I checked out Shadowboxer, conveniently located in walking distance of South Yarra station and just off Chapel St on a Wednesday night in a party of five. The place was full and yet the service was terrific. Staff were a good bunch of people. Whilst it was 38 degrees outside and every table was full, the place was a sanctuary of comfort with a sophisticated and relaxed vibe. Entrees were brilliant - I can't recommend the duck ribs enough - topped off with a winning combo of delicious plum BBQ sauce and savoury creamy mayo. The poussin was a highlight and the recommend the chic tart for dessert. Our group enjoyed many of the fine local craft beers available, and we recommend the Rye Hard and the terrific Good Times. The place is quintessential Melbourne dining - yet it feels fresh. I'll be back and looking forward to it...
Bloody amazing. Decor was impeccable. Ambiance delightful. Service incredible and unique. Drinks were top notch. Food was devine, duck ribs caught me almost licking the plate, barramundi melted in my mouth and we missed out of the chocolate tart and had the panacotta with fairy floss. It was amazeballs. Will definitely be back to try the chocolate tart. An amazing and incredible dining experience. Compliments to the amazing chef. This place is going to knock melbourne's food scene off its socks. Check it out now before it gets booked out for months in advance!!
The best food I have ever had, especially considering my food intolerances. (The whole menu except one dessert item is gluten free!!!) The staff were so friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The place looks and feels welcoming and warm. We had a great night out and we will definitely be back!
Walking down Toorak Rd Saturday night looking for somewhere to eat and found Shadowboxer that had just opened so thought we'd give it a try - fabulous!! A breath of fresh air in South Yarra. A great range of wines and beers, fabulous food and excellent service staff! The duck ribs and the chocolate tart were ones to remember. Will definitely be returning......
Such a beautiful space and ambiance inside and a lovely courtyard at the front to sit out in the sun and enjoy. A really lovely spot along Toorak Rd. Food is deliscious, great for sharing. The duck ribs were ridiculous! Staff and service is fantastic. Cocktail and wine selection, yum. We tried a really nice red and a couple of cocktails. A really great way to try the best of what Aussie produce is on offer. We'll be back soon!
A wonderful addition to the Toorak Rd, South Yarra precinct. I have such fond memories of the previous Italian restaurant on this site (which my family were regulars of for as long as I can remember). However, I'm sure that the old regulars will be thrilled to swap bruschetta for duck wings! Almost the entire menu is gluten free, and there is an impressive, but not overwhelming, drinks list. Highly recommend.
You can't go past this refreshing and inviting new bar/restaurant in south yarra. After going on their opening night I can confidently say there is nothing quite like this in the area. Amazing food focusing on fresh and local produce, and an incredible cocktail and drinks list. Try this place out, I guarantee you won't disappointed... warning *the duck ribs with homemade BBQ sauce may become addictive*
I had my birthday dinner here on Saturday night - first visit to the restaurant so took a bit of a risk, but the fixed menu (shared plates) sounded delicious, the price per person was reasonable, I wanted something a bit fun (bar/restaurant) and the place is generally pumping when I go by. The food on the night was bloody tasty, and the service from Nick and the rest of the team was fantastic. They juggled everything with aplomb and made sure we had a great night. Have already been back once, and very glad to have this as a newly discovered local!
Heard about it.
Tried it. Loved it.
Friendly staff, wonderful ambience, great menu.
Zucchini flowers, duck ribs, wagyu beef, amazing pork and crackling, roasted cauliflower, beans and so much more....Yummilicious!
Congratulations Luke, Lizzie, Nick and your guys and girls.
Thanks for a fabulous night.
Went last night, food was excellent could not fault. Service was fantastic and the whole place had a great ambiance. Would recommend as you could not leave this place disappointed
Great place for a wonderful meal with a friendly and welcoming staff , enjoyed everything about this place !
5 stars! Excellent loved it! Wonderful dining experience, superb staff, food excellent - highly recommend the fish - a great new addition to South Yarra, fresh & very cool! I'll be back!
Intimate place with great service and amazing food. I feel like the whole menu will be good, need to come back!
Amazing! The food, drinks and staff were great; catering for a family with two young children and many gluten free options. It' s a small building..... but don't let that deceive you; it packs a punch! It's one of those rare places that really does accommodate everyone.
I had the pleasure of dining at Shadowboxer on Monday night for my birthday. Amazing food and fantastic staff. Nothing was too much trouble including allowing friends to bring a cake, which the staff presented with a personalised Happy birthday. Thank you for making my experience so wonderful.
Thanks Nick and team for a lovely evening. Fantastic food, even better service. This is a special place - keep it up guys!
Such a great bar. Solid wine and cocktail list and food to back it up. I could drink here forever.
A step above many. Really knowledgable staff, great range of wine and spirits (great gin selection!) yum food, and aesthetically it's just perfect. I feel like I'm going to be fighting my way into this newbie once summer has kicked in and the locals have caught on ...
Delicious food and cocktails, beautiful spot and amazing service. Big fan of this place!
I was there yesterday for the first date. Had a blast. Tried all desserts and had ordered few drinks. They were fantastic. Super helpful and friendly staff. Thank you very much.
Found this hidden gem for pre-drinks. Only had the chance to try the pork cheek croquette, chips, yuzu highball and espresso martini. It was amazing - cant wait for the chance to go back.
Food was excellent đ - would definitely recommend
Fantastic place! 3rd time here, never fails to please. Have tried many different dishes, all full of flavour while catering to my many allergies.
Thanks guys, my new fav place.
P.s. Best espresso martini I've ever had!!
Beautiful little restaurant/ wine bar, perfect for date night. The wine menu has great variety, and the food menu, though small, has enough to pique ones interest and satisfy the palate. The duck ribs were divine, we loved the forbidden rice crackers but the standout was the night's special: Kangaroo tartare with horseradish. Bold flavours, elegantly executed. This was our first time in this gorgeous South Yarra gem, hopefully not the last.
Happy sunny Sunday here at Shadowboxer!
Outstanding service and the best duck ribs ever, if you are ever craving a cold drink and some great snacks this is the place to go!
A regular spot for me. Lovely wine and good selection. Nice staff. Food is a bit over priced but always of Hugh standard. Nice out door seating.
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I wouldn't have discovered Shadowboxer if not for One Piece Left, and what a shame it would have been! Cosy, charming and casual, coupled with delicious food and delightful hospitality.
Dining with Timinmelbourne and Simmyeats.Melb and our respective partners often mean too much food and wine, and again this was the case. The food were mostly hits, with a few misses. I adored the sweet potato and gruyĂšre fritters and duck ribs - the former being cooked to a crisped perfection yet retaining a gooey and rich center, and the latter for its amazing rich taste paired with the smoky house BBQ sauce.
The mains were all wonderful, especially the tender and moist beef cheek and the beautifully cooked confit duck leg. Being a chips addict, I couldn't go past the hot and crunchy oregano salt chips too.
I'm in the same boat with FWG regarding the misses. The mushrooms gnocchetti and venison ragu cavatelli could benefit from a more robust flavour, and the desserts, save for the dark chocolate and cumquat fondant, didn't particularly excite my taste buds.
Despite the misses, it was still undoubtedly a very enjoyable meal for me!
4.5/5
Well this place is amazing! The food the series and the wine list was spot on for me. I had such a great time w Hello. Imnikki, Simmyeats.Melb and our respective partners.
From the outset our entrees just blew me away, with such delicious, delicate flavours. The duck pate for me was outstanding, the home made bread was delicious!
The beef cheeks was at another level as was the venison. Sooo many highlights, too numerous to mention them all. The duck ribs need a mention though as they were the highlight of the night for me, with a smoky BBQ buttery sauce! Simply perfection on a plate.
And the desserts were fantastic except for 1 which was a little unusual for me, but otherwise it was an exceptionally good night. With great company, and reasonably priced for such outstanding food.
This place is a must visit!
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What a gem Shadowboxer is, as soon as you enter the restaurant you feel the warmth and hospitality from the staff. Decor is great and the overall restaurant vibe is really good!
Myself and partner teamed up with Tim.E, Bearabbit and their partners, we came here thanks to the recommendation from One Piece Left - thanks Helen & Davin :)
We ordered many dishes to share, most of them were great which was the duck ribs (they were sensational!!), beef cheek, confit duck, brussel sprouts and the fritters. The lamb neck was also nice and it was very tender and melt in your mouth. My least favourite dishes were the parfait chicken liver, I think there was a cheese in this and it was extremely overpowering and not to my taste. The gnochetti and cavatelli also lacked seasoning and only 1 out of the 3 desserts I liked. The chocolate fondant was out of this world, yummy.Â
We had 3 bottles of wine which were all very good, the waiter helped us choose these. We had 3 or so different waiters all of which were fantastic, accomodating and awesome - thank you!Â
A very fun night had and I recommend a visit here.
Great for casual drink & nibble or a nice dinner - not pretentious as all, just what South Yarra needs! Great staff and even better food, with a fantastic range of drinks.
This Diner Is Anonymous
+5
This place is at the end of my street, and is a breath of fresh air in South Yarra. It manages to perfectly balance a relaxed vibe with a more rowdy one, and you can either pop in for a quick one on the way to somewhere else, or settle in for the afternoon/evening. The staff are SO good and so helpful, there's a lot of heart and soul in this place. Wine recommendations are easily given, and there's fantastic food to boot. I've only had the corn fritters, but they were exceptional. They love dogs, so it's the perfect place to bring your hound friend. Absolutely nothing to not love here.
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Iâd been wanting to check Shadowboxer out for a while and for whatever reason waited too freakinâ long, I wish Iâd come so much sooner.
A Sunday night dinner with a friend proved to be a struggle given an immense hangover. The guy greeting me at the door saw my struggle and had sparkling water and an understanding look on hand at all times throughout the night, I will be forever grateful to him.
Their outdoor patio space is bright and light, soaking up just enough ambiance of the street (the million SUVs on Toorak Road donât stand a chance of annoying you). Itâs a great spot for some Sunday sippers.
The zucchini flowers are a must have. Letâs face it, theyâre a must have at any restaurant really, arenât they? Donât go past them - these are in my top three Iâve ever had. Generous portions and flavour flow through to the mains too, where a special of the day - squid ink coated soft shell crab blew our socks off. Round it out with their middle eastern flavoured main chicken dish and youâll be a satisfied diner.
Great staff, know their stuff. Some delicious cocktails are in my plan for when I visit sans-hangover. A decent wine list backs that up too.
Iâll be back sooner rather than later!
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I was just ambling thru my reviews, and found I had not done Shadow Boxer. I could not believe I have been so discourteous, given I have been a regular since they opened 13 months ago. This is about a weekly venue for me now.
I am not a food junkie, itâs the total experience that matters, and these guys deliver it. So does the venue!
The food is outstandingly cooked and presented. The chef, a partner in the business, has just got better and better as her confidence has grown. The beef rib falls off the bone (my favourite), the roast chicken improves with each iteration (the menu seems to upgrade each couple of months). The charcuterie board and cheese choices along with the small sharing dishes makes it easy for me to return, time and again.
The venue has been carefully conceived, but with professionally tempered passion. The front of house is nearly always full, but a roomy interior and hospitable hosts always find me a spot.
The 3 partners have solid industry experience, along with a passion shared by their staff. This is now reading like a commercial to me, but it is far from that. From a 7/7 eating out persons perspective, it has moved to the top of contemporary Toorak/Sth Yarra eating scene, and I am a local. This team is here to stay. Hopefully a wake up call for many of the rather jaded fellow Restauranters.
I am a red wine man but I notice the expertise shown by the head of bar is well rewarded by enthusiastic cocktail drinkers. He is pretty good on his wines too. Pricing for Food and Drink is about average for better places in the area.
I am not sure I have done it before, but this is a 5/5. Well done guys!
Geoff Birtles
Located just around the corner from Chapel Street on Toorak Road, this swanky little wine bar & restaurant has created quite the hype since co owners Michael, Shelly, Luke and Nick opening itâs doors in late 2016. . ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE. Space may be limited, however the vibe makes up the modern yet classy feel. You are welcoming by the quaint little white outdoor seating area, perfect for these gorgeous Melbourne days with a delicious cocktail in hand.
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What an amazing place with personalised service and amazing drinks. I donât drink during the day so opted for mocktails. Nick our host asked me what I like and they individualised this to my request which was a great touch and so many restaurants these days find this hard to do. We were a group of 4 with one child and I canât speak highly enough of the great service. The food is a credit to fresh and clean finish on all their dishes and there was not one dish that was not a 10/10. Iâm not going to go through each dish because I encourage everyone to try this restaurant, they will be at the taste of Melbourne 2017 but why wait in line for a small dish when you can have the real thing. I will say my favourite dish was the roast chicken...absolutely off the scale, Iâm going back this week for lunch just to scoff down another one of these. Iâll finish in saying I eat out at good restaurants every day of the week, I reckon Iâve just found my âchic go to placeâ as this restaurantâs Service and food is âtop shelfâ Thank you Nick and the lovely girl behind the bar, everything was sensational đđ»đ
A local favourite. You always get a terrific meal and the crew behind the bar know exactly what they're doing! South Yarra needed this place!
Absolutely delicious ! Excellent staff who explained every item on the menus . The food was top notch ! Will be back again for sure . I loved the music and atmosphere
Great service - friendly, chatty but not intrusive! The crispy skinned pork belly is to die for and my friend's beef short rib looked and smelt amazing! We shared the charcuterie for entree which had 3 different cuts, nice but pricy for just a few shavings!
Cool little place with awesome cocktails. Great service with a very nice atmosphere. Had to get to a movie so we couldn't stay long but I'll definitely be back.
Enjoyed A midweek dinner here on a rainy night. With high ceilings and classic simple look the dinning room is fit for purpose with good table spacing. Duck ribs were moist and more meat than you would think, with plenty of Sauce to rub into. Food presented with care with a slight Asian twist. Beef short rib should be the crowd pleaser, with excellent masterstock jus and just-right portion size. Corn and broccoli sides just right, Broccoli fresh and zesty and being shaved smaller doesn't look intimidating to try and finish it all. Corn has that satisfying moisture crunch.
Clean bathrooms an knowledgeable service with questions about the food.
Smaller Menu means Tasty food and everything sells.
Dined here on Saturday night with 3 friends and we were so impressed with the experience. The service provided to us by our Kiwi waiter was some of the best I've received - he was exceptional and could not be faulted. The cocktails (particularly the Yuzu Gimlet) were delicious and well executed. The space is lovely and the prices fantastic for the quality and portion size. The only thing I wasn't blown away by was the vegetarian main on offer - the roasted cauliflower dish. I've seen photos of the dish here on Zomato but what I was presented with looked quite different - it was just a mound of quinoa covering up everything else. It lacked the refinement/sophistication of the other dishes and I only ate a few mouthfuls (the side dishes appealed to me more so I focused on these). Despite this dish, I will rave about this place and recommend everyone check it out. I will definitely be back.
Super friendly and professional floor staff. Great locale and a nice room. Only had a little snack; this gave me a wanting for things to come. The duck ribs were great. This venue definitely needs a return visit.
Fantastic addition to the South Yarra dining scene. The staff were friendly and attentive but not intrusive and the modern style menu offered a wide range of delicious sounding options. For entree we shared the zucchini fritters which came with lemon labne and ricotta salata. The fritters were super light and full of zucchini and the labne added a nice creamy element. For main I ordered the beef short rib which came with eggplant and celeriac purée and pickled kohlrabi. We also shared the shaved broccoli as a side. The short rib was absolutely brilliant. The meat was incredibly tender and flavoursome. And the broccoli was the perfect side to cut through the richness of the rib. Will definitely be back!
Shadowboxer is a contemporary wine bar and restaurant in South Yarra that focuses on showcasing high quality, locally-sourced produce. Open since the end of 2016, Shadowboxer is the brainchild of co-owners Michael, Shelly, Luke and Nick, all of whom have extensive experience working in the hospitality industry throughout Melbourne. The venueâs title stems from multiple stories related to the owners, the cutest of which was the story of Michael and Shellyâs daughter, who used to âshadowboxâ when they were refurbishing the venue before opening.
Cocktails are out of this world! Sophisticated! Loved the rose granita oysters - especially during happy hour. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable! Cheers guys - looking forward to more treats!
Shadowboxer is a contemporary wine bar and restaurant in South Yarra that focuses on showcasing high quality, locally sourced produce. Itâs the brainchild of co-owners Michael, Shelly, Luke and Nick, all of whom have extensive experience working in the hospitality industry throughout Melbourne.
SHADOWBOXER
Wow... Shadowboxer! We are in love! Excellent service and the food was insanely delicious. Extremely attentive and knowledgeable staff. Very generous servings for entree (we ordered the duck ribs and zucchini fritters) and main (we ordered the barramundi and cauliflower dish). While shadowboxer may at first appear a little pricey, this becomes understandable with both serving size and quality. All dishes were rich but refreshing and tasty. Great combination of flavours for example cauliflower with spiced hummus and beetroot gel. All cocktails were delicious including "grounds for divorce" and the "yuzu gimlet". Peppermint crisp dessert is to die for - especially the pistachio home made ice cream- definitely one to share. The restaurant has a beautiful fit out with local Australian art adorning the walls. Great ambience and overall excellent- we'll be back!
How you could rate this restaurant anything but 5 is beyond me, have made it my regular! Â The service is outstanding. Â Food and drinks are exceptional and so reasonably priced. Â The duck ribs, wagyu and zucchini fritters are my favs. Â The desserts are so beautifully presented and delicious. Â Recently ordered the Stone Fruit Tart, not normally something I'd choose, it blew me away! Strongly recommend this one.
Loved it! To me it felt more like a relaxed upscale eatery, I'm not sure i would consider the feel to be that of a wine bar, but we were there to eat on a Sunday arvo which may have influenced things.
The vibe was very laid back but service was extremely friendly and attentive. The menu has good variety and a few vego options which is good. The local spritz was great and i had at least 5 (oops but try and you will see~).
The drink and food menus were very complimentary and i really can't think of a bad thing to say about it! I imagine it would be very busy on a weekend but obviously, because it's so enjoyable. Recommend!
What a pleasant addition to South Yarra this is.
Being an old lover and customer of Borsch, I was pleasantly surprised to be seated and handed menus by none other than the lovely Shelly herself.
Think borsch grown up with a bit of class, this place will do nothing but well long term, filling a major hole in the area (a decent wine/cocktail bar).
A new regular for me.
Cool new spot on Toorak Road for Friday afternoon happy hour. The duck ribs and oysters were tasty. Good people watching sitting on the patio. Minimalist decor. Interested to see what lunch / dinner holds.
In a not too popular patch on Toorak road sits Shadowboxer. Thursday night drinks turned into a few nibbles and then some. We started with the duck ribs-surprisingly meaty things they were, tender with a slightly spicy but sweet BBQ sauce and Jalapeño aioli. A great starter. What followed was the 1/2 poisson, barramundi with clams, peas and parsley foam plus green beans with ricotta salata and cayenne. I can't fault these dishes; they were expertly prepared and presented. The service was friendly and knowledgable. The mains were a little late but we didn't mind and were rewarded with some very tasty complimentary chips to nibble between courses. The space is intimate and airy at the same time with some tables outside on a raised deck for people watching. Shadowboxer is a welcome newcomer to this bit of South Yarra and it delivers a KO in service, style and food.
Shadowboxer: the new cool kid on the block
I checked out the new Shadowboxer restaurant, conveniently located in walking distance of South Yarra station and just off Chapel St on a Wednesday night in a party of five. The place was full and yet the service was terrific. Staff were a good bunch of people. Whilst it was 38 degrees outside and every table was full, the place was a sanctuary of comfort with a sophisticated and relaxed vibe. Entrees were brilliant - I can't recommend the duck ribs enough - topped off with a winning combo of delicious plum BBQ sauce and savoury creamy mayo. The poussin was a highlight and the recommend the chic tart for dessert. Our group enjoyed many of the fine local craft beers available, and we recommend the Rye Hard and the terrific Good Times. The place is quintessential Melbourne dining - yet it feels fresh. I'll be back and looking forward to it...
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