Dined here last night for my husbands 30th Birthday, we did the degustation with matching beverage pairing and loved it! Amazing food and wine and great ambience. Definitely recommend
Fabulous Chef with enormous knowledge of his industry and who takes the time to meet and greet his guests individually.. Delicious variety of great food on offer at very reasonable prices and a sommelier who really knows his stuff. Fabulous food, fabulous booze and a fabulous environment leads only to a completely fabulous experience. A must for everyone in a casual setting. Definitely don’t miss.
We were invited to Saxe for some beautifully plated fine dining. As in typically the case with this type of food the portions weren’t overly generous so in that sense the value isn’t necessarily there given the cost but if you’re a foodie this place is for you.
We experienced interesting flavours and textures and uniquely conceptualised dishes utilising the highest quality ingredients and perfect precision in presentation. Opting for the degustation also ensures you try something different given you aren’t choosing yourself (kangaroo tartare anyone) resulting in quite the culinary adventure. You certainly won’t have a boring meal
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Located close to Adina Hotel on Queens Street, is this restaurant and bar run by Joe Grbac. It's a casual and intimate space and there are two levels where you would get a different dining experience. They focus on small to medium share plates that are good for sharing.
The menu has a good range and the waitress told us that they keep the menu compact as they focus on the fresh and native ingredients for the season. They are ingredients driven and the menu focuses on seasonal and simple flavours.
We went with the wine pairing as well and the waitress recommended a good pairing for our dishes.
The staff in Saxe Kitchen are very knowledgeable and you can trust them in deciding the wine pairing as we really enjoyed it. Decided on the feed me menu as we wanted to try a bit of everything.
For entree, we started off with a gooey Mac and Cheese which was presented in a cheese croquette form and a flat bread with salted prosciutto with a touch of truffle oil. It was light and filled with flavours and I liked how it was a nice start to the meal. We also had the salmon tartare which was fresh and the ingredients worked really well together. The finger lime brought out the flavour to the dish and it was light and refreshing.
We then moved on to our mains which was zucchini flowers and pork. The pork consists of three different types of meat, the shoulder, neck and belly. I liked how they all had a different texture and it was cooked through perfectly. The zucchini flowers were nicely cooked and the batter used was light and crunchy.
For desserts we had the chocolate mousse on a tart with fresh strawberry compote. The chocolate mousse was light and the strawberry added in the acidity and sweetness to the dish which was nice. We opted for hot chocolate and was presented with a nice hot cocoa which I really enjoyed. It was rich and creamy and you get an option to add in sugar if you like. The hot cocoa was served with petit fours to finish off which was a nice sweet ending to the meal.
Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner here at Saxe Kitchen, the dishes were nicely articulated and presented and the staff was attentive and hospitable.
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A sophisticated space in the middle of the city, Saxe is serving up modern Australian cuisine with flair and elegance. This two story restaurant has nailed it's aesthetic... with mood lighting, a long marble bar and lovely banquette seating. The downstairs area has views of the kitchen, and is bustling and relaxed. Upstairs is more refined and fabulous for dates and larger groups. The background music is a fantastic mix of fun tunes, and the whole atmosphere is pleasant and fun.
We were welcomed by the loveliest staff, and were talked through the chef's 'feed me' menu. Five courses are hand picked by the kitchen, with the aim to highlight the natural flavours in fresh and local produce. We chose to have the accompanying wines, and each one from the riesling, to the Pinot Noir were absolutely fantastic. Picking the chef's menu is a fabulous option, as it frees up the decision making, and you get to try some amazing dishes that you may not have otherwise picked.
We were presented with several starters. Small tasting plates of delicious treats including crispy and gooey mac and cheese croquettes, flatbreads with salty prosciutto, and a delicious and fresh. salmon dish. The kangaroo tartare with Kakadu plum and candied pecans was outstanding, and definitely delivered on flavour.
Our first main was a steaming bowl of hand made gnocchi with the most fabulous ragu. The slow cooked sauce was so delicious, and the little potato dumplings were the perfect foil for this amazing ragu. We also had the duck leg with beetroot three ways, and this too was a fabulous plate of food. The duck was so succulent, and beautifully seasoned; and the earthiness of the beetroot worked amazingly well. A side of delicious duck fat potatoes was totally addictive, and by this stage we were seriously stuffed.
We waited a little while, savouring our wine before finishing up with the cutest dessert. Little jam jars of stone fruit trifle was the perfect ending. An elderflower set custard was topped with sponge cake, diced fruit and strawberry sorbet. As a dessert lover I found this dish really highlighted the amazing fruits, and the textures made it unlike the traditional trifle that you may expect. This was definitely trifle, but executed in an elegant way.
Few restaurants have perfected that balance of amazing food with friendly and efficient service. However, Saxe has managed to do so, and dining here is not just fun, it's a culinary experience that will leave you anticipating your next visit.
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4.5. If you are after a unique dining experience, this place is a must try! The two-storey restaurant offers two different dining experiences - a more casual, intimate space on the ground floor or something more refined upstairs.
We were seated on the ground floor and got to see the bartender in action with our customised mocktails and Chef Joe Grbac at work in the kitchen! Chef Joe Grbac is a renowned chef from Former Saint Crispin, The Press Club, Il Fornaio etc, so I was so excited to try what he had to offer!
We had some sharing dishes:
CAULIFLOWER MACARONI CROQUETTE WITH TRUFFLE MAYO - This croquette was really crunchy and it really brought out the flavours after dipping in the truffle-rich mayo sauce.
PRAWN TAPIOCA CRACKERS - This was one of my favourite dishes - It was so addictive and I can't stop eating it! Crunchy and it was like little tiny balls of tapioca joined together to make a big piece of cracker.
HEIRLOOM CARROT PICCALILLI, WALNUT - This was really interesting, besides the carrot and walnut, there was a sponge-like cake there for a different texture and flavour.
KANGAROO TARTARE, BBQ PLUM, PECAN - I don't normally eat kangaroo but it wasn't too scary (haha) and tasted great. The pecans and bbq plum are a unique touch to the dish and added some colour.
GNOCCHI, RAGU OF PORK, TOMATO, PARSLEY - This was really really flavourful and the gnocchi was so soft! It matched perfectly with the ragu of pork and tomato sauce.
BBQ DUCK LEG, BEETROOT - Our favourite dish - the bbq duck meat just literally falls off the bone! So tender and delicious with the beetroot made in three different ways.
We finished off with the STONEFRUIT TRIFLE and the fruits were the juiciest ever! The whole trifle was just so nice and refreshing - no sour bits!
Overall, this was an amazing experience and dinner. Very filling and satisfying! All the dishes were really unique and you can tell they have made everything carefully and included every little element to make the dish stand out. Thank you Saxe Kitchen.
Eat_today_diet_tomorrow
+5
We had a variety of dishes from the feed me chefs selection shared menu. We started our meal with potato flatbread with pancetta, mac & cheese croquette and kangaroo tartare. The flat bread was just amazing, the sauce complemented the dish very well. The kangaroo tartare was an interesting dish, it's something we usually never order, but we were pleasantly surprised. It was actually really good. Then for mains, we had gnocchi with ragu of pork and bbq duck legs. Again, they were both delicious, the beetroot in the duck dish made it much more enjoyable. Definitely would come back if we get the chance.
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My partner and I had a feed me chefs selection shared menu which is perfect.
Whist there were a number of highlights we started with a gnocchi of ragu of pork, tomato and parsley. The gnocchi was soft pillows of the best gnocchi I've eaten. And the pork just melted in my mouth. Gosh it was sooo good lol.
The duck leg was perfectly cooked for me, the meat was medium, the skin firm, and it was full of flavour. This was my favourite dish. Yummo! We both smashed this dish hihi.
The heirloom carrot piccalilli and walnut dish was fantastic. The carrot was crunchy and this dish was the perfect accompaniment.
My glass of NZ Pinot Noir was just perfect, and not something that I'd generally order. Try this if you can.
I almost forgot, the dessert of stone fruit truffle was delicious. It wasn’t too sweet, and I really enjoyed this dish.
Overall this place was excellent, the food, the wine and the service I can't comment on as this was an invitation.
But in my experience, this place is definitely worth a visit! Try it, you won’t be disappointed.
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This evening we enjoyed the 5 course share menu, a great couple of wines in this stylishly modern venue playing the sound track of our youth. Upstairs dining is more a la cart and less about sharing while the downstairs Saxe Kitchen menu is polar opposite with great tapas dishes and nibbles. We started by sharing four dishes: The Turkish salad with Atlantic salmon. This dish was the lick the plate worthy, the taramamsalata was oh so moorish, the grapes add a burst of sweetness, it had a fabulous mix of flavours and textures.
The Potato flat bread with spicy sauce and pancetta was incredible, the potato bread was a light and like a flaky pastry (and not at all dense) and topped with a fabulous tomato sauce.
Our third starter was the Caulflower and cheese Croquette topped with truffle oil, this wonderfully creamy filling was coated with a crunchy shell and topped with a truffle mayo that bought the dish to life.
Our fourth shared dish was the handmade sautéed gnocchi with wild nettle purée, zucchini and peas, I can only describe this as WOW. This dish had a spectacular depth of flavour and the gnocchi where the lightest I’ve ever tasted. I don’t think words can do this dish justice. It’s death row last meal EVER worthy.
For dietary requirements we had two different mains, we had the Barramundi, with carrots and wombok . The skin was perfectly crispy and the fish itself so so succulent. Perfect.
We also had the BBQ duck leg with beetroot. The duck leg was incredibly fall off the bone tender and flavoursome and I really enjoyed the inclusion of the sweet almost jerky style beetroot.
For dessert we had the stonefruit trifle, this deconstructed dish was elevated with the very clever inclusion of a strawberry sobert. The sorbet cleansed the palate and kept each mouthful fresh, I can’t believe how much I loved this considering trifle doesn’t normally interest me.
Would thoroughly recommend and thank Saxe for their generous hospitality.
Linnie Eats All The Food
+4
Saxe has been on my go-to list and when one of the stooges’ birthday came up, I was in charge of scoping out a place we haven’t checked out. Which means, SAXE it is! At Saxe there’s an a la carte or a set menu and of course, we got the set menu since we are oh so indecisive. Now, you can have the 5 course for $105 or 7 courses for $145. The staff recommended that we start off the 5 course and see how we feel since she was very certain that we’ll be full (that’s a big assumption mate!).
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A brilliant restaurant in the heart of the city. This chef hatted restaurant now offered a shared menu. A lovely wait staff guided us through the menu and she kindly offered suggestions. The service was very attentive and was excellent throughout the night.
As there are lots of small dishes on the menu at reasonable prices you can easily cover the whole menu if you’re with a larger group. As there were only two of us we still managed to mix and match what we both liked and didn’t feel like we were missing out. The highlights of the meal were Asparagus. This vegetarian dish wouldn’t usually be my first choice however this one was brilliant. The piped parma reggiano gave it an incredible taste. The Beef Cheek was melt in the mouth. Accompanied by broth and noodles, this was a very accomplished dish that looked simple in appearance but ate extremely well. By far one of the most tender beef cheeks I have eaten for a long time. The dessert of Brillat Savarin And Mango Cheesecake was served in a jar with layers of creamy cheese and pops of mango and sorbet. Really well constructed and not overly sweet with a great balance.
Really worth a detour for and it’s shared menu and top notch service really make it worthy of this.
Fantastic service once we got to the restaurant. The MB9 wagyu rump was the standout dish for me, so tender and full of flavour. I will definitely be back to try the degustation properly next time.
Amazing banquet menu, we go for the 5course with a truffle pasta added into the feast. My partner had the wine pairing and it’s awesome I hope I don’t have to drive!
5-star restaurant totally recommended, website is awesome. Just small thing I kinda put off with the booking fees, don’t like the inflexibility of the reservation system.
Good food after all!
The food here was excellent. We had the degustation I think it was for 5 courses. Everything was delicious and they were very accommodating for our groups dietary requirements. The staff were really good would definitely return. The decor is lovely too.
Can’t even begin to describe the experience! Such an amazing food, texture and tastes. Also the service, Paul recommended the best wine and made the experience soo pleasant! Such a great night!
I had the slippery Jack mushroom gnocchi, delicate texture, definitely a full-bodied dish. The imperial mandarine dessert was so delicious that I had ordered another dessert, pumpkin pie, see photos Everything was to die for, will be back!
Having driven from Perth to Melbourne over three weeks, this was the best meal I have had. They took us in happily past their closing for a Christmas Eve supper that was absolutely one to remember. Excellent food, cracking music, awesome staff, and Joe the chef is as passionate about his craft as his food is a culinary experience. Truly stand out resto and definitely one to try. Five utterly deserved stars!
Fantastic modern Aust menu @Saxemelb with Asian and French influences. Of course we prop ourselves at the bar. I was surprised to discover a Tokubetsu Junmai that went so well with the Mackerel and bonito.
Open since Oct. Must try! Hang with the crew at the bar, have a banter and let them entice you into cocktails, sake, wine and vermouth. Oh...and if you pick the degustation, listen to their suggestions. Your waiter always knows what is best.
Superb Food, Incredible Service and Great Venue. Have the Mushroom Arancini. You won't be sorry.
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