Rightfully a Melbourne institution. Five plus stars for the menu, service and atmosphere.
We had lunch today which was excellent, but would like to go back in the evening because I feel that the night time feel will be different. But whenever, this is something really good.
Our choices included the warm sourdough, gnocchi fritto, anchovy toast with peppers, grilled calamari which was really special and something different; and, the centrepiece was the 900g t-bone with potatoes with sauce gribiche, and white cucumber buttermilk and mint, that was really refreshing.
As you would expect, great wines by the glass.
Dessert standout was the dark chocolate, caramel cream with a lovely Jersey milk gelato…very very nice and looked great! The caramelised brioche with almond milk and Meyer lemon ran second but was also worth a look.
Great lunch, no negatives and you get what you pay for, special.
Thank-you.
Martin G · 2026-02-11
It’s one of our best meals in Melbourne and we had a great time at Gimlet.
We started off well with old fashion cocktail and Jack, our service staff + bartender, has been very welcoming and attentive towards our dining experience. Special shout out to Jack who made our lunch very enjoyable.
The oysters and scallops were alright (not the best we had tried but good enough). But we hit the right main dish with the lobster in Saffron rice. The rice was well flavoured with the lobster jus and the fresh juicy lobster paired very well with their homemade sauce. Excellent choice and the most expensive dish didn’t disappoint.
Finally, I had to say that the meal ended on the right note with the dark chocolate, caramel cream, jersey milk gelato - one of the best desserts I had tried in my life (highly recommended).
Gimlet is always packed and busy. Do make advance booking if you could. We walk in two times to be able to get a chance to dine here on a weekday lunch.
Lee Wayne · 2025-12-30
brought my mother to Gimlet for her birthday lunch and I don’t think we could have imagined it to be any better.
i would like to applaud the wonderful service provided by the gentleman who looked after us. he was polite, attentive and certainly accommodating for such a special occasion. service was seamless, and wow! we felt right at home.
food was spectacularly elegant. chicken was extremely juicy and packed with flavour, scallops were fresh, and the crackers accompanying the oysters were absolutely wonderful. great recommendations on our server’s end!
Gimlet was the experience that everyone had raved about - we are delighted that we paid you a visit while in Melbourne. everything was great, and thank you for making my mother’s birthday an extremely special and memorable one.
the flâner · 2026-01-10
such an impressive place, beautiful ambience and the staff were very attentive!! all the food was delicious, but the standouts were definitely the dry-aged duck, t bone steak and the calamari. personally i also loved the mango green tea mocktail (and the fries lol)
definitely lived up to expectations!
Charlotte · 2026-02-07
Here’s your updated five-star review for Gimlet, now with the booking tip included:
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We had the seasonal menu at Gimlet and it was exceptional. Every course was beautifully composed and full of flavour, from the raw tuna and whiting escabeche to the Gippsland beef tenderloin and the dark chocolate dessert. The service was polished but relaxed, and the space itself is stunning.
Every table was taken when we visited, so definitely book well in advance - weeks ahead, if not months. It’s one of those places where everything just works. Easily one of the best dining experiences in Melbourne.
Ben Adams · 2026-01-09