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Decided to finally visit CHEEK after hearing great reviews for months! I was craving American style BBQ so I just couldn't wait any longer to dine at this meat-focused venue. Once we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that their BBQs were all non-traditional and had some sort of asian influences. Although it's not exactly something we expected to have that night, we decided to give it a go
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We got 'Smoked Short Ribs' ($65), 'Hot Meat Donut' ($7), 'Josper Grilled Broccolini' ($8), and 'Sweet n' Sour Cauliflower' ($15). My favourites were Smoked Short Ribs and Sweet n' Sour Cauliflower. 'Sweet n' Sour Cauliflower' was lightly battered and smothered in sweet and sour sauce and miso ranch. I didn't expect much of it at first but was blown away after tasting how flavourful it was. I really enjoyed light crispy chewiness from battering and soury savoury kick from miso ranch. It was so addictingly delicious that I wanted to get another one. Their 'Smoked Short Ribs', which was braised for over 16 hours, had this light sweetness with rich fatty taste - absolutely delicious! I could tell that they mainly used Bulgogi Sauce to marinate the meat. It was so soft and tender to the point where the meat was lliterally melting in my mouth. Highly Recommend these two! Hot Meat Donut was interesting at first but it was basically a donut filled with meat. .
Overall, it was a decent BBQ experience - but I found it a bit too heavy for me. I really regret not getting their "Mash and Gravy" because looking back, that might have been perfect to balance out the fattiness. Regardless, I really enjoyed my experience here :)
Delicious but I enjoyed dexter more.
OMG that's all I have to say about this place every dish was sensational we ordered brisket, chicken burger, meat donuts, cabbage, lamb and all were mouth watering. This is our new favorite restraurant in Melbourne
I was alittle unsure about this place as first as it was a small cosy restaurant but boy am I wrong.
The appetizers blew me away; lamb ribs, cauliflower and tartare. Just shook the ground beneath me like not another restaurant can top.
I was sure that that the mains wouldn't be as amazing or just alright but once again I was blown away by the food.
Flavour bombs in every bite, the steak was just amazing and cooked to perfection.
Sauce perfection in every dish.
This place is a must visit, a must try, a must return.
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My friend and I recently visited CHEEK on a Friday night for the first time and it was an excellent dining experience (minus the extreme humidity that evening). Staff were extremely friendly and the venue had a really nice atmosphere.
🔆LOCATION🔆
CHEEK is situated on Swanston Street, between Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale Street. The restaurant is not at street level, so you need to look out for a small entry door way with a white tiled wall that has the restaurant’s name on it. You will see a long flight of stairs, luckily you only need to walk up halfway (if you walk up to the very top you will be at Peaches).
As you enter through the large sliding door, to the immediate right you see the bar/registration counter and direct line of sight to the kitchen with lots of duck and other meats hanging on display.
To the left there is a long large communal high table and full wall display alcohol bottles. The décor is simple, with white and light blue painted walls.
🔆SERVICE🔆
The service at CHEEK was beyond exceptional. High praises for all the staff, fast and efficient with our orders and our waitress was so friendly and gave us great advice on food items. Empty dishes removed ever so promptly. Water is also filled up even if your glass is only half full.
🔆MENU/PRICE🔆
Between two people we ordered:
2 x Hot Meat Donuts, $7 each
(Sugar coated, pineapple salsa)
Beef Tartare, $16.00
(Korean plum sauce, crispy won tons)
Hanging Tender (300grams) $33.00
Smoked Short Rib, $49.00
Grilled Broccolini, miso, lemon, $8.00
🔆VERDICT🔆
For entree we had the Hot Meat Donut. It’s like East meets West, a cross between Chinese Char Siu Bao X Hot Jam Donut! Haha, that’s the best way of how I can describe it. On the outside it looks like a jam donut, and when you bite into it, its light and fluffy with a bit of sweetness to it. Once you continue further into the donut you can taste the goodness of the sweet smoked grain-fed brisket. For some crazy reason, it somehow works! The first few bites, I was a little uncertain, but as I continued on and polished off the last bit of the donut I was thoroughly convinced that this invention really works! Brilliant!
Next, the beef tartare. The beef was cut into thin small chunks, lightly seasoned in plum sauce and topped with pine nuts, thinly chopped spring onions, white and black sesame seeds. Two sheets of nicely deep fried won ton skins rested on top of the beef tartare. It was simple, yet delicious! Another stand out dish!
For the mains we had the Hanging Tender which was on the specials menu board. It’s actually my first time eating grass-fed Hanging Tender steak. It is apparently more flavourful and also super tender as it is the cut between the loin and ribs. The meat was presented on a large round plate pre-sliced and in a light flavoured gravy. It was seared very well on both sides and cooked medium rare as is recommended for this type of steak. Cooked to perfection, the meat is extremely tender and has a nice strong meaty flavour.
The Smoked Short Ribs was my absolute favourite. The meat was literally melting in my mouth, it was sooo soo tender and delicious. If I had a bowl of rice, I’d mix the gravy from the smoked short ribs into the rice haha!
To finish off our mains we ordered the Broccolini to help balance off the heaviness of the meat, it was nicely charred and sprinkled with sea salt and a wedge of lemon.
Although we had a very “meaty” dinner, everything was super delicious! We left will very full stomach and unfortunately no space for dessert. I would be interested to return to try their BBQ duck!
Wow, the hype certainly lives up the expectations. I did expect a lot being the sister restaurant to Dexter, I was not disappointed.
My friends and I tried a selection of the meats which were to die for! Omg, soooo amazing. We also had the chicken wings and meat donuts to start, both of these dishes unique and delish. I wasn't sure how I would go with the donuts, but I really like them! Definitely a try if you are curious, you won't be disappointed. The bone marrow mash is a favourite of mine at Dexters so when I saw this as a side I knew we had to order it, it was everything and more! The broccolini was also very enjoyable. For dessert we shared the duck fat caramel sundae which was another stellar dish.
Staff did their best to accomodate us, however I feel one more person on the floor would have been more beneficial.
I can't wait to come back, such a great restaurant.
Cheek is the restaurant from the team behind Dexter. I used to go Dexter often when I lived in the north. Love their food. #lunarnewyeareve the only critics I had is the shoe strings fries. Too much salts on top of them, the dip came with it is good enough.
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Expectations were high for Cheek seeing that it is helmed by the geniuses behind Dexter. Happy to say that expectations were not only met but were exceeded by a long shot. Up a flight of staircase and you’ll be greeted with the delicious smell of meat and the cheerful hospitality of the staffs.
The iconic meat doughnut has been and still is one of the most amazing dish that I have ever tried. Think a soft fluffy ball, crisped exterior, dusted with sugar and paprika, and filled with meaty and tender beef brisket. Sweet and savoury, rich and bold, this is an epic dish.
The dirty wings, which is fried chicken wings coated with chicken salt and accompanied by hot sauce, is pure perfection. Succulent and crunchy pieces of chicken, coupled with the addictive taste of chicken salt and the spicy kick from the hot sauce.
The meats here are amazing and needs no introduction. The smoked short rib was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the striploin steak was incredibly flavoursome. The dry aged BBQ duck was sensational in both taste and texture. No hints of dryness at all, and there was a subtle hint of smokiness that perfectly complements the natural flavour of the duck.
Even the simple broccolini was beautifully grilled, and of course, we couldn’t go past the deep and buttery bone marrow mash and gravy. The duck fat caramel sundae with peanuts and raspberry was reminiscence of a peanut butter and jelly concoction – absolutely fantastic in taste. A tad runny otherwise it would be a 10 out of 10.
An all-round amazing meal, one that I will definitely be recommending to others and I myself will be returning again very soon.
Food is amazing. Perfectly cooked meat. Will definitely visit again.
Rated: 4.5/5
To try:
- hot meat donuts; love the saucy meat enveloped in a fluffy sugar coated donut
- smoked lamb ribs; these were absolutely delicious, one per person isn't enough. Risk of having sesame seeds in your teeth afterwards is high but worth it
- new york striploin steak; cooked to perfection with the bone marrow and jus giving it a superior meaty punch
- bone marrow mash; no explanation needed, order it.
To skip:
- the meal beforehand so you can order Cheek's whole menu!
Cheek currently seems underrated, get in quick before you can no longer just walk in and have a table!
Tip: Check out their menu on Mryum to assist with your ordering.
Great service followed by even better wagyu rump steak! Best I've had in Melbourne in a long time.
Being a sister restaurant of Dexter we had high expectations, we started off with the hot meat donuts (which was my fave at Dexter) , this rendition was a bit more spicier than I remembered.
We then got the short rib and the dry aged rib eye – the bone marrow mash is a must have if you come here! I could eat buckets and buckets of it
What a delight to find this restraunt hidden away on the second level we were all really impressed with the super deluxe meat doughnuts which were highly recommended by our friend. Along with my steak and fries this place hit the mark. We were all super impressed with the attentive service and great food too.
Eat_today_diet_tomorrow
+5
Came here with my family on Friday night and almost missed their entrance. The restaurant is a bit dark inside and has a cool hipster vibes with lots of bottles displayed around. We started with cauliflower, lamb ribs and charcoal edamame. They all are very tasty. Their edamame is really unique and we love it.
Then we had a large rib eye steak, pork loin and charred broccolini as our mains. The meat dishes were so juicy and tender. We highly recommend this place.
As I had said at the beginning of this review, Cheek is easily the best meal I’ve had all year. Not only were there no misses, but pretty much every dish was a hit. Combined with flawless service and an effortlessly cool venue, I’m hard pressed to find anything I didn’t like. There’s really not a whole lot more to say, other than to get yourself there ASAP!
Was so blown away by the meat here 😍 We ordered the duck, short rib and beef brisket as well as the edamame and beef tartae for entree.
The duck skin was sooooo crispy- eat it hot otherwise it’s not as nice when it gets cold.
The short ribs were amazing!!! The meat melts in your mouth and it’s just the best experience.
Beef brisket was quite nice but quite a lot of fatty parts on there.
Will defs be back
It was my first time dining at Cheek, and I was entirely impressed.
They have friendly waiters walking around, and fantastic food to back it up. I was curious about the meat donut, which turned out to be the most average dish of the night.
While most of their dishes were great, the highlights were the wagyu brisket was very well done, in terms of texture and taste. Had no regrets ordering their smoked short ribs, since it was the most tender meat I've ever had. And as simple as mash and gravy can be, theirs was superb - creamy and tasty without being too sickening.
Will definitely be back to try the rest of their menu at some point.
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I could never bring myself to travel all the way to Preston to visit Dexter, seeing as my workmate was going that night I thought I'd give Cheek a go and we'd compare our experiences. Up the flight of stairs (very top is Peaches) and through sliding doors is a bare space, hanging ducks and bottles of wine line the wall. I however couldn't resist a good cocktail, Business Time was a mixture of mescal, tequila, blood orange and honey. Right down my alley, sweet and tart.
The menu is very refined and as a result, the food came out relatively quick, it did not take long at all for the meat donuts to come out after placing the order. Being one of their signature dishes I expected big things, it's one of those "I don't know what's happening but it's amazing". The firm sugary donut was filled with Asian bolognese sitting on top of some spicy mango jam. I'd complain that there was too much happening but I enjoyed the mild heat, sweet yet savoury dish. I won't hesitate to order this at any of their restaurants.
The lamb ribs were equally impressive with its sticky sweet sauce, a bit of lime to take the edge off. There was some good caramelisation on them with the perfect fat to meat ratio. One of my favourites of the night was the beef tartare, melt in your mouth dices of raw beef in plum sauce mixed with pine nuts and radish. The crispy wonton sheets were are great vessel to scoop up all that meat.
We also got their wood roast cabbage to balance out all the meat and it was downright dirty. The cabbage was very creamy and rich from the butter sauce, excellent charring on the outside. Kind of reminds me a lot like nasu dengaku.
For main we got their smoked short ribs which was deceivingly tender and juicy. If we weren't so full we'd appreciate this more but undoubtedly this is a stellar dish with plenty of meat on the bone. For sides we got their mash and gravy, very smooth with a heavy garlic presence. Their grilled brocollini was heavily charred, some more than others. I didn't mind it that much but my dining companions thought they overdid it.
At this point we were contemplating on dessert but could not pass up on their ice cream sundae, the duck fat caramel being the selling point. Unfortunately this was the only dish we disliked that night, overly sweet, too many smooth textures (other than the candy on top) and just overall sensory overload.
Despite that, everything else was top notch, these guys really know how to work with meat and integrate Asian elements into their American dishes. I'll be sure to pop my head into their other establishments given this impressive show of food.
Visited here with a few friends for dinner on a weekend a few months back. The restaurant is lovely and the food was quite nice. We ordered about 7 things and enjoyed all of them, the highlight being the Short Rib. Was falling off the bone and had a beautiful smokey flavour. Definitely will have to go back again soon.
Cheek has an inviting atmosphere. A bunch of share plates inspired by American, Chinese and Korean BBQ and quality wine is how I like to do dinner and with food like this there is no wonder we keep going back again and again and again. Cheek - charcoal edamame. We get the charcoal edamame every time because it’s the best way to start. The edamame is charred and coated in chimichurri butter and it’s fricken delicious. Definitely whets the appetite.
Visited with some friends in August 2019. We had a booking for 8pm and the place was busy and very vibey. Awesome soundtrack, playing late 90s pop. Despite our booking, our table wasn’t ready for about 10 minutes but the staff were very friendly and gave us each a glass of Prosecco as a goodwill gesture. We were impressed!
We had the $60 suggested menu, featuring the meat donuts, lamb ribs, cauliflower, and some other options. The meat donuts were amazing. Everything was fantastic and served in great time and of very high quality. The only downside is that the serving sizes could perhaps be a bit bigger as myself and another friend were still hungry afterwards. The dessert options, consisting of only two types of ice cream, are limited too.
I would recommend this as a great place to have dinner with friends.
My new favourite place to eat. Sometimes the food gods smile upon you and lead you to an establishment whereby your tastebuds are delightfully massaged into heavenly bliss, where one wishes time itself would stand still, so that each mouthful is savoured to its fullest. I literally didn't want to swallow knowing that the incredible flavours within my mouth would disappear - my despair turned to delight with the knowledge there was still more on my plate and that at a moments notice I could order more... The Smoked Short Rib - Nirvana. I had to give the place 5 stars because of this dish alone. No doubt i would have given a Michelin Star had the beer been ice cold from a glass stubbie. I'll overlook this minor mistake given the Food AND service was so good. Enjoy
Absolutely delicious!!!! Really enjoyed this meal, the steak was just so juicy and j don’t know how it’s possible for cauliflower to taste so good!!!
Cheek was recommended to us by a friend and gotta say I left with a cheeky grin!!
Super flavoursome food with wonderful service. Cocktails were a hit!! I was a big fan of the meat donuts and cauliflower ..... holy smackos was not expecting the flavours from those two dishes. Definitely highly recommend these are dishes to try.
We ordered the lamb ribs and .... it was a tad too salty for us but nonetheless i was happy with the rest of our other picks 👍🏼
This restaurant stands out by offering something a bit different, but still with quality, class and great service. The meat-based menu features innovative flavour combinations that really work well. Try the mash & gravy!
Hidden away under a bar, Cheek was pretty difficult to find - my friend and I kept walking up the stairs to the bar and completely missed Cheek (just go up the first flight of stairs and there’s a sliding door labelled ‘Cheek’). Had the meat donuts, pork loin, beef rib, duck, fries and sweet and sour cauliflower and mash and gravy. The meat donuts were a bit on the sweet side and is a very out-there dish although the flavours did work well. The beef ribs, mash and gravy and the sweet and sour cauliflower were the standout dishes to me. Beef ribs were melt in the mouth, mash and gravy was smooth, buttery and had a very pronounced garlic flavour and I’m a garlic lover so couldn’t stop eating this one and the sweet and sour cauliflower were crispy and full of flavour - the perfect accompaniment to the meat dishes. Service was friendly as well!
I loved this place! The location is very hidden so you really gotta navigate your way up the stairs and through a particular door which I thought was very exciting and added a nice touch to this place. The food was delicious and cooked to perfection. We ordered the duck, steak, mash and fries. The mash here is to die for, it’s so smooth and creamy. I especially enjoyed the duck as well, it was extremely juicy and the meat melts in your mouth. Steak was also a winner but duck definitely took the spotlight. Highly recommend this place for groups as you can try more things on the menu. Definitely will be back!
We had the Cheeks Quick Dinner set for 2 of us. I thought the portion was just nice for 2 people although the menu indicated for 2+ ppl. Although it was a Friday night, we managed to get a table without needing to wait (could be because of the half hidden entrance!). Food was great, ambiance was great. Best mash I had in my life! Perhaps a small room for improvement would be for a better balanced palate. The cauliflower and lamb dish were quite sweet and heavy (still delicious). Perhaps a bigger serve of coleslaw would've made it more balanced.
Second time here.
Order a la carte if you want to try more main dishes. My first visit we went with feed me, and felt like they gave us too many sides.
Overall, all the dishes were very good. Could probably give the desserts a miss, as there was nothing special
Yum! Been here for lunch and dinner.
Really good BBQ chicken and duck. The sides are pretty yummy too, you’ve gotta get their mash with marrow!
Tucked in the upstairs of swanston street. A new hidden gem that offers tasty food. Great place to go for a meat feast :) would recommend for other guests
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A great casual-fancy restaurant, where service is friendly and attentive and (at least on a Tuesday night when we dined) the dishes come out very well-paced (not too fast, not too slow). The menu is an exciting fusion of Chinese, Korean, Japanese and American.
The dish that completely wowed us was the smoked short rib. It was meltingly tender and sweet yet full-bodied. The BBQ duck was cooked very well, but wasn’t particularly exciting. Its predominant flavour was hoisin sauce.
The mash & gravy is, as the menu says, a must-have, but skip the bland coleslaw. Though I wished for a more punchy miso flavour, the sweet-and-sour cauliflower was a respectable dish. The fun and unexpected dishes were the meat doughnuts and a special, chicken and dry-aged pork dumplings with “strange” sauce (though it wasn’t too far from a satay sauce).
None of the desserts sounded too exciting, but I was pleased with the ice cream sundae. The warm salted duck fat caramel made it more interesting than your usual sundae.
Another winner from the creators of Dexter is Cheek. Up the pink stairway leads you to a long bar like venue with high hair seating and booths. It can get a little loud in there so maybe not the best place for a first date, but the food is so worth it. With a larger group, we opted for the feed me menu (plus a few extras) and we were thoroughly impressed. We had the beef tartare, prawn crackers, corn, beetroot, duck, beef, pork belly, ribs, bone marrow mash, sorbet and some caramel indulgence. I’m not sure how you make prawn crackers better but Cheek sure did it. They season your standard prawn cracker with secret seasoning and it is sensational! I also loved the beetroot and beef tartare. All the meats were really juicy as you expect from the team behind meat king Dexter. I recommend coming in a group so you can taste more of the menu as everything is worth trying!
Amazinggg. All the food was delicious. The standout dish for us was the duck, so tender, crispy skin and full of flavour. The tartare was interesting as it had kimchi in it. The specials for the night was the lamb ribs and it was a perfect melt in your mouth texture. The place was very dark and intimate, great for dates.
Staff were very lovely, can’t fault anything.
Bone marrow galore! So sinfully good!
Definitely get the mash and gravy (or two)!
Duck was really tender too, it’s like on a totally different level to the typical roast duck you get at the Asian Resturants (which is already bomb) - it’s like how is it the same meat!?
The cauliflower were surprisingly good too, hints of crispy bits and just overall a good side/snack!
Went with a bigger group so we tried quite a few things on the menu. Will be back but maybe later when there’s new items :)
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Visited Cheek yesterday for dinner before a movie with a group 8. Was excited to dine here as we all highly rate their sister restaurant Dexter. We ordered the meat donuts, cauliflower, short ribs, lamb ribs, cream corn, mash, eggplant dish and the New York strip steak.
Stand out dishes were the meat donuts, cauliflower and short ribs. The New York strip steak was good too- meat was cooked perfectly- medium rare.
What let us down we’re the lamb ribs which were too salty for everyone’s liking- the meat was soft and tender would have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t for the heavy salt.
Service was a little slow when we visited which we wouldn’t mind too much if it wasn’t for the movie we had to go to- so probably wouldn’t recommend dining here before an event just so you can enjoy yourselves without feeling like you have to rush.
Despite this, the staff were lovely and service was amazing- the water on our tables were always filled and we received complimentary items for the wait without having to complain.
Would come back for the meat donuts and short ribs.
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The modern take on donuts to have meat in them and the contemporary Peking duck were interesting and quite tasty in a different way. Both beef dishes were very tender and flavoured well. My favourite dish was the beetroot which was delicious. I didn’t really like the corn and XO sauce dish though.
My friends and I attempted to have dinner at CHEEK on a Friday night without a booking and were told it was booked out until quite late. So we turned away and planned to book for another night. They were very nice when we asked to add one more person to our table a few days in advance.
On the night we weren’t quite sure about portion sizes and our waitress was very happy to provide advice and suggested an extra potato mash. After we shared the meat donuts, our plates were swapped with clean ones, which was a pleasant surprise. Also, when we were done, a friend went up to the counter to pay because we’re used to that at casual restaurants, and our waitress came to say she could deliver the bill to our table if we liked. The service standard was much higher than I expected and made it a great experience.
The place is decently sized but is very popular so it’s necessary to book, especially for a Friday night.
The mash potato is aaaaaawesome!!! The streak is also cooked to a alomost perfect status. The smoke eggplant used some Chinese technique and flavour and it’s new to try it in an Aussie restaurant.
Love the setting of Cheek and the service here is exceptional. We loved everything we ordered and the dishes were on point. The dry aged steak was amazing and we could taste the depth of flavours. The short ribs were so soft and tender they literally melt in your mouth. We paired it with the bone marrow mash and that was really good. The beef tartare lacked tartness and we thought the mayo might have over powered the flavours there. Ended with the yuzu ice cream and it was a really good palette cleanser. Loved the overall experience
I'm not usually a fan of Asian fusion or American food but after having been to Dexter I decided to try this place with a group of friends on a Friday night. Place was super busy but the waiting staff were attentive and amazing. Hats off to Sam :) We were a large group so we pretty much ordered nearly everything on the menu. My favourite dishes were the melt in your mouth beef short ribs and the steak. Chicken was also cooked to perfection! Side dishes were amazing too. The onion fries had a sourness to them which I enjoyed. The honey beets were delicious and the soba noodles were a spicy haven. Would definitely be back for another round!
Menu is innovative and delicious. Staffs are very friendly and helpful. Wine list is a brilliant combination between Australian and European wines. Our bottle of rosé was absolutely beautiful and it came from Victoria. This place however can be really noisy so don’t take your first date here.
Amazing!! Make sure you get a chicken sandwich upstairs before or after you eat at peaches, they are so good.
All the food here we had was super tasty, the short rib and the steak was perfect, meat donuts and lamb special also spot on. Same people as Dexter in Preston and they have got it spot on again! If you like meat then get here.
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Love this place so so much!
I’ve always been a fan of Dexter even though it usually takes me 2 hours on pt to go there. I was super excited when I knew the same people opened a restaurant in CBD. Finally! It’s such a hidden gem. On a busy street, but with no big banner, it was kinda hard to find until you see the humble sign right next to the stair entrance.
Food was spot on! Cheek is def the example of Asian fusion done well!
Small dishes: I loved the plum beef tartare. It’s prepared so well with no strong beefy/smelly taste. it was my fav savoury dish of the night! Loved the smoked eggplant; pork cheek was so yum too! With pickled apple to balance the richness from the fatty bits. Cauliflower was done so well here with a bit of Asian twist.
Large dishes: short rib was amazing. Tad sweet and I absolutely loved it! Duck was so good too although I found it a little too salty and couldn’t have too much of it. (But hey, food here is made to share!) Steak was the same as the ones I had at dexter so it’s nothing new for me, but was done well as always ;)
Desserts: Yuzu ice-cream with ginger, hands down my ultimate fav and I wish the portion could be bigger. I mean a lot bigger. cuz it’s such a great refreshing finish after a heavy meal! And I always say that I could easily finish 5 of this myself. No jokes. Fairy bread was a very enjoyable dessert too! I’m not a fan of 100s & 1000s (well it was not part of my childhood) but I loved every other elements on the dish! The brioche ice-cream with parsnips. Brilliant! My friends loved caramel parfait too but unfortunately I’m not a big fan of caramel.
I can easily say that it’s one of the best Asian fusion places I’ve ever been in a very long time! we ordered almost everything on the menu and enjoyed all of them! (Some we even needed to fight to have a second bite) this is def a place not to be missed! I’m sure we will visit here more often and recommend it to our fam n friends.
Not sure which was better, the service or the duck!! We didn’t have a booking, but they managed to squeeze us in, and they made sure to take our order promptly, and have the food came out quickly so as to allow us finish before we had to give the table up. The duck was generously portioned and tasted fabulous. We’ll definitely be back!
Everything was outstanding except I was not a fan of the corn with shrimp. Stand outs were the meat donut, prawn crackers, mash potato and the steak which was perfectly cooked. Even the dessert was amazing these boys can do no wrong. Feed me menu was soo much food and great value for money.
What a cracking place this is. The boys from Dexter in Preston have absolutely nailed it again with what only can be described as Asian American and boy are the flavours tremendous. Short rib is amazing as was the strip. Mash potato was superb in fact everything was brilliant. The rooftop bar upstairs is awesome and the chicken burgers you get up there for $10 are the best you’ll ever eat.
Cheek is a meat focused restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD from the people behind Preston’s Dexter, and sees them take that template and turn everything up a notch.
4.5 stars if there were half ratings
Highly anticipated, Cheek did not disappoint. I was curious as to what American Asian fusion would deliver.
This was the best mash and gravy I’ve ever had. The sauces is what really makes these dishes. The onion rings are a stand out too. Light and crispy batter. The steak is a stand out, and the meat donuts are a must try however sugar with spicy meat wasn’t my thing.
Wow. What a place! Started the evening with some drinks upstairs in the new and ever so vibrant Peaches bar before having an awesome meal at Cheek. We went with the tasting menu which, for $65, was incredible value for money. The starters were 5/5. Lover all of them. BBQ prawn crackers, amazing fried cauliflower which I wish I could eat every day, edamame beans which were incredibly moreish, meat donuts, beef tartare - all delicious. Mains were good - didn’t like the xo in the corn but that’s my own personal preference. Beautiful cut of meat and yummy mash. Finished up with a well thought out ginger and yuzu dessert. We are everything so quickly I forgot to take photos! Great service as well, waiter was super friendly and helped with wine choices. We WILL be back!
What a great little place up those pink stairs!
Service was friendly and attentive. Even with a full house on Saturday night.
We ordered two SMALLS, one LARGE & 2 SIDES to share.
The highlight of the meal was the LARGE - Smoked Short Rib with sesame caramel. The meat was falling off the bone and melt in your mouth! This is a dish you can and would come back to again and again!
One of the SMALL was just yummy!! Sweet & Sour Cauliflowers.
I would recommend this place and will come back to sample more dishes off the menu.
Me and my best friend dined at Cheek just before Xmas as our Xmas dinner tonight. Both of us were absolutely mind blown by the food! We ordered the $65 feed me which was amazing value. We were so satisfied at the end! I cannot wait to go again! Great selection of cocktails too
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3.5. Overall not bad, with some good dishes, particularly the sides. Had the set menu for $65 which was really good value and included:
- bbq prawn crackers (nice although would've been better had it been fresh and hot)
- sweet n sour cauli (quite nice)
- mapo tofu empanada (unfort I can't remember the dish very well, but vaguely recall it was ok)
- pork cheek (also can't recall this very well, I think it was tasty although a little fatty for me)
- tartare (really tasty, my fav dish. There's crackers or cos lettuce to have with the tartare although I preferred it wrapped in lettuce)
- we ordered an extra dish, the liver pate which was nice although I wouldn't have minded more carbs to balance the richness of the pate
- new york strip (tasty, although a bit too salty)
- honey beets (really good, nice combination of flavours)
- corn (delicious, one of my fav dishes)
- mash & gravy (really good)
- yuzu ice cream (good)
Very innovative dishes, and an interesting combination of ingredients and flavours which generally work well together. Staff were very knowledgeable and attentive. Nice dining space.
Amazing food, service & good atmosphere in the heart of melbs cbd.
The food was all really delicious particularly loved the cauliflower dish - could have eaten a lot more of that.
Was a good restaurant for a group we were not at all rushed and could enjoy a drink after the meal.
[Rated 4.5]
To give you an idea of the number of dishes to order, we had no space for dessert (missed out on the Yuzu ice cream which we have been told is amazing) after ordering between two:
-Sweet and sour cauliflower
-Pork cheek
-New York Striploin
-Mashed potato and gravy
-Honey beets
We were lucky enough to get a walk in for table for an early dinner on a Friday. Damn - it’s been a long time since I have enjoyed a meal as much as I enjoyed Cheek, every dish was balanced and delicious. The cauliflower was amazing, as was the pork cheek. The Striploin was cooked perfectly with a crispy crust and the honey beets were really interesting and quite sweet, which would make them a great accompaniment for any of the heavier dishes.
Wine tip would be the Tiersmen Syrah - a very light red and great accompaniment with the beef and pork, especially if the usual pairing of a heavy red seems like too much.
I’ll be back for sure. I predict this place is going to become very popular.
I loved it! Being a vegetarian, I wasn't sure if I would love this place since they seemed very meat oriented. But all the vegetarian items on their menu were amazing! Especially the cauliflower and the edamame, and the honey beets so good too. Definitely check this place out - my friends thought the meat was great too.
Had a great meal at Cheek! Started off with the Mapo Tofu Empanadas which were extremely delicious, I could eat 30 of these. The beef tartare was light and partnered nicely with whatever-the-crunchy-crack-that-was. We ordered the 5 day half duck, which was actually half a duck... This was by far the best duck dish I've ever had - wasnt dry and the skin was lightly crispy. The dry aged steak was also excellently medium rare and 😋😋. Definitely get some sides to eat with the meat (we (2 small asian girls) were so full from the two meat dishes). Will come again if the menu is changed up!
😱Lizzie’s first impression: situated upstairs on the busy strip of Swanston - the owners of Dexter has done it again. This place has the best vibes and staff are so genuine and attentive.
🍩Lizzie enjoyed: I absolutely loved all of the dishes that I tried - especially the cauliflower, the beef tartare and definitely the ribs. The ribs were sooo tasty and soft I could eat the whole main plate to myself. These meals are designed to share so I’d recommend to go for with more than 2 people. The eggplant was on another level - it had the right punch of spice and tasted impeccable.
🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: N/A
🥇Lizzie rates overall: I would highly recommend this place and it is hands down one of my most favourite restaurants that I’ve tried this year!
Ate at Cheek last night and can recommend the experience. The food was great, we had the Cauliflower which is a must and the Tartare which was my favourite. We explored the cocktails which are not your traditional combinations, definitely try the Duck fat Whiskey with beetroot. Don’t let this deter you as it was excellent. Look for the pink stair case and enjoy !
• Edamame was a tad bit salty but very flavourful
• Cauliflower Side (out of this world) MUST ORDER
• Beef Tartare was ok, would be better if the tartare wasn’t warmish
• Honey Beetroot side dish, either you love it or you don’t.
• Dry Aged Milbrook Porkloin roast was flavourful but the crackling wasn’t crispy.
• New York striploin steak was really good!
• Dirty Cream Corn was meh
• Dessert overall was ok.
• Salted caramel parfait is the best amongst all
• For something light and refreshing go for Yuzu Ice Cream
• Fairy Bread was alright.
Service was good very attentive staffs. But the amount of time they took to dish out the food was slow.
Will be back to try their 5 day aged duck!
From the team that bought you 'Dexter' in Preston (that became famous for it's pig's head buns and hot meat doughnuts) comes the newly opened CBD restaurant 'Cheek'. Serving up an American, Chinese and Korean BBQ inspired menu, Cheek coins itself a "non traditional meatery" - and it's quickly easy to see why, with an abundance of delicious options for vegetarian diners, including the sweet'n'sour cauliflower, battered and served with miso ranch.
Pros: the interior and ambience.. love! Very chic and modern feel. Service is great, staff seem knowledgable and accomadating. Food was made promptly and was flavourful (signature bone marrow flavours were very pleasant). The pickled apple in the pork cheek dish was something else.. amazing! It wasn't too sour and complemented greatly with the cheek seasoning. The new york strip was cooked perfect medium.
Cons: honest opinion is Dexter is the better place in comparison, more affordable also. The dirty corn cheese had very different flavours that in my opinion didn't exactly work as well together. Mash potatoes could have been smoother and creamier.
3.5
The atmosphere is super cool industrial. The service was excellent. The food was 4 of 5. Our favourites were the cauliflower and the duck. The cheek was too fatty, the sausage was not crisp and the beets lacked flavour. We will definitely be back to try other items of the menu, as well as the rooftop bar, which is expected to open soon :-)
Overall amazing staff, good quality food.
I was really excited to try Cheek because Dexter serves the best American bbq in Melbourne, no doubt.
Dishes I had
- Duck liver profiteroles - if you love a good pate, definitely go for this. Reminded me of Heston’s meat fruit.
- 5 day duck - Amazing. They got this down pat.
- New York strip - Simple but not plain.
- Pork Loin - This was a miss for me. There were a few fatty pieces that tasted good but most of the meat was lean so ended up being plain.
- Sides - Dirty corn blew our minds. Mash w gravy was good. Can’t go wrong with these.
- Overall I enjoyed their food. I would still say dexter is better though in terms of meat flavors as well as affordability.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
+4
So I wrote my first review a few moments ago and I feel like I'm on a roll so I'm going to keep going. Work can wait.
Ate here on a Wednesday night last week with my lovely gf. Going in, I knew this place was done by the same guys that do Dexter so I knew this would be good. We had the Mapo Tofu Empanada, Pork Cheek, New York Strip, the Cauli and the Dirty Cream Corn.
Everything was really good but the stand out for us was the fried cauliflower. Probably the best I’ve had in my 30 years of living, although I don’t eat cauliflower much, please keep that in mind. The least favourite was probably the Pork Cheek, we found that it was pretty much just fat and I am trying to get in shape for summer although it might be a bit too late given it is nearly November. We also had a can of Citray Sour from Alphington which was extremely sour to the extent where I had to make a sour face.
Service was impeccable although the server kept trying to sell us the Dry Aged Wagyu beef special for $105. I only earn a modest wage and eat out a lot so we gave it a miss until I get promoted.
I almost don’t want to review Cheek...because it was so so good, I want to be able to get a seat next time!! One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Particularly the New York strip sirloin, beets and mash. The mash was just like my yummy Dexter fave, and those beets, I have no idea what the honeyed cream was under the beets but combined with the praline it was phenomenal. The fairybread dessert was a fun twist. The drinks were also pretty good, but maybe could do with a wonder selection of cocktails. The service was brilliant, so friendly and welcoming. Great work guys. We’ll be back for sure!
No surprise the geniuses behind dexter nail it again. Amazing menu, and great service. Fusion done well. Highly recommend the prawn crackers, dirty corn, beef cheek, duck, pork, honey beets, onion rings, cauliflower & mash. Only thing I didn’t enjoy was the eggplant. The acoustics of the restaurant aren’t very good so it’s quite loud but besides that loved the experience.
Unusual to taste such unbelievable food and still for it to be outshone by the service. Came here midweek with my partner and a mate. Our waiter Sam and the rest the team provided a friendly, relaxed and efficient service that really added to the experience. Try the short rib for one of the best dishes in Melbourne. Also maybe try and sneak in a few gun cocktails.
Fantastic food, a must visit for anyone who loves bbq meat. Very similar menu to Dexter, which is also fabulous. Mashed potato with bone marrow is to die for. My only complaint is the noise as a result of the hard surfaces, which makes it difficult to hold a conversation, but will visit again.
Great to see the always committed, helpful and bold team from Dexter at their new restaurant. Our part of four had the “let us choose” set menu. All dishes were great, the service attentive and authentic and the venue was great. We will all be back
Being a foodie living in Melbourne i’m spoilt for choice but Cheek strikes a different note, with flavours that are new to my taste buds and deliciously unique with every dish. From the BBQ’d meats to the popcorn cauliflower I was excited by the creative textures and flavours. The place was buzzing and had a great atmosphere, fantastic service and right in the middle of town makes it the perfect destination. I’ll definitely be back to try more and looking forward to see the what they do with Peaches and the Rooftop bar opening in the next few months!
OMG the food is SO good! Can’t stop thinking about the tartare and the mind blowing deserts- particularly the Yuzu ginger sorbet! Staff were cool too, beautiful space-casual and tasteful - the entrance stairs are rad too !
This place is great! I had the Pork Cheek and the Short Rib, both where melt-in-your-mouth amazing, full of flavour and so tender. Definetely one of the best meals I have had. Lovely staff and great fun atmosphere
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Hella tasty. Did not disappoint. If you've been to Dexter, you know what I mean. Umami in every dish making it impossible to pick a favourite, decent portions, very well priced. I left very well fed :)
I'm typically not a fan of "asian fusion", so was initially sceptical. However Cheek stayed well clear of forcing ingredients into dishes where they don't belong. Dishes felt more balanced, or less heavy, than Dexter dishes.
We got the feed me option ($65 for 10 dishes!) + one of the dry aged beef dish from their Specials menu. Feed me option is VERY filling. Not advisable to order more food.
We had:
1. Cheek and tofu empanadas
2. BBQ prawn crackers
3. Battered cauliflower, miso dressing - uber crispy and chewy batter
4. Sweet & sour eggplant, flatbread - we asked for this instead of another menu item
5. Pork cheek with pickled apples - melt in your mouth soft yumminess
6. Honey beets - loved the complementing hazelnut crunch
7. Cos lettuce
8. New York strip
9. Dry aged hanger steak - don't remember how long it was dry aged for, but boy, it was flavoursome. New York strip was delicious but this blew it out of the park. We couldn't go back to finishing our new York strip after a bite of this.
10. Mash and gravy
11. Yuzu ice cream, ginger granita, ginger snaps - a welcomed light dish after sooooo much food.
Staff were friendly, witty ;)
Music a bit loud for my liking, but nonetheless great ambience. Good for dinner for 2 or larger groups. Bonus points for the waiter seating us next to the window overlooking Swanston street.
Thinking about when I can come back ... 🤤🤤🤤🤤
Great new addition to the CBD dining scene particularly if you’re a big meat lover. Between two we shared the sweet and sour cauliflower, the plum tartare, the New York strip steak, the creamed corn and the cos lettuce salad. The cauliflower was especially amazing but I can’t complain about any of the dishes. Staff were really friendly and helpful as well.
As one of the chefs at this new restaurant. I highly recommend the food. We are producing some pretty awesome stuff. Fun, tasty and high quality food.
Really proud, and highly recommended coming to try it
The food was crazy delicious! Must try’s: tofu empanadas, beef tartare, dry aged duck and the yuzu dessert!
I’m not a big drinker but the the drinks list was superb! Great cocktails! Great wine list! (And mocktails for me! 😝)
A great find!
Service was spectacular and the food is a meat eater’s heaven. All the flavours are strong and pair nicely with their drinks.
There’s also a fairy bread dessert that’s not actually fairy bread but rather ice cream with fried parsnips - sounds weird but was easily a stand out dessert (excuse the candle in the photo!)
Brilliant! We ordered pretty much everything on the menu bar 3 dishes when we went, and almost all of it tasted amazing.
The place is up a set of stairs on Swanston St so im not too sure about any disabled access. We also visited for lunch on Friday and it wasn't too busy.
In terms of taste there wasn't too much to fault. Out of the mains the BBQ pepper chicken was my least favorite. But the Lamb Ribs and Pork Loin were great! If you haven't had one, the Hot meat donut is a unique dish to see if you like it or not, so i recommend trying one while here.
The staff where good, friendly and really attentive in replacing table waters so no complaints here.
The only thing is all this goodness of course comes at a cost, so be prepared to spend $30-$40 per person easily without factoring in drinks.
Overall Cheek is a great option for dinner or a splurge lunch in the CBD with really tasty meat dishes.
Hot Meat Donut is a must! I was surprised by how tasty it is. The Cauliflower is pretty nice too - crunchy outside and soft inside, but I think it is a little too saucy.
The Wagyu Rump is so delicious! The fat:meat ratio was perfect and the garlic made everything better. We also tried the Wagyu Brisket but I wasn't as impressed, mainly because the meat feels a little stringy.
For drinks, I got the Starload and I like it :)
I was very impressed with the food at CHEEK. Their menu size wasn't huge but everything they served up was delicious. The duck liver profiteroles was divine, had to get a second serve. Beef tartare serving was small, but very tasty. Couldn't fault at all. Decent selection on drinks too. Definitely worth a try
Wow, wow, wow! That is probably the best meal I’ve had on this entire trip and amazing value as well! On the $60 feed us menu and we were given the doughnuts, the sweet and sour cauliflower (which is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever had!) beef tartare, smoked lamb ribs, New York Strip, bone marrow mash & charred broccolini, couldn’t even finish it all and now can’t move!!!
You have to try this place if you’re in or visiting Melbourne, it’s a little hard to find but get in quickly before people are queuing round the block!
Food was amazing, waiter gave great recommendations. I'd eat there every day if I could. My favourites included the cauliflower and broccolini. And the gin selection was the cherry on top.
Good steaks, nice range of beers. We had to wait a fair amount of time for our food to be served, but the staff gave us some freebies to keep us occupied.
Relaxed environment, good for a catch up or a date. Can get a little bit loud and crowded.
Shares a building with Peaches bar, which is a good bar if you want to kick on after dinner.
Located in the heart of the CBD, this place is one of my go to place for perfect meat cravings.
Everything on the menu is so delicious including their cauliflower dish and mash&gravy! Yummmm!
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