Review Estelle - Northcote

Estelle was sublime! Service was excellent. Food was DELICIOUS! The crisps that we were given at the start, could not stop eating. The seafood ravioli was more of a fish ball but sauce was beautiful. Burrata was fresh and creamy. Mains were yum and desserts were seriously delightful. Thank you for having us!

Estelle was a phenomenal experience, located in Northcote you might not be expecting this unassuming gem, but really highlights how great Northcote is! The food was amazing, everything we ordered (particularly the kingfish) was beyond expectation. The energy of Estelle was also lovely, very up market and made you feel special. The service was beyond and very friendly which I think is the cherry on top of a restaurant of this caliber. I am not sure what I was expecting of Estelle when I was taken here by some friends for my birthday, but it out did all my expectations (which were already high). Estelle probably isn’t your Tuesday night feed, as it is quite expensive, but if you need a restaurant for a special or more formal night, then this is your place. Have recommended to so maybe of my friends and family. 5/5

Dined outdoors at the restaurant, the food and service was fantastic and we can definitely see substantial effort in the creativity, flavour of the food which also demonstrated good technical abilities from the Chef. Unfortunately the outdoor seating was a bit of a let down, the tables and chairs on the sidewalk reminded of a street stall, and it rained a bit during dinner where the awning didn't help much which wasn't ideal. I would recommend installation of outdoor umbrellas, heating and more investment if outdoor dining is planning to stay.

I picked Estelle restaurant to ask my girls hand in marriage and she said yes. The food was amazing, the staff were amazing , the staff even gave us a round of applause and a free champagne when she said yes. Great vibe, and a brilliant experience. Full marks to the staff there. If you guys read this, thankyou so much for a flawless night. From Mat & Poppy

Amazing tasting menu. Had my 50th birthday here and the food really was very special. Great service and an all round super experience. Highly recommended

Wow! Wow! Wow! What an amazing experience and night out. Now this is what fine dining is all about. Exceptional food combined with the most warm customer service we've experienced. They know their menu and wine list and were super accommodating. Anything suggested was spot on. The staff genuinely care about the customer, have an eye for detail, are friendly and you could tell, really enjoy working there. Apologising for dessert being a tad late (we didn't notice we were having such a fine time and leaving an additional treat was a gorgeous surprise). Being acknowledged by the team as we left despite them being busy, I mean what else can you ask for? How it's all done in a period where workforce challenges are high is such a credit to this exquisite restaurant. I couldn't recommend Estelle highly enough. Thank you to everyone involved for making our first visit tonight so memorable. We can't wait (and will) be back.

Estelle was a lovely experience. I'd recommend trying the quail entree and the fish main which was blue eye cod. The staff were friendly and helpful, and were available to answer questions about wine recommendations. Drink options had a number of options. Food service was relatively quick and efficient. It was a nice atmosphere, the lighting is low and with the exposed brick walls made a nice place for dinner. I did notice at times as the restaurant fills up, it became a little noisy. It is more of a high end bistro, with the prices for food and drinks reflecting this. Don't expect large portions, but the flavour balances and profiles of what I tried were tasty and worked well together, and with good customer service is still a nice place to visit. If you go for the three courses, be aware that you will be asked to order all three at the one time.

Service was subpar and so was the food. Unfortunately, we tried to love the food but most things were lackluster. We got served burnt cauliflower and told the waiter and the response was a new menu and chef was coming in and we should come in then. Incredibly disappointed.

We had a wonderful lunch at Estelle Bistro on Sunday. At lunch on Sundays the bistro offers a set 3 course seasonal lunch for $60 per person or a $90 four course menu. We opted for the seasonal lunch, which also includes a glass of wine, beer or a mock tail. Such good value. We started with a mushroom volute with a soft poached egg. It was rich and delicious with crunchy croutons. We were also served warm sourdough with butter with this course. <br/>The main was melt in the mouth lamb shoulder with sprouts, parsnip and pumpkin purée. The meat was great and the vegetables delicious. <br/>Dessert was a lovely tart with mousse and a sorbet. I am not usually a dessert person, but this was excellent and was my favourite course of the lunch.<br/>Service was very friendly and efficient but not overbearing. <br/>Ambience was wonderful and even though tables were spaced for social distancing the atmosphere was warm and cosy. Estelle is still excellent, I hope to return many more times.

Food too salty. Maitre D felt like she didn't even want to be there. Giving two stars for the rissoni and dessert which was just 'ok'.

My first time to Estelle and I am super impressed. It’s been a very long time since I’d been to a restaurant that’s of such great food quality and service.<br/><br/>My company organised a paid all staff company lunch function. We had a 3 course sit down lunch which we were able to select 1 item from each course option.<br/><br/> <br/>🔆LOCATION🔆<br/><br/>Estelle is situated on the main busy strip of High Street, about an 8 minute walk from Northcote train station. Parking can be a little difficult as its such a busy street, but there’s a lot of side street parking around the area.<br/><br/>As you walk into Estelle there is an open space area with a number of high tables, I presume this is the bar area. It looks very stylish and modern décor. To the right through the doors is the main dining area with a large open space kitchen. The space is somewhat dark, but there is a lot of natural lighting through the windows.<br/><br/>🔆SERVICE🔆<br/><br/>The service by all the waiters was impeccable. Seeing that our company had booked out the whole restaurant, to be it looked like an organised chaos. All the staff knew exactly what they were doing and which tables they were looking after. There were at times drink orders were a little slow, but that’s understandable.<br/><br/>🔆MENU🔆<br/><br/>Entree<br/>Pea veloute, falafel, broad bean, yoghurt<br/>Fraser Island crab mornay, curry oil<br/>Kingfish crudo, sesame, avocado<br/>Quail, pear, mulberry, macademia<br/><br/>Main<br/>Hand rolled macroni, cultivated mushrooms & pecorino<br/>Grilled Humpty Doo barramundi, prawns, zucchini flower<br/>Mayura Station wagyu rump, wild garlic, nori<br/><br/><br/>Dessert<br/>Seasonal berries, white chocolate, basil<br/>Mango, coconut pavlova<br/>Rhubarb cheesecake<br/>Artisan cheese selection<br/><br/>🔆VERDICT🔆<br/><br/>I cannot comment on price as it was a paid lunch event by my company. However the menu the restaurant provided us was fabulous. There was great variety of options which made it a little hard for selection. For entrée I had the Kingfish crudo, sesame and avocado. Oh my goodness, I absolutely cannot fault this dish. It was soo tasty, yet light in flavour. I could have easily had another serve of it. For the main, I had the barramundi. The fish was cooked perfectly, with great flavours of<br/><br/>There were sides of Caesar salad and roasted carrots which were both very tasty. I had a lot of the carrots as it was lightly glazed in honey – yum!<br/><br/>The dessert was the Rhubarb cheesecake. I was a little surprised to see it come out as deconstructed. I was expecting it to be a normal cheesecake slice. Regardless, the cake was delicious. Everything that I had I couldn’t fault. Speaking with other colleagues on the table that ordered other types of food, they all thoroughly enjoyed their meals as well.

Reaching a milestone in age should be celebrated in the grandest fashion thinkable and for me, this year fell nothing short of surprises. When the fiance asked where would I like to celebrate dinner at, all I could think of was the numerous delicious meals I had overseas slightly over a month ago.  A constant place much discussed about, we decided on dinner here and found the service faultless and attentive. So what do we think of Estelle?

Pleasant restaurant layout and atmosphere and the wait staff were excellent. The food is inventive and delicious!

Beautiful spot for a special dinner 🥂 had the 5 course degustation and honestly it was a very good first time experience for my partner and I. It was so much fun to watch the chefs and waiters work beautifully together. Thanks for a lovely evening !

fairplate.org.au/venue/estelle-bistro<br/><br/>make up your mind... reviews here don't seem very positive. Is this a place you want to support?

Half our family was sick the next day, this is my first ever negative review.<br/>We ate here and had a pretty delicious meal. It wasn’t cheap, but it tasted beautiful. The service from some staff was great, and from others dicey. Overall it felt worth it, until everyone who ate the lamb found themselves with diarrhea the next day. We tried to discreetly contact Estelle via email, and they haven’t responded. <br/>Not worth the risk.

Had a nice long lunch at Estelle and food quality was great but overall, all servings were tiny including mains and none of the dishes blew my mind. They were all nice but so tiny servings more like bite size so too expensive for what it is.

We visited Estelle as part of their annual truffle dinners which was brilliant value at $100 for 5 courses or $160 with matched wines.<br/><br/>Our night included:<br/>🖤 Comte soldiers and truffle gougeres (choux pastries)<br/>🖤 Abalone, roast chicken & black truffle consommé<br/>🖤 Pine mushroom & truffle tortellini<br/>🖤 Mayura Station wagyu, soft baked celeriac & black truffle jus<br/>🖤 Jerusalem artichoke, black truffle & chocolate<br/><br/>I found the first two dishes nice but not very memorable, luckily the tortellini and wagyu were both fantastic and I couldn’t choose a favourite between them. Also loved the dessert with Jerusalem artichoke ice cream and a super smooth chocolate base (somewhere between a mousse and ganache). <br/><br/>Loved the gorgeous modern monochrome interior and would love to sit at the bar next time (if eating as a couple) to see the chefs in action. Would return for their amazing pasta alone!

For the price they charge, one would expect amazing dishes, definitely don’t understand the rating assigned. <br/>Dishes were placed with the wrong person each time they came, and we definitely didn’t swap seats.<br/>Sardine super fishy, so bad that one person couldn’t even eat it, oysters weren’t fresh either so in essence seafood may not be their specialty.<br/>One had the wagyu beef as main which they enjoyed.<br/>Last service is quite slow with clearing plates or bringing menus.<br/>Overall super pricey with below average food, would not be back.<br/><br/>

We were a party of four who ordered up, consensus being that the chefs did a great job because food was delicious (I loved the steak). There were multiple disappointments however, including being seated for some time without being asked for drinks order, charcuterie does not come with bread leaving you with nothing to put meats on, our mains arrived but waiter forgot to put sides order into kitchen (sprouts would have been really good with steak), tiny entrees, and toilet had zero toilet paper in sight! We wouldn’t mind paying that much for overall if things were spot on, but for the price we all expected more. Otherwise the restaurant has everything going for it in terms of decor and warmth and definitely worth trying out.

Other people in my group weren't as displeased as I, but I was underwhelmed.  Given the prices, I'd expected better.<br/><br/>The "Autumn Vegetables" were probably a little too heavy on various mushrooms and the pumpkin sauce that they came with had a flavour I wasn't a huge fan of (I couldn't understand the waitress when she explained it).<br/><br/>The Wagyu Rump with bunch of enoki mushroom draped over the top with the fried sprouts on the side was next.  The sprouts were nice enough.  The steak was well-cooked, but had none of the Wagyu flavour or fattiness that one would expect.  In retrospect I see why they prefer to serve this meat medium-rare (which is bizarre for Wagyu) - because it doesn't appear to have any marbling at all.  It was a nice piece of meat, but not the flavour would be expected from Wagyu. The enoki mushroom was just a stringy mess and added nothing to the "meal".<br/><br/>Dessert was a merigue filled with coconut yoghurt with kiwi fruit slices and coconut gelato on top. The gelato was nicely textured, but otherwise a bit blah. Mixing the yoghurt with the meringue did not balance out the sweetness, it just added an extra yoghurt flavour (which I'm not a fan of and which was not mentioned on the menu).  Nicely presented, but otherwise, not too interesting.<br/><br/>I also have to raise an objection to the price of their bread. I've seen equivalent and better bread provided for free - as opposed to the $4 Estelle charges. Noteworthy is that one person asked for bread the waitress asked if we'd like it for the table and suddenly we're up for $20 of bread (which included a slice of grilled standard commercial gluten free bread).<br/><br/>The staff and the restaurant itself are nice enough (although we were seated out in a back area with overly hot heaters which bears no resemblance to the rest of the place).  Overall, nothing too interesting about the food and it's damn pricey for the serving sizes.  I feel like they've spent a lot of time thinking about their crockery and service, and less time about the food.<br/>I can't think of a reason why I'd go back.

Me and my friend decided to visit Estelle for a joint birthday celebration. The decor is nice and great wine but found the service was lacking and took us ages to get anyone's attention, often leaving us feeling forgotten. The food was quick to arrive but both agreed the overall experience was not worth the hefty pricetag at the end.

Been here a number of times and never disappointed. Would recommend the degustation so you get to try a variety of their food. Banana soufflé was delicious (and not a banana fan)

We booked this place to celebrate my sisters engagement last Sunday. This restaurant would literally have to be one of the worst in terms of both service and food. Our group was left sitting at the table for about 20 mins with no menu provided, we had to request a menu eventually. One of the snack items we ordered, bread and churned butter came with no butter knife, again we had to request a knife. I can understand if it’s a busy environment and things might be overlooked, this was not the case. The food quality was quite average and over priced even for Melbourne. The portion sizes super small. Finally we were overcharged for extra items on the menu and they also charged us for a different bottle of wine to what we ordered. Yes they did fix it all up eventually when we questioned it but overall quite disappointing.

We had the seasonal Sunday roast for a group of 11 (including 4 kids). Service was pretty disappointing for a place like Estelle. The female manager did not run through what the Sunday roast menu consisted of or what drink options we had. Providing a copy of the menu would have helped. Found bones in our entree and main salmon, that wasn’t good. Have had way better service from the other cafes and restaurants on High St

The cocktails are clean and professional with clear flavours and aromas without being too sweet or filling which was a nice surprise given the food is also polished and delicate . It’s a well mannered restaurant overall with a sense of value regarding the high quality of the food and service .

We went to Estelle on the weekend with a couple of friends. The refurb is great - the restaurant has a stunning interior and I love the section out the back with all the greenery on the walls. <br/><br/>I had the sardine toast as a snack, the mackerel as the entree, the tuna as the main and the raspberry dessert dish. All the food was absolutely delicious. What I did notice was the disparity in the serving size depending on which main you order. If you're hungry I'd recommend the steak as it's definitely the biggest. The pork and tuna were both on the small side, particularly taking the cost into consideration. <br/><br/>We all agreed that the serving sizes of the wines were very, very frugal. I ordered a $26 glass of champagne and it honestly was nowhere near a standard size serving that you would usually get at a nice restaurant. My friends noticed the same with their first glasses of wine too. It might depend on which waiter/waitress you get. I then asked for a half glass of of the champagne, and was told they don't do half glasses. This is something I always ask for at nice/expensive restaurants and I've never been told 'no' before. I can't imagine it's too difficult to do, especially considering the first glass I ordered was basically a half glass anyway. <br/><br/>Another piece of feedback I would give is regarding the refilling of the water glasses. As the water jugs are not kept on individual tables, you rely on the wait staff topping up the glasses. There were several times throughout the night where our waters were empty for significant periods. <br/><br/>I would go back to Estelle because I really enjoy the atmosphere and the taste of the food, however I do think for the price you pay there are some improvements which could be made.

Absolutely love this place! Super attentive staff, excellent menu and delicious wines! It’s definitely worth the money to celebrate a special occasion.

3.5*<br/>Great setting and fantastic friendly service.<br/>They have their own special gin which was really tasty!<br/>Limited menu items highlighting sophisticated flavours and beautiful presentation.<br/><br/>Dishes tried:<br/>Chickpea fries, parmesan & sesame - These were really good! Definitely worth a try!<br/>Asparagus, curry leaf & nasturtium - simple and light.<br/>Fraser Isle spanner crab, peas & asparagus - it's always a treat when crab meat comes de-shelled in chunks for you. This dish was refreshing.<br/>Beaufort pork belly, date & green apple - Pork belly crackling was nice and crisp, and went well with the bits of stewed apple. The dish was also accompanied by a pork loin as well as a garlic sausage, which although portioned delicately, was perhaps a bit too much pork on the plate. The date puree/sauce assisted to cut through the saltiness of the pork. For a main dish, the portion was pretty small so definitely get more courses and sides.<br/>Iceberg, grana padano & chive - fresh way to get some veggies<br/>Duck fat roasted potatoes, confit garlic & sea salt - OMG so crunchy and yummy!<br/>Pumpkin side dish - roasted to tenderness.<br/>Chocolate mousse with Choc Cherry brownie and berry sorbet - a rich dessert as expected.<br/>Burnt custard with strawberries, and elderflower granita - when the granita melted it made the whole dish a soupy, watery mess'. Not my favourite.<br/>Honey parfait, pumpkin & miso - DISH OF THE DAY! I was so surprised at how delicious this dish was. I'd return to Estelle Bistro just for this dessert! The description just doesn't do it justice! The Honey parfait tasted like toblerone, and the pumpkin and miso mousse was really balanced and flavoursome, reminiscent of salted caramel.

Beautiful restaurant in Northcote. Love the courtyard interior. Food always fabulous. Love the Sunday roast. I have been here multiple times & would highly recommend.

Was excited to try this place. Nice fit out, little cold. Service was friendly but too focused on upselling. Food was nothing special a little pretentious and over priced.

I was really looking forward to eating at this place due to such good reviews. I took my girlfriend for her birthday as a surprise and it was Very disappointing. Food was bland with not much flavour. I had the steak for main and it was very chewy and had very little flavour. My girlfriend had the barramundi and it was so small. For the price of this place I expected more but was left disappointed. Won’t be going back.

Went to Estelle for my birthday on a Saturday. I went in with high expectations but had a nice meal with friendly service. We had the 3-course meal each - food was well cooked but lacked flavor and depth. When I asked for my dessert (we could choose from the menu), we wanted a dessert that is only available to the 5-course menu. They couldn’t make an exception. Wine list by the glass is limited. Service was nice, but we had moments waiting for cutlery which shouldn’t be the case in a fine dining experience. When asking for recommendations, we had a response: “everything is great.” That’s not what I expect from this type of restaurant. <br/>Not a ‘wow’ experience. Good food and friendly service, but can get this somewhere else cheaper. Won’t be coming back.

Planned and booked weeks in advance to dine at Estelle for my birthday with family. Was so excited to try it after seeing some good reviews.<br/>Well they must have been paid reviews because the meal was an absolute disgrace.<br/>Steaks were tiny. One medium-well was tough and tasteless...the other medium-rare had only been seared on one side for what looked like 10 seconds resulting in a slice of raw meat.<br/>Pork belly had some flavour but barely touched the sides of the kids’ stomachs.<br/>Literally had to resort to stopping at McDonalds after our meal on the way home. Absolutely shameful.<br/>And even more shameful was being charged full price after expressing my extreme disappointment, and the chef didn’t even come to speak to us to understand the issue. Arrogance.<br/>My recommendation...do not go to Estelle. <br/>Or if you do, leave enough time for a trip to McDonalds afterwards!!!!

I planned a special night out at Estelle Bistro for my boyfriend's birthday. Our favourite thing to do is enjoy fine food and wine and we were excited to try this place out. Unfortunately, from the moment we were handed menus atmosphere turned sour. Our server curtly informed us she would "rush us through" as they had another booking in "a bit over an hour"- though, we were only 10 minutes late and in fact had over an hour and a half before the next sitting. I was very disheartening and did not feel welcome at all. A waitstaff's anxieties about table turn over should NEVER be put upon the customer to make them feel this way. <br/>We selected the 5 course chefs menu and the food was overall quite good, however, it was hard to enjoy within the 40 minute window in which it all came out!<br/>I will not be back.

Best of the north. Such a nice venue, great friendly staff, great food...like great food! Love coming to this place! Has to be on everyone’s bucket list

Really nice wine and average food. Lacking texture in the first of the 5 courses (corn and mushrooms), brined beef wagyu was pretty good. The Barramundi was tasty but it was more a amouche de bouche than a 3rd course. Pork as main was okay but nothing special. Dessert was most disappointing with 3 components that didn't go well together at all; chocolate and peanut butter, yoghurt sorbet and strawberry coulis....<br/>Had very high expectations but only the host and his wine could live up to it.<br/><br/>Definately overpriced.<br/>

To keep me satisfied in between visits to the grand ESP, I have visited Estelle Bistro next door a handful of times. Three courses for $70 and five for $90 is a very reasonable price to pay for good quality food. A few of the dishes I've had in the past have been a little not to taste (corn, yolk, and chicken concoction), but a majority of dishes have been sensational, fresh, and well thought out. I'll be back soon for another go and would recommend Estelle Bistro.

Each dish is another adventure... We had the 5 coarse tasting menu accompanied by an entree of oysters and added cheese. Food amazing, ambiance amazing and service superb. A must for any foodie...

Have been here a handful of times, but the majority of those experiences were over a year ago now. Lucky we got to experience this restaurant when it served interesting food that was delicious. Unfortunately now the food is just salty.  Really nothing else to it. Not particularly interesting, flavours average and all round average. A real pity. Can't help but wonder what the people that still rate this place 5 stars are comparing it to? <br/>We are spoilt for choice in Melbourne and even High Street, Northcote. Clearly this means restaurants have to maintain a high standard to stay at the top, sadly the Estelle has SERIOUSLY deteriorated....

Great night. Food was delicious, $70 for 3 course of your own choice was a nice surprise...the wait staff were amazing at selecting a few wine matches for us, service was friendly. Love a good duck fat potato! 😁

I was really looking forward to this. It was one I researched. But there just wasn’t a dish that made us decide we need to go back for more. <br/><br/>We had gone during the summer and had the table closest to the open kitchen. I’m not even sure whether it was the position or whether the air con wasn’t fully on, but basically, I was pretty uncomfortable. Not sweating. But just not comfortable. <br/><br/>I remember reading the dessert and wanted to try a particular dish. But after main, I just wanted to get out of there. Maybe it’s this that has contributed to me not enjoying the food.<br/><br/>I’ve given it a 3 because it was a once off experience for me and since I haven’t been back, and doubt I would, it wouldn’t be fair to rate it lower just because of one not so good experience. <br/>After all, my tolerance to heat would be different to others. But I can’t rate higher cos I really didn’t enjoy my time there.

My wife and I recently attended as part of a private function for a birthday party. A large number of the guests were vegetarian and given the price we were paying, I was excited and looking forward to what they were going to provide. I could not have been more disappointed. What a complete and utter waste of money that meal was. In fact, it goes beyond that as while I was sitting there excitedly waiting to see what vegetarian culinary delight they were going to present for my pleasure, they were insensitively and offensively yelling out, "Any more carnivores?" as they were serving the steak to those who chose that dish. It wasn't only my chosen way to live that they chose to insult on the night as the insults to my culinary expectations/taste buds had not yet even commenced. They clearly had no regard or consideration for people who chose not to eat meat on the night (and just one look at their regular menu will tell you that this attitude extends beyond private functions) and demonstrated complete ignorance of what a vegetarian might enjoy for a supposedly 'fine-dining' experience.<br/><br/>Talking about the vegetarian options on their regular menu, there is only 1x mains option that is vegetarian and it is striking in how unappealing it sounds. This worried me so much (considering the price we paid) that I made contact via their Facebook page to politely ask if there were any other possible vegetarian options that might be available. After waiting for over three weeks for a response, I gave up expecting one and just hoped above all hope that it would be 'alright on the night'. Well, what a fool I am!<br/><br/>Just a couple of examples as evidence for my position includes: 1) the main meal provided was a tiny serve of a thick risotto (?) of nondescript flavour topped with small salty crisps. I chose not to eat the duck-fat potatoes (for obvious reasons) which left one and a half small pieces of baked pumpkin, a skerrick of pickled cabbage and a lettuce leaf covered in cheese as my sides 2) the dessert was so flavourless we had to ask what it was (turned out to be "artichoke custard" apparently), topped with a pathetic serve of ice cream which had completely melted by the time it was placed in front of me, topped off with (you'll never guess), the same salty crisps that had been dumped on the 'risotto' for the main course! "What the hell...? You couldn't come up with anything more imaginative than that?" And I paid how much for this insult to my taste buds? As for the entree, they couldn't even provide us with enough butter for everyone at the table to have some on the pathetic piece of bread that was provided...<br/><br/>In summary, if you're a vegetarian and you are seeking a fine-dining occasion, learn from my experience...I certainly won't shed a tear should anything happen to this place!

Estelle bistro lives next door to it’s fine-dining counterpart ESP and while it’s slightly more casual, it’s still without a doubt refined food with a bit of fancy. The exposed brick walls and green plants on the wall contrast well with white clothed tables and create a stylish atmosphere. You can choose your own dishes or opt for the set course tasting menu.

I had been wanting to try Estelle for quite some time. Finally visited last week. We opted to order a la carte and started with the charcuterie board and the feta and honey churros. Both dishes were tasty. The charcuterie board did not come with any crackers or additional bread to that which is served to all patrons. I would have preferred a cracker or something similar to go with all the meats. The churros were tasty and I liked the mix of sweet and savory. <br/>For main we had the pork belly, the goat dish and a side of duck fat potatoes and iceberg salad. Both mains were tasty but we weren’t blown away by either. The potatoes were good. The side salad was nothing special. <br/>We shared the chocolate dessert. This was super rich in chocolate flavor. I liked the tartness the rhubarb sorbet gave to the dish.

The first time I went to Estelle was in 2013 before they split into Bistro and ESP. It was one of the up and coming restaurants at the time, and definitely one of the better dining experiences that year. I've been keen to come back ever since, and chose to go to the Bistro first as it was easier to get a booking. The atmosphere has changed a bit, it was more casual and vibrant then, perhaps a little more formal now. We had the 5 course degus for $90 and I also had the wine to match which was so-so. I thought all the plates were quite large for a degus, which is not a bad thing. Overall, the dishes were good but not particularly memorable. There was a tendency for the flavours to be a bit oversalted. One of our party had the vegetarian degus and thought it was ok but not as good value as the non-vegetarian options. It was a nice dining experience, but I probably wouldn't be back. I am however, still keen to try ESP to see how that compares...

We got the valentines day set, and overall, found it quite underwhelming. <br/><br/>The kitchen was disorganised, and dishes came out slowly, and at an inconsistent cadence. We arrived after the couple next to us, yet we got served our starters first, then they received 2 dishes in a row, while we received nothing. The pacing was quite erratic.<br/><br/>The food itself was much of the same. The 2 starters were not bad, but the 2 mains were definitely lacking. Though they tasted good, they were not the kind of food you pay a premium for.

Giving this a low score for a few reasons. Came in for a Sunday roast that they offer.<br/><br/>Portions are small - even for fine dining still left hungry.<br/><br/>Dads meat came out, had an uneatable grizzly piece at the end. Spoke to the waiter to let him know, promised he will follow up. Avoided our table rest of the dinner and left a sour taste in our mouth.

We visited here for my partners birthday on a Thursday night during the Christmas/New Year break. I had no issues making a last minute booking 2 days prior. <br/><br/>We had a 6pm booking which required us to be out by 8pm. However, I do not think it was very busy so we were not pressured to leave which was really nice. <br/>The service and food were very good, although it did take a little while to receive the bread. <br/><br/>Between the two of us we ordered the charcuterie board, chickpea chips, we each ordered the steak, a side of the roasted duck fat potatoes and then the chocolate, salted caramel dessert.<br/>This was a lot of food for the two of us and we both left extremely full. <br/>The steaks were delicious however both my partner and I agreed that the potato galette was very underwhelming and that the duck fat potatoes were significantly better and that the sauce was a little too rich. I also personally did not find the cut of meat to be the best as it was a little chewier in comparison to an eye fillet (the cut I usually go for).<br/>Being my partner's birthday, our waitress wished him a happy birthday when we first arrived and when our dessert came out there was a candle in it. These were really nice touches and it was great that I did not have to remind them when I arrived that we were celebrating a birthday. <br/><br/>Overall it was a really nice meal and not ridiculously expensive costing $210ish for all the mentioned food, 2 glasses of wine, tea and coffee. It would not be a restaurant that I would rush back to but it is a nice option in the area.

One of the most enjoyable meals I’ve had. I booked a table for my boyfriend, my parents and myself for my birthday a ew months ago. I requested a quiet table so that we could easily hold a conversation. We were rewarded with a lovely table in the back corner of the outdoor space. There was gorgeous greenery and plenty of space between us and the next table allowing us privacy whilst mainiting a cosy vibe (the only downfall being the temperature - a cold night in Melbourne October is not unheard and not something a restaurant can really control). <br/>We shared a charcuterie platter to begin which was very tasty. My mother and I had the duck for mains which was perhaps a little bland, but still quite good. My boyfriend and father had a steak each and said they were very very good.<br/>For dessert my father and I shared the mandarin and chocolate (thing) and it was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. Honestly incredible!!<br/>To top everything else off our waiter was simply perfect. Attentive but not overbearing and indulged my father’s endless boasting about the tigers win that day (grand final night is always great for the winning team’s fans). I can’t remember his name, but he had facial hair, glasses and was from Adelaide - bosses if you’re reading this, give that guy a raise, he made our night! <br/>Overall the expensive was exactly what I was hoping for. I would go back in a heartbeat!

May 2019 - My original review or 2017 is below this one. Just give me back the old Estelle. What was the best mix of quality food, atmosphere and service has become pedestrianly boring, with unengaged staff and a bland menu. Really disappointing. I just kept asking myself why they did it. Clearly they didn't know what they had.<br/><br/>August 2017<br/>Not sure I can add much to the other reviews other than to say this is just sensational. One of the best dining experiences and I've been fortunate to have done them all, everywhere.

Beautiful food created from fresh ingredients, served with a smile in a warm and unstuffy venue. I had the $70 three course meal and a glass with each course - adding an additional $50 to the bill! Ouch. Despite this, the quality was lovely and I enjoyed everything about dinner here.

We came in for after show coffees and desert. The desert menu is limited. The chocolate pave we ordered was lovely but very rich. It was difficult to hear or talk as the young couple next to us were almost yelling (their wine seemed to be taking effect). I do enjoy Cafe Florentino and feel it has a better ambience.

Sunday lunch with the girls was amazing. I have been to estelle bistro before but never have been to the lunch session. The ambience was upbeat and relaxing. Dessert is always my favourite part at estelle, it is never dissappointing. Look forward to coming here again.

The interior is beautiful. Staff are nice and helpful. The food is delicious. We had the Sunday lamb dish, I don't like lamb but loved it. The restaurant is tucked away among a strip of cafes and shops but still has its charm.

Estelle Bistro is literally right next to the fine dining restaurant Estelle by Scott Pickett, a lot of people including myself almost get it wrong the first time round for booking reservations. After going to ESP, I was looking forward to the bistro version of it. Reservations are recommended as there's few tables at Estelle Bistro. Dimmed setting and few staff. Service was quite low tbh, I think between getting our menus was like 10-15 mins wait, then between waiting for the main after the entree was like 40-45 mins when my friends and I pretty much ordered the same main - I felt they were understaffed when there were so many little tables. The food, all dishes were beautifully presented and most of the plates were decently priced, entree portions were smaller than I thought but mains were a little bigger which was good. Highlights, the spanner crab and wagyu tartare  for entree were delicious, the king salmon main was beautiful with the clear consomme (it was a pity we found 2 big bones in such a small fillet of fish and the waiter didn't seem to be that sincerely apologetic as we'd thought since Estelle Bistro is well known because of ESP), the chocolate pave was decadent and the quince with macadamia ice cream was quite refreshing. Would I come back, I don't think so. Yes to ESP though.

Estelle Bistro was the more casual version of Estelle by Scott Pickett(ESP). They are right next to each other, so don't mix them up. <br/>Bistro still had this intimate and cozy, romantic atmosphere with low lighting, bricks, wooden tables and spacious backyard seating. <br/>They offered 5 courses tasting menu as well as three course tasting menu(considerable in good value). The amount of food was not a lot, more like fine dining portion. <br/>#Spanner crab#-crab meat served with finger lime, seaweed. Looked delicate and loved the sour finger lime and crunchy seaweed. However, the sweet element was too crunchy, just like eating granulated sugar, didn't really enjoy the texture in my mouth. <br/>#kingfish ceviche# was good but not too impressive.<br/>#salmon#-seared king salmon served with mushroom in warm broth. The salmon was cooked to perfection with clear, delicious and light broth! Great flavours with mushroom and such a great dish to have on the cold winter day.<br/>#sirloin#-sirloin steak with braised beef cheek and celeriac. This dish needed to add extra $10 to the three courses meal. The steak was cooked well and tasted tender, but nothing stood out to me. <br/>#rosemary potato#-such big chunks of potatoes, and could fill you up easily, pretty average. <br/>We picked three different desserts:<br/>#quince dessert#-served with lemon macadamia nuts, honey cream. <br/>#sago pudding#-with mandarin and coconut sorbet.<br/>#chocolate pave#-chocolate mousse cake with ice cream <br/>I liked the sago pudding 'cause it was warm and hearty. The texture of the pudding was really nice and smooth. The quince was delicious as well with sweet and refreshing flavours. <br/>To me, Estelle Bistro felt more like a mini version of fine dining. I was expecting it to be more causal, sharing and good value. <br/>

Beautiful decor and the service was fantastic. A more relaxed alternative to ESP next door but still good value for money. Will definitely go again.

This is the second time I have been to Estelle, and I am always enjoy the dining experiences here. Service was great, staffs always paid attention and explained what were the dishes. Steak was cooked perfectly, so tender and melting in my mouth. I will definitely come back.

Portions very small and not very tasty. The waiter was also told about all the food intolerances but the food still contained them. Very disappointing experience.

Went here for sister's 30th for a 3 course meal. Good price and nice outdoor/background setting. There was a little miscommunication at the start where we told the staff my sister in law don't eat meat but her entree came out with chicken pieces in it, so she had to pick it out. Other than that I enjoyed my meals except the dessert where it was a little to too sweet, but that's just me.

Hospitality that lived up to the word and idea in every sense. We popped into the Bistro for my sons birthday and everything was perfect. The service was spot on from the moment we entered until chef wished us a good night. My young man was made to feel very special indeed. Each plate was perfect, the sirloin in particular was an absolute stand out a beautiful cut of meat cooked to perfection. The sugar free dessert cooked for the young lad on the spur of the moment with no prior warning was gorgeous. Thank you chef, our top notch waiter and staff a memorable night indeed

Lovely food always at Estelle. Absolutely love their Sunday roast offering, such great value. Have also had their degustation & in 2015 this was for sure my favourite restaurant in the year.

i accidentally booked the wrong estelle :( didnt know there was two. ended up @ the Bistrol which I'm gathering is the more casual dining. it's nice but nothing I would brag or recommend highly to a friend.

Came here with a friend and had goats cheese truffle churros, chickpea chips, spanner crab, pork belly, miso salmon, and a tomato salad. It was all very interesting and extremely delicious. We also had a Campari soda each and shared a bottle of cava. It ended up being a lot of food and reasonably priced considering how much we ordered ($228 including alcohol). The service was excellent and the space is beautiful (ask to sit out the back!).

Had dinner this evening at Estelle. Beautiful fit out, very ambient and loved that I could see the open kitchen. Service started slow, took a while to get menus brought to us and to have our drink order taken. After we ordered our food though, the service was excellent - except that my water wasn't topped up for a long time...<br/><br/>Ordered the 5 course degustation. It was all in all quite good. The first course was a spanner crab dish, nice but the shallots were a strong flavour and I don't like shallots. Second course was a tomato consommé which was lovely, light and fresh. Third course was a seared Salmon with mushrooms which had lovely flavours. Fourth course was my favourite! Pork jaow...delicious! Great crackling and other elements to the dish. Fifth course was a really yummy choc brownie with vanilla ice cream and an amazing salty crumb and raspberries. My sister had the wine pairing which she really enjoyed also. Great night at Estelle, would definitely return!

The food is amazing, but DON'T go there if you are hungry. Ridiculously small portions. I ordered the gnocchi and it came 7 pieces of gnocchi. I mean, I really don't care paying for food but when that happens in a restaurant I feel cheated. Please, charge even more in your dishes but don't let me walk away hungry because that's not the point of going to a restaurant.

My lovely man took me here for Valentines day and it was beautiful! I have walked past this place so many times and have no idea how nice it was inside. The service was amazing and all our dishes were described to us by different chefs. They had a 5 course menu for valentines so we got to try many different things. Was all to a high standard and very tasty.

Visited the Estelle bistro at the Australian open for lunch. <br/>Firstly when we entered and asked for a table, the lady at the entrance asked are we sure we don't want to look at the menu first. In 2017 I thought we were over judging people on their appearance. I was in casual comfortable attire as I was spending the whole day in Margaret court. <br/>Due to the lack of options at the tennis I stopped myself from walking out. Although there was no way my experience was going to be redeemed from that first impression. <br/><br/>Now for the food<br/>The fried school prawns were delicious- cooked to perfection and the sauce that accompanied was great. <br/>The goats cheese croquettes also wonderful, with complimenting flavours. <br/>The burger was average, nothing really to it.<br/>The chicken fat potatoes were so bland, they tasted as if they had been warmed up numerous times. <br/>Overall not what I expected from Estelle. <br/><br/>The staff seemed to be just hired for the Australian open as they had no idea. They couldn't explain the menu nor did they top up water or clear our plates without being asked.<br/><br/>Overall it was a very bad experience. I thought being at the tennis they would showcase their best dishes but if this is anything to go by I definitely won't be heading to the restaurant any time soon. <br/>

Details: only went to the restaurant set up at the Australian Open but I needed to make mention because i thought the antipasto platter and fried calamari were exceptional. Very tasty! Recommend this joint if you want a quick tasty snack with a nice view that comes out relatively quickly.

My husband and I recently dined here for my birthday. It was a lovely evening with delicious food and relaxed but attentive service. Always happy with our experience when we come here.

Some people said I wouldn't like Estelle, that it would be too showy or clean-cut for my sensibilities. Whatever the case may be, they were very wrong - I love it here. The service is always prompt and courteous, the menu inventive and the wine mostly incredible. They did have a bottle of '96 Claret on the menu at one stage which was a disastrously nostalgic on my part, but that can be forgotten. Almost a 5-star but have to save 0.5 for inevitable improvement.

We hadn’t been to Estelle since its transformation to Estelle Bistro. Apart from cosmetic changes to the surrounds, the food and presentation were to the same high standard as previous visits. The crispy lamb ‘fingers’ and the spring vegetable salad were the highlights of our meal. My only comment … directed to the front of house  … your facetious banter was tedious.

DO: The 3 course menu (of your choice) or 5 course chefs tasting menu if it's your first time. Loved the churros to start, the tortellini as an entree, the steak for mains and choc for dessert <br/><br/>DON'T: Go with a group of more than 5 people if you wish to do the A La Cart menu. <br/><br/>TIP: Parking is horrible, get there early to allow some time to find a space.

In keeping with the standard of Estelle and Scott Pickett, the use of excellent produce and clever teaming of ingredients turned even seemingly simple dishes/canapés into ones that were full of intricate textures and flavours that came together seamlessly. And let’s not forget gobsmackingly delicious.

Still one of the best restaurant's in Melbourne. Went last week with some friends from out of town and had a great experience. Even though the focus and pizazz has shifted next door, the bistro still holds up.<br/>We sat out the back and had a great time. Knowledgable unpretentious staff, amazing wine-list and of course sensational food. The 3 course mini-degustation is surprisingly good value. Can't recommend enough

On a wintry Saturday night some time in July, I went with friends to Estelle Bistro which I initially thought was a French restaurant. However, on looking at the menu, I realised the food was more akin to contemporary Australian restaurant fare though with some French bistro accents. The restaurant itself was also very Melbourne, with its Northcote location and its pared-back, exposed brick, rustic but sophisticated vibe.

Other fantastic and unique dining options are also available such as <br/><br/>the Green Room where you can see the players make their way onto Rod Laver Arena<br/><br/>the Laneway Club where you can experience Melbourne's unique dining culture and enjoy music from top DJs and street food<br/><br/>Estelle by Scott Picket where you will be served modern meals from the acclaimed chef<br/><br/>88 Melbourne where an a la carte modern Australian menu is available for guests

We started with a mixed dozen oysters - Coffin Bay and Sydney Rock. Followed up with the 5 course Chef's selection. All very well presented and pretty tasty !! A glass or two of the Babich organic Sauvignon Blanc to help wash it all down.

I like it. Food is good, service is amazing. Our waitress was witty, engaging and professional. Everything we ate was top notch. Go, eat, enjoy.

Had the 5 course chefs selection which was delicious. Staff were amazingly accommodating for dietary requirements, and very attentive. However I would not have the matching wines again, they were a good selection but far from generous with each pour and more often than not our glasses were empty.....matching wines - not real value for money.

Dined at bistro, early sat for dinner. Read and listened to reviews and had high expectations. Wasn't disappointed. Service was attentive and swift. Well cooked, detailed dishes. Wife and I had the 3 course banquet and it was good value. I Highly recommended.

Sunday roast set menu was impressive. Nice entree, good size and plenty of detail - leek two ways, lovely. Roast was very nice, the thigh piece mouth watering. Veggie sides weren't as good as I've had here previously. Rice pudding - creamy and perfect for winter. Again a good portion, rice a bit under for my liking. Great service.

We thought we book for a special birthday dinner recently, but received a call on the day ( 4 hours before booking time) to say there was a 'misunderstanding.' Apparently it was our fault, so subsequently we didn't dine there. <br/>We tried for a second time to done there and had another rude conversation with the lady. We have had two failed attempts, so think we might pass on this.

I had a fantastic degustation here before ESP was next door. Couldn't fault any dish and the wine was exceptional. Very friendly staff who love what they do. Scott Pickett is a highly under rated chef

Very disappointed with the food here. Had the 5 course chef menu. As groups 5 or more are required to have it. Cucumber entree was flavourless, needed salt or at lest something on it, it was literally just cucumber on its own. Cured Kingfish was room temperature and was either way overcured or been sitting on the counter for hours as it was rubbery and the temp was very off putting. The salmon dish was great. Cooked well and had great flavour, this was the only dish we actually enjoyed eating. Pork belly was terrible, basically just a piece of pork on a plate. no sauce and nothing else to balance out the fat and saltiness of the pork. Apart from a little black pudding. Not what you'd expect from a chefs kitchen. The dessert we were told was a dark chocolate parfait and for me was inedible, in fact 4 out of the 5 of us left it on the plate, tasted like raw cocoa, too rich and bitter with unpleasant texture, just a poorly made dessert. Judging by the other reviews I'd say they maybe had an off night but for me I won't be returning, the whole menu lacked flavour. And we all left still feeling hungry. The big plus for this joint though is the service. It was fantastic. Very nice waitresses who were prompt and experienced.

Wonderful, as usual. My husband and I took my parents for the Sunday Roast. We were seated out the back which had a great vibe. Great value for such fine cooking. Highly recommended.

Always a treat, always good service. Always great food. If your interstate looking for a great place to dine in Melbourne - try Estelle. Love it here and you will too!

Not what We had expected. Food wasn't memorable. We were sat out the back by ourselves and struggled to get service. A lot of money for a mediocre meal.

As a regular favourite of ours, we generally visit Estelles' 3-4 times per year. Unfortunately Saturday night was probably our last. Waited over 1 hour in between Entre and Main course (almost 1.5 hours), finally able to eat at 10:30pm! Food was ok, not amazing as it normally is. The killer would have to be the credit card surcharge. What a joke. Spend $600 on dinner and you still sting patrons a surcharge. Can't believe restaurants still believe it's ok. We will be voting with our feet!

Wow. What a disappointment. My girlfriends and I just had a group dinner at Estelle. We had been before and had good experiences but this was verging on terrible (for my dinner choices anyway). We had the 3 course package. I started out with the Chicken, egg and pine mushrooms. The dish arrived and looked like a bowl of brown slop. And that's exactly how it tasted. There was no texture, just sloppy undercooked egg floating in some kind of watery mushroom gravy and a few hidden floaty bits of chicken. It was horrible, like something that was on its way out rather than in if you catch my drift. <br/>Main wasn't much better, I had the duck which was chewy and under seasoned. <br/>I had to ask for salt, the waitress's face looked like I had asked for her first born child. Dessert was the only savior (pineapple tart) but by then the damage was done. <br/>Not to mention the rudest waitress I've encountered in a very long time. Not sure what we did to be treated that way, but that was her attitude as soon as we walked in the door. Acted put out by our very existence and slammed every drink on the table without a word. Awful.

I had high expectations for Estelle and was a bit disappointed. .. I had an amazing dinner at The Noble Experiment the previous week to this Estelle booking and it was more expensive and service want fantastic. The main meal took a long time. They forgot a side dish (but that may not have heard my order ) and the entrées were not anything to rave about (don't order the cucumber one) and mains were nice but a little dated. <br/>The waiter took the last of my cocktail before I was done. ...argh!<br/>Overall nice but not amazing.

Really disappointing especially after going to ESP. The entrees were ok, however our mains were a tad lackluster, especially the fish. I guess expectations were too high, since I've been here before the renovations as well and it was really good. Service was fantastic though.

One of the best restaurants in Melbourne I say. Watch the kitchen... The effort that goes into every dish is amazing and shows this place I pretty good value for what's involved.

went there a while ago. food was pretty good esp for the Parmesan fries but our service provided by one of the waiter was really bad and rude. I feel sorry for the chef cause the waiter ruined our whole night. I think they now removed the cheesecake from the current dessert menu. but before I wasn't too happy they changed my cheesecake to something else which wasn't what exactly described on the menu without letting me know.

This was absolutely a lovely experience. We sat out the back amongst the greenery (vertical garden) and it really set the scene for a memorably night. Wait staff were fantastic and every dish was truly satisfying. Oysters were a standout as well as the jamon and manchego croquettes. Really looking forward to going back soon

Ahhhhh so I found myself at Estelle on the weekend and sat out the back in what felt like a little garden of Greg. ☘🍃🌿<br/>I had the five course set menu and I have to admit, after the first and second dishes arrived, I was a little bit worried I would leave hungry and might have to swing past KFC on the way home. <br/>Well I was wrong, I left feeling satisfied with a perfect amount of food in my belly 😜<br/>I won't tell you about the 5 courses in detail because I enjoyed not knowing what's coming out next, and I want you to enjoy the same surprise aspect. What I can say is the pork was the best I've ever eaten and the atmosphere was very pleasant. The only downfall was that the wine list is pretty pricey and I think you can still be a classy and elegant restaurant with a few affordable wine options.<br/>#gregontour

It was fun to dine at the bar & watched all the chefs in action. I thought most of the dishes were delicious. However on the day I went, the chefs were testing out new dishes/flavours, the dishes people next to us got were much better than what we got (presentation, ingredients used, serving sizes...). It seemed unfair coz we both opted for degustation but it was just pure luck we were presented with dishes we were less keen to try.

The perfect restaurant for a date night.  The staff were friendly, lovely decor and ambience.  We tried the croquettes and polenta chips for starters. The croquettes were delicious, but the polenta was a little too chewy and bland for my liking.  The tuna and octopus starter were both amazing - fresh, delicious flavours.  Also had the pork and steak for mains.  The steak was a little underseasoned, but the pork was great.  Overall, a fantastic night.

Had dinner here on a Monday night!! Sat outside in the back of the restaurant which was lovely! Everything we chose was amazing! Thank you! We will be back!

After reading all the great reviews in Zomato and Urbanslist, we decided to give this place a go to celebrate our anniversary. It was quite disappointing that the level of food served did not reflect on the price they were charged, especially the pan fried barramundi was under seasoned and to pair it with just plain wild rice gave the impression that the chefs did not give much love to the food they served.

My hubby and I had the 8 course degaustation menu with matching wines for Valentines day. While the food was delicious and service was good, it did slow once Scott Pickett left the kitchen. Overall we had an enjoyable evening, despite having a rocky start to the evening when the maitre'd was incredibly rude to us for arriving early.

We attended on a Saturday evening with another couple- so there was 4 of us. <br/>A little slow to get menus, but as soon as we had our waitresses attention, we were fine.  Our waitress was knowledgeable and made excellent suggestions of dish and wine pairing.<br/><br/>We started with a Anchovy & Romesco. Delicate flavours.<br/> <br/>We then went for the 5 course degustation. <br/>1. Heirloom Tomatoes; Watermelon & Feta (sensational flavours)<br/>2. Cured Salmon, lemon and squid (delicious)<br/>3. Barramundi, Black rice and fennel (bit tasteless.)<br/>4. Diamond Valley Pork, Kohirabi & Black puddding (delicious)<br/>5. Chocolate tart, salted caramel ice cream (The chocolate tart was like a mousse and actually didn't have much flavour?!)<br/><br/>The restaurant had plenty of ambience and it was full of patrons.<br/><br/>We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and we would return.<br/><br/>$300 per couple.

I can't say enough good things about this place. The service is wonderful, the atmosphere is great and the food is perfection. It's such an experience and I have loved taking guests from overseas there to show off Melbourne dining at its best. Highly recommend.

We visited The Estelle for a long Friday lunch. All of us tried the 5 course meal and I had the wine pairing accompanying it. The venue is well fitted out, - it's quite dark and intimate with good use of dark timbers and copper finishes. We were all really impressed with the quality and diversity of the courses, - ranging from fresh salads, to seared fish and a magnificent pork belly. The wines were well matched with the food. I have read a few reviews with reservations about the quantity of food, but we all left very satisfied and the long lunch also covered us for dinner. It's a fairly long meal, and once you add bread, water and wines, you'll be more than satisfied. Service was quite good overall, though an inattentive waiter took a completed plate away when not all had finished our meals. It was a really special experience and we left feeling satisfied and spoke positively about the afternoon for days afterward. We'd definitely return and can recommend the 5 course meal with wine pairing for a nice occasion.