Had an excellent satisfying lunch on a pleasant summer's day. This restaurant offers all that makes a meal memorable.
Comfortable atmosphere and excellent food and service.
Dishes shown are:
Entree plate; goat cheese tartlet, prawn and calamari salad, terrine.
Pork cutlet.
Lamb two ways.
Definitely recommended, look forward to returning.
Lord Cardigan never disappoints, amazing friendly service. Exquisite food. Just had venison pie with mashed pea, silver beet and tamarillo jam for lunch, a wonderful flavor combination.
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When the term 'neighbourhood gem' comes to mind, this is the first place I think of. A small restaurant with only a handful of tables, serving quality, fresh produce that changes with the seasons. The manager and co-owner Dom knows just about everyone that comes to dine here, but the well-trained and warm staff will make you feel just as at home if this is your first time visiting (you'll likely be a regular in no time!)
We've had too many dishes to comment on each of them, but sufficed to say the mains were always well cooked, whether it be steak, fish or other proteins. The canapes or 'tasters' struck me as a little expensive at first, priced at $7.5 each, but a set of 3 does provide a good sized portion for a regular entree, and is priced similarly. The tasters, however, allow you much more flexibility when sharing or when you want to try different items on the menu, so it is actually quite convenient.
We particularly like the oysters fried in chickpea batter. The staff are very accommodating, so you can order any number you like, rather than the usual half dozen portions. However, at $5.5 a piece (they recently increased their prices), I do find it a little prohibitive and so only order them when we feel like indulging. We don't fancy raw oysters, but both us and friends of ours who don't usually eat oysters have been won over by this dish. Prices of the other dishes are what you'd expect from a fine dining restaurant ($35-40 for mains, $10+ for desserts), but you're practically guaranteed quality food and service here, compared to many other places where it can be hit and miss. Ultimately, it's the warmth of the staff and attention to detail that wins us over every time.
If you are making plans for a fine dining experience, definitely consider this local gem.
Went to lord cardigans today to book for their degustation night next sunday . The restaurant was hosting christmas in july and before we knew it had a glass of mulled wine put in our hands and then advised to sit for a bit where we sampled slices of johns turkey and ham and made to feel part of the day .
Another example of dominique and johns hospitality . Wonderful staff, wonderful food ... always a wonderful experience
Lord Cardigan…. what a name, it’s certainly got a ring to it! Established in 2007, this restaurant was started by a husband and wife combination, John Singer and Dominique Bolger. There’s only one reason why I would go to the effort to read the ‘About Us’ page on their website, it’s because I freaken love this place! What started out as a filler dinner, ended up being one of the best dining experiences for me in 2018. We’re still early in the year, so Lord Cardigan better put the brakes on a bit to allow the others to catch up!
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Had an impressive dinner at Lord Cardigan last Saturday night! Booked in advance for a 6:30 sitting, there was a short while where we were the only people in the restaurant, by 7pm the floor started to fill. Cosy, but refined decor made for a very relaxed and welcoming vibe.
The wait staff were highly professional bringing us a drink menu and food menu promptly, but without rush. We were told the specials and the source of the oysters and I was hooked by what was on offer. For starters we ordered 2 fresh oysters with mignonette dressing and lemon...gorgeous flavour! For entree we ordered a plate of three tastes each; the Hiramasa kingfish, the grilled green prawn and calamari & the seasonal mushroom and ricotta rotolo. Each full of flavour with the highlight for me being the rotolo. For mains I went for the fish of the day special, which was a pan friend snapper fillet with a citrus salsa, kipfler potatoes and fried asparagus. The balance of flavours in this dish were perfect for my palate, with a sweet batter over the asparagus matched with the mild saltiness of the potatoes and fish. Mr B's main was their stuffed turkey breast with mash and cranberry sauce. The meat in this classic combination was juicy and tender. No flaws here in this meal at all.
Highly recommend Lord Cardigan for a fancy date night. Was highly impressed with the quality of food and staff. Lovely night out.
This venue is gorgeous and the menu interesting. Our lunch group of six mixed and matched and enjoyed a variety of entrees, special with a salad and wedges. The food was all delicious. The presentation was professional and chefy. The service was a let down here, the menus had to be asked for, the food took over an hour to come out and we had to ask for coffee and the bill.
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I've been here a couple of times now and the food has been nothing short of brilliant. For some reason both times it's been raining and despite being personally cardigan-less, the Lord manages to create a cozy, comfortable (some might say romantic) atmosphere coupled with great food and drinks.
The wine list isn't extensive but it does cover all the ground you need and the staff really know their stuff. I have to admit to having given the sparkling wine selection a fair nudge and wasn't disappointed. The staff are attentive and affable, up front with any changes to the menu and delivering the specials so well I barely looked at the regulars afterward. It's worth noting they have a $25 lunch special that gets you one main and a glass of vino, too.
The selection of three share items to start was too good to pass up and is definitely worth it. The mushroom and ricotta ritolo was amazing (after we googled what ritolo was and decided to take a punt on it). Not just because it comes with truffle butter, even though we all know truffles AND butter make everything better. The Twice cooked pork belly was excellent, the hoi sin sauce really gave it an edge. The green prawn and calamari was ok - I'd probably switch it out for the yellowfin tuna next time. I went with the gnocchi for a main which is always a risk. Mother of Dragons it's easy to screw up gnocchi and so many people do! I'm very grateful to say this was not the case and the Lord delivered. Especially enjoyed the apple shreds and walnuts that really broke up what can be an awkwardly textured dish. Highly recommend this spot for a romantic dinner. Also for one of those lunches that was supposed to see you back at the office at 3 for a meeting... but turns into that extra long lunch that sees you asleep on your couch in a food coma after treating yourself to an uber black home.
full (and probably funnier version of) review on the blog now, link in bio :)
Beautiful corner restaurant in boutique neighbourhood of Albert Park. Warmly tucked away for a perfect winter evening over some candlelight. Great wine list. Fabulous service. Earthen decor and classy fit out. The whole fish grill was on days special and it turned out to be absolutely incredible. The charcuterie was one of the nicer ones I have ever had in Melbourne. The service a bit slow than we expected given that it wasn't a busy evening. Our mains took ages to arrive! But overall a great experience and I wouldn't mind going back for some Sunday roast in summer.
A Chronicle Of Gastronomy
+3.5
We visit Lord Cardigan to enjoy a leisurely lunch on a lovely spring day. It’s a quaint part of Port Melbourne where there are street shops aplenty and locals going about their daily business. Freshly baked bread and a dish of olive oil graces the table as we enjoy the sunshine and the sound of children playing at the school nearby.
Very impressed at this restaurant. The food was all very tasty, with a good balance of flavours and interesting use of flavours and ingredients. You could tell the chef knew what they were doing and was not afraid to add their own spin on classic dishes. Service and atmosphere was faultless as well. Photo is of the fish of the day : snapper.
Had a wonderful evening catching up with friends for my birthday. Delicious food, an amazing host, friendly waiter, went above and beyond to make our time truely unforgettable. Decor is full of character, our new favourite in Melbourne. Thankyou Dominique
We booked for a set Sunday roast lunch. It was superb. The staff were friendly and the service excellent. We will definitely return.
Food was amazing. Atmosphere was elegant and romantic. Service was excellent. Friendly staff attentive to your needs and very knowledgeable. Souffle was the best I've ever tasted. I will definitely going back there.
Delicious. Highly recommended.
Pork loin, hapuka risotto and rosemary salt chips.
This restaurant came highly recommended from friends who are very widely travelled. Now I know why. I enjoyed dinner there last night - we were a table of 6 - it was a new experience for all of us.
I always get nervous about taking responsibility for a restaurant booking on behalf of friends, especially when we don’t get the chance to catch up often. But please trust this review and the overall ratings provided by other reviewers- Lord Cardigan is a wonderful choice.
The meals were exquisite. I don’t often make it to dessert when out for dinner but on this occasion I made sure that I did. The little donuts with lemon ice cream were fantastic.
Service was gorgeous too - attentive yet patient as we all worked through the menu choices. Wine list is extensive.
Thank you for a great night out. We were the last to leave and can’t wait to come back with my husband next, then more friends!
Our second visit to this restaurant. It didn’t disappoint: 10/10 food, service and atmosphere. Each course was fantastic with wine to match. The service is quiet, friendly and unobtrusive…. but present. Highly recommend.
Delicious meals, great service and lovely atmosphere. They bring you some bread at the start of your meal suited to dietary requirements given at time of booking (done online) and constantly top up your water.
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