Reviews Woodland House

Name: Woodland House
Address: 78 Williams Rd, Prahran, Greater Melbourne, I-3181
Telephone: +61 3 9525 2178
Rating: 88

Marshall Segan

Our French Wine and Food club had a fantastic night last night.

25 people saw this marvellous place excell in delicious beautifully presented food, great respectful service and a wonderful fine dining experience

This is as good as it gets- highly recommended to those that value fine food which is well presented with a minimum of fuss

Thankyou Hayden and wonderful staff!

Jun 27, 2019

Tuey_z

The restaurant lay out was amazing, dining in a mansion. Service was impeccable and the staff were very attentive. We had the Woodland house menu. The starters were amazing (5 star), however the latter dishes didn't continue to amaze (3.5-4 star). Overall, worth checking out!

Jun 26, 2019

Check Please

We opted for the three course with one glass of wine lunch option. There were two choices for entree and mains and one desert. The house made bread was heaven and we six loved every mouthful of chosen dishes. Thankfully I was able to swap desert for cheese. We six agreed desert might be an option. Loved it. Recommend.

Jun 05, 2019

Nan Theerapappong

Had my Birthday dinner celebration here was truly a memorable experience, 8 course degustation was amazing and well presented. Would highly recommend and will definitely be returning!

May 31, 2019

Makan2Melbourne

One of the prettiest restaurants I’ve ever been to. The restaurant looked like an old house, the interior was very fancy and luxurious. We opted for the Woodland House Menu at $175 pp. The first courses were snacks, which were scallops, fried potato, brioche, spanner crab, sourdough and savoury danish. The highlight for me was the spanner crab, which was unique and very tasty. The others were good, too, but they were pretty common. Onto the larger dishes, started with calamari, which was cut thinly like noodles with garlic. This was another highlight for me. Next was fish dishes, spanish mackerel dish, which was described to consist sea urchin, but I’m pretty sure it was caviar, and flounder. The fish dishes were very fresh, not fishy at all, the fish was tender, but a bit bland for my taste. Then, there was marron, which had too much sauce in my opinion, and the sauce reminded me of packaged spicy mayo, a bit disappointed. After the seafood dishes, there was suckling pig, which had really crispy skin, not fatty, but tender. It was really tasty, but I like the next dish more, which was peking duck. Usually I find duck meat to be bland, but they managed to make the duck flavourful and tender, the skin was perfectly crispy! For desserts, the first one was passionfruit cream, liquorice, and white chocolate, which was like a passionfruit panna cotta. I really liked the freshness of passionfruit, but the white chocolate was too sweet, I ended up removing all the white chocolate. The next dessert was raspberry jam, tonka bean, sesame. The raspberry jam was, again, refreshing and not too sweet. The crisps on top was also really good! I didn’t find the cream to be too heavy or too sweet, it was perfectly balanced, especially with the raspberry jam. Lastly, there were petit fours, which includes coconut meringue, blackcurrant, chocolate truffles, and macarons. We were a bit overwhelmed by the sweet dishes, we ended up not finishing the petit fours, but the macarons weren’t just sweet, like many macarons, but it had a bit of saltiness as well. The chocolate was really thick, and a bit heavy, but it was heaven for chocolate lovers. The others were not as good. Overall, I can see the value of the food, however, I was expecting more wow factor from this restaurant.

May 24, 2019

FoodLoverQueenM

One for the gorgeous place in this area for fine dining. We ordered full set dinner and was really yummy. staffs are really nice and friendly, last dessert also make me so enjoyable. Looking forward to go back.

May 19, 2019

Atipat

This is true fine dining. Steak is so delicious. So worth for the $$$. No need to use dishwasher. You will finish by no strain on the dish. I will come back next time.

May 04, 2019

Scottcop

One of the most memorable dining experiences I have had in Melbourne. The staff were exemplary and the quality and presentation of each course was way above the already high expectations I had of Woodland House.

Mar 15, 2019

Nelson

Used to dine here when it was Jaques Reymond but recently visited with a group of friends. I must say I was impressed with the place, service and ambience to match what was they're 8 course degustation. Bold and extinguished flavours that were not confused with quality and proper used ingredients.
A must try for everyone

Feb 28, 2019

Mikayla Cooch

Food and the service were really good here! The ambiance was on point. The set menu goes for a few hours. The staff was attentive and very professional. Really enjoyed all the various food and desserts in the tasting menu. It was a beautiful house with really inventive food and I would highly recommend to all fine dining lovers.

Jan 25, 2019

Kellypth

The ambiance was on point. Food and service was really good too. Ideally for a great romantic date night. The set menu goes for a few hours but each dish came out with a new excitement.

Jan 17, 2019

Jackson Trundle

Amazing food and wine! The staff was attentive, professional and very enthusiastic. They had a great knowledge of food and wine. Lovely warm and intimate atmosphere complete with cozy. The food itself was well presented, with clean simple flavors allowing the star of each dish to shine. On this evening the restaurant was showcasing truffles which were offered to be freshly shaved over one of our dishes, which was, of course, a lovely addition! Overall a lovely evening, highly recommend for an intimate meal with someone special.

Dec 17, 2018

Aaron Teh

Enjoyed a lovely dinner with my wife. The food and staff were great. We enjoyed all the various food and desserts in the tasting menu. Had a very memorable night.

Dec 07, 2018

Bobby

One of the best place to dine. One of the finest fine dining restaurant experience we had. But really disappointed to go with matching wine. She just literally poured few drops not even 50ml. Its really disappointing. Other than that food was excellent. Would recommend everyone but not pairing for next time.

Nov 07, 2018

Pluviophile

Went here for an anniversary lunch date and everything was so fantastic. We were a bit late from our booking time but the waiter was so nice to still keep our table with the best view. The food was fantastic, can’t really complain anything there and the ambiance was great too. The old house, the nice music, and the nice decor were really great for our anniversary date. They even gave us one special complimentary dessert as our anniversary present at then end. 😊

Sep 25, 2018

CCC

We went for a joint birthday celebration and everything was fantastic!! By the end we were absolutely bursting. My favourites were the appetisers at the start and also the scanner crab, it was just delicious. Our servers were all lovely. My only suggestion would be that they need to speak louder as I often couldn’t hear what we were eating because it was quite loud inside. But it was a beautiful house with really inventive food and I would highly recommend to all fine dining lovers

Sep 22, 2018

Im Here To Eat

NO TIME FOR LONG REVIEWS! I'M HERE TO EAT!! SUMMED UP IN 14 WORDS OR LESS!!!

---True fine dining! No need for a dishwasher, you'll lick the plates clean.---

For the full review... head over to my website! Link found on my Instagram profile :D
For the visual stimulationz... head over to my Instagram! Link found below :D

Jul 26, 2018

Diesel

One of my favourite fine dine places. I miss Jacque Reymond but I’m glad that the current team continues to provide legendary service and exceptional food. A true five star restaurant.

Jul 18, 2018

Angela

We went there for our 20 years wedding anniversary. It was a great experience. The restaurant is beautiful, staff warmly approachable, great service! Food was second to none. The chef manages to reserve the original flavor of the meat, sophisticate and delicious. I would give the food a 5+, restaurant presentation a 5, service a 4. Overall I would say a 4.5. The only thing that we didn’t find comfortable with is the wait between courses. It took 3.5 hours for all courses to be served. As much as we enjoyed each course immensely, by the end of the dinner, we didn’t feel full. Maybe that’s what fine dining is about😊

Jun 22, 2018

Crem

Firstly the setting and ambiance is absolutely beautiful. It’s a warm cosy, elegant setting that welcomes you as you enter. The food was a set 5 course tasting menu. What can l say, amazing balance of flavour. Beautiful presentation and a well balanced offering of local produce. Special mention to the suckling pig dish. Wait staff were supper attentive, friendly and professional.

Jun 15, 2018

Lindsay

This restaurant is set in a lovely old house. There is limited off-street parking and street parking is hard to find. But the restaurant is worth the effort. We went with friends for the House Lunch, a limited option menu. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Our orders were taken quickly and it was not long before our entrees arrived. I enjoyed the cured salmon with smoked sour cream and leeks. The other entree of potato gnocchi and mushrooms was also very good. The mains were also delicious - snapper and braised short ribs. The dessert of pineapple and almond tart was an interesting and tasty presentation. Macaroons and fruit jubes were supplied with coffee. Overall, it was a very nice balanced meal that we all enjoyed.

May 30, 2018

Janda

An excellent experience and my family was blown away by the tasting menu. Sitting from 6:30pm, dishes were paced very well and with fantastic taste. Housemade bread was amazing. There is a huge amount of food for the price. It turned out to be something like 10 courses+ with the snacks, petit fours etc. They were very accommodating with finding minor alternatives for dietary preferences.
My only tips for improvement:
1). I should be made to feel like a million bucks in this sort of establishment. Walking in a few minutes before the opening time of 6:30pm - staff at the entrance looked vaguely perplexed as to what we were doing in the entrance corridor and did not approach us or greet us - we had to start the conversation, before they seated us along with a few other parties who had also presented very so slightly early for their reservations. I felt like we had intruded on the staff at this time.
2). There could be some improvement on presentation being even more fine (I have enclosed pictures of courses where food appears hidden under some sort of blanket...)

May 07, 2018

One Piece Left

Davin and I will use any excuse to celebrate by eating out somewhere nice. So recently when it reached the mark of 13 years since we’ve been together we quickly agreed we needed to celebrate through some fine dining! Forget the presents, we just want to eat something amazing! We ended up making a reservation at Woodland House in Prahan.

Feb 02, 2018

Nick Lim C K

One of the best degustations i've ever had in Melbourne. Very underrated, fairly priced, just can't find a flaw. Highly recommended, will definitely revisit.

Dec 15, 2017

Ben Lee Kong

+4.5

It was many years ago that I experienced my one time at Jacques Reymond. Getting there at night didn’t do justice to the beauty of the surrounds, but the care and attention of the staff was memorable.

In recent years, the restaurant has changed hands and names, but its prestige has not. Woodland House isn’t the latest and greatest, but neither is fine dining. A beautiful dining room, overlooking a stylish courtyard for a pre-lunch drink, give that feel of a great meal to come. This is something that will never go out of style.

...

When the first course came out and I tasted the generous serve of spanner crab, my excitement levels for the remaining several courses elevated. While foam might be a dirty word of late, the potato foam, combined with the spanner crab and fish (red gurnard) was absolutely delicious and probably my highlight of the meal.

Nov 27, 2017

Nicole

We tried the new House menu yesterday and it was lovely! I wanted to cancel at first because I wasn't adventurous enough to try the new things on the menu like rabbit/kangaroo/sweetbread but they were very accommodating and switched it all up to 'safe' things like chicken, salmon and scallops! That was the part that sold me :) I also loved how they served up warm bread between meals so it didn't seem like the table was empty for too long and I could always keep busy.

They had parking inside but there was plenty of street parking was available (even on a Saturday night) so no fusses there! Food was great, wine was awesome and service was impeccable! We had a table near us with a patron who was unpleasantly audible about tasting butter in the scallops and lactose intolerance (but continued eating anyway) which was rather annoying and rude considering that when I made the reservations they made it plenty clear that I should inform them of any food allergies, regardless of whether I thought it was on the menu. So yeah, team Woodlands was completely faultless and had such finesse in dealing with difficult patrons that I would absolutely come back again!

Oct 29, 2017

杨致远

A restaurant that serves stunning dishes. We ordered 4 courses Sunday lunch set. The first dish is King George whiting, asparagus with tomato vinaigrette. Surprisedly, this dish was really AMAZING. The fish cooked perfectly and the fragrance of the vegetables and the tomato vinaigrette balanced well with the fish. The second dish was a prawn risotto. The seasoning was good, kept the umami of the school prawn into the rice, HOWEVER the risotto needs more time to cook. The taste of the risotto was not creamy. The third is the gippsland lamb with broad beans and wild garlic. The lamb was cooked beautifully. I really do love the wild Gaelic flavor in the dish. The side dish tasted well with the lamb. Then the selection of cheese came. I like the tête de Moine the most. The final dessert is the blueberries, whipped cheesecake with thyme. Personally, I don't like this dessert. The blueberries around the Cheesecake was TOO SWEET, and did not balanced well with the cheesecake. The flavor of the cheesecake was hidden by the sweetness. The texture of the dessert was not good, the cheesecake was not that smooth. And I hope the nuts under the whipped cheesecake can be more. It can add the crunchy texture into the dish and also add more fragrance of the nuts. However, the dining experience was good here, generally the food were served with high quality. I am looking forward to visit the woodland house again!

Oct 03, 2017

AllyBelly

+4.5

Had the 3 course lunch menu on a Friday. Good value at $55 which also includes a glass of wine. Each dish was beautifully cooked and the portion size was just right for a light lunch. Alternatively, if your hungry, be sure to get the chefs concise menu instead.
Loves how the restaurant is set in an old house. Parking may be an issue on site as there are only a few spots, but there is always street parking.

Sep 17, 2017

My wife and I recently came to Woodland House to celebrate my birthday - this was our first time here since it took over from Jacques Reymond, and I had the full degustation menu (my wife had the concise menu). The décor was inviting and laid back.

I was absolutely blown away by the food - it would be the first time that I've thoroughly enjoyed every single course on a 10 course degustation! In particular the duck, lamb and the brown butter/milk skin dessert were absolutely outstanding.

The service was also good - the waiter/waitresses were attentive and friendly, the ten courses arrived at a sensible pace (we went on a Wednesday), and the restaurant was accommodating to my wife's dietary requirements and changed the lamb course to a snapper.

Definitely our favourite degustation experience in Melbourne - hope to be back soon.

Sep 15, 2017

Beatrice

Came to Woodland House 2 years ago for Valentine's Day and had been wanting to be back since. We were here again to celebrate mom's 60th birthday. This is the first time my parents had degustation as my dad is a very impatient eater.
Made a reservation for 6:45 and we were the first table to arrive, my parents being the typical tourists were taking photos of everything! We were presented with an extensive wine list, it was so hard to pick just one! Ended up getting 2010 Château Montus as recommended and it was nicely balanced with cherry and chocolate note.
We got greedy and ordered the Woodland House Menu for all of us so we could all taste every dish without fighting over them. Got so full when we were 3/4 through the menu and secretly hoped that we stuck with the original plan to get 2 concise and 2 full menu. Especially when mom and I are both small eaters.
Great produce, well balanced flavours. We had thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Every dish was special, I couldn't even pick a favourite. Well done Team Woodland House!

Aug 10, 2017

Willtravelforfood17

The first time we came we couldn't fault the food and the service. However the second time we came the standard of food dropped slightly and the food came out so slowly we were eating their degustation for 4 hours. It was just too long in-between courses. I love that they keep offering you their warm in-house baked bread between courses though.

Jul 31, 2017

Syt

+4.5

Love the food here. Staff are always attentive. Nice homey feeling with fireplaces and comfy seats. Cater for different dietary requirements too

Jul 23, 2017

Taqing Cheng

+4.5

I've been there twice in two years time, it's my anniversary spot. Love it, beautiful food and display. I like the lobster soup and veal the most, desserts are nice too.

Jul 16, 2017

Lisa Giles

One of my favourite degustations I have ever had! The food was sensational, the service was impeccable and the wine that was chosen for us was amazing! Don't have a bad word to say about this place, and would highly recommend making a reservation here if you're looking for something a bit more upmarket.

Jun 21, 2017

KnowingMelbourne

Woodland House is something special. Housed in the old Jacque reymond building this mansion is seriously impressive. It's all you'd expect from a fine dining restaurant. Perfect, attentive service, crisp tablecloths and the ability
to actually hear each other speak. There's some definite inspiration from European cuisine in the dishes and quite frankly we
Couldn't fault a thing. From wood roasted Mussels to succulent lamb fillet, tender suckling pig, and steamed snapper and crab. The desserts were also to die for. I highly recommend trying this place for yourself!

Jun 19, 2017

Vegbourne

Woodland house, Prahran, cuisine- Modern Australian, degustation. This one is from a while back on our anniversary a few years ago. It is one of the most memorable dinner experiences of my life. Absolutely lovely vegetarian food - they were happy to accommodate all dietary requests! They even had a non-alcoholic wine... well the service was beyond fault. Coming to the most important part - food- each course of the degustation was flavorsome, well balanced and had so many elements and textures to it. Each was unique and extraordinary.... it was worth and more for the price you pay for it. Definitely recommend for a special occasion- or just an ordinary day you wanna turn into a special one- this place will make sure you feel that way..... @woodland_house #rating5 #degustation #woodlandhouse #melbournebesteats #igersmelbourne #vegbourne #vegetarianrocks #melbournefoodie#bestdegustationever #specialnight #foodlove #ilovedesserts #lovefoodlivefood #lovebeingavegetarian #lovemylife #prahran #jacquesreynolds #thomaswoods #haydenmcfarland #instablogger #foodblogger #melbourneblogger #melbourne

Jun 15, 2017

Marissa Parkhurst

Exquisite food. If I had to pick a favourite it would be the duck tongue and the cheese platter and the venison (!) and least favourite would be the mussels (surprisingly, as I love mussels and asparagus, but it was very bland). Woodland House has just started a new menu which had not yet appeared on their website, so it was all a surprise.
I would highly recommend this venue if you are not opposed to crisp, professional service, dining over several hours, dark green walls (I love dark walls - grey, blue, green - I find it so relaxing) and excellent quality (if not experimental) tasters.

Apr 20, 2017

Sabrina Sha

Such a nice and pretty restaurant...has the very English vintage kinda of environment..and even waiters sound like European....btw..we went a weekend night...and only set menu was available.

food wise..all well presented and my surprise of the night was the duck tongue...not gross at all...interesting texture...lol...the only let down was the dessert...it just seems desserts arent their specialty. It wasnt a cheap meal...but the experience was quite nice.

Mar 17, 2017

Latteme

This place offers one of the best degustation dining experiences in Melbourne. Classy and modern, food itself is well presented and it is very thoughtful from all perspectives. Strongly recommend for special occasions, or if you would like a treat for yourself on the weekends!

Feb 20, 2017

Sophie Tang

Great place , the food is so tasty and full of surprise , the matching wines are good as well, will definetely come back. I need to make 140 word

Feb 07, 2017

Minda Barley

My belated birthday dinner celebration with Steve was at Woodland House. We had been when it was Jacques Reymond so were keen to see the new generation at work although it's taken us a while to get there! Usual North vs. South of the river excuses!. Service was professional and slick from the moment we stepped in until our exit 3 hours later.

Jan 31, 2017

Foodie

One of the best restaurants I've been to. The food is great and the service is amazing. Good wines as well!

The place gets very busy. Good location and easy to get parking.

Their full chefs menu is very thoughtful and I enjoyed everything we were served. Looking forward to being back when the menu changes!

Dec 17, 2016

Michael Nguyen

+4.5

Woodland House is one of those fine dining experiences that answers the age old question 'Is that much money -really- worth the food?'. Both my wallet and I are glad that answer is a resounding 'YES!'

Hidden away from the busy streets of Praharn in a walled out mansion, Woodland House offers a quiet and quaint experience. Walking into the restaurant feels like you're visiting the retired grandparents living out in the country.

My partner and I celebrated our anniversary and was given a beautiful window side seat with a great view of the little beautiful garden outside. Definitely recommend having a walk around the restaurant - inside and out.

The food is very, very good. Not absolutely mind blowing - but very tasty with some very unique components I've never even heard of let alone taste. We did the relaxed Sunday Lunch with 6 courses; the standouts being the slow cook beef with mushroom puree and a creamy, crispy fish.

The service is impeccable and thankfully doesn't reek of pretentiousness. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff happy to explain the food and their favourites. We booked online and were treated with a nice little dessert to celebrate our occasion. It's small little touches like that combined with the fantastic food, great decore and the hospitable and unpretentious service that marks this as one of my favourite places in Melbourne.

Dec 10, 2016

Anh Nguyen

+4.5

I've been here when they first opened and i must admit they've really fine tuned the menu since.

Service was impeccable from start to finish, it's definitely a very formal restaurant, and I can see why some would say it's almost stuffy; there was definitely no casual banter amongst guests and staff here, but that's all part of the Woodland House charm I think.

Now to the food...i wasn't particularly impressed with the snacks and the first cod dish, but it was all uphill from there. The lobster and wagyu in particular were to die for, perfectly balanced dishes and the beef simply melted in my mouth without being too fatty. And those savoury scones, oh my goodness, I wish I had the stomach to eat 20 of them, they're that good.

Overall a fantastic experience, I would definitely recommend for a special occasion.

Nov 30, 2016

Nibble And Wander

+4.5

My partner took me here for our anniversary and we were both very sick with a cold haha So our blocked noses made it really hard to taste the food properly. Besides this, walking into the front door of the house, you really get a different feeling compared to walking into normal restaurants. We were seated in a huge room (more like a spacious rhombus room of the house) with modernised, clean, sophisticated interior. The staff were extremely nice and attentive. We got the degustation menu, food came out quite quick, smaller portions but many small 'snacks' and immaculate presentation. All dishes were carefully prepared and all dishes were cooked to perfection. I loved everything about this dining experience, but I'd definitely need to come back to try their menu again when I'm not sick to taste things better.

Nov 12, 2016

PacMan

So others in my dining circle have "Wowed" and "OMG'd" before so let it be known that even before I had made it through the front door I was already prepared to exclaim the above!

Situated in a federation home just off High Street Woodland House is dressed to impress.

The service was super professional and was almost without fault. The sommelier who introduced the wines for each course was comparatively un-rushed and happy to answer questions.

The courses, from start to finish were all varying degrees of excellent. It was nice that, unlike some degustation offerings, there was some ups and downs.

A personal favourite (and entirely new ingredient for mine) was the crispy duck tongues, will be on the look out for them again.

The lobster on a chicken liver pate bed was amazing as was the cheese board which served as a wonderful pre-dessert punctuation.

A special mention must go to the bread where a consonant offering meant that the options of the chilli scroll or sourdough could be amply sampled and compared - many more "OMG" moments.

The wine matching was excellent all round and even the Mornington Peninsular Chardonnay (all be it a French style) was paired superbly with the aforementioned crustacean and very enjoyable.

My normal reaction to Chardonnay is to ask what is next!

The dessert tasting plate rounded off the meal superbly and we left thoroughly satisfied, ready to return again!

Nov 07, 2016

Sybarite

So glad Woodland House made the cut for one of four dinners whilst on a foodie trip to Melbourne. What a wonderful 4 hour dining experience. Whilst out for dinner elsewhere two days earlier, upon asking the waiter what other degustation he would recommend in Melbourne, I was both pleased and excited that the first place he suggested was Woodland House.
I had a read of previous reviews to see what others thought of the experience. Yes the service was professional rather than personal. But I can't say I have ever really found a successful balance between the two. I am happy to have either one or the other. We were asked after every course how we found the dish (excellent, every time), we were lucky enough to score a large round table for the two of us and we were lucky to have no issues with acoustics or large rowdy groups.
One of us went for the wine matching, which was "very good". I sipped on sparkling water which was no extra charge. And my glass was never empty.
As for the food. Exquisite. If I had to pick a favourite it would be the duck tongue and the cheese platter and the venison (!) and least favourite would be the mussels (surprisingly, as I love mussels and asparagus, but it was very bland). Woodland House has just started a new menu which had not yet appeared on their website, so it was all a surprise.
I would highly recommend this venue if you are not opposed to crisp, professional service, dining over several hours, dark green walls (I love dark walls - grey, blue, green - I find it so relaxing) and excellent quality (if not experimental) tasters.

Nov 02, 2016

Facebook User

Environment: 5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5

Classy, elegant and homely would be the three words I'd use to describe this restaurant. The service was great, the waiters/waitresses were attentive and customized the menu to suit my intolerance to lactose. A remarkable dish would be the coconut sorbet which could contend with some of the desserts that my partner and I have had at other fine dining restaurants.

Would certainly recommend this restaurant.

Oct 31, 2016

Cathy@Mel

Had dinner here four months ago to celebrate special occasion. The service was very excellent and food was very good. We had the 10 courses degustation and it took about 2 hours. The most impressive courses are the abalone and lamb fillet. They change their menu seasonally, and we will definitely return to try something new.

Oct 30, 2016

Secret Taster

+3.5

Just not my type.

We had the Woodland degustation.
I did enjoy the food. Out of the snacks and courses, my favorite was the beef. Cooked to my liking.

The setting, service was what you can expect in a fine dining restaurant -
Took your coat. Upon being served, each dish was explained and served on hot plates. Dishes were visually appealing. Provided new cutlery for each dish. Dishes were served in a well timed manner. Folded your napkin when you were away from the table. Made sure your glass is not empty and I'm sure knowledgeable of the ingredients, if we were to ask..

The problem for me : the environment was just so STIFF. The staff, was so robotic. They crossed the "T's" and dotted the "I's" as a "wait staff". They did what was required as a wait staff - in a technical sense. They were professional, not rude, didn't have a attitude, attentive. But sooo robotic. The rare occasion whereby they moved a facial muscle (yep, just a movement - not quite a smile) , felt like it was out of courtesy. There wasn't much human factor in the way they conducted themselves. This type of service just makes me not that comfy.

So unfortunately, it hasn't made it to my rating "4s", which would represent its on the top of my mind to return. I'll return if a friend wants to go there.

Oct 28, 2016

S K

+4.5

Amazing food, champagne, and wine! The staff was attentive, professional, and very enthusiastic. They had a great knowledge of food and wine. They knew what they were talking about. The quality and taste of the food were out of this world. Loved the ambiance, atmosphere, and the vibe. Very classy! I will definitely go back and recommend this restaurant to anyone who can afford it ;-)

Oct 25, 2016

Kylie Clark

Absolutely exquisite food and lovely service! I had recently broken my wrist and the staff were so lovely and accommodating. They even had my food portioned so I could easily eat the delicious tasting menu. The sommelier also gave fantastic suggestions for wines which paired extremely well with our courses. My partner and I had a fantastic experience for our four year anniversary and would absolutely recommend this place!

Oct 08, 2016

Tomlovestoeat

Loved it here, a little on the stiff side but spot on with everything else, food, wine and service were faultless. Will definitely be returning.

Sep 05, 2016

Gastrology

Sumptuous statement chandeliers, show plates on crisp white linen, well-spaced tables and noise levels at a muted hum capture the luxury and ambience of a bi-gone era creating the perfect setting for opulent fine dining.

While Jacques Reymond has left the building, one thing is certain - the breathtaking mansion continues to honour its glamorous past, with an evolving epicurean offering.

Sep 14, 2016

Hello. Imnikki

We are impatient creatures when it comes to food. Sitting through a 3 hour degustation sometimes really stretch our restlessness to the limit. But when done right, we are willing to look past the time actually spent eating versus the time spent waiting and thoroughly immerse ourselves into the experience. Dinner at Woodland House was one of the rare times when we didn't felt the urge to ask them whether they could consider serving the dishes to us yum-cha style. The service was nicely balanced - not too formal or intrusive but just the right amount of attention was given; Gareth was a lovely fellow whom we had a nice chat with regarding geese. The food was beautiful, especially the potato cavatelli, kangaroo tail consommé and aged goose. Great flavours and super fresh ingredients. The desserts, albeit delicious, definitely paled in comparison after the mains. Ambiance and the surrounds, it goes without saying was of refined sophistication - although I did feel that a pair of Vans would be better for the wooden floor than heels but I'm not one to argue with dress codes. Has anyone thought of starting a fine dining yum-cha style with no dress code? Sign me up please. In the meantime, I'm sticking to Woodland House.

Jul 29, 2016

Kristy McHugh

Lovely warm and intimate atmosphere complete with cosy open fires, perfect for those chilly Melbourne evenings. Staff are attentive and efficient, however I felt there was a lack of 'presentation skills' when it came to describing the elements of each dish. I personally find this to be an important part of the fine dining experience. The food itself was well presented, with clean simple flavours allowing the star of each dish to shine. On this evening the restaurant was showcasing truffles which was offered to be freshly shaved over one of our dishes, which was of course a lovely addition! Overall a lovely evening, highly recommend for an intimate meal with someone special.

Jul 26, 2016

Angela Eats

So I rarely give out a score of 5/5 to any restaurant but this one was amazing. I honestly don't think I've given a 5/5 to any restaurants in Melbourne. I've tried many of fine dining restaurants around Melbourne and this is by far the best one. I would say it's better than Australias worlds best restaurants. Every dish was a delight! I love all the snacks and the bread/Danish were so addictive. I can't really pick a dish that was my favourite cause they were all so delicious.
The restaurant interior was beautiful, dining next to a fire place on a winter's night, what more can you ask for.
Waiters were all very attentive!
I know their memus are subject to change, but luckily
I went around this time cause all the ingredients worked very well with each other :)
Defs would recommend and come back :))

Jul 16, 2016

Heidi

My friend and I had dinner at woodland house last Friday night. We were seated right next to the fire which was lovely on a chilly night. The venue itself is really beautiful, and the service is spot on. We chose the 6 courses, they were delicious. The only one I didn't love was the lamb, it was just a little rich for my taste. But I can't rate highly enough the dessert, the passionfruit, lemon myrtle, liquorice and white chocolate. Amazing!

Jun 30, 2016

Came here for a special occasion with my fiancé , we both had the six course ala carte. Love the atmosphere, setting , layout, even the customers sitting there, being very gently speaking 😁great service. My favourite dish is the corn fed duck and crispy pork, and the dessert, you have to try the chestnut piece, it is absolutely amazing and hard to forget ! Overall fantastic experience for the price you pay. Totally love it.

Jun 28, 2016

Stan

+4.5

Friendly service. Beautiful setting and equally delicious food to boot. We had the 10 course degustation and every dish was lovely. Definitely worthwhile for a special occasion!

Jun 18, 2016

Benjamin Bloom

My wife and I went here for her birthday , we had a great experience , the staff were very friendly and very well informed, if you are coming and you have the tasting menu , give your self 3 hrs, 16 separate items on the set menu, all were amazing in taste , the rye bread is to die for , I loved it , will be back again for lunch A+

Jun 10, 2016

Nico

The food is impeccable and has a great contrast to all the quick dine-in options across Melbourne. Though the service seemed to lack substantially in some areas.

Jun 09, 2016

Desisean

My husband and I went to Woodland last night to celebrate my birthday. We got to try their new menu and it was amazing! We had 6 courses but the standout dishes were the: Pork Belly, Lamb, Duck and the Cocoa Barry dessert. I wish I knew how to make that Pork Belly as it was the best pork that I have ever eaten!!! I have found my new go-to fine dining restaurant. The service was also impeccable and the two female staff were really lovely!

May 18, 2016

Annie

The setting in this gorgeous Victorian mansion was perfect for the delicious cuisine served to a very high standard . The Thursday - Friday luncheon menu comprising 3 courses and a glass of wine was very good value for $55. I ordered this smoked salmon entree which was beautifully presented and the taste was exquisite . This was followed by a cheek of beef in tamarind sauce with potato and then a coconut sorbet dessert and fruit salad. Delicious ! The service was impeccable as you would imagine it to be in a high dining venue such as Woodlands House.

May 13, 2016

J88

An outstanding 2 hats fine dining restaurant located at William st Prahran, replacing Jacque Reymond restaurant. Absolutely loved their weekday Thurs/Fri 3 course lunch and chef tasting menu. I was thrilled by its ambience, beautiful garden and layout. Service was top notch and food presentation is world class fine dining. I love their delicious house made bread and butter!!! Came here many times..Yummy..Pics speak for itself..added to my fav list. Well done chefs Thomas & Hayden + his team.

May 13, 2016

Princess_Porky

+4.5

Set in a beautiful Victorian house, the restaurant is stunning, the ambiance is of refined elegance, and the service is impeccable. Very much a 'special occasion' type of place. The food was near flawless and for the price, it is quite reasonable too (compared to some other high end places, you actually get bang for your buck). We definitely plan to return at some stage.

May 03, 2016

Terence Pang

An elegent dining setting in a renovated 2 story house with three distinct interior decor spaces. The well lit room looking out into the small courtyard, I imagine would be so pretty in summer. I had a late lunch booking at 1:30pm and was the only other table, which made me more aware of the other table's conversation. Service was prompt and precise. 2 course lunch with wine for $55pp. No fuss. Spot on food. The purple potato chips were interesting. The slow cooked duck leg was soft and fell off the bone, tasty atop rabbit rillette like base. Worth a dropby.

Apr 24, 2016

Pigsee

My Partner surprised me by taking me here for my birthday. I'm not a food critic but just a foodie that loves good food and wine in an enjoyable environment. I've eaten in a lot of good restaurants and have paid a lot of money for the so called privilege. Well I'm pleased to say Woodland House was a privilege! We had the 10 course degustation. The very friendly Maître De guided us on a tasty Chardonnay to go with the seafood dishes and then a lovely Shiraz to complement the Wagu beef and Kangaroo. Then to finish a lovely desert wine from Western Victoria.
On previous degustation menus at other restaurants I think if you get 7/10 you like that's par for the course. Well Woodlands nailed all 10 courses and I'd happily ordered each dish individually.
All in all, a fantastic feast in a fantastic setting which was very reasonably priced.
Thanks for a great birthday Woodland House.

Apr 21, 2016

Albert Von Graff

+3.5

I dined twice at Woodland House and always choose the long tasting menu and on both occasions left with a mixed bag of feelings.
Ambience; Beautiful restaurant with elegant setting, cutlery and crockery, nice decor and well-spaced tables
Menu; Plenty of options to choose from, there is a la carte menu as well long or short tasting options(vegetarian and omnivore)
Food; Overall great food beautifully plated with premium produce.
On both occasions, I left feeling that like some dishes were great but others missed the mark. I still can remember how good was one crab dish with a kind of bouillabaisse sauce or another dish made with quail wich was sublime and perfectly cooked.
On the downside, I couldn't understand the Foie gras croquettes with kiwi gel, a quite tough eye fillet or a dessert with chestnuts served out of season and overly sweet to mention just a few.
But the letdown was a $45 Parisian gnocchi served with chicken broth and white truffle from Alba (offered as special course). The tiny gnocchi lacked flavour and the texture was soft and mushy; the white truffle was shaved in the kitchen instead on the table, a missed chance to let the customers appreciate the show and the magic of such delicate product.
Service; I had a flawless service in my first visit but in the second one the waitress in charge of our table was a bit moody and sometimes looked like she didn't want to be there. Special mention to the Maitre d' and the sommelier both had and extremely professional and knowledgeable approach
Cellar; good wine menu with Australian and international wines, on the pricey side
Value; 10 courses tasting menu with drinks and coffee around $300. I recommend visiting this restaurant at least once

Apr 12, 2016

All About Food Blog

Woodland House is a two-hat restaurant (based on 2016 Good Food Guide) located in the city of Melbourne – Prahran, to be exact. They have a 10-course, fixed-price degustation menu of $155. Since it’s quite a lengthy list, I will get on right away. Purple potato chip. It was quite an interesting amuse bouche. Three purple paper-like things were neatly arranged on a log. We were quite hesitant to eat it at first – the risk of looking pretty stupid before we even ate anything. It felt like munching an edible paper – which was quite fun!

Apr 11, 2016

The Epicurean

+4.5

Set in a classic Victorian house with contemporary interior & period features, it exudes warmth and character. Woodland House far exceeded our expectations.

The degustation was impeccable with the highlight being the Master kobe beef. With the exception of the white rabbit saddle, the whole menu was an absolute delight.

Strongly recommended to try the current spring menu

Food 4.5
Ambience 4.5
Service 4

Feb 22, 2016

Kate Dougherty

Had my birthday dinner with family here last week and enjoyed a lovely evening. Such a beautiful and elegant venue with impeccable service. We opted for the full tasting menu and were not disappointed. I was really impressed with the variety of dishes and the refined flavours. The desserts in particular were a surprising highlight.

Dec 14, 2015

Bingbilu

Visit due to this year 2hats upgrade. One word - perfect. Meal cooked to perfection Service is top class. Three courses have great layer of flavour and balance each other through each dish. Can't wait to be back for tasting menu.

Nov 12, 2015

GPS Joe

Ticks all the boxes. Great location, high quality food that is beautifully presented, beautifully decorated dining room, good service. Wonderful sommelier that was knowledgeable & friendly - not overbearing or pushy. Tasting menu with wine pairing for the table. Accommodated some dietary requirements without fuss.

Nov 10, 2015

Vivian Lei

+4.5

Arranged birthday dinner for my partner. Fabulous place and service i should say!! Ordered the 11 courses tasting plate and plus the extra dish to share, gnocchi with the white truffle. Each of the dish was well-presented... i liked the foie gras kiwi and scallop. My partner loved each of them. The only downside was that the dish is abit too small. It was probably good for ladies but definitely not for men. Lol
Yes, i dont deny tasting plates arent meant to be big to begin with. But these dishes were quite small compared to other places that i tried.
Overall, we had a great time. They gave us a complimentary nuts coated with chocolate (cant remember what its called) for his bday. It was a sweet gesture.
Will definitely be back to try their ala carte in future.

Nov 07, 2015

Thu Pham

+4.5

Instantly fell in love with the simplicity and Victorian-like decor as soon as we stepped into Woodland House, not to mention the vegetarian food from the degustation menu was amazing, from the entree to the very last dessert dish we had. It was really something to experience.

Oct 24, 2015

GGx

+4.5

Had been here before in its previous life as Jacques Reymond. Back then the restaurant set the benchmark for food and service for me. I'm glad to learn they still continue their stint as the old Jacques Reymond with a subtle twist of their own. The food is still creative,quirky but excellent and the service is impeccable. Definitely a special occasion restaurant, their lunch is excellent value for the experience. Keep up the good work.

Oct 16, 2015

Imelda Lijuwardi

+4.5

Had our anniversary lunch on Sunday. The staffs were friendly and accommodating. We enjoy our food so much and the wines compliment he food very well. The highlights will be the very much funky purple potato chips, mackerel, quails and the roast lamb.

Sep 16, 2015

Missdelish

Spectacularly good special occasion restaurant. Woodland House continues a long and proud tradition of excellent restaurants at this location. First it was Alison's then Jacques Reymond and now another of that august company.

The 12 course degustation ($155) with 9 matched wines (total $270) is amazing value traversing such diverse ingredients as foie gras, lobster, bottarga, wattleseed, venison, tamarind and prickly pear (menu photo attached). Every course was exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated and heartily enjoyed. A standout in this stunning array of culinary delights was the storm clam with daikon in bacon broth - presented in the shell on a bed of stones. The only disappointment was that there weren't more clams. Great multigrain bread or savoury scrolls with creamy butter complemented the wonderful dishes. And perfectly matched wines, including unusual varieties like Basa Blanco or choices like a Japanese wine were surprising but spectacular.

Service from start to finish was refined, thoughtful and knowledgeable. A class act all round and worth every cent. Go and enjoy 😊

Sep 03, 2015

A Chronicle Of Gastronomy

Purple congo potato chips were presented together with the menu. The large, thin shards of potato were a spectacular sight to behold and a pleasure to eat. There are a few different dining options available, all involving selection of a certain number of courses. We opted for the full 10-course Woodland House Menu.

Aug 31, 2015

Ashley

I love socialising, meeting people, eating out, doing things; but there’s always a limit. A point in the night or the day where I’ll start watching the time, and be aware of how long it’s dragging out. . So when I was invited to the Woodland House for a long lunch…I think I underestimated how long of a lunch it would be…and how much I would enjoy it!

Oct 02, 2015

HH24

+4.5

Reall love this grand house/restaurant. Great wine list, great French food. Best bombalaska iv ever had. A very memorable night for a special occasion

Aug 29, 2015

The World Loves Melbourne

+4.5

Within the walls of what was Melbourne’s most iconic restaurant institutions, Thomas Woods and Hayden McFarland are quietly getting on with it. Woodland House’s menu is wowing guests with its delicate simplicity, modern technique and contemporary style. The World Loves Melbourne was invited along to experience Sunday lunch at Woodland House. We imbibed the finery and a superb degustation (at reasonable prices) for those who enjoy a long Sunday lunch. As I write this review the impression is one of unwinding and being satiated by chefs and wait staff that bring food savvy and innovation and the highest of standards.

Aug 15, 2015

Gastrology

When you arrive at Woodland House, a mere first glance assists in appreciating why new owners Thomas Woods and Hayden McFarland have decided to continue their stint at the old Jacques Reymond location. . Sumptuous statement chandeliers, show plates on crisp linen, well-spaced tables and noise levels at a muted hum capture the luxury and ambience of a bi-gone era creating the perfect opulence for fine dining.

Aug 06, 2015

The Other Jess Tuck

I cannot sing your praises enough and I have procrastinated writing this for a while as there is really nothing to say that comes close to the incredible experience I had that fateful night, when the two Jess’ met Woodland House. More on the blog.

Aug 04, 2015

Rogue Spoon

+4.5

Fine Dining! Long time in visiting after the changeover from Jacque. Beautifully prepared food using fantastic ingredients. Not a pair of tongs in the kitchen, tweezers required to plate up here! Great wine list. Attentive and educated staff. A must to sample the attention to detail.

Jul 09, 2015

Came here for dinner to celebrate my mum's birthday. We went for the full tasting menu which was an 8 course menu with the amuse bouche to start with. Wine selection was really good so we got a really nice red wine to drink with the food. Food were really flavourful with standouts being the flounder fish, suckling pig and the marron. The food quality were definitely up there with other two chef hats like Est. Now, you may have heard that the portions are small but for us it was a lot as there were many dishes to taste. Service was good as well with staff being attentive to pacing and very polite and professional. Would recommend people this restaurant for a special occasion.

Rochelle West

Really enjoyed our visit on 27 April. The food was excellent and the matching wines truly eclectic (a number of grape varieties I had not heard of). Staff were relaxed and attentive, really put us at ease. We were dining for a birthday and, unprompted, our desert was served with a suitable greeting. Just lovely!

Ro- Max

My boyfriend and I enjoy good food, street or fine dining. Where there to enjoy great food, which we did! It’s not about the size of the dish it’s about appreciating the smell, taste, presentation and love that went into each dish, and after 7 courses we had more than enough food! This place is tasteful and staff are well trained and very professional without the snobbery of some other high end restaurants.

David McReynolds

A fantastic dining experience in a large quaint Victorian house. Each plate that arrived was beautifully presented with combinations to excite every taste bud. The waiting staff have an intimate knowledge of the food and wines they are serving. The suggested wine pairings have been cleverly thought out and add so much more the the experience. Prices are not cheap, but well worth it for the Wow! factor. This is not the best place for every day dining unless you have a budget to suit, but for a big treat or special occasion this is about as good as it gets for those that are serious about food.

Bess Boon

Food is delicious and filling despite the portion being small. Prices are on the steep side, but it's worth every penny. Service staff was attentive and friendly. Environment was not stifling, settings were warm and comfortable. Try to get a seating if you can when you're in Melbourne!

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