Muse Restaurant

Service 10/10 - servers and sommeliers alike were very proactive and attentive. Drinks 10/10 - Absolutely delicious. The best espresso martini I've ever had in my life and incredible coffee + wine. Ambience 10/10 - lovely open wooden fireplace Food was unfortunately a big big letdown! Although dishes were well presented, we found that most of them had lackluster flavours. The fish courses were delicate and refined, and I enjoyed the scotch egg, but in general we found the other dishes to be average. For a fine dining degustation at this price we would also assume we would have a main course with some form of red or white meat, and we felt unsatisfied with the mushroom main that we were served. No one on our table finished that particular dish. It felt like a missed opportunity to showcase local livestock produce. I can't say I left feeling full and satisfied. I'm torn about this place because absolutely everything except the food was perfection. If there was a bar option I'd love to return for a drink but with the food at its current standard, I was left disappointed and don't think I will be back.

The degustation at Muse Restaurant is fantastic. Deserving of their chefs hats. Be sure to add their signature coconut dessert! Amazing. And if dining on the weekend, the scotch eggs need to be added too. Also really delicious. A trip to Hunter Valley is a good reason to indulge in wonderful local produce, and Muse didn’t disappoint.

The Muse Restaurant was absolutely beautiful! The service was incredible! All of the staff were extremely friendly. Every dish was absolutely Devine! Adding the truffle is a must! 😍 Cannot wait to come back here!

Wow! We have just finished the annual Muse Epic lunch (paired with superb Hungerford Hill wines). This was our first venture to Muse but not our last. Troy Rhoades-Brown and staff created a memorable event. The food is 5 stars+. Creative, imaginative, quality produce, artistic plating. Great service and intelligent wine pairing. Feeling very happy.

Competent service stuff, extensive wine list, nice fine dining vibe but can't say the food is amazing. It was not a memorable and definetely recommended tasting menu for me. One dish too salty, coconut too creamy, too much tarragon, pasta lost in the sauce; It's 'ok' overall with the wine, (the chicken dish was not🧘‍♀️) and it looks like its one of the most popular places in Hunter Valley. Again, not my favorite at all. But staff was amazing🙏🏻💟

Excellent evening out, with mostly great food. We are not often in the area but try to go once a year. So we went for the full package, including the BIG wine addition. We had a reservation for 7.30 but had to change our arrival time and were told to show up at 6 PM. Well, that was the time that they open the doors... a bit embarrassing to wait with several customers outside as a bunch of eager Black Friday shoppers until 'the person comes out, opens the doors, and lets you in'. Advice... open de doors earlier and have a hang out area where early arriving persons can have a apéritif before going to the table. Anyway, that said, it was a good evening. Our waiter was funny, entertaining and knowledgeable. Food came at a good pace and was overall very good to amazing. The only thing we were a bit disappointed about was the wine. We went for the top (all stars?) which is about 195 $ a head, but coming from Europe, if these are the 'all stars' from the region, they is quite some space for improvement. Don't get me wrong, some are amazing, but others are okay going towards mediocre and should not be in that list. Anyway, it was a good evening and we will definitely come back in the future.

Muse restaurant is the pinnacle of fine dining in the Hunter Valley. With a well-earned and consistent reputation for maintaining 2 Chef Hats over the years, it sets the standard for culinary excellence in the region. From the moment you step in, the exceptional service makes you feel warmly welcomed and completely cared for. The attention to detail from both staff and chef-owner Troy ensures that every diner has a truly memorable experience. The food is nothing short of extraordinary-every dish is a perfect balance of innovation and flavour, celebrating seasonal and local ingredients. If you are in the Hunter Valley, dining at Muse is not just recommended - IT'S a MUST. Whether for a special occasion or simply to indulge, it's promises an unforgettable gastronomic experience - Five Stars! Thank you, Muse team, we will definitely be back.

We recently enjoyed a 5-course dinner at this charming spot, and overall, it was a lovely experience. The food was excellent—refined but not fussy, with thoughtful flavors that didn’t try too hard to impress. Each course felt intentional and well-prepared, showcasing quality ingredients and a steady hand in the kitchen. The real standout, though, was the service. From the moment we walked in, the staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about our experience. The ambiance added to the experience—a crackling fireplace gave the space a relaxed, welcoming vibe, perfect for a slow evening. That said, the pacing of the meal left a bit to be desired. It took about 2.5 hours for just the two of us to get through all five courses, which felt a little long, especially when there were noticeable gaps between dishes. While it gave us time to savor the atmosphere, a slightly quicker tempo would’ve helped balance the evening better. All in all, this is a great spot for a relaxed, intimate meal—just be prepared to linger.

Went here based on previous reviews. I wasn't disappointed! Thi place served up fantastic courses of chicken, duck, venison and pork. Every mouthful of food was incredibly delicious! The wine recommended was absolutely amazing. Also, given the somewhat dated exterior of the restaurant, the interior was superbly designed and laid out. The on the house starter also tipped me over the edge to a perfect score. These people run a seriously tight ship, with perfect customer service. I'm very impressed, and will 100% come back to Muse on my next visit to the Hunter!

The best restaurant in the Hunter Valley. Hands down you wont find a better place. Because of that, book! Don't try just rocking up, you won't find a place. Minimum two course order, it is $75 a head. Or you can pay $120 and get the taster. Either way all is good! Each meal is better than the last, you won't be disappointed. From the noodles in sake cream to the 70 hour slow cooked steak, it is all good. You will be sharing and enjoying each dish. If you get the taster, they will also give you wine for each meal. The service here is also nothing less than amazing. But you wouldn't expect any different. If you haven't got from this review, I love this place! I come here anytime I am in the Hunter, and every time I have never been disappointed. So come a long, and come with an empty stomach.

I had one of the best fine dining experiences here at Muse Restaurant. There are so many things I love about this place - 1) Layout - Love the high ceiling with floor-to-ceiling windows that bring ample light into the restaurant. The tables are not too close or too far apart from one another. And love love love the open kitchen area (knowing that it is going to be an expensive meal, it makes me feel better seeing chefs hard at work, hah) 2) Service - The waitress is very knowledgable about the food as well as the wine menu. When she needs to interrupt, she does not do it abruptly. 3) Food - Blue Eye Trevalla (main course) : Highly recommended ! Fish + a party of mushrooms (4 different kinds to be precise) was a bliss. Mandagery Creek Venison (main course): Cooked perfectly, medium rare. Juicy and yummy Potato Puree (side) - MUST TRY ! It has to be the smoothest puree you ever had ! Nitro White Chocolate Ice Cream (desserts) - Very good, did not have the liquid nitrogen after taste. Two courses are $75 per person while three courses are $95 per person. Before the first course is served, there is a complimentary palate cleanser - Pumpkin skin with goat cheese and some spices. It's not my favourite as the goat cheese was a little overpowering, but interesting flavours. There is also a complimentary dessert of raspberry cube coated with coconut shavings and chocolate macaroon. I did not like the raspberry cube either...but that's just me. I will definitely go back the next time I visit Hunter Valley :)

Must go! Must try. You will leave satiated and with more knowledge of pairing wines with your foods! We were visiting from the states and enjoyed the 4 course with pairings and our server and sommelier did not disappoint! With food harvested local and Asian inspiration each dish surpassed expectations! Make your reservation and go! It is an experience you will not forget!

I was recommended by a client of mine to try Muse and I can say it was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. From the moment my party of four arrived the door was enthusiastically opened and the welcome was warm and genuine. The staff were all very passionate about food and knew how to serve, an absolutely beautiful open fire place roared all night and I haven't even started with the food. The food at Muse is a master stroke, visually I didn't want to destroy the plated art that was displayed in front of me but once I did the reward was instant and grew in complexity with every direction I followed on my plate! Each dish was a huge talking point with my party of four and we are all very fussy but all agreed that Muse was one of the best overall dining experiences we have all ever had. Thank you Muse for restoring our belief in such a holistically satisfying food extravaganza!

Definitely one of the gems of Hunter Valley! I found the cuisine modern and the atmosphere was elegantly highlighted by the beautiful views and natural lighting. I decided to splurge and got the tasting menu and I was not disappointed. Well balanced flavors with every dish and stunning presentation as well. Be prepared to block off a good chunk of time (2-3 hours) if you are going for the tasting menu!

We had the degustation menu over easter long weekend. This restaurant was absolutely divine and was the highlight of our trip. Came here for dinner. With no expectations , the food was really delicious, very creative. If you're a foodie , would definitely recommend you give the degustation menu a go. The highlight was the muse coconut dessert- OMG have had so many desserts in my lifetime but absolutely love the texture , the concept , taste. It was a great ending to the meal. The chef has done well with the menu enticing all senses starting light on the palate to a warm main and working up towards a great finale , the portion sizes were just right so that you're not left hungry but also not overly sick that you don't enjoy the food. The service was fantastic and the ambience was great. We really loved this place.

Totally a 5 Startrack experience, amazing food, drink and excellent service, thanks guys

Nothing short of Stunning! Went in with a friend for dinner and wanted to make a night of it. We went with the 10 course Chef's choice menu and worked our way thru a few different wines by the glass from their extensive list. First of all, the space itself is incredible. high ceilings, soft lighting, huge windows and an open kitchen plan so you can see the chefs at work. Tables are also well spaced allowing privacy for your table. The food is exquisite. Every single dish is prepared perfectly and presented beautifully. Each dish had its own wow factor and each course just got better and better. Part of our chef selection included the scallops with the pickled watermelon, beetroot and goats cheese, the chicken oysters and the chicken breast with sweet corn and puffed rice plus a few more dishes all of them leading to the restaurants signature dish - The Muse Coconut. I've always claimed to not have been a fan of coconut but this dish has turned things around. Unbelievably amazing and I can't wait to get back to have it again!! The staff were friendly, professional and had an amazing knowledge and understanding of the menu and the wine list. Service was discreet and consistently 5 star. not only our waitress, but every single member of staff from being greeted at the door to anyone walking past made eye contact, smiled and acknowledged us. I could go on and on.. short story is, there is nothing I could fault about my experience here. It's made me ridiculously happy to find a place that excels at every level of hospitality and food service. you absolutely must visit.

We weren't blown away by this place. The menu wasn't all that inspiring, in our opinion, and my wife and I typically order two entrees (starters) and share a main course item; we often find meals to be too large and rich and like to balance our calorie intake with wine. This menu was restrictive in that there was a per person minimum of $75 for two items and the wagu beef had an up charge of $25. My wife had two entrees and I the wagu beef, which I found tough, and we shared a desert which made up our 4 items and with a $28 glass of wine for me we got out of there for just over $200. Value wasn't there, wagu beef wasn't up to standard a and for us and an inflexible menu priced on a per person minimum scores this restaurant a 3/5.

Outstanding. A four course meal with a choice of second third and desert and it is possible to add a cheese platter (deconstructed). The muse coconut desert is simply amazing.

Great peanut brittle sundae.good burger, ok risotto, good kid's pasta. Good service

Okay. I rarely go to fine dining (it was my first infact) but man o man these guys got me into eating more expensive food now! I had the set menu ($75): lightly pan seared fresh sea scallops as an entre and a delicious crispy skin trout with various strange condiments that worked delightly for my taste buds. It was divine not only in presentation but in taste and aroma. A top notch restaurant priced reasonably for those who enjoy spoiling themselves. I could understand why it was last year's winner for NSW's best regional restaurant. I organised a group outting of about 25 to the venue and with a private room, we all praise the staff for their exception service (they were waiting patiently outside before we arrived!), the detail and research that went into the meals, and the stunning architecture (both interior and exterior) despite the waiter accidentally spilling drinks at my friend (they were professional cleaning it up though!). Overall, a pleasant experience which nicely concluded our weekend trip to the Hunter Valley.