Dinner by Heston

There's no need to give Dinner by Heston an introduction - if you haven't heard of Heston Blumenthal and his magical culinary creations by now,  you may have been living under a rock. Nonetheless, after missing out on a ticket to dine at the Fat Duck when it was in town, the day had finally arrived where I was able to try Heston's Melbourne dining venture - Dinner by Heston.

Arriving at Dinner by Heston for lunch, I was instantly enchanted by the long dark hallway that led to restaurant's door.

The five course lunch menu, available from Friday to Sunday, will set you back $160 per person (with the option of adding accompanying wines for $120 per person). The menu on this occasion consisted of the following:

Hay Smoked Ocean Trout 

Pickled lemon salad, gentleman's relish, wood sorrel and smoked roe

Meat Fruit

Mandarin, chicken liver parfait 

Rice and Flesh

Saffron, curried kangaroo tail, red wine and amaranth

Chicken cooked with lettuces

Grilled onion emulsion, barilla leaves and spiced parsnip sauce

Tipsy Cake

The ocean trout was the dish of the day - a divine balance of textures and flavours, it tasted as exquisite as it looks. 

The meat fruit (appearing on Heston's menu at his Flagship restaurant the Fat Duck and recognised worldwide for its ingenuity) looks like a mandarin, but actually consists of chicken parfait - this little dish was not only a treat on the senses, but was insanely delicious. 

The kangaroo tail was the dish I was most nervous about - I mean, who ever thought of eating the tail of Australia's iconic roo? But to my absolute surprise, it was probably the best price of meat I had ever tried - juicy, tender and full of flavour - definitely opt for trying this part of the animal if you ever have the chance. 

The chicken and lettuce whilst technically perfect, but failed to excite me as at the end of the day, it was just that - chicken and lettuce. 

The Tipsy Cake was one of the best desserts I've had in Melbourne - warm, buttery and creamy, this little pudding was absolutely magnificent.

Is it my favourite restaurant? It's up there - but it didn't quite make the new fave. Was it technically perfect and worth the money? Absolutely. When going to Dinner by Heston, you're not just paying for the food - you're paying for the absolutely incredible service and an experience which can last all afternoon. 

Food: 4.5/5 

Venue: 3.5/5

Service: 5/5

Total: 13/15

Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

Crown Melbourne, Level 3, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, Melbourne