Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Melbourne

OpenTable

Updated 05 January 2025

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

Shelanous

5.0

5 (102)

$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 on 23 Dec 2024

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.

Discover more

Experience

10 Course Degustation & Matching Beverages Sunday

Experience

10 Course Degustation & Matching Beverages Weekday

V Wine Salon

4.9

4.9 (148)

$41 to $100

Wine Bar

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

V Wine Salon is the epitome of the French wine bar experience.

Located in a beautiful heritage-listed building in the heart of the Melbourne CBD, cosy seats, high ceilings and modern decor reminiscent of Paris-by-night are paired with friendly, knowledgeable and professional service.

Co-founder and director Vianney Establet was born in prime Bordeaux terroir with wine in his veins, coming from a family of winemakers going back five generations, and honed his craft as a sommelier for over a decade in some of the finest restaurants and private members clubs around the world.

We pride ourselves on our eclectic boutique wine list (awarded two glasses by Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards), craft beers, cocktails and an impressive selection of gourmet cheeses and other French nibbles (see menu) making V the perfect venue for catching up with friends, dates, and after-work drinks. Wine to take home is also available from our retail boutique.

Book now for a fantastic experience!

Top review

Rita

Dined on 5 Dec 2024

Love V. It's one of my favourite places. You can have great wine, cheese and just watch the world go by.

Bottarga Brighton

5.0

5 (16)

$41 to $100

Contemporary Italian

Brighton

About the restaurant

Step into a space where each dish is a meticulously crafted masterpiece, showcasing the best in culinary excellence. Our menu is a unique fusion of the finest global ingredients, reimagining traditional flavors with a modern Italian twist and a hint of Asian influence. Delight in this unforgettable culinary journey with either a 2- or 3-course menu or our full tasting experience at $160 per person.

With just 18 seats in front of our fully open kitchen, Bottarga offers a rare, intimate dining experience where you can witness the magic unfold. We are proud to be Brighton’s only one-hatted restaurant, recognized by The Age Good Food Guide, awarded two glasses in the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards, and celebrated by Wine Spectator.

Top review

Sue

Dined on 25 Dec 2024

Such an amazing way to be served Xmas lunch. Exquisite food- presentation and taste. This is our 2nd time. Don’t know how- but it was even better than the first time. Felt very special indeed. Staff were very attentive too. Still dreaming about my experience ❤️

Discover more

Experience

Aperitivo Hours

Experience

Tasting Experience $160pp

Experience

Pre-Countdown Standard Reservation

Kushiro Fusion Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (26)

$41 to $100

Fusion / Eclectic

Fitzroy

About the restaurant

Kushiro - Melbourne
Nestled in a 100-year-old heritage building in Fitzroy, Kushiro blends historic charm with modern culinary artistry. Inspired by Melbourne's vibrant laneway dining and street art culture, the restaurant features a beautiful bar, Japanese-inspired lamps, chandeliers, and a striking graffiti wall depicting a fishing village in Hokkaido.

Kushiro's menu combines traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary flavors, offering standout dishes like Scampi Tartare, Cured Salmon, Chef Po’s Char Siu, Slow Roasted Short Rib, Confit Duck, and Tofu Panna Cotta. Patrons can also enjoy Kushiro's exclusive brand of sake, crafted in Japan.

Kushiro enriches Melbourne's diverse culinary scene with its unique offerings and vibrant atmosphere.

Top review

Kylie

Dined on 20 Dec 2024

Definitely worth coming for a date night or with a group. Very well priced, delicious cocktails, knowledgable team who clearly know their stuff. Recommend! Definitely get the ribs!

Discover more

Experience

$3 Oysters for Oyster Lovers-Booking Is Essential!

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 16 Nov 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!

Bluestone American BBQ

4.8

4.8 (742)

$41 to $100

Barbecue

Coburg

About the restaurant

Bluestone American BBQ features a Latin American spin on authentic low and slow traditions from the US BBQ belt. Chef Alvaro Malel draws inspiration from his Uruguayan heritage, and his passion for cuisines from both American continents to reimagine smoked classics like Yearling Beef Short Rib with chimichurri, and Pit-Braised Pulled Lamb with salsa criolla and arepas.

His talent for bringing together the best of North and South American food traditions has been a drawcard for diners across Melbourne since the restaurant opened seven years ago. He credits the success of Bluestone to his Uruguayan culture and heritage, which is all about “food, family and fire…BBQ is a feature of all my best memories. There’s no better way to celebrate milestones, or to just kick back and have fun with the people you love. Bluestone has always been about creating that experience for other people.”

Top review

Gerry

Dined on 22 Dec 2024

Place reservation on Saturday for Sunday and had no problem getting a table. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Discover more

All You Can Eat Ribs, Fries & Sides

French Saloon

4.8

4.8 (354)

$41 to $100

French

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Climb the narrow flight of stairs up from the red brick lane to enter the saloon. A table in the bustling dining room? Or a seat at the fluted zinc bar? Whether it’s a lunch, dinner or well crafted cocktails with a snack, bookings are essential.

Top review

Beasy

Dined on 18 Dec 2024

We had a fabulous night celebrating my daughters uni graduation. Staff were so accommodating and we were able to relax and enjoy afternoon drinks outside before having dining inside. Food was excellent and wine list fantastic. Faultless experience. Can’t wait to come back!

Discover more

Experience

Chef's Menu

Experience

French Saloon X St John Takeover

Vue de monde

4.9

4.9 (1855)

$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

AleksanderVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Dining for a special occasion was just perfect here - very highly recommended

Discover more

Experience

Valentine's Day at Vue de monde 2025

Bistra

4.9

4.9 (105)

$41 to $100

Australian

Carlton

About the restaurant

Bistra is an Australian bistro serving quality food and wine; our fare draws its influence predominantly from British, French and Italian cooking and technique, and yet it is quintessentially Australian. You can expect generous, memorable plates championing seasonal ingredients and an extensive list of wines.

Top review

Aiden

Dined on 11 Dec 2024

delicious as always, wonderful service and a great wine recommendation. will be back !

Discover more

Experience

Three Course Menu

QT Kitchen

5.0

5 (20)

$40 and under

Vietnamese

Glen Iris

About the restaurant

National Awards for Excellence Vietnamese Restaurant 2024 & 2022 by Restaurant & Catering Association, A Gold & Silver medal for Restaurants Challenge 2024 & 2023 by Australian Culinary Federation.

Founded in 2017, QT' Kitchen has quickly become an institution in Glen Iris, Ashburton, Camberwell and surrounding suburbs of Melbourne.

The team hopes to please every customer with superb front of house service, a creative, delicious menu and a bustling ambience that is warm & welcoming. Functions are held regularly in the 90 seat space where family and friends come together to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, school friendships and much more.

Bookings are recommended although apart from our busiest times on Friday & Saturday night you can generally find a table in our spacious venue.

We can't wait to serve you.

Top review

EvaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

This is our only go-to Asian restaurant. Not only the ambient, amazing, and warmth. The food are superbly scrumptuous, fresh, and flavoursome!. The drinks are refreshingly fresh and crafted to perfection. The staff are knowledgeable, attentive, friendly, and efficient.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Melbourne

Explore more Diners' Choice lists