IDES

Loved the spacious tables, it never felt cramped and made the whole experience really comfortable. The six set menu was spot on, with a great mix of bold yet balanced flavours. Every course hit the mark and flowed really well from start to finish. Honestly, not a single miss and I am so impressed and happy to have dined here!

Dining at Ides was less a meal and more a revelation. The sake Shark Bay clams were the clear standout: delicate, balanced, and full of flavour. The beef short rib was incredibly tender and rich, while the toothfish had a unique umami depth that really surprised me. Every dish felt so thoughtful and beautifully executed. A refined dining experience everyone should experience!!

Had such an amazing experience at IDES! Every dish was creative and full of surprises, from cracking open a black shell with a little hammer to the glossy red tart that was almost too pretty to eat. The flavours were spot on, the service was friendly without being over the top, and the whole vibe felt really special. Definitely one of those places you remember long after dinner.

Amazing birthday experience. We had the six course and the drinks pairing menu - it’s worth the money. The wines are chosen to bring out the flavours impeccably. The food was divine. The bathroom has Le Labo soap :) it’s hard to get any more fancy than that

We went for the mid week steak night and had a great meal (an excellent version of steak frites) and a fine wine with it. Cool atmosphere in the restaurant on the bar side of the venue watching people walk by.

A late review, but a must. We had a lovely experience at Ides. There was no menu, as each dish came as a surprise and was explained upon serving. We enjoyed every course, from the presentations to the beautiful flavours. The dining room is small, intimate, with a romantic atmosphere that makes it suitable for date nights or special celebrations. The service was good; the staff were attentive. Overall, we enjoyed our evening here and would recommend the experience.

Went there for Steak night (every Wednesday) - I felt that was really good value and a nice intro to ides. Always wanted to check them out but unsure about committing to the degustation so this was a nice compromise. Drinks were delicious too. Given the popularity of steak night, advice to ask for dessert menu fairly quickly as the table covers were pretty strict. Overall, great option and highly recommended.

I enjoyed the 12 menu very much. Lovely execution on all courses, beautiful presentation and… that Barramundi with the Shitake broth was insanely good. Timely wine pairings and interesting choices - always good to drink something new and delicious. Ides is truly a Melbourne venue! It’s not trying to be anything it’s not, it’s fine food without the artifice of over-explaining each dish and there aren’t any complicated beverage pairings… a nifty wine list covering most appellations and reasonable prices and food that oozes personality and authenticity. It is thoughtful and does not feel over engineered.

I don't even know where to begin with a review for IDES. I've now been twice and firmly believe it's one of the best fine dining options in Melbourne right now. What makes it so great? Well to start with there's Peter Gunn's ever evolving menu, with interesting (but not weird) combinations of flavour and texture on each plate. This is a ($110) tasting menu only experience and you're advised to forget the menu and enjoy the progression of combinations along the way. I'm not a dessert person but on both visits it was the sweet courses which really impressed me the most. The drink matches ($70) are at times surprising, and the floor staff are just as excited to tell you about them as you will be to drink them. They offer the perfect amount of education with the presentation of each match - a fine balance of knowledge and storytelling that will make wine nerds and novices comfortable while creating the opportunity for further discussion. But what sets IDES apart is their service and the effort they put in to creating a truly welcoming, warm and memorable experience for each guest. The floor staff are eager to please, the chefs present courses throughout the night and are happy to stick around for a little chat when not busy, there's birthday candles, familiar "welcome backs" and a friendly farewell at the end of the meal. As others have said, it's like dining in a friend's home... just imagine that your friend has great music and lighting along with a kick-ass kitchen and wine collection.

There is an immediate sense of intimacy as soon as you walk into Peter Gunn's IDES I spy him serving food to people when I walk in but I couldn't stare too long, one of his staff has spotted me and very promptly greeted and seated me. I cant help but notice IDES is a very small restaurant. There is a very neat bar that also serves as Chefs' finishing bench. The restaurants would fit about 40 diners and on a Friday night I visited, it was a full house. Dinner is a set menu of 6 dishes for $110 per head. This includes 4 savoury dishes and followed by 2 sweet dishes. You can have a look at the menu ahead of time or sit back and enjoy the game of 'what comes next' by waiting to see your menu at the very end. The bread and house made peanut butter is probably the best you will ever have. It's almost a salty, savoury peanut butter that just melts in your mouth. To say that it awakens your tastebud is probably a lot to say for peanut butter, but it did. Menu changes regularly at IDES and the dishes we sampled was only finalised minutes before opening on the night we visited. I wont detail all the dishes because they change so regularly but I will share an overall impression. All of the dishes served I found had a sweet note/ finish, and on the other hand the sweets/ desserts are served with balance of saltiness. My fave dishes are the first 3 courses, which gives me the impression that savoury dishes are IDES's strong point along with creativity and warmth. Whilst the 2 sweet dishes met the brief ( one was refreshing and palate cleansing, and the other is sweet, crunchy and creative) I thought that the savoury dishes far outshine the sweets. Talk about warmth. The Chefs prepare, serve and chat with you all night at IDES. I feel like I have walked into Peter Gunn's house and he and his mates are serving us their most precious meals. It felt genuine and welcoming. To compare the experience here at IDES with Attica I think would be unfair. Whilst the warmth and service professionalism is the same, I think IDES offer an intimacy and a laid back atmosphere. It also appeared that creativity is the key here and staff are constantly trying new things. The price range and location makes it a more affordable and accessible dining experience that definitely draws in a bigger range of crowds. You feel that the chefs at IDES would definitely remember you if came back for another meal. which is very special when they are the ones creating all the beautiful dishes. Finishing off the night, chef lit up a sparkly candle on a chocolate cake to mark my birthday and I love his humour and the lovely gesture. I would love to see more tea on the menu, i know its not the common request but being a non wine drinker I always appreciate the option of non-alcoholic meal pairing with tea or other bevs. For you vino lovers, wine pairing is offered and to my amateur eyes the selection looks inviting and delicious. If you do get the pleasure to visit, bottle that peanut butter for me.

Anniversary? Birthday? New job? Ides is the only place you need to go if you're after a fancy dinner to celebrate a special occasion. It truly is a memorable dinner. I was lucky enough to be treated to a dinner at Ides to celebrate my 30th birthday. To sum it up in one word: ZOMG. To sum it up in multiple words: Dinner at Ides is a set menu occasion, not a la carte. There are six courses included for $110 per person, plus an extra dish available for $15 (ours was a dessert, but I believe it changes everyday.) The menu changes daily, so I won't bore you with the details of each item, but I can tell you that each dish is *outstanding* with five savoury dishes and two desserts. Each dish is presented to you by the chefs, which is an incredibly special touch and SOMEHOW the staff overheard it was my birthday and presented me with a piece of cake and sung happy birthday. HOW NICE IS THAT?! The interior is dark, intimate and moody and the service truly is next level. If I can recommend anything it would be to: a.) Book a table, you can't just walk in off the street, and b.) get the extra dish. You won't regret it.

Came here for a cool experience on tasting menu. Had a great experience, the waitress was super friendly and helpful In our choosing of wines. The best was the beef cheek course, amazing tender savory meat. However even with all the hype we were left wondering if something was missing, while we enjoyed the food I wasn't blown away and thinking the food was out of this world . Happy to have tried it, but been there done that kind of night.

I had high hopes for Ides, but ultimately the experience was just not on point for me. Like all restaurants built around tasting menus, some of the challenge is that the food is often just too precious for my tastes. In this case about 60% of the courses we had were delicious and interesting, but the rest just felt like they were filling up space in the meal. The wine list here is focused on 'natural' Australian wine, which at first was intriguing (we drank a couple of bottles), but eventually left me wishing for broader and more international options. The space the restaurant is in is quite small and low key, but totally pleasant. If you are looking for something flashy, keep looking. The service was good, but very casual - and not 100% in a good way.

Gorgeous food, with friendly helpful and knowledgeable staff. The atmosphere is perfect for a long meal - warm but not noisy. The degustation is smart, innovative and every element is given the attention it deserves. Definitely with a visit.