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.
We recently went to lord cardigan in Albert park on a Saturday night, we were able to reserve a table for a group of 6 online on the morning of, very convenient. We started with the arancini balls, which were fairly standard, we also had the polenta chips, they were lovely but maybe could do with a different sauce, maybe something spicy, or chimi churri? The charcuterie plate was nice, but a little small given it was the large one. I had the fish of the day, it was hapuka from NZ, it was awesome, it came with roasted and puréed pumpkin and had a Dukkah crust. It was really good and I would recommend coming here just to try the fish! The service, decor and layout were also quite good too.
You know those meals that taste so darn good that life stops around you just for a moment - the type of meal that you can't eat slow enough as you'll be devastated when its over. Well Lord Cardigan served me up one of those meals - a meal so good that it's earned the title as the new fave. . Lord Cardigan is local gem tucked away in Albert Park. Oozing elegance whilst remaining unpretentious, the restaurant serves up Modern Australian cuisine with European and Asian influences. The service is as impressive as the menu, making any dining experience feel as though it were a special occasion.
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A couple of pieces of house bread were served up (a nice, light sourdough), until the waiter was reminded of the gluten-free requirement.
After the bread we started off with the falafel. Two falafels with some hummus, cherry tomatoes and beetroot were served. They were nice and hot, reasonably tasty and well-cooked.
Sometime during the middle of entree a couple of slices of toasted gluten-free bread were supplied (which was pretty decent for GF).
Main was the smoked salmon and the lamb shoulder.
Apparently the smokey flavour in the salmon was a little too strong, but that's a personal taste thing. The meal was tasty and interesting.
The lamb shoulder/loin combination may have had a little bit too much yoghurt and not enough other aspects, but it was all nicely cooked and tasty.
We had the house chips on the side. They were a little inconsistent - some a bit undercooked (firm), others a little too waxy. Flavour was nice, but not the best to eat.
I had the stonefruit trifle for dessert. Somewhat unexpectedly, it was actually a trifle, rather than a deconstructed pile of ingredients, which was pleasing. Lots of nice flavours here, from the tart blood-plum sorbet to the peach & plum slices, the jelly (perhaps slightly firmer than necessary) and the accompanying fruit and sponge.
Hard to find fault, really. Service was professional and attentive, food was served relatively quickly. A bit lacking on the gluten-free options at the dessert end, but that's fairly common.
A favourite of ours, a real gem. Service always excellent and food always delicious. I would come more often if it were not so far away from me! I hope they are around for a long time!
Celebrated our anniversary here. The restaurant had a very romantic feel to it. I love the decor! The waiter was very attentive to us and offered extra bread because we finished ours too quick ( hungry). The mains were well presented but quite small portioned, not the best steak I have tried though. I really enjoyed the chocolate dessert they had there...yummy:)
We were very disappointed the ambience was great the service was great and the food very disappointing. It was nicely presented, my husband had 6 oysters that were extremely salty, our friend had quail again saltly.
Well the mains again Fish Pie to was very salty we ate it as we were famished had to wait over an hour for the meal, duck meal very tough it was returned to the kitchen , replaced duck with steak again very salty it was sent back to the kitchen. Very small portions big prices. Did compensate with complimentary dessert. Wouldn't, recommend this place to friends.
Wonderful dinner had at Lord Cardigan. Attentive staff who give you just enough space but don't ignore you altogether. Our eye fillet and lamb shoulder cooked just perfectly, yummy crunchy Rosemary thick cut chips and desert also superb.
Best restaurant in Albert Park. It's a secret as mostly only the locals know that Lord Cardigan is by far the best restaurant in Albert Park.
The food is outstanding, great value, with consistent and exceptional service. Not sure why someone would not give a great review, this person either needs to come back or perhaps they are not a foodie :) many of the restaurants in this area are over priced with mediocre food, this is not the case with Lord Cardigan xxx
SOOO GOOD!. This place is amazing! Service and Food! The photos on US doesn't do this restaurant justice. I ordered the Flinders Island Lamb and my gf had the fish of the day (garfish w/ pan fried scallops on a bed of risotto! Both were so delicious & the waiter was so professional and well mannered too! Can't wait to come back!
Miss this place.. We used to live near Lord Cardigan and dined there regularly. It was always a great local restaurant that punched above it's weight, it could easily be situated in the centre of Melbourne.
Professional, Polite and TASTY.
Nice local. Tucked away just off Bridport St, Lord Cardigan is a very decent spot for a feed. On a thursday night there were only a few tables full and it needed a few more people to make more of an atmosphere but it was still great. Service is great with our glasses being topped up constantly. The food also delivered the goods. Entree consisted of the terrine with duck liver parfait served with crispy biscuits. Super tasty and the perfect amount for two people.
Main course was a step up. The eye fillet was presented beautifully on a bed of mash potato topped with truffles. The lamb rump was also super tasty and came with a good mix of roasted vegies.
Couldn't have been happier with the service and food. It isn't cheap though ($105) but you pay for quality.
Loved every mouthful. Excellent food will definitely recommend it.
Impeccable service. First time to Lord Cardigan and we were very impress. The food was excellent and the service lived up to its standard. We had the oysters for starters, delicious and fresh, followed by steak and fish. Will definitely be back
A Magical Evening. I booked Lord Cardigan for a family wedding celebration and they were incredible! They let us hire out the entire restaurant for a private dining experience and took care of everything for us. They were so accomodating right from the get-go.
Both our families couldn't stop talking about how amazing the food was (it could not be faulted), how pretty the place was, and how attentive the wait staff were. Those with special dietary requirements were particularly impressed with how attentive the wait staff were to their needs.
When it was time to leave, my husband and I were even given smoked salmon and moscato to take home for breakfast the next day - talk about going the extra mile!
The staff at Lord Cardigan made this a very special night for us, so if you are looking for a private dining venue, this is the one to go with!!
We have dined there 4 times now, & have never been disappointed, lovely fresh oysters, my husband loved his prawn entree. Service was very good, attentive, but not invasive. Will go again.
Went last night for dinner with a group of friends. Ours meals were all excellent and the service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We had a great night and will definitely be back. The location is very convenient with ample street parking. Just read previous reviews and have to say our meals arrived in a timely manner but when I go out to enjoy a meal cooked to order with fresh ingredients I would be concerned if it arrived quickly.
Surprised. This is my first review and I felt compelled as the food was fantastic. Surprising to see the restaurant empty on a Friday night this need to change (we were there earlier) left at 845 so maybe busy later. Highly recommend.
Great food great service I cannot recommend a better gem and I have not yet found a fault with this place despite me being there umpteen times
Dropped in the afternoon for a coffee. Coffee is passable but not the best choice for coffeholics. Dessert was fantastically yummy though! Have to come back for a proper meal.
Excellent! Attentive service, creative yet familiar menu, superbly cooked and professionally presented food. Well worth the visit.
Top marks. Attentive and efficient service. Top quality produce (the mains of lamb rack and duck were both delicious). The desserts (semi-freddo and parfait) were both top notch. Good varied wine list at fair prices. Overall, an excellent dining experience.
Went here with a group of friends a few months ago, very pleasant, but not a memorable experience, except for the waitress that managed to spill wine on me, luckily it was white.
Sophisticated Dining. I have visited Lord Cardigan for breakfast several times and have been very impressed with the sophisticated levels of service, elegant decor and use of high quality product. Great coffees and amazingly good breakfast options. Highly recommended.
Breakfast: woah.. Possibly the best breakfast I've had out, which is saying something in the competitive Albert Park strip. Even the bread is great. Service is friendly and attentive, definitely recommended.
Great food, superb service. If you want to feel spoilt then go to Lord Cardigan and let them look after you with fantastic food (try the prawn mango entree and the choc souflee...actually and the veal ...it's all been good!) and exceptional service. It's modern, classy but not too stiff and formal. Sort of pricey but not over the top.
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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