Reviews Onda Bar & Eatery

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Peter Grimes
+5
We really enjoyed. Everything was spot-on ... food style fresh and innovative, cocktails excellent, wine list small but well chosen including a Malbec! Fit out good and service was great! We’ll be back!
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David Thomas
+5
A fabulous new place. All the food we ordered was really special with lots of flavour and textures. Special note was the black prawn dogs, pig’s cheek and sweet tamale dessert. Cocktails great. And nice to see (and taste!) the excellent Malbec on the wine list. Friendly and attentive service and they’ve created a cool atmosphere.
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Robert Janssen
+5
Brilliant service/staff and delicious food. Try the ceviche!
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Max Ware
+5
Great addition to the new Bridge Road. Love the windows. Food was smashing. Best guacamole I've ever had.
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David Pike
+5
Amazing food, great cocktails...lovely people. Thanks for the hospitality! We’ll be back.
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Fallyne Kisyma
+5
Great vibe and delicious food
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Michael Labiris
+5
Yummy fish tacos
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Graeme Hedding
+5
Great new eatery!
Zomato
Daniel
+5
We have been to Onda several times now, trying nearly all their creative dishes, and they have always been outstanding; we couldn't fault anything. However, if I had to choose a favourite entree and main, it would be the Tempura Prawns and Smoked Chicken burger. You simply must try them.

Overall, they are a class above many other restaurants I have been to.
3 months ago
Zomato
Sandra Mitchell Canil
+4
Onda resides in a Bridge Rd shopfront that has seen many incarnations over the years including for a long time the local hardware store, which seemed a waste of the gorgeous leadlight windows. Sitting on the corner of Waterloo Place and modernly fit-out with glass hanging lights, blue velvet-look booths, timber floors and a giant mural of tropical plants, it looks fabulous. The Latin-American-fusion food is superb, sizes small but all made from scratch, expertly flavoured and presented. I would have given this place five stars for food and decor but the service curbed the enjoyment. Staff were friendly but non-attentive. It was a busy night and there was not enough staff to meet the needs of everyone. I had to get up twice to get water jugs. The main course took a long time to come out after entrees, leaving some of our group wanting to cancel it. Our request for some wine was forgotten. This is a shame as the restaurant otherwise is faultlessly so good.
7 months ago
Zomato
SouthEastEater
+4
Latin American food done well. Restaurant felt warm and cosy.
Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options available.
🍽 black prawn dogs - good dish to start. Well cooked prawns, crispy coating. Chargrilled mushroom ceviche - really good and super interesting flavours. The mushrooms tasted almost like ham which is weird but was very enjoyable. King fish ceviche - fresh and zesty. Beef short rib taco - melt in the mouth beef, Smokey flavour, Devine. Chargrilled octopus - well cooked octopus and not tough and chewy. To finish we had sesame and chocolate cigars. All about the theatrics with this dish as they came in a cigar box which bellowed smoke when the lid was lifted. Nice way to end the dinner.
💁‍♀️ staff were warm and friendly. Order was taken promptly and food came out not long after. We were left waiting a little bit when it came to paying the bill but thats a small gripe.
7 months ago
Zomato
Sahar T
+4
Delicious food, great atmosphere, and very friendly staff. The portions are a bit small but overall we enjoyed our dinner.
8 months ago
Zomato
FRIDGEMAGNET
+4
Loved all the vegetarian dishes. Salad were fresh and well balanced and the vegetables were full of flavour. The only let dow seemed to be the seafood, the octopus was stringy and kingfish dish didn’t make the kingfish shine. All in all I would come back for some more vegetarian delights.
8 months ago
Zomato
Hoang Le
+5
This is a hidden gem. Service + food were outstanding. We ended up ordering 3 times as we couldn’t get enough; almost had the full menu 😂
9 months ago
Zomato
Debby
+4
South American eatery with cool vibes. Food are geared towards semi fine dine due to the amount of food and the great presentation of food. The ribs and the beef are very soft however the accompanying colourful sauces failed to add much value in terms of flavour. The chicken wings and the dipping sauce are great
9 months ago
Zomato
Rachel V
+5
We tried many dishes and couldn’t fault any... beautiful fresh flavours. The dishes are small and could get quite expensive if you have a large appetite but I’m happy to pay for good food.
Can’t wait to come back!
10 months ago
Zomato
Sameer
+5
This restaurant is like a hidden gem and it was our first time experiencing Latin American cuisine. The food was a combination of different flavours and it was truly amazing how good it tasted! A must visit place for a foodie.
11 months ago
Zomato
Amy Flood
+4
As I dive into the Melbourne dinner scene I am realising there are far more options than just Asian fusion! But who doesn’t love Asian fusion. ANYWAYS! Onda is a lovely South American treat!

The dishes are very varied, you have a great selection of vegetable dishes from small to middle to large. And of course many meat dishes to choose from. The menu follows a share plate structure with a couple individual items like the tacos. But you can just order multiple!

We ordered:
Miso eggplant taco
Crisp rockling taco
Chargrilled mushrooms
Vegetable ceviche
Grilled zucchini

My favourite was the crisp rockling taco and the zucchini. The taco had a nice aioli and fish was crispy. The zucchini was roasted really well, with a crispy topping and creamy dots of sauce which added good texture combinations.

I think the mushrooms and vegetable ceviche was missing something, they were flavoured well but the portion size was very small for the money. I felt the vegetable ceviche was taken over by sweet potato as well. I would prefer to have a range of vegetables present instead bits of others. Mushrooms were weird cold as well but had a good flavour.

The service was awesome, super attentive and welcoming.

It was a solid dinner choice and I would recommend for others to at least go and try!
11 months ago
Zomato
Nomafoodic Chipineats
+5
Amazing flavours, pleasing and harmonious. Every dish has a well executed combination of flavours, different from the other.
Highlight of the snacks category: plantain fingers.
Highlight of the Ceviche category: king fish ceviche with purple yam chips! The finger line flavour really shows through.
Mediano category: Grilled octopus, so yummy, perfectly cooked carrots.

Thank you for being on Zomato Gold. Enjoyed our dinner very much!
Aug 24, 2019
Zomato
Suan
+4
I have heard positive things about ONDA and seeing it was available on Zomato Gold we booked a table of six for Saturday night.
We were recommended 14-16 plates for the number of people, and we did order that many! Our favourite dishes were the Black Prawn Dogs, crispy coconut wings, which we ordered 2 servings of & the grilled wagyu brisket which was super tender and flavourful. I thought all the dishes were well presented but were of the small to mid portions for the price of the dish. The rockling taco was pretty average, didn’t really like the taco as it felt a bit dry. Also found the vegetarian dishes to be a bit too strong in seasoning/tastes.
The cocktails were reasonable price and delicious and there was also a nice wine selection. Only thing was the straws that were used were flimsy and too narrow so it was hard to drink through.
I do think they have pretty good standards, service and quality of food was great.
If you have a few gold members this is the place the go for a good meal out!
Aug 16, 2019
Zomato
Priscillia
+4
Good place to have a low key dinner with your friends. If you are not drinking alcohol, please try the mojito mocktails. We've ordered a few things for the dinner. My favourites are the salads and desserts. I would totally come back for the cigar chocolates. They came in a cigar’ box, smelled and tasted amazing! The service was a bit too slow considering they were down one person to work on that night. However, they did the best they could.
Aug 12, 2019
Zomato
Kelvinchewsv
+4
We came here in a group of 4 and opted for a la carte menu instead of the feed me option. 

Food was pretty delicious with Mexican and Asian? influence. Very flavoursome with all sorts of different elements working together to complement each other. However, the flavours were pretty similar across a few dishes we ordered and they could be more generous with serving size too. They also have lot of options catering to vegetarians and vegans alike.

Service was friendly attentive and knowledgeable.

Will be back.
Aug 11, 2019
Zomato
Melissa
+5
My partner and I came in for dinner on Friday night and had a great experience!

Overall the food was lovely. I’d recommend getting the black prawns, kingfish ceviche and wagyu brisket.

Only thing I would avoid is the coconut wings which was recommended by the waiter but we both found it to be a pretty boring dish.
Aug 07, 2019
Zomato
AQC
+5
Can't pick a fault with the taste of their food. Very flavoursome yet leaves you feeling light and unburdened afterwards. Friendly staff and services. Only thing that perhaps could improve are the serving size of some of the dishes.. you gotta order quite a variety to fill up your stomach. 🤗
Jul 31, 2019
Zomato
The Casual Diner
+4
Will come back for:
+ Cassava and potato crisp
+ Mozzarella Chipa Puffs
+ Kingfish ceviche
+ Beef short ribs taco
+ Steak tartare
+ Smoked Peruvian chicken
+ Black sesame and chocolate cigar

This little gem of an eatery serves playful and delicious tapas aimed at tingling the taste buds with Latin American flavors. We tried a variety of dishes (our favourites listed above), but with one or two exceptions all the flavors were bright and true and combinations that were well balanced and tasty. The dishes weren’t big, but good enough to have a bit of a taste. And by the end of the night, all the dishes added up and you walk away quite satisfied. I was particularly surprise by how tasty the tacos were here, soft, textural, tangy and the beef were tender and tasty. The tartare was fresh, sweet and delicious. The Peruvian Chicken was well charred, succulent, smokey and tasty. The grilled octopus was maybe taken too far with the marination, and had a strange texture - just a minor point. And the cigars had a bit of drama (it’s contained in a small smoked box), but more importantly, tasted great. A great way to finish the meal. Prices was above average, but you do get what you pay for. Service was friendly and efficient. And the place had a great buzz for a Saturday dinner service. Will definitely be back with guests!
Jul 27, 2019
Zomato
Saurav Jha
+4
Great food and presentation! We had the salmon ceviche and the peruvian chicken and both were very tasty. The salmon portion was quite small though. The only thing the place needs to work on is the service time, we waited for around 45 minutes for the food; thank god the food turned out great at the end of the wait!
Jul 27, 2019
Zomato
I Love Food
+4
Dined for dinner on a great value scoopon deal - $59 for 2 people for 6 dish latin american feast. We shared black prawn dogs, pulled lamb & crispy rockling taco & kingfish ceviche for our first 3 courses followed by peruvian chicken & green slaw & finished with black sesame & chocolate cigars. The menu is designed as all dishes to be shared. All food we ordered was delicious with tasty flavours. Highly recommend the cigars for dessert, love how they come presented as a box of cigars with a special surprise. Service friendly. Overall a great night out enjoying latin american food.
Jul 15, 2019
Zomato
Liv Do
+4
Food was great; we got the prawns which had the perfect amount of crunch on the outside and juicy on the inside. The lime gave it a nice twist as well. We also got the grilled octopus which was too chewy but had a nice flavour. The berry mocktail was very refreshing to top it off. Service was very friendly and the place had a cozy atmosphere. Will come back for sure.
Jun 29, 2019
Zomato
J0yy173
+4
Amidst the busy stretch of Bridge Road is a spot serving dishes inspired by Central and South America. The menu offers flexibility to dine tapas style so we tried a few different dishes.

The highlight for me was the Smoked Peruvian Chicken. Well balanced lemon and thyme flavours that seeped through the still tender pieces. My friend loved the eggplant taco so much she ordered it twice. Other options tried were the Rockling Taco, Vegan Pulled Pork and Kingfish Ceviche.

I'm not sure about the colour scheme but comfortable seating and friendly service throughout made it a pleasant evening. We decided to pay at the counter where I rolled my ankle on the awkward step. Not the best ending to an otherwise good evening.
Jun 13, 2019
Zomato
Suzie Scribbles
+5
4.5 You’ll find Onda on Richmond’s busy Bridge Road. Chilled and funky, it’s a great little casual eatery and cocktail bar, serving modern Latin cuisine...
Jun 02, 2019
Zomato
Carissa Lee
+4
First time at a eatery like this one. It was a good experience on a Thursday night, not too crowded and they were opened till past 10pm which made it ideal for our group to sit and chat whilst slowly devouring our food (in the most polite way possible).
The highlight dish for me was the mozzarella chipa puffs, it was something different and there was this chocolate sauce that had a hint of spicy-ness which made the dish even more of a standout. I liked that it looks like a dessert but as you eat it you know it’s a savoury straight away.
Pretty good food, would definitely come back again. I believe there was some kind of online booking deal as well if you’re reading this and want to check that out. Though I’m not sure how long that deal is running for! :) Enjoy!
May 24, 2019
Zomato
Matthew
+5
The most exquisite dishes- and the presentation of all the dishes are immaculate. But it really comes down to the quality and freshness. Will definitely come again and very soon.
Apr 21, 2019
Zomato
Eatup
+4
A friend suggested lunch at this venue and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. We had the feed me option and we were not disappointed! Everything that came to the table was flavoursome, delicious and beautifully presented! Don’t forget to order cigars to finish the meal 😎. Service was friendly and efficient. 👏👏👏
Apr 07, 2019
Zomato
Ket
+5
Such a friendly staff! They have great knowledge of the food. Presentation was excellent. Every dish, we all thoroughly enjoyed. Definitely a great experience. such a great atmosphere to enjoy dinner and drinks with friends.
Apr 06, 2019
Zomato
Gabrielle Nolan
+4
have been to ONDA 3 times now  - the service is always friendly - Alex always has a smile & is charming. The staff are fully versed in the South American flavours. The dishes are fresh, colourful & delicious - the black prawn dogs & ceviche our favorites - we have so enjoyed the savoury dishes we haven't yet made it to the deserts! but we will .... only negative is the noise level so I wouldnt visit with more than 3 others. The space in general is elegant fun & well executed. Thankyou ONDA team.
Mar 24, 2019
Zomato
Dani Bloomfield
+5
Absolutely delicious! Great food, brilliant flavour, the staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was great. Loved everything we ordered including the drinks, would definitely recommend and will return 👌🏽
Mar 13, 2019
Zomato
The Brunchabout Diaries
+5
Just delicious, unique and well-presented food. We shared 5 plates of different sizes; the Ocean Trout Ceviche, Plantain Fingers, Black Prawn Dogs, Crisp Pork Belly and the Wagyu Beef Brisket.

The Ocean Trout Ceviche was less lemony than your normal ceviche, but was really light and delicious.

The Plantain Fingers were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and matched perfectly with the lime aioli.

The Black Prawn Dogs were these Sesame crusted prawns - definitely my favourite dish of them all because they were super salty and crispy.

The Wagyu Beef Brisket just pulled apart and was really moist and tasty.

The Crisp Pork belly was cooked perfectly and the pickled beetroots with it were delicious.

Definitely recommend this place.
Mar 01, 2019
Zomato
Serena Lv
+5
Amazing place ! Everything is tasty and feels like an adventure to eat there! Even the bathroom was nice and good vibe. Chicken was amazing, drinks were good and service was attentive. Will be back !
Feb 20, 2019
Zomato
Chronicles Of Nardia
+5
Onda is located on Bridge Road in Richmond. We were excited to check out this newish restaurant showcasing Latin American flavours. The interior is gorgeous, I loved the pink & leafy wallpaper & the plush seating areas.

The menu was easy to navigate, separated into snacks, small plates, large plates & staff were also happy to provide suggestions. We ordered the black prawn dogs, ocean trout ceviche, crispy pork belly & corn crushed cauliflower. Some really interesting dishes on the menu, including some with ingredients we were unfamiliar with.

The black prawn dogs were delicious, coated in a charcoal batter & tender inside. The plating of this dish was also impressive & we loved the flavours.

The ocean trout ceviche was also beautifully presented. With tasty pops of blood orange, puffed rice & an amarillo mole, it was a lovely light dish that had us excited about our mains.

The crispy pork belly was divine, full of flavour & falling apart. Served with chimichurri, beef fat croutons, beetroot purée & pickled beetroot, this was such a tasty dish & we loved the combination of flavours.

The corn crusted cauliflower was a fantastic vegetarian option & included some ingredients we hadn’t tried before. The cauliflower was soft inside with a tasty crust & we both enjoyed this dish.

We visited on a very busy night & the staff at Onda did a brilliant job of looking after hungry diners as well as providing recommendations on menu options. The food was delicious & quite unique & we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Thanks so much for having us.
Feb 19, 2019
Zomato
The World’s My Oyster
+4
Would definitely recommend this place for their Groupon Deal! Our first time having South American food but all of it was tasty and delicious. We got the cocktail deal and tried the Lavender Floral as well as the Cuban Cartel, the Lavender Floral was so fruity with guava! The highlight for the night would be the Waygu Striploin from the larger plates. The waygu was so tender and you could feel the melt in the mouth marbling if fat in the meat! The wait staff said that the Waygu striploin was not an option for the Groupon menu but was kind enough to let us order it if we paid the small difference in price (apparently the dish is $32 and the rest of the large plates are $29). The dishes were a little slow to come out at it was Valentine’s Day but we felt the staff were nice and accommodating on the night. Other dishes we had was the Black Prawn Dogs, chicken ribs, kingfish ceviche and beef brisket. After all those dishes we were adequately full although I suspect we ordered larger serve dishes and some people may still be hungry had they ordered more of the crisps or vegetable based dishes. Would recommend again as the food was tasty and interesting 🙂
Feb 15, 2019
Zomato
Camille Tran
+5
I came here for my birthday and absolutely loved it. Onda has amazing decor and food! What I ordered:

- Kingfish Ceviche: this was so refreshing, super tasty was a great start to the meal
- The wagyu steak: was so amazing the the sauces and the pairing with the fruit wait the dish superb. The meat was tender and juicy and I thought the price point was fair.
- The crumble: loved this aswell it was sweet, yet tangy from the ice cream perfect balance and again very refreshing

*I ordered a cocktail which was not great, so I ordered an apérol spritz instead which never fails but overall I had a really good experience
Will return again I loved it so much
Jan 23, 2019
Zomato
Munching With Mel
+4
Rating: 4Casual dining to hang out with friends and celebrate the night away. I really loved the space here, how elegant and fun the backdrops and walls look. Staff were super friendly, always checking on us. We ordered 3 dishes among ourselves. We ordered the black prawn dogs, kingfish ceviche and the grilled wagyu striploin. Highlight of the night: black prawn dogs Was so succulent, yet crispy on the outside. I was very wowed with the way they added charcoal to the prawn coating, it gave it an extra smokey taste. The grilled wagyu striploin was so heavenly in the mouth. I was contemplating between the pork belky and this considering the reviews, but I the wagyu was not a regretful decision. The meat was slightly dry, but still flavourful enough. It complemented well with the betroot puree and the beef jugo. Even though there was a lot going on on the plate, it was finger licking good. I also loved the kingfish ceviche, although it was a bit too sour from the lime for my preference, the fish was so juicy. We also ordered some desserts: the black sesame and chocolate cigars as well as the butternut crumble. If I had to choose, the cigars would be my favourite performance and taste although it was tiny. Black sesame is my favourite flavour of dessert, whilst the crumble was a bit too much on the sour side for me as I prefer things for sweet and salty. For drinks: I really enjoyed my pomegranate mocktail, perfect sweetness and sourness. All in all, presentation was exceptional, some flavours hit the spot. A bit pricey and wasn’t filling, but would come next time for the fun celebrations!
Jan 23, 2019
Zomato
Jessica Crisp
+5
We ordered the feed me which was just the right amount of food. You know when you choose the feed me and so much food comes out that you stop enjoying it and just try to get through it? This was not that. I throughly enjoyed every bite!
At the beginning of the night, we asked if we could make a special request for the pork belly to be included and they happily said that they could.
We had the potato and cassava crisps with smoked avo salsa, kingfish ceviche, black prawn dogs and the pork belly. Could not fault the food. Perfect in every way.
Stand out was the dessert; black sesame and chocolate cigars. They came out in a beautiful Cuban cigar box which, when opened, fog from dry ice (or maybe it was smoke) billowed out to reveal the chocolate cigars on a bed of coffee beans. Muy bueno!
The staff were very friendly (particularly one of the male staff members, didn’t get his name) who pointed us in the right direction with the dessert!
The only aspect that was not up to the same 5 star standard was that we had to ask for more water (not that this upset us) but if they were to ask for any room for improvement, this would be it.
Jan 19, 2019
Zomato
Linda
+4
Lovely place. The menu had some major hits. The main wagyu beef for instance, was just perfect! Tender beef fillets wonderfully balanced with its sides and sauces. The starters of the mushroom dish and ceviche were well done. The snacks were a bit of a let down - both a bit dry. Otherwise, a delightful experience indeed!
Dec 29, 2018
Zomato
Vivian
+5
We came here for dinner and it was extremely busy for such a newly opened restaurant! This made us excited for what was to come and excited we were right to be

We ordered the black prawn dogs , the trout cerviche , the pork belly and lastly the deep fried cauliflower

The black prawn dogs were coated in a charcoal batter and so juicy inside , we loved the salsa that accompanied it

The trout cerviche had great flavour, the mole and the orange worked well together , loved the small amount of chilli in this - really got the taste buds going

The deep fried cauliflower was a great vegetarian dish! It was coated in corn which I found was amazing !!! Loved the accompaniments you got with this dish! The purée and the vegetables are the same no matter which main vegetable you opted for

The pork belly was a fave amongst us , tender melt in your mouth pork with amazing beetroot purée and pickled beetroots - What a wonderful combination

We like to thank the Onda team for inviting us !
Dec 27, 2018
Zomato
Amyyyeats
+4
The food was very interesting. We had the black prawn dogs, mozzarella chippa puffs and wagyu brisket. The prawns were very interestingly good. The wagyu beef was delicious with a good balance of meat and fat. The dessert, sweet tamale, was the let down for us. We didn’t enjoy it at all. The service was good but almost felt so rushed. For example, they were keen to remove plates from our table when there was still food on it. To their credit, maybe they were trying really hard to be attentive.
Dec 20, 2018
Zomato
Meenu Biala-Irani
+5
First time trying latin american, and i was very impressed! Beautiful decor, wonderful staff, outstanding flavours and a very accessible location. Will def be recommending to everyone and revisiting. Dont forget to try the chocolate flavoured cigars!!
Dec 16, 2018
Zomato
Denny Patron
+4
Very impressed with this place, food great and service sharp. Kingfish ceviche was world class, coconut chicken ribs and brisket both great starter. Mains were tasty as well but the starters were the hero’s. Will definitely be back
Dec 16, 2018
Zomato
Birdman
+4
The Kingfish Sashimi.... WOW!!!! Could be the best I’ve had. So fresh and citrusy it was unbelievable. Chicken ribs were good but needed to be slightly bigger and the brisket with like a pumpkin purée was an absolute smashing dish. Little bit let down with the pork belly as it was not crackly (inexcusable) and the barramundi which was great but both had a lot going on on the plate. Definitely will be back and highly recommend... service was spot on.
Dec 16, 2018
Zomato
Maxplusfood
+5
Onda is a new Latin American restaurant in the bustling Bridge Road area of Richmond. They serve a dazzling array of small and sharing dishes, with a range of cocktails and desserts too. The restaurant has a pink feature wall brightening up the room, and a blue swirl of booths in the middle of the restaurant discrete dining spaces that you can still peek over to see what the neighbours are eating next door!
Dec 15, 2018
Zomato
Debra Tamvakis
+5
My friend and I had an early dinner here on Sunday 9 December. The black prawn dogs were sublime, as were the crispy coconut chicken ribs and the wagyu brisket. The stand out dish was the swordfish. The floor manager was attentive and friendly. I also want to decorate my house with the decor. Go now! Go often!
Dec 11, 2018
Zomato
Two Sheds
+5

Summary: 4.6. Onda ticks all the boxes. It has become very popular and it’s easy to see why. Modern Latin American food is the cuisine and it’s utterly delightful - very tasty, very innovative and beautifully presented. All the dishes are good but the do not miss the black prawn dogs. It’s fantastic! Super cleverly designed cocktails are available. Lovely modern space here as well. Very pleasant and efficient service. Onda is highly recommended.

Review

We loved our experience at Onda. Everything works well here. First, Onda is a great place for a bar restaurant on Bridge Road Richmond. The cafe offers more light and air than customary places in the area because it also faces onto a small street. It’s a small thing but it adds to the overall experience. Onda is also smartly fitted out with style and a bit of old Hollywood glamour.

We started with cocktails. All cocktails are designed in house here. They’re innovative and most impressively composed and presented. Excitingly, there’s a new drinks menu available from next Tuesday and that’s bound to feature further beauties. I tried the spiced grapefruit Margarita tonight which has tequila, grapefruit, jalapeños and orange liqueur. It’s a mighty cocktail with great spice! It’s a generous size too and very well presented. I seriously enjoyed it. My partner had a Rhombalada made with Malibu and Fireball, a Canadian cinnamon flavoured whiskey that we weren’t familiar with. It’s very popular now, we understand. My partner went nuts over this cocktail. She said it was one of the best she’d had for ages. I had a taste as well and agreed it is a very special drink.

The first point about the food is just how attractive and well presented it all is. It was a visual feast tonight as each dish came to the table. The cuisine here is modern Latin American and it’s done very well.
Our first dish was kingfish cerviche with lady finger lime and purple yam crisps. This is a beautifully made dish and really delicious. Most importantly, the fish was perfectly cured. It was opaque but still fresh and silky. It was the perfect zingy starter on a warmish Friday evening. Our taste buds were alive.

Our second dish was our dish of the night. This is a serious cracker. It’s the black prawn dogs with salsa picante. We’ve never had prawns like this. They have a fantastic texture and a sensational light charred flavour. The salsa is delicious and really works with the prawns. Just this dish alone would keep me coming back here over and over again. It is exceptional.

Our next dish was wild fungi served on a hollowed out cinnamon bark. The fungi is roasted and topped with mushroom crisps and pickled shallots. Again, this is a terrific offering. The presentation is stunning. It’s an extraordinarily interesting looking dish. We adored the varying textures in this dish and the flavour which is abundant.

Our final savory course was the beef short rib with beef fat croutons, chimichurri, char grilled yams, preserved lemon, beef jugo and bettroot purée. The presentation was superb again with this dish. It’s a very generous serve as well. The meat was cooked excellently and had a lovely smoky flavour. The beetroot was presented in pieces but lacked a little flavour and was also a little dry. It was the only ordinary element in any of the dishes we had on the night. The rest of the food was exceptional.

Dessert was next and the presentation feast continued. The chocolate cigars are very cute indeed. They’re presented in a cigar box on a bed of smoking coffee beans. It’s quite a production and very clever and entertaining. The cigars themselves are lovely. They’re black sesame and chocolate and filled with dulce de leche mousse, banana, puffed buck and aromats. It’s a beauty. Our other dessert was sweet tamale with ash meringue, acai marshmallow, seasonal fruit and coconut gel. This is a superb looking dish too. It’s wonderfully colourful and sweet and lovely and we devoured it. It was an excellent way to finish.

We indulged further in a couple of cocktails at the end. These were fantastic again. An amaretto sour and an old fashioned with bourbon, this time. Gosh, they make fantastic cocktails here. They’re as good as I’ve had anywhere. Great to look at and so enjoyable to drink.

The staff were great here tonight. Not just to us but to all the other people we observed. The staff are bright, energetic, informed and skilled. The food was excellent as I’ve mentioned. The chef is the owner or one of the owners of the establishment and his close interest, knowledge, skill and care in the business and its vision and performance really shows.

Onda is wonderful. We had a great night. Our sincere thanks to the wonderful Jade and others for the invitation. A shout out too to Sean the very talented and affable Bartender/mixologist.

Onda is highly recommended.
Dec 01, 2018
Zomato
Kate Dougherty
+4
Casual style eatery with excellent South American inspired menu. Between two we shared the black prawn dogs, the kingfish ceviche, the charred greens and the wagyu striploin. I thoroughly enjoyed all of our choices but in particular the prawn dogs and the ceviche. So delicious! Can’t wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!
Nov 29, 2018
Zomato
Foodie Phillip
+5
Loved it! Created a Zomato account just to leave a review. Its time to give back to the website that has helped me find such deliciousness. 

I love Onda. The dish with the massive carrot is amazing. Its quite literally a whole massive carrot which doesnt sound great but its cooked to perfection and the spices.. nom. Also the chargrilled Octopus is soft and perfectly cooked. Not overly chewy at all. Which can often happen when octopus isnt cooked perfectly. 

The atmosphere is nice and cosy and the staff are lovely.
Nov 21, 2018
Zomato
Nik
+5
Love the food, the vibe and the staff. Highly recommend for a night out with family and friends. My Favourite dishes are prawn dogs, barramundi, fried chicken and cigars for dessert...Sooooo Yuuuummm🤤
Nov 13, 2018
Zomato
Cushla McCarthny
+5
Simply gorgeous! Myself and three friends came here for vinos and small plates last Saturday and really enjoyed the experience. Staff, food and atmosphere were all just lovely.
Nov 09, 2018
Zomato
Pranav Singh
+5
I really enjoyed my dinner at Onda! The South American twist really brings the food and the venue to life. Honestly, I can't think of anywhere else in Melbourne that's boldly pushing food boundaries. Make sure you try out the prawns and the octopus, my absolute favourites!
Nov 09, 2018
Zomato
Sean Spencer
+5
Came here just for the cheap happy hour specials. Stayed for dinner as the food looked to good going out. $6 pots of Estrella Lager and Sample IPA, Complimented with Cassava Crisps with a smokey gaucamole & Black Prawn Dogs (super tasty!).
We'll definately be back to soak up some more sunshine outside.
Nov 08, 2018
Zomato
Maddie
+4
I love Onda. It has become a favourite on Bridge Rd. I love the Latin American flare and the fact that you can share easily with friends. They have great wines and the staff always have a good suggestion to pair with your meal. The interior is cool as well and adds to the overall vibe.
I would like to see some new additions to the menu though!
Oct 28, 2018
Zomato
Quince And Cheese
+4
Went to a launch event here the restaurant's opening week. As an American, I have had lots of exposure to Latin American food over the years and have been consistently disappointed with most of the options in Melbourne, but Onda exceeded my expectations. Despite the fact that the owners are not Hispanic themselves, they obviously have a good grasp on the cuisine. Their innovative range of snacks and share dishes very appropriately balance traditional Latin ingredients and cooking methods with modern Australian influences. The menu features heaps of vegetarian and vegan options that don't skimp on flavour nor heartiness. I can't wait to go back for the full in-house dining experience.
Sep 04, 2018
Zomato
Karen L
+5
Great customer service and excellent food! The food is unique,beautifully presented, and the ambience of the restaurant is tastefully decorated. Highly recommended!!
Sep 03, 2018
Zomato
Bfm
+5
We had a fantastic lunch at Onda yesterday. The decor is bright and beautiful - we loved the blue booths which were very comfy. We had a selection of snacks, small plates, and one large plate between 4 people. The highlights were the octopus with arepas and the kingfish ceviche - fresh, original flavours and beautifully presented. We were still feeling peckish at the end so shared some desserts - which were really impressive! The chocolate & dulce de leche cigars had the 'wow' factor but my favourite was the sweet potato cake with sorbet and fresh fruits - just perfect. We'll be back for sure!
Aug 26, 2018
Zomato
Zhao Tianyi
+5
LOVE this random find in Richmond! The black prawn dogs and the chocolate cigars! Quirky menu and tasty sumptuous food! Definitely coming back!
Aug 10, 2018
Zomato
Eating Away Melbourne
+5
New kid on Bridge Road and we have to try it! Went on a week night and got warm welcomed as soon as we walked in. Sat near the door on a round table which was perfect for a few friends catching up.

We almost ordered everything off the menu and wow they were so interesting! My favourites were the cheesy puff, the prawn, the wagyu and the smoking cigar dessert. Love the flavours combination! Cocktails were lovely as well. Loved my pomegranate fizz! Will be back!
Jul 30, 2018
Zomato
KMPic
+5
Amazing food. Very well thought out, inspired dishes, so creative. Think we tried most of the menu! Nothing disappoints. Standouts were the octopus and charred greens and mozzarella puffs and the ceviche, seriously cannot decide what was my favourite. And the desserts, loved them all.
Jul 25, 2018
Zomato
Fallyne
+5
Went here for a group dinner and it's very good. The decor is spot on with a real buzz to the space. Overall it has to be the nicest restaurant on Bridge Road if not in Richmond. The food is delicious and cocktails go down a treat. Cant wait to eat again here soon
Jul 19, 2018
Zomato
James McLean
+5
Muchas gracias ONDA! Modern South American food with really fun/friendly staff. I had a great time and tried the plantain fingers, black prawns, ceviche, and gin cocktails - NOM NOM NOM. Def a new Richmond local! Can’t wait to try the rest of the menu.
Jul 19, 2018
Zomato
Sian Willmott
+5
Beautiful new restaurant on bridge rd. The staff are lovely and the food is unique and tasty - you won't find anywhere else quite like it. We will be back!
Jul 19, 2018
Zomato
Carolyn Taylor
+5
We walked into Onda tonight thinking we were somewhere else and it was the best mistake we ever made! The staff were just brilliant, being happy, friendly and helpful. The meals were delicious. Our 2 fussy children were eager to try new taste sensations for the first time and said it was the best meal they've ever had. We are from interstate, however next time we visit, Onda will be our first port of call. I only wish we lived closer so we could visit more often!
If you are yet to try modern south american cuisine, be sure to visit soon. You won't be disappointed.
Jul 18, 2018
Zomato
Omar.ali
+5
Stopped past here for a quick bite seeing as it had just opened. Delicious. Well worth checking out. Absolute highlights were the baked carrot. Who would have thought being served a whole carrot would taste so good. Beef slices were also delicious as were the black prawn and little bits of puffed doughy things for entree. Also backed it up with a frothy gin cocktail. On point.
Jul 18, 2018
Zomato
Good Food Good Mood
+5
We were delighted to be invited to the launch party for Onda, a new South American fusion restaurant in Richmond. The owners have solid hospitality experience (previously Sir Charles a cafe favourite of mine in Fitzroy) and have conceived a great menu and a modern, on trend space. We sampled the spiced grapefruit margarita and snacked on potato and cassava chips with smoked avocado- delicious.

We also had the opportunity to try pretty much the rest of the snack menu including the yummy plantain fingers with lime aioli, the mozzarella puffs, coconut chicken wings and black prawn dogs. The canapés drew from the flavours of the menu and were inspired by the dishes, effectively just in a bite sized format. The prawn ceviche was definitely my favourite- light, fresh and all round yummy.

Dessert was quite an interesting affair by way of the sweet tamale with ash meringue, fruit and açai marshmallow. Outside the box kind of cooking. This is certainly a menu designed to intrigue and excite offering unique dishes that bring something a little different to the Melbourne dining scene. Well done
Jul 18, 2018
5
Alicia Mcintyre
+5
Amazing food, great for sharing with a large group. Buffalo cauliflower is a must along with half chicken, plantain fingers, potatoes and beef briskkett!! Highy reccomend :)
5
Arzu Refikoglu
+5
The owner welcomed us in and sat us down to talk us through the menu. He recommended the 'feed me' set menu which was great value for money. The Buffalo cauliflower was hands down the best dish. Everything was exceptional including the cocktails. Can't wait to return to try the other dishes.
5
Georgie Haberfield
+5
Absolutely fantastic, the feed me was a real winner. It's a lot of food though, so be prepared! The service was a standout, they knew just when to bring out each course. The food was all so good it's hard to pick what was best - possibly the Ceviche because it was so fresh and the finger lime was amazing. The cigars were out of this world and went straight to the 'gram. Love that everything is gluten free, makes it easy for coeliacs. There were also plenty of vegan options, too.I will be coming back for sure!
5
parul sanjay
+5
Best meal I have had in a long long long time! The broccoli was glazed and sweet but meaty? Full of flavour. Ceviche was so fresh and the tortillas light and crunchy. I have been dreaming about the black prawn dogs ever since they graced my lips.
5
Mohammad Adnan
+5
The food was amazing and the service was excellent. This was the first time trying South American cuisine and let me tell you - I was blown away by the quality and the taste of the food. The service was magical - they knew exactly when to bring out the next lot of food. Love it!
5
Mary
+5
Amazing service and food. Every dish has its own unique flavour which makes the whole dining experience both a delicious and exciting culinary journey. Ryan the chef was so accommodating in tweaking the decadent dessert menu to suit a birthday. Wonderful experience in every way.
4
Trung Bui
+4
Food is aight, mamma's cooking is better. I thought feed me was feed me till I'm full, but I stand corrected. If you like Wagyu brisket, then come here. Good stuff 😸
5
Sammi Masters
+5
Stunning food. Flawless! Left to right: cassava crisps, kingfish ceviche, chargrilled lamb ribs. The lamb ribs were rich in flavour and fell off the bone!
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