Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Melbourne

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Melbourne? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

North Port Hotel

4.9

4.9 (248)

$40 and under

Australian

Port Melbourne

About the restaurant

The North Port Hotel is a place for locals and visitors alike, you may choose to head to the front bar for a cold beer or glass of wine and watch the footy, or take a seat in the dining area and order from our ever changing menu, with all the classics you know and love, as well as a great selection of bar snacks and starters, main meals using quality seasonal produce and desserts.

Top review

Matt

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

This place is the perfect venue. Staff amazing and food/booze is top notch. I only wish they had accommodation - you could easily live here!

Bellota Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (58)

$41 to $100

Wine Bar

South Melbourne

About the restaurant

Nestled next to Australia’s leading independent wine store, the Prince Wine Store, Bellota makes full use of the massive selection on offer from its sister business. The restaurant/wine bar brings to fruition a long-held desire to provide a venue that showcases the great wines of the world in a warm and friendly environment alongside beautifully executed food. Head chef Nicky Riemer champions the kitchen with her European cuisine which offers a sense of provenance and brings back flavours that often get lost in modern cooking techniques.

The casual, friendly atmosphere is at the heart of Bellota. Our knowledgeable staff’s aim is simple; try and help you love the wine as much as they do. Our list changes with the seasons and wines are all available by the taste, glass and carafe (half bottle), reflecting our belief that good and interesting wines are made all over the globe. We also offer a small selection of iconic wines, poured by the taste utilising the Coravin wine access system.

Top review

Sharon

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Always great, never disappoints. Thanks for a great evening

Borsch Vodka & Tears

4.8

4.8 (281)

$40 and under

Polish

Windsor

About the restaurant

Borsch, Vodka and Tears is a Melbourne institution currently celebrating 20 years at the colourful end of Chapel Street. Styled after a Kraków cellar bar, Borsch is a romantic Bohemian enclave, the home of the Green Faery, an ode to a hazy and debauched bygone world. We specialise in Polish vodka, vodka-centric interpretations of classic and modern cocktails, authentic wormwood absinthe, Eastern European beers, contemporary Polish dishes and late night fun times.

Top review

Frances

Dined 3 days ago

Great traditional polish food. Amazing cocktails. Soft ambiance. Definitely be back.

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Popular dish

Gołąbki Cabbage Rolls

Experience

WÓDKA TASTING TRAY

Vue de monde

4.9

4.9 (1852)

$101 and over

Modern Australian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Vue de monde is a testament to the belief that dining can be a wondrous and unforgettable experience. The ever-changing chef’s menu pays homage to classical fine dining in a modern context by exploring the beauty of native Australian ingredients. While in the past the menu looked to Europe for inspiration, Executive Chef Hugh Allen continues to celebrate the unparalleled quality of home-grown produce with thoughtfully considered dishes committed to seasonality and locality.

Vue de monde has been synonymous with Melbourne dining for almost 20 years, continuing to present an exciting and dynamic experience with a progression of flavours and sense of curiosity. The whimsical spirit at the heart of the Vue de monde menu has not been lost throughout the years, with the lighter-handed and more natural approach to cooking being no less infused with theatre.

Top review

Ja Tsun

Dined 3 days ago

The food and view were Ok. Staff are quite nice too. Probably worth the money. I requested for Birthday Writings on the plate during the reservation. But, it was not provided and nobody told me that i should not be expecting for that too. Just a little disappointed as I wanted to surprise my partner.

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Experience

Early Sitting - New Year's Eve Vue de monde 2024

Experience

New Year's Eve at Vue de monde 2024

Experience

Valentine's Day at Vue de monde 2025

Ok Billy Souvlaki Bar

4.7

4.7 (393)

$40 and under

Greek

Mordialloc

About the restaurant

Ok Billy Souvlaki Bar offers a true taste of Greece, served just 250m from Mordialloc beach.
Indulge in lunch, dinner or dessert with their extensive menu featuring authentic Greek food and beverages. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options are available. Dine in to listen to traditional Mediterranean music, occasionally performed by a live band! Takeaway and catering options are available, also.
It is typically recommended to book a table to secure your spot at one of Mordi's most lively restaurants.

Top review

Leanne

Dined on Dec 19, 2024

Food was fantastic and abundant. Great friendly service. Prices good value.

Local Chook

4.7

4.7 (131)

$40 and under

Vietnamese

Moonee Ponds

About the restaurant

Moonee Ponds Local Chook is a favourite among locals for its imaginative/fusion take on Vietnamese cuisine, served in a modern restaurant.
For starters, the Bao Buns are sensational selections. Some of Local Chook’s specialty/popular dishes include the Red Chicken Curry and Twice cooked scotch fillet in plum sauce, as well as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free dishes.

Top review

Patricia

Dined 2 days ago

Food was fresh, service was wonderful. The place was small, but people kept coming in. It was very busy. We’ve never been there before, but thoroughly enjoyed the coconut prawns, tangy chicken and Saigon beef. Will return.

Shelanous

5.0

5 (98)

$101 and over

Australian

Port Melbourne

About the restaurant

Born from a Melbourne sunset, our pop-up restaurant, Shelanous, evolved into a multi-sensory journey, blending Melbourne’s seasons into each dish. As we transitioned to “Shelanous”, we retained the essence of sharing, embodied in “nous,” meaning “our” or “us” in Hebrew and French.

Top review

Julie

Dined 7 days ago

I don’t know that you can describe the experience at Shelanous! It was like being Alice in Wonderland, the setting, the music , the staff and the food are like nothing you have ever experienced before. Rony and his team are exceptional and there is such a joy that comes with this whole dining experience that you have to see it to believe it. This has become our top restaurant ever! WOW. Thank you so very much.

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Experience

New Year Eve - Degustation & Matching Beverages

Experience

10 Course Degustation & Matching Beverages Sunday

Experience

10 Course Degustation & Matching Beverages Weekday

Holy Basil Thai

4.9

4.9 (721)

$41 to $100

Thai

Croydon

About the restaurant

Holy Basil in Croydon Victoria has a very simple vision, to bring wholesome, delicious and exciting food to the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Our dream at Holy Basil was to create an exciting diner in the Eastern suburbs where people can relax, come together, have fun and enjoy proper homemade food in a very inclusive environment.
We are proud to deliver 100% vegan and Vegetarian options at Holy Basil, use free-range eggs and source only sustainably caught seafood as well as a range of other exciting meals with 95% of the menu being gluten free.
At Holy Basil we make our own curry pastes, sauces, desserts, chilli jam, and roti.
We happily use gluten free soy and 100% pure fish sauce.
We greatly appreciate your support in choosing to dine at Holy Basil.
Chefs Duncan Robertson and Julia Robertson look forward to seeing you.

Top review

Louise

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Amazing, food is always incredible and great service,

Buba Local Shuk

4.7

4.7 (26)

$40 and under

Middle Eastern

St Kilda

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of the fitzroy st precinct of st kilda, buba local shuk is a tel-avivian inspired bar and eatery, serving contemporary israeli middle eastern cuisine in a slick, fun, casual and high energy environment

Top review

Henry

Dined 4 days ago

Wonderful experience. Staff a beautiful bunch of people . A joy to go out with friends and stay till tables are folded and enjoy every moment . Highly recommended.

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Experience

Happy Hour

Vatutto Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (55)

$41 to $100

Italian

Ivanhoe

About the restaurant

Vatutto is a family run restaurant, Owners Paul and Myrto Recinella moved from their 16 year Institution at Zios East Melbourne to the Ivanhoe location in 2015. A full renovation was completed recently creating a modern yetelegant atmosphere. Vatutto translates from Italian to ‘Everything goes’ the menu here has a diverse flavour selection from all corners of the earth. Produce here is sourced from premium suppliers, and we use sustainable seafood from Australian or New Zealand waters, Wagyu beef from Gippsland, organic eggs, fruit and vegetables, and quality imported cheese, dairy products and flour. Bread is baked daily and all desserts, pastries and ice cream are all made on the premises using quality ingredients.

Top review

Janette

Dined 6 days ago

A fabulous dining experience for Christmas Eve lunch with the family. Such great food and service. Definitely will be going back.

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Experience

Mother's Day at Vatutto

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