San Telmo restaurant

Good Argentinian inspired experience. Native flavours well preserved. Nice ambience and buzzing with food lovers. The Kigfish Ceviche was delightful with perfect balance of sourness creamy and punchy flavours. The chapa brass to go with was so soft and flavoursome. Great to wipe off the plate with. Provoleta was good with well aged taste in the cheese and the tomato salsa went really well with it. The lamb rump was well cooked with a great char on it. Huge flame grilled bbq you can tell. The pollo was tender but could be a bit more juicier. The broth was flavourful. Overall taste was decent.....staff was friendly and a good list of local and mendoza valley wines.

As someone who deeply loves Argentinian culture and food, and having just returned from Argentina, I was craving that unmistakable parrilla flavor — the smoky aroma, the perfectly seasoned meat, the simple but soulful sides. Naturally, I decided to try the highest-rated Argentinian restaurant in Melbourne. I booked a kitchen table, hoping to sit close to the grill and feel that lively, open-fire energy. Instead, I was seated at a window table facing outside, right next to the front door. When I confirmed that my reservation was for kitchen seating, I was told that the window and wall seats are also considered “near the kitchen.” I was also informed that the seats directly facing the grill were fully booked — although several were empty when I left. I was later offered bar seating near the back door and close to the bathroom. The staffs were friendly, and the menu certainly looked Argentinian. But unfortunately, the food did not deliver the experience I was hoping for. Everything missed the mark except for the Mexican-style beef tartare. The morcilla was dry. The beef lacked structure and depth. The salad was even oilier than the meat — and when I asked for some vinegar to balance it, I was told that wasn’t possible (what!?) I left still missing Argentina.

This has to be one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in a while. From the moment we arrived, the experience was outstanding. Special mention to Mitch, our server, who truly elevated the evening. He was efficient, attentive, and incredibly courteous—everything was topped up before we even had to ask. His professionalism and friendly manner made the experience even more memorable. The food was just as impressive as the service. We opted for the set menu, which was a great choice as it allowed us to sample a variety of dishes and really experience what the kitchen has to offer. The steak was cooked to absolute perfection, exactly as requested—tender, juicy, and full of flavour. The eggplant dip was a standout and deserves a special mention; without a doubt, it’s the best eggplant dip I’ve ever had. The ceviche was equally memorable—beautifully fresh, perfectly balanced, and bursting with flavour. Overall, it was an outstanding dining experience from start to finish. Everything came together seamlessly, and we left thoroughly impressed. We’ll definitely be back.

Unfortunately led astray by Google and TripAdvisor reviews where this place is with a much higher review than Yelp. Great ambiance and popping spot on a Friday night for dinner, but sadly disappointing food and drink. Service and staff were only saving grace. Corn, onion, and Mozzarella empanadas tasty to start, but then fried broccoli was too heavily battered and lacking much character. Was hoping for maybe tempura or pan fried vegetables that would be more fresh, but alas it was far too heavy. $130 AUD on the Ojo de Bife Ribeye was sadly a lost bet as it was certainly not worth the cost. Cooked pretty well with good external char flavor but the cut of beef was not nearly tender enough at that price point when cooked to medium. The standard accompanying fresh salsa and chimichurri were also not nearly vibrant enough to save it with both being relatively muted in flavor and freshness. The carrots and potatoes as sides were both excellent. Finally the drinks were just ok as well. The Pisco sour was tasty and made well, the Jardin Botanico was the best of the lot with interesting flavors and refreshing, but then the El Brasero was a disappointing old fashioned. The Brasero was far too sweet (and I like sweeter old fashioneds typically), and without enough agave and smoky flavor coming through. All in all if a friend booked this spot I wouldn't make a fuss, but I would not seek it out or recommend it at the cost. Perhaps the even higher priced Wagyu and finer cuts might be different, but I can't say I'd take that chance for the cost. Fun evening spot for drinks and company, with excellent waitstaff and friendly atmosphere where food unfortunately missed the mark.

We ordered the grilled ocean trout. It was super fresh and so soft, absolutely loved it. The skin was perfectly crispy, which made it even better. The side salad was a nice surprise too, really refreshing with that orange and honey dressing on top. We also tried the grilled king prawns, and wow, they were superb! The chili seasoning gave it such a good kick, and the texture of the prawns was spot on. For the goat cheese carrots, the carrots themselves were naturally sweet and delicious, but personally, I didn’t enjoy the goat cheese at the bottom as much. The only downside was the wait time. It felt a bit too long for the food to come out. But once it arrived, everything tasted amazing, so it was worth the wait!

Outstanding from start to finish. Exceptional food, faultless service and a buzzing atmosphere that feels like a proper night out, not just a meal. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every cent. Special mention to our waitress, Bridgette, who was genuinely fantastic — attentive, warm and made the whole experience even better. One of those places you leave already planning your return.

The rib eye steak is the best and a must-try. Lovely environment, we did the counter seating and loved seeing all the actions of the kitchen. The food were all fantastic, also enjoyed the wine.

For a steakhouse and for the price point, the steak was extremely disappointing. We might have just been unlucky, but it was extremely chewy. The best thing about the steak was the chimichurri that came with it. That said, the ceviche was easily the standout - incredibly fresh and served with a beautiful leche de tigre, which is one of my personal favourites when it comes to ceviche. We also really enjoyed the carrots and the tartare. The carrots were naturally sweet, served on a bed of goat’s cheese and finished with hazelnut crumb - a textural dream and so, so delicious. I’m not usually big on desserts, but the chocotorta was excellent: not overly sweet, with great textural contrast from the crumbly layers, dulce de leche mascarpone, and the pistachio and berries on top. Overall, the starters, sides, and dessert far outshone the main, which speaks volumes… I’d visit again, just not for the steak. Service was excellent, so shoutout to our waitress.