Review Half Acre - Melbourne

Hidden Gem tucked away in Sth Melbourne. Great place for a meal or function. While the rustic farm look feels warm and inviting, the exquisite food was the stand-out item for us. Presented by cheery staff, the balance and unique combination of flavour was 10/10. 👌 The service was quick, friendly and attentive. My favourite was the Porterhouse. And while the food is exquisite - the wine and cocktails cannot be ignored. 🍸 The Salted Caramel Martini gets my vote! Look for a brick wall with an open barn door. 🚪 Easy to miss. Hard to forget. Highly recommended.

Beautiful interior and we came here for bottomless brunch. The drinks were so refreshing and the bar tenders were so helpful with creating drinks for us. I loved each dish which was so well created. Although not too filling for 4, each dish was so well made and rich.

Enjoyed the bottomless brunch here. Pretty venue. Good food. Will be back to try the lunch option. Didn’t love everyone having to self serve at the bar, but the super engaging bar tender made it fun.

🐟 Kingfish Crudo 🐚 WA Scallops 🥩 Grass Fed Porterhouse, Black Garlic Butter 🐓 Rotisserie Chicken Platter 🌽 Whole Corn off the Cob, Smoked Almond 🥔 Fried Sebago Potato, BBQ Sauce Half Acre is hidden in the backstreets of South Melbourne and houses a 95 seat restaurant, an outdoor courtyard as well as unique function and event spaces. The venue is a stunning, warm space featuring an open kitchen cooking up Modern Australian fare from brunch to dinner. 🍃 We dined in the glasshouse for dinner, opting for a few shared entrees, sides and their Rotisserie Tuesday platters. The Kingfish (and every dish for that matter) was beautifully presented however was deceiving and lacked flavour. The scallops however were absolutely amazing and possibly my favourite dish of the night. The steak sadly was cooked well done rather than medium-rare, which was a shame because everything else about it was sensational. My brother was way too hungry at the time to send it back. The rest of us enjoyed the very generous Rotisserie Platters, each coming with some dips, pickled vegetables and salad. The Chicken had crispy skin and was moist, the Lamb had a great char and was not at all fatty. Both side were delicious, the corn had a nice heat to it and the potatoes were extra crispy, just the way we like it. Almost all of the dishes came with saltbush which was interesting yet welcomed. All of us woke up severely dehydrated the next day and through the night 😂 Half Acre are well known for their bottomless brunches and lunches with DIY Cocktail Bars, which I would love to try if and when they bring back their buffet style service. They also have live music Sunday Sessions! 🎶 ⭐️ 4/5 (Great)

The food is fantastic and the service is even more fantastic. Our waiters Charlie S and Charlie were extremely professional and friendly. The lamb is to die for and the DIY cocktails are great!

A pretty big dining venue located in the outskirts of South Melbourne with an open kitchen in the glasshouse dining area, an adjacent bar and also an outdoor space. Came here on a weekday when they had the rotisserie night special but decided on the full acre set menu upon confirming that it was available for single diners as well. The set menu offered a good selection of dishes cooked on woodfire grill and oven with Middle Eastern flavours. The set menu was served over several courses, starting off with the za'artar bread, corn and burrata. Bread had a nice soft chewy texture and paired well with the torched burrata as recommended by the staff; corn was juicy and bursting with a mix of flavours; sweet, savory, citrusy and spicy. Then came a whole half of a roasted cauliflower, soft but not mushy served with creamy nutty tahini, some spices and pickles. Was quite filling at this point so only had half the cauliflower to save room for the meats. First meat dish was the dry aged porterhouse steak and a side of fried potato wedges. Potato wedges were super crunchy; inside still nice and soft with some good BBQ sauce to go with; just a bit too much salt. Steak was not the most tender but had a lot of flavour. There were a lot of condiments for the steak; the caramelised onion jus was the go to with some salt. Final mains was half a chicken with the breast meat and the leg and a large bowl of leafy salad. At this point I was at capacity and could only try a bit of the chicken and it was very tender and juicy; savory and tangy. With enough room for dessert, had the chocolate nemesis which was rich and fudgy; the crème fraîche was a nice touch to smooth out the sweetness. Overall food was very tasty and the staffs were friendly. Extremely great value for single diner for the set menu which can easily be enough food for two people; definitely too much food for one person but fortunately they allow takeaway so no food is wasted. Downside was the long wait between the courses which took 3.5hrs to finish but was probably due to understaffing with only three chefs and two staffs looking after the main dining area as well as a function happening on the night.

Half Acre had a spacious and calming presence. Seated in the glasshouse indoor area, I could see the open kitchen and into the outdoor courtyard. The staff were attentive and warm. We ordered the half acre set menu with the addition of the Moreton bag bug special. All dishes was deceivingly simplistic and comforting. I felt like I was visiting a lovely home set in regional Victoria where the produce and ingredients were fresh from the garden. Vegetables were a feature on the menu. There was a lot of food for the price of the half acre set menu. The cocktails were great and the Pinot noir by the glass was pleasant. I had a great night with my friend, and it was a pleasure catching up with her over a wonderful meal in a beautiful and considered setting.

We tried the bottomless brunch at Half Acre and their tapas style menu will make sure you’re full with your drinks! Being location in a place that hosts weddings, this place is gorgeous! Vibes for days!

crowd (and the dress code) will make you feel little like you’re heading into a. night club rather than a brunch spot, if you don’t mind a room of squawky and. excitable drunk females, given the quality of food  Half Acre is. definitely a great option for a bottomless brunch. – get around to trying it soon

Incredible bottomless lunch! Have tried various throughout Melbourne however this exceeded our expectations!<br/>Amazing food and incredibly friendly and atrentive service.<br/>The location is quite obscure however do not let that fool you - as soon as you walk through the doors you will be transported into a chic atmosphere.<br/>Definitely recommend!

Half acre is located in an unassuming building tucked away from the hustle and bustle of South Melbourne. <br/>🍽 modern Australian food with a middle eastern flare. Chargrilled cabbage - probably the standout of the night which is interesting thing to say about cabbage! Definitely recommend. Harrisa carrots - nicely roasted carrots with a Smokey dressing. Roasted cauliflower - soft cauliflower with a nutty green sauce. Za’atar flatbread - woodfire bread with a middle eastern spice mix that is a perfect accompaniment to a variety of dishes. Chargrilled calamari - perfectly cooked calamari with lemony and herby flavours. Pumpkin and blood orange - delicious! Simple flavours done well. Crispy skinned barramundi - well cooked fish but it came to the table a little colder than I would’ve liked. Plus, very small portion. Grilled chicken - large portion and juicy chicken. Pesto paired well. Prosciutto pizza - pizza base is very good. On the size are condiments you can customise your pizza with such as oregano, Parmesan and chilli flakes. <br/>💁‍♀️ excellent service. Friendly staff throughout the whole process (booking -> dining). Waiter very attentive.

We had a lovely team Christmas lunch here recently, and the table decided to go for half acre pre set menu. Food was super tasty and was in abundance. Loved the variety of vegetables being used in different ways and chocolate nemesis was not quite "River Cafe" standard but still pretty good. Wait staff were lovely too.

Great service and fantastic food - will definitely be back.

Had high expectations going into this bottomless brunch. In looking at the photos, the food, DIY spritz bar and venue looked amazing. The reality however was far from acceptable. 10 minute wait each time to get drinks to which you were served by an Incredibly rude barman. I went up one time and wanted to get 2 drinks as I didn't want to be constantly going up and waiting in line. I then had the barman accuse me of already obtaining my 2 drinks. To which I had to tell him no, it was the other Asian chick not me. My friend also received rude service with him slamming the drinks down in front of her at one point. The general wait staff were also unprofessional and not very friendly. The only positive was the food however was not enough to make up for the incredibly horrible service. Would not recommend.

Very very bad service. Had to wait 30 minutes for our table that was ready. One bar tender that was to busy to serve people at bar and didn’t serve us. No one at host area always had to find staff or call them over. Ridiculous! Food was yummy though.

Half acre is in South Melbourne but when you step inside you’re transported to a place further away, in the country perhaps. It has a beautiful rustic but elegant atmosphere and the food mimics that vibe. Half Acre - wine. We started with some wine and it was divine. Half Acre - wood-fired za'atar bread

Had really high expectations for this place for a weekend brunch/ lunch. Unfortunately it was a massive let down. The bottomless lunch is basically a table (that you wait in a 10 person line for) of a few random bits and pieces (chicken, dip and bread, veggie dishes etc) none of the food particularly stood out and all the popular stuff gets eaten early anyway. The ‘DIY vodka and spritz bar’ was absolutely painful- you wait in line for 15 minutes for a man to pour your vodka and then have a choice of soda water or juice and can add some old looking herbs or fruit. Not to mention the glasses they use must have been so cheap because both of my girlfriends had their glasses chip while they were drinking from them! All up was a pretty painful experience, $65 for a plate of what felt like camp food and 2 vodka sodas and probably 50% of the time you spend there your waiting In line so you don’t even get a chance to enjoy yourself. Do not believe the hype, save your money and go somewhere else.

This is a beautiful venue for a bottomless brunch on a rainy Saturday afternoon however I have to say we were very underwhelmed by the service and set up.<br/>Having been to quite a few bottomless brunches across Melbourne, this was well below par mainly for the service or lack of it.<br/><br/>So for anyone who doesn’t know, it’s basically a self service type thing. If that’s not your jam- I would definitely avoid.<br/><br/>We had to wait 15 mins for our 1.30 booking (2 hour slot) so we were told to line up at bar and help ourselves to drinks. Essentially this was a constant long line with a fairly uninviting girl there filling your glasses up with lots of ice and minimal alcohol.<br/><br/>You then have to join another long line to get a plate for self service smorgasbord. We essentially spent the first 30 mins of our time there lining up.<br/><br/>The saving grace was essentially the food. There is aoven a fantastic wood fire stove and open where they cook pizzas, breads a nd chicken on the fire, which is just absolutely fabulous. The vegetables and dishes had nice twists on standard ingredients and there was a nice mix of food. <br/><br/>However it did feel like a bit like a sizzler buffet. The wait team were highly unprofessional and rude, we were told in no uncertain terms that we were not to have more than 3 drinks pp, with the insinuation we weren’t to be trusted.<br/><br/>We told them that we did it as we didn’t want to be lining up constantly as they did not wait on the table. Everything seemed a hassle at not one of the staff wore a smile or was warm or welcoming, in fact we just felt like a bother.<br/><br/>The kicker was when we went to pay we were ignored then abruptly asked by what we thought was the manager, what we were doing. After asking to pay we were rudely told it was done at the table and then just blankly stared at us. So we went back to the table where another of the unfriendly crew roughed grabbed our cards and took the pricey payment of $65 for a fairly disappointing experience.<br/><br/>I certainly don’t mind paying for a nice afternoon but resent paying to be treated like cattle and a bother when we promised something different.<br/><br/>I wouldn’t return, and would say it’s not worth the money for the lack of service and self serve set up.

Great food, inventive sauces, wonderful wait staff and a pleasant ambience.<br/><br/>A trifle noisy but with so many people enjoying themselves this was a small trade-off<br/><br/>Well worth a visit but you must book ahead.

What an interesting venue. More than one entrance, several spaces, open kitchen, delightful light. The menu is brimming with must haves. We chose calamari, pumpkin and cauliflower which was the standout. Terrific textures and tastes with a cracker crew. Love.

Wow! Saturday 11 May we celebrated my son Andrew and his beautiful wife Alex’s wedding. The kids booked this venue when it was still in construction so I was panicking but let me tell you there was nothing but perfection happening all night. Every morsel of food served was hot and delicious. Nice size portions as well. The service was fantastic. Flic was there at our beck n call always eager to please. <br/>Thank you Half Acre <br/>Ottavia & Phil

The cosy and welcoming space nestled away in the delightful South Melbourne. Unsurprisingly, during the day the dining area is full of natural light and the ambiance throughout is wonderful. <br/><br/>I was invited to their Buffet brunch & DIY cocktails which was so well set out and so inviting! They made me feel right at home and I was made to help myself and any dish I wished to try…..and this including making my own vodka infused cocktails!! #WINNER <br/><br/>They had a stunning live singer who really set the mood to an amazing event! <br/><br/>THE MENU I ENJOYED; <br/><br/>Za’ar wood-fired bread, smoked butter (V) <br/><br/>Shakshuka, eggs in brik (DF, V) <br/><br/>Slow – cooked salmon, smoked yogurt, coriander relish, grilled asparagus<br/><br/>Challah French Toast, plum & blueberry compote, rose sugar (V) <br/><br/>Roasted cabbage, torched goats cheese, chimichurri (GF, V) <br/><br/>Grilled cauliflower, dukkah, tahini (GF, DF, V) <br/><br/>Baked Oear, Saffron & Bay leaf custard, walnut crumb (V)<br/><br/>Spiced Roasted Pineapple, coconut cream, candied ginger (GF, DF, VG)<br/><br/>They first came out with some warm (fresh out of the oven) bread which was absolutely amazing, from here on in I knew I was in for a treat! Then I helped myself to a SPICED vodka orange which was the perfect hint of heat! The Shakshuka was amazing in the brik and the yolk oozed out which was just perfect! Lots of desserts were on offer & it was just a well operated event! Thanks for having us Half Acre!

Half Acre is a beautifully converted warehouse, spacious with minimalist decor. There are also outdoor seating areas and courtyards that are set up perfectly for a few drinks after work. <br/>We are also in love with their take on modern Australian cuisine. We’ve tried almost everything on the menu - roasted cauliflower, grilled cabbage, roasted pumpkin, pizzas (mushroom, prosciutto and margherita), scotch fillet, flathead fish fillet, chicken, and grilled hanger - to name a few! Extremely delicious and very good value also.

We came here for my husband’s birthday dinner, the whole place feels relaxing and casual which is what we love about. I actually didn’t expect the food as much as the interior. However it turned out every single dish we had is amazingly delicious. We spent such a lovely night here and definitely will come back again and recommend others too.

For such a large industrial and modern space, the restaurant feels homey due to the lovely natural lighting and impressive open kitchen and roomy floor plan. We came to dine here as a group of 12 for a friend’s birthday lunch, and were impressed by the service and care in each dish (though not all of them stood out). The waitress that served us especially deserves a shoutout. As the restaurant started getting full, despite being overwhelmed as there were only two service staff, she never lost her smile and had a lovely attitude the whole time.<br/>We ordered an assortment of dishes which included a few of the pizzas, the lamb, the half chicken, cauliflower, potatoes and the kingfish. Everything was lovely, fresh and well-balanced, though came out slowly and a bit irregularly (even when the restaurant was almost completely empty). <br/>Nonetheless, we had a pleasant experience and everyone left pretty satisfied.

I would prefer to rate Half Acre a 3.5/5.<br/>We came on a Tuesday night and it wasn't too busy or quiet. I loved the open space and natural lighting as well as the view of the kitchen. There were some dishes we absolutely loved and others that we found mediocre. The oven roasted tomatoes and cauliflower dishes were our favourites, they were so flavoursome and delicious. Overall it was a pretty nice dining experience and the service was attentive. The menu would probably change a couple times throughout the year so I would revisit.

Gorgeous restaurant with a lovely vibe and great ambiance. The food was simple but tasty. Still can’t get that chargrilled cauliflower out of my mind!

I had dinner here and by the end I just wanted to take off all my clothes and dance. The food was good, however sharing was a little tricky as the meals weren't all portions to share, however they did taste sexy. I would return and there is value to be had. I have included a photo of me in the establishment.

You walk into a very cool atmosphere, as you enter. The staff were excellent and the food and drinks were 5 stars. The tables were very large and great for big groups, probably not so great for intimate dates for 2. But great space and fantastic experience.

Absolutely beautiful food and space- this is the best thing that has opened in the area. We love this place so much we have eaten there 6 times since it opened! Love the woodfired flatbread with smoked butter, grilled cabbage (who knew that vegetables could taste so good? All the vegetable dishes are amazing which makes this place great for vegetarians and vegans) chicken, pizzas and pineapple dessert!! Cannot fault the food here and I can tell that the head chef Eitan really takes pride in the quality and presentation of the meals like a true craftsman! We are very lucky to have this bar / eatery as our local :) The only thing that can be improved is drink service can be quite slow (our drink orders were either forgotten or only brought out after we had finished our meals).

As you enter this space you get the vibe that this is going to be special. We had Sunday lunch and can say it was exceptional in so many ways. The design and decor is matched by a simple but classy menu. I will jump over all the extremely tasty small dishes to highlight the beef short ribs main that was served on hummus and chick peas accompanied by the most scrumptious baguettes cooked in the wood fired oven. Only $25 is a bargain! I do not have photos but would say they would probably not do justice to such an inviting restaurant and bar and function space. Check it out!

Walking into Half Acre, as you turn into the glasshouse dining room, you get hit with the wonderful smell and heat of the grill and woodfired oven. The place feels cosy and welcoming. Unsurprisingly, during the day the dining area is full of natural light and the ambiance throughout is wonderful. <br/><br/> The favourite dishes of our group were the grilled cabbage and cauliflower. The chicken was amazingly tender and succulent as well. <br/><br/>The barramundi came with a fantastic herbed salsa which was also a stand out. <br/><br/>At times drinks were a little slow to arrive at the table (we ate our steak without the red we ordered to have with it) however the service was generally excellent. <br/><br/>The hanger steak was a little small which didn’t bother us, as we had ordered too much, but I can imagine it’s dimensions may disappoint hungry diners. The pizza was good but unremarkable (I’d suggest ordering something more fun). <br/><br/>Wine tip would be the Two Hands Barossa GSM - medium bodied with fruity flavours that hang around on the palate. <br/><br/>For an early dinner the place was quiet but became busy by the time we left. Given the quality of the food I don’t think this will last long so I’d suggest booking ahead, there is however a fantastic courtyard bar that would make any wait for a table enjoyable. <br/><br/>A fantastic dining experience. I’d come back.

Half Acre sees head chef Eitan Doron, who hails from Tel Aviv, put together a selection of contemporary Australian dishes with plenty of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences.

I was looking forward to checking this new place out. First the location is very industrial but there’s the 109 tram is approx 200 m away. <br/>Positive: Great decoration. Good use of natural lighting. Reasonable/good value wine list. <br/>Service: poor. Friday (late) lunch at approx 2pm. Only 4 tables and 4-5 wait staff. It took them 15min to bring us some water and a bottle of Moët. <br/>Food: good use of seasonal veg and seafood. Favours were nice but too simple. The cabbage was a great dish but it’s cabbage!<br/>Overall I’m glad I gave this new restaurant a try. Due to the inconvenience location, poor service and food that I can cook at home... 🤷🏻‍♀️

Recently opened and still unknown to the masses (but not for long), this cool trendy gem is hidden away in the industrial part of South Melbourne/Fishermans Bend. The setting is edgy and raw and the open court yard inviting. Food is share style and delicious. The fresh baked bread with herb butter and king prawns with zucchini tzatziki is a great way to start. Mains included the scotch fillet with pancetta and the flathead fish fillet with pickled carrot and okra. I must just say the grilled cabbage with goats cheese side was insane and an absolute standout... a define must. Staff are amazing, friendly and engaging. Love this place.

Gorgeous interiors, super Delicious food, cozy environment. A lovely addition to the quieter side of South Melbourne! Will definitely be back for the potato pizza - ticks all the boxes!

Recently launched Half Acre marks the birth of something new in Melbourne; a chameleon of spaces that will be ever-evolving and activated with community engagement at its core.