Bistro Guillaume
Riverside at Crown
8 Whiteman St
Southbank, Melbourne
Guillaume Brahimi is a name synonymous with good food in Australia. His restaurants have delighted palates for years now and continue to do this today. Bistro Guillaume is the Melbourne venture that keeps delivering to his high standards. Having one chefs hat since 2012 is testament to that. We couldn’t resist visiting to sample their fare.
Starting with some freshly baked bread is so French and a nice way to get the appetite going. We do this all the time when in France - it’s a lovely habit that we could easily get used to. Some house churned butter and a bit of rock salt went so nicely too.
The lovely twice baked soufflé with Roquefort sauce was a wonderful starter. The light fluffy soufflé melted in the mouth. The sauce was simply amazing too. It was quite substantial as well even though the soufflé itself was so delicate.
Our other starter of chicken liver parfait was a winner as well. The nice pile of cornichons and toasted brioche went perfectly. Despite how delicate this dish was, like our other entrée it was still quite substantial too.
The main course of Berkshire pork was perfectly cooked with tender meat topped with a lovely crispy layer of crackling. This meaty treat was served with choucroute - a type of cabbage dish a bit like sauerkraut and sauce charcutier. It was a rich hearty meal with big bold flavours.
Our other main course was the confit Aylesbury Duck served with Toulouse sausage and haricot beans. This was another hearty meal in both quantity and ingredients - a big appetite dish.
The restaurant itself has been very nicely presented. The décor is charming with a definite French feel to the place, yet sitting nicely in its Melbourne riverside location.
Bistro Guillaume has an outstanding reputation - and it is well deserved. The food and service were excellent and it is such a pretty spot too. This is a place to revisit repeatedly for great experiences.