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Top 6 Contemporary food in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Discover Restaurants offering the best Contemporary food in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia including Mitchell Harris Wine Bar, L'Espresso, Oscar's Hotel and Cafe Bar, The PWTN, Hog's Breath Cafe, Underbar
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6. Underbar
Overall Ratings
5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By AllanRosemary
Seats only 12 and is open Friday & Saturday - you'll need to book well ahead, but it is worth it a-plenty.Degustation menu that can be tailored for your specific dietary needs, as was proven on the night we dined with two vegetarians among the guests.It really was a fabulous night, delicious dishes served up with matching wines (if you choose this option). With chef Derek's experience at the likes of Per Se showing through in the presentation and cooking.Thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening, and highly recommended.Can't really suggest a particular dish as they'll change subject to season/what is fresh and available/ what can be foraged. But for what its worth ... the scallop & the spanner crab & the confit duck & the wagyu & the ganache & 'the coffee & donuts' were all spectacularly great!For once Ballarat has an outstanding restaurant worthy of any capital city in Australia or abroad. And its not yet another Thai!!
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5. Hog's Breath Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 169 reviews
Hogâs Ballarat, Australiaâs Steakhouse, is a locally owned and operated casual dining family restaurant, providing a wide ranging menu including, steak, chicken seafood and vegetarian options. We provide a unique dining experience within the Australian ma
Reviewed By Fletchworld
We visited Hog's Breath Cafe in Ballarat, with our two primary-school-aged children and another couple, for dinner on Saturday night. The service was attentive and helpful. A drink order went missing, so they provided them free of charge, which was much appreciated.Everyone enjoyed their meals from the huge range on offer. Our eldest daughter, who can be a fussy eater, demolished her kid's spaghetti meal.
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4. The PWTN
Overall Ratings
4 based on 182 reviews
A modern bar & grill cooking over charcoal located in the historical building at the corner of Mair and Doveton street in the heart of Ballarat CBD
Reviewed By kelso1075
Appalled by Jess (the âManagerâ) and her long-pony-tailed immature female colleague laughing several times in clear view of the restaurant patrons AT their customers. After wonderful, warm and attentive service from a short pixie-cut young woman and a tall young man, my colleague and I kindly requested our drinks be seen to, since Jess made mine incorrectly as per the docket and they both tasted terrible. As a Manager of restaurants, hotels and bars in Melbourne and abroad, I was horrified by Jessâ attitude towards us. Completely patronising, rude, not a smile to be seen. She thought it to be necessary, to attempt to humiliate us by bringing over the bottle to the table in front of the whole restaurant, as if that was to prove she didnât make a mistake behind the bar, which was totally bizarre behaviour. She first made incorrect drinks, made mine with the incorrect mixer, refused to remake both, the one she did remake returned to the table with no lime or garnish, so she threw a plate of lime at us afterwards. She argued with my colleague who expressed her discomfort and displeasure with the situation, then returned to her long-pony-tailed young colleague behind the bar to mock and ridicule us in clear view of the restaurant. When I approached the young colleague and asked to speak to her and her manager, asking why she thought it was appropriate and professional to be seen laughing at their customers, she argued back, âMy face always looks like thisâ. Which, to be honest, I had to try and hold a straight face due to the absurdity of her attitude and response. I have never received this kind of treatment when dining and am mortified that my non-white colleague told me this is treatment she is used to. I am horrified that the behaviour from the manager and that staff member is evidently racially-charged, as she was patronising, would not âbelieveâ her customers (for the worth of a petty drink) and was mocking my non-white colleague in clear view of the other patrons and colleagues who were doing the right thing. Managers are supposed to be role models to young staff (though she clearly has some maturing to do herself). My colleague deserves an apology for the way she was treated, especially due to the fact she felt racially attacked.We walked out from what was going to be a table of 6 for our business dinner, and I will be sharing our experience with all I know in the Ballarat community, as well as the broader hospitality community of our experience. I hope that no one else has been treated this way, this sort of treatment does not reflect the views of others in our society. I advise against going to this establishment until the owner/s train up their staff to the level that adequately reflects what the business is about.Dear Kelso, it's very disappointing to hear your experience at The PWTN was not up to our usual standards and I really would like to send my apologies for the way your friend felt. In our establishment we employ people from all over the world including India, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius as well as Aussies and I fondly believe neither of our staff are racist including Jess, the manager, who has probably felt short in her communication with you and your friend at the table.We really value your feedback and in any way we want our customers to not feel welcome in our bar&grill so if you could contact me I would really love and appreciate chatting to you in person about what happened and address this inconvenient incident with you and your friend as soon as possible. My name is Irene and I'm one of the owners of The PWTN, [email protected] or 0403114664. Thank you and look forward to hearing back from you soon.
3. Oscar's Hotel and Cafe Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 167 reviews
Reviewed By JudyA99
So impressed. Room was clean, huge! Bathroom was excellent. We stayed midweek so was very quiet no pub noises. Staff were amazing so friendly. Only had drinks in the bar which was really relaxing before we went out with friends. Parking out the back if your lucky enough to get, which we did, otherwise street parking could add up. Loved the decor in the bar/cafe. We were so surprised, donât judge the outside. Every staff member was amazing, very high standard of customer service. Wouldnât hesitate to go back. Thanks for a great stayThank you for your generous feedback JudyA99. It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed your stay with us, especially the decor & high quality of customer service. We look forward to seeing you again.
2. L'Espresso
Overall Ratings
4 based on 494 reviews
Reviewed By Tracey K
As a former cafe and barista school owner, I really appreciate going to funky little cafes that provide great coffee, food and atmosphere. It is really difficult to get all of these right, not many cafes do. Unfortunately this cafe ticked two of the boxes. On a cold wet day, L'Espresso was certainly warm and inviting the moment I stepped in with lots of amazing wooden features throughout and a clever sideline of displaying and selling vinyl records and cd's. I enjoyed a lovely breakfast of parmesan scrambled eggs on brioche with smoked bacon. The only disappointment was the long black made with Vittoria coffee. It does amaze me that these days with all the amazing local small batch roasters of specialty beans, that cafes are still using the darkly overroasted beans from the big commercial coffee companies. If this cafe was to highlight a locally roasted bean and then made well, they would definitely be the triple threat.
1. Mitchell Harris Wine Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 228 reviews
A modern wine bar and urban cellar door with a focus on the Mitchell Harris Wines range, and wine selections from Western Victoria and further afield. Classic bar food along with sumptuous feature dishes. A relaxed contemporary vibe, in a classic old Ball
Reviewed By UrbaneForker
This was one of the best wine bars I have been to. Great decor in an historic building. Cellar door for Mitchell Harris wines. Also a wi n e bar and bottle shop for a range of other wineries. Good selections by the glass. The $10 wine flight was excellent. Recommended
