extensive list) is a real bonus. I have been as part of a very large group that BYO'd our wine when the restaurant was absolutely packed and they never let our glasses run empty and always asked if we wanted another of our bottles opened when we were running low on the existing bottle. They even suggested the order in which we could drink our wines based on the food we had ordered and never served the wrong wine to the wrong person despite the fact there was often a few different bottled open at the same time - they really earned their corkage! They just get service and it's amazing how many restaurants don't.
Had the zucchini flower, lovely crisp batter....the scotch fillet, cooked perfect, sublime flavour, excellent. Dessert mille feu...perhaps not the best choice...not sure I liked the biscuit type pastry, but an interesting take on it. Wait staff, attentive but not intrusive..would def recommend a visit. I'll be going there again.
Really excellent food and friendly very efficient staff. Would not call this dining in the 'lap of luxury" - (Zomato's catergory) We were glad that we did not have any folk seated at the table next to us, as the tables were fairly close together.
However it was very comfortable on a quiet Sunday night'
We will return to enjoy The Recreation again
Good classic European food and great service. We went here as a group of four on a bank holiday Friday and had a delicious meal. Highlights were the goat cheese starter, the butter served with bread (so fluffy and creamy) and my steak - cooked to perfection! Desserts could have been slightly more adventurous, but they were still good. Would come back and recommend! 👍🏻
We had a really great experience here. We ordered the pork belly and snapper - both were delicious! The service was brilliant - definitely something that set them apart. Our lovely waiter even walked us to the door and held the door open for us and we appreciated all those little things.
Unfortunately no wine for me because I'm preggie but the staff were very prompt in answering my few questions about the menu to ensure that I ordered according to my dietary requirements. Will definitely be back!
The flavours of these classical inspired dishes was one of the best meals we have enjoyed for quite some time - black pudding/pear tarte tatin, baked goats cheese, house made sausage, pork belly. There is something so satisfying about simple elegance. Also enjoyed the option of casually sharing an array of dishes at the long wine table. Look forward to many a return visit - thanks.
We found the service very attentive and professional, the food simply delicious with some easy to share entrees and good mains. I would recommend to a small group or a date.
Highly reccommended. Lovely atmosphere and relaxed but at the same time attentive service. We enjoyed all the dishes - well presented and very tasty. Cheese board looked enticing but we settled for the sweets which included an amazing Bomb Alaska. Great wine and beer selection too. My only downside... it is not within walking distance of my house!
This place isn't just about food, it's about the neighbourhood and community. The Recreation has become a place for a sneaky wine & cheese board before heading out or as a destination, to enjoy great food and wine selection whilst pampered by attentive staff in a relaxed environment with friends and neighbours. I enjoy going back to the Recky at every opportunity...
Amazing service, incredible food. An absolute gem in in the north. A gem in the north that offers great wines, food and atmosphere... a must try!!
Warm, friendly service. All of the food is delicious. The Wine list is extensive but approachable. This is a restaurant we will definitely be returning to
Fantastic food, wine, service and atmosphere. I love every dish on the menu and the staff are super helpful with wine recommendations. Coffee is great. And the bottle shop is brilliant.
These guys are true professionals. The service is excellent, the staff are very knowledgeable about food and wine, and the menu is simple, but full of interesting choices, including house made sausages.
The recreation has a great atmosphere, the food is great and there is always something different to try. The wait staff are very friendly and excellent at assisting with choosing the right wines for your meal. I recommend The Recreation if you want a really great dining experience.
Had a wonderful night at The Recreation. Ross did an excellent job looking after us, recommending some brilliant wine pairings for our selected dishes. Every item was delicious, though special mention must go to the duck liver parfait from the entrees, and the pork belly and steak special from the mains - in both cases the sublime texture was beautifully complimented by the incredible flavours!
In addition to the amazing quality, the atmosphere was absolutely top notch, and completely unpretentious. I would not hesitate to recommend this place to anyone, and will definitely be back in the near future.
This is a really impressive gastro pub with a great vibe. The outdoor seating is lovely and the informal cellar bar area is homely and cute. The menu is also great with dishes like roast duck, scotch fillet, stuffed zucchini flowers, scallops and amazing and indulgent desserts, this place ticks all the boxes. And with people at the helm who have Vue de Monde and Jacques reymond on their CVs, it's not surprising!
Absolutely sensational Sunday family lunch for 9 including one demanding toddler. Expert and consultative wine service from Mark. Everyone was rapt with their choices. Food was exquisite including the salmon and crab gratin, that Lamb shoulder and juicy chicken. The chocolate fondant and cheesecake were a superb finish to a delicious afternoon. I could go on but too much to mention. Will return. Regularly.
A great space, great atmos and delicious food. The service was excellent and the pace of the food coming out was on point. The wine selection was solid.
Excellent service, great wines, thoughtful, seasonal menu. Warm bread and whipped butter served while we wait for our order. Everything is of the highest quality. Highly recommended!
We chose the roasted salmon with caramelised leek and sauce maltaise, the suckling pig with roasted root vegetables and a side of Brussels sprouts with caper butter. Delicious!
A bit noisy tonight, but cheerful and family friendly. Gorgeous tête à tête tables against the wall.
Yass Queen! The food is incredible, wine selection is great and only surpassed by the excellent service #scottishthor #breadwasdope #hottieswiththebestwine #aperolspritz5eva
Amazing vibe and divine food! My wife had the best eggplant of her life and the staff were particularly accommodating to wine pairings and made the experience an overall delight! 🔥⚡️⚡️👍🏻
Wonderful food and service.
Had the oysters, pork belly and steak. Waiters were so happy to accommodate food allergies.
Great wine, really good vibe.
Highly recommended!
Good atmosphere to have some decent wine and food with friends. Professional service with amazing wine list, sommelier led to the perfect ensemble of cuisine,wine and service. Especially the beef tartare dish with the Korean twist was phenomenal reminded me of fine Korean dish. Highly recommend to the local people to have a comfortable service with fine food.
Came by for dinner with some mates and had a really positive experience. Lovely staff who delivered on quality service. Food came out fairly consistent and well seasoned.
I have dined here several times and it just keeps getting better. I loved the smoked duck dish, steaks and pork belly and desserts have always been great. The free freshly baked bread and house made butter is amazing. Wine suggestions have always been spot on as well. The busy vibe adds to the experience and its lovely to see other diners enjoying themselves. Looking forward to my next visit!
Excellent meal here last night. Recommend by a friend who lives locally and it didn't disappoint. Warm welcome at the door and friendly approachable service continued throughout the night. Food was well presented, and full of flavour. A special mention has to go to the black pudding and pear tart tatin. A contender for my dish of the year! Pick the staffs brain for a wine recommendation from the fairly extensive list...they really know their stuff. And it won't break the bank either.
This place is my new favourite local. I came in on a weeknight with a girlfriend. Mark and Joe were welcoming and attentive and made us feel right at home. I love the cosy, intimate ambiance here. The food is beautiful, comforting and classy and we had a lovely bottle of Pinot to match. The black pudding and pear tarte tartin changed my life! Just the place I need to get me through a Melbourne Winter.
The food here is genuinely excellent. I've now been twice. The steak was one of the best steaks I've had in ages and the spätzle was a game changer. The staff are both professional and fun. On both occassions that I've been the wine suggestions were perfect. Thank you guys, you'll definitely be seeing my face again :)
Spectacular food, wine and service. It was an exceptional night and highly recommended for all diners. Family friendly too which is a bonus.
We loved the charcoal grill, it added a great flavour to our meal with the smell building on the restaurants atmosphere.
Definitely worth a visit, recommend the calamari from the grill.
Excellent service, great selection of wines and menu is well thought out, using seasonal produce. Atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. They know how dining needs to be done
We had a fantastic dining experience.
The service was impeccable.
All the food was delicious we ordered pork belly prawns and chocolate mousse, I'll definitely be returning for more of the nicest bread and 'Recreation' butter I've ever tasted.
Amazing food and service, delicious wines! Kid friendly, nice bathrooms too 😜
Lovely atmosphere for a lazy Sunday afternoon at the wine table.
We were made to feel welcome, even with 2 kids in tow. Good coffees outside and a delicious meal inside - we ordered share plates with a variety of entrees and all were delicious, including the warm, freshly made bread and butter. Certainly well worth more visits!
On a recent ramble I stumbled across this little gem near Edinburgh gardens. A fantastic watering hole that provided excellent wine to refuel. In the end the menu got the better of our self-control and we ordered a few light snacks. All were delicious. Can't wait to return and enjoy a full meal.
Loved this place. Great food and service. Nice addition to the fine dining scene in Fitzroy North. The bottle shop is extensive and impressive.
Firstly this place is noisy. Sounds were echoing off the walls and conversing was my fellow diners was difficult. This probably ruined the experience. Service was good. Food was above average. We tried the stuffed zucchini flower, eggplant, scallop, barramundi and pork. Mains are not huge either- a side is needed.
This is a real gem. The food is exceptional, the wine is excellent and the service is great. The sommelier/owner? guided us to choose some great wines which were incredible value.
High end casual with sensational wines. Food was great with excellent choices and quality local ingredients.
Highly recommended for lunch or dinner.
Had a lovely first experience at the Recreation, in the dining room. Beautiful, fresh food and really really good service. Love the simple outfitting, this one has the makings of a new local.
Wine list is great- can't wait to go back and buy a bottle of the shelf to drink in the wine room.
Sunday lunch at Recreation Bistro was perfect. Warm & friendly service and amazing food and wine. Divine Yarra Valley Rose served from a flagon (for those old enough to know what that is) made us all laugh in a good way. Can't say enough good things...loved it!
My first visit to Recreation Bistro was a very enjoyable experience.
Nice atmosphere, excellent service, good menu and wine list with an option to BYO.
Will definitely be back to work my way through the menu.
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