Seasons Mildura

Seasons Restaurant in Mildura, northwest Victoria, is somewhat of an institution.  As the owners, Andy and Mandy Williams, go into their seventh year of trade it’s clear that their mission is not waning.  Prior to opening they believed that there was a gap in the market between cafe style dining and fine dining in Mildura so they decided to create a place where diners could enjoy a great affordable food, wine and service experience.  They wanted their guests to feel like they were returning to an old friend with the comfort of a warm and relaxed but quality atmosphere.  This set the scene and created the original foundation for their restaurant.

I have dined at Seasons several times over the years and something that remains constant is the passion and professionalism of Andy and Mandy. It’s possibly the reason they are still staying firm and strong in the competitive and sometimes difficult game of owning a restaurant. It is clear that their values are instilled in their team.  You can see that they get on with their job with that same passion and professionalism. 

From the moment of arrival at Seasons you are greeted with open arms and big smiles as you are whisked to your table with the warmest welcome.  The Seasons beverage list is comprehensive, thoughtful and smart.  Andy is to be credited for this.  He has a wide and varied knowledge and understanding of any beverage that might tickle your taste buds.  So if you find it too difficult to make a decision leave it to Andy – you won’t be disappointed.  On this particular night Andy treated the table beside me to a spectacular performance where he conducted ‘sabrage’ with a 'sabre'.  This is the traditional French way to open a bottle of Champagne by slicing the top of the champagne bottle open with a sword.  It was fabulous and the entire room was impressed.

This is what you get to understand about the Seasons menu when you open it – ‘we believe that food in season is food that is best.  When sourcing our produce we give priority to locally grown food, we know the best suppliers, where it comes from and when it’s in season.  This is our privilege.  Our seasonal menu salutes the diversity in Australian cuisine.  The menu is a fusion of modern Australian influences.  Join with friends to share our passion’.  A perfect introduction to the dishes you are about to experience.

Andy's Choice

The menu is broken up into sections – the introduction, the in between, the main event and the sweet afters.  There is also an amazing daily specials board to compliment the delicious seasonal menu.  Kids, vegetarians, gluten free are all really well catered for.  The other area they cater for so wonderfully are the people like me.  The ones who sometimes don’t want to make a decision.  Leave it up to Andy or Mandy and they will arrange something perfect for you from the kitchen.

If you are in Mildura you need to dine at Seasons. Or if you are after a prime steak from the grill Andy and Mandy also run the adjoining restaurant ‘The Spanish Bar and Grill’.  Either way you will be well taken care of and you will enjoy an excellent night.  Make sure you tell Andy and Mandy that I sent you!

Food – 8/10

Service – 8/10

Ambiance – 8/10

Seasons Restaurant

Corner Langtree Avenue and Seventh Street, Mildura.

Phone – 5021 2377

www.seasonsmildura.com.au

Longrain

What an impressive performance at Longrain Restaurant and Bar, Melbourne.

It’s already dark at 5.50pm on a rainy Friday. Entering via the over sized but classy foyer entrance, we are in for an early dinner before a theatre show.

Upon arrival we are warmly greeted and asked to have a seat at the bar as the dining area opens at 6pm.  Enjoying a pre-dinner drink we watch more customers stream in seeking an experience that only Longrain is known for.

Just as we are finishing our drink the maître de - who in ten minutes has had as many requests for a table and surprisingly had not taken our name on arrival – takes us to our seats. I make the point of telling you all of this as Longrain doesn’t take reservations for groups under six people - there are only two of us.

We are seated at one of the large, wide, glossy wooden communal tables. The beauty of these big wide tables for communal dining is that you hardly notice the other diners at the same table and all that divides you are simple, elegant glass tea light candles.   By 6.20pm we are happily seated, water glasses filled, bottle of wine is served, food has been ordered and already started to arrive from the kitchen and the entire bar and dining space is full to capacity.  It feels a bit like ‘if you blink, you’ll miss it’ moment but at no stage do we feel rushed or the staff seem stressed.  The Longrain team is organised, professional, polite and knowledgeable.

The menu is of Asian influence.  We share the ‘Eggnet with pork, prawn, peanut and caramelised coconut with a cucumber relish’ ($29.50), the ‘Massaman Curry of Cape Grim Beef with kifler potatoes’ ($40), ‘Snow pea, tomato and sesame seed salad (from the specials list) and ‘Thai jasmine rice’ ($3 per person).  As divine as all the dishes were they were generous and it was honestly too much food for the two of us.

The eggnet was a cold dish.  For some reason I was expecting it to be warm, however it was fantastic.  There was a moment of – how do we tackle this? As the eggnet is so spectacular looking that you don’t want to ruin it.  I don’t think there is any other way but to simply just break through the net of egg!  The flavors of the prawn and pork with the fresh crisp bean shoots, sweetness of the caramelised coconut and the slight hint of chili were brilliant.  The cucumber relish was a clean and refreshing partner.

Eggnet

The massaman curry was my favourite dish of the night.  The beef literally melted in my mouth.  The pungent flavor was an even and subtle curry that left me wanting more.  The snow pea and tomato salad was sweet, earthy, crunchy and fresh.  A slick side dish to the curry.

Massaman Curry

Snow pea Salad

Throughout the entire meal the service was flawless, our glasses always full, staff were attentive and at no point did we ever feel anything but welcome and comfortable.  By 7pm it was politely suggested we finish our bottle of wine in the lounge area.  We observed the seats being constantly turned over as people continued to flow through the door.  Longrain is humming along at a perfect degree. 

We left Longrain for the theatre show and we returned afterwards for a night cap.  To our delight the staff remembered us.  This is outstanding considering the many faces they have served that evening. 

I am completely impressed by Longrain.  It’s a performance that deserves a standing ovation and well worth every single cent.  Bravo!  Bravo!

Food – 9/10

Service – 10/10
Ambiance – 10/10

Longrain Restaurant & Bar

44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.
(03) 9671 3151

www.longrain.com

Open – Dinner every night and lunch Friday only