philippe

this one is hard to rate because i feel like the odd one out.

i got to know it as a friend had “checked in on face book” with this restaurant and gave a really good feedback for it. but like many restaurants, it was on my “need to try list”.

after a few months, another friend said they were looking really forward to try it. she raved about the chef.

so, that was my sign to try it out.

first time there: had a fish entree and charcuterie.
duck to share. potato gratin. can’t even remember the dessert. my favorite was the bread they served followed by potato gratin. nothing from entree or main. that’s not a good sign. mmm

i decided it must be us. we must of just selected the wrong dishes. chef wasn’t quite right that night. we are over picky. etc. so many people like this place. it must be good.

second attempt. entree to share. i had a chicken for main. hubby had beef. i had the chocolate fondant for dessert.. thank god i enjoyed the fondant. but there just wasn’t anything in our entree and mains that cut it for us. we were kinda shocked.

in terms of service, it’s gonna be really hard to crack a smile from the wait staff. there was a new staff/ trainee on our second visit. you can tell as he was a little clumsy, but at least he was smiling like a human being. the others were so “matter of fact” and they just didn’t seem approachable to talk to.

so after two attempts, the score is 3.
it’s really more for the fact that it is a established restaurant and are “professional” in what they do.
food andservice: both didn’t get my thumbs up.

a classic french bistro with all the trimmings. if that's what you're looking for, phillipe is it. everything about this place screams "paris" with one notable exception--theserviceis friendly, welcoming, efficient, and helpful. as with most french bistros, phillipe shines at both lunch and dinner. the three course lunch menu of $65 including a 250ml carafe of either white or red wine (very good wine, by the way) is terrific value for food of this standard. i haven't eaten at dinner or ordered a la carte, but the menu is replete with french classics. the downstairs room is spacious and comfortable with well-spaced tables and an open kitchen. when you descend the stairs, you are confronted by the fridge proudly displaying the meat and poultry. this is not a vegetarian's paradise, although they are accommodated. i can't think of a better classic french bistro in melbourne.

theservicewas very good.  the food was divine.  the lunch menu is great value.  the rare steak and mash potato (from heaven) was beautiful.  an enjoyable lunch.  always share with good company and i will be back.

philippe was recommended by my friend peter. he adores the restaurant, and i can see why!

ordered:
artisan sourdough & french butter

snacks
🦪 pacific & southern rock oysters, shallot vinegar, lemon ($5.00)
🐟 beetroot cured ora king salmon gravlax, raspberry vinaigrette ($25.00)

main course
🐟 pan seared blue eye, green asparagus, cream sauce pochouse burgundy style ($42.00)

side options
🍟 french fries, parmesan, garlic & rosemary ($12.00)

les desserts et fromages
🍮 vanilla & camomile panna cotta, citrus soup ($18.00)

review:
shout out to the oysters. we ordered 2 each, and philippe took the effort to provide us with 2 different types. they provided awesome variety and this small, simple gesture made our 'snacks' experience 2x more enjoyable.

i don't eat fish often, but there was something that called out to me on philippe's main course menu. the savoury creamy base, with the sweetness of the fish, contrasting with the assertive asparagus... a delicious combo. would highly recommend giving this dish as shot, if you want a break from the red meats.

the chips were crunchy, and gave a great umami break from the fish main. it was also really cute how they gave us the same dish, but on contrasting plate colours. philippe's attention and consideration to detail 👌.

service was incredibly friendly and professional. escorted to our table, the waiter took my jacket and placed it on my nearby coat hook - the level ofservicewas a really nice touch and i felt spoilt!

flawless. fantastic food and professionalservicefrom all involved. we had the three course lunch and started with the terrine and soup, followed by steaks and finishing with cheesecake and creme brûlée. servings are large and includes a carafe of wine. really can’t talk this up enough. it’s so nice to have professionalservicestaff that take pride in what they do.

really good experience, the customerserviceis really good. whisky martini is definitely worth to try.

we enjoyed a beautiful lunch at philippe. the $65 3 course meal was superb and we washed it down with a lovely wine from beechworth. what a find. my clients were impressed with the restaurant selection. lovely ambience, friendlyserviceand great food. we’ll return. thank you

dined at philippe and opted for 5 courses of signature philippe dishes.
🍽 pâté en croûte - pork and chicken pate which is very flavoursome. has texture from pistachio nuts. pickled vegetables are a nice accompaniment.
tomato gazpacho - smooth tomato flavoured cold soup. hints of basil.
volaille - perfectly cooked chicken stuffed with mushroom. fluffy crispy potatoes.
mango oeuf à la neige - meringue floating on mango crème anglaise. wonderful dessert.
💁‍♀️servicewas attentive and friendly. exactly what you expect from a fine dining restaurant.

quality produce,servicefriendly. wait time was ~ 1 hour between entree and mains. would recommend.

a group of eight booked some months in advance for dinner. a highlight was meant to be the soufflé. however as this was only served on saturday we booked the available time at 8.30pm. our orders were taken at 9.15. the second wine ordered did not appear for thirty minutes. our mains were served at 10.15 pm and theservicewas slow and waitress very frenchly unfriendly. and guess what, there was no soufflé on the menu. so that’s eight desserts that were not ordered. food otherwise was excellent.

the food was delightful and delicious. the canard duck breast rotissoire with mango was so creative, and so much fun to eat!! can’t wait to have it again.servicewas also very polite and friendly. had a very lovely evening.

theserviceat philippe is great, perfect for date nights. fresh oysters and the wagyu steak with bearnaise sauce is to die for! would highly recommend. would come back again

we had a spectacular experience for our first french dining. my partner and i came here for my birthday dinner and ordered two entrees and mains, paired with medium bodied red wine. the restaurant had a lovely ambience and theservicewas amazing. the escargots are extremely flavorful and i really enjoyed it! we also got french onion soup, braised ox cheek and gold band snapper with seafood. every dish were cooked to perfection and beautifully presented, especially the ox cheek which is so tender and delicious. it was such an delightful new experience for us and we would definitely come back again!

haven’t been here for ages. i was told by a friend that they would have a jazz night every first monday of the month. we were sitting at the bar, ordering delicious cocktails, wines and food.servicewas amazing! lovely crowds and vibes, beautiful jazz musics serenading our dinner. this place would be great for special occasions and a date. definitely would come back next month for another monday jazz session night

my friend recommended philippe as one of his favourite french restaurants a few years ago. my partner wanted to take me out for a nice birthday dinner so i picked philippe. the restaurant provides discounted evening parking at a flat rate but we already make other arrangement. it was a cosy restaurant located in the basement at the lane way next to grand hyatt hotel. it wasn’t packed on monday night and there was a live french singing performance about to finish when we walked in. theservicecould be more attentive as we have to ask for the menu and waiter to refill our water. we ordered the bone marrow, duck for 2, chargrilled broccolini , pinot noir and beer. we were told the duck will take 45 min to cook. complimentary warm baguette was served with butter and salt. the bone marrow was average but the duck was beautifully cooked. we are so stuffed after the main course that we couldn’t have dessert. you also get 25% discount up to maximum of $40 with the entertainment book voucher.