I’ve never considered myself particularly enamoured with French cuisine, and certainly did not expect to be enjoying it in Melbourne. However, we received an invitation to dine at what I’ve been told is a very famous and well-loved French restaurant, courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
It was a little surprising that such an upscale fine dining establishment would be located in a small alley across the JLC store in Collins Street. The board displaying the lunch prices also seemed fairly reasonable for a city like Melbourne.
The staff at Philippe Restaurant are all French, but rest assured that they speak English and you won’t have to try your hand at conversing in French. Our server was very professional, lovely, and most importantly, very friendly to our (then eight-month-old) baby.
On that note, I was also quite pleased to find that they not only welcome babies and young children in the restaurant, but also cater for them with high chairs. I was initially quite worried that they would frown upon having a baby, but my worries were unfounded. Very impressive!
As you can see, the restaurant was fairly empty when we first entered as it was not quite lunch time yet. The crowds really started to flock in after noon, and by then every single table was snapped up.
We enjoyed a 3-course lunch menu that was specially catered for JLC. However, I think that these dishes are also part of the regular menu at Philippe Restaurant.
I picked Cured NZ Ora king salmon for my entrée; Charcoal grilled porterhouse 200g for mains, and Two scoops of churned sorbet and ice cream for dessert.
I’ve had my fair share of salmon but this appetiser really blew me away.
For some context, cured NZ Ora King Salmon is a premium dish featuring rich, buttery salmon from New Zealand, cured (often dry-aged or gravlax-style) with salt, sugar, herbs, citrus and spices. This one from Philippe still tasted immensely fresh even after being cured! The intense flavour also burst through with every bite.
Safe to say that I was a bit disappointed that I finished this dish too soon!
The main highlight was nonetheless the porterhouse, served with pommes frites. The steak was well done – not in the rawness, but in the fact that it was very well prepared. I really liked the chargrill flavour, although I did find the meat a wee bit tough.
The best part though? The pommes frites.
I normally find myself struggling to eat the fries served with steak because they either too dry, too oily, or simply too much for me to stomach. However, Philippe got everything right in this dish: addictive, well-salted, and just the right amount so that I could finish everything.
With only 2 courses down you would think I might still be hungry, but I was frankly pretty full and done at this point… until I saw dessert.
I can’t quite remember what the flavours were, but I was really glad I picked sorbet and ice cream over the other options. Each scoop was so refreshing and helped to cleanse my palate – great way to end the delightful meal. My husband ordered the Crème Brûlée, which was actually very delicious, but not as satisfying as my dessert choice. Hah.
I love my share of casual café food, but this amazing French food? I would choose this any day if my wallet ever allows.
What we got was kind of like a sampler of what Philippe has to offer, but consider me thoroughly impressed. If we do travel to Melbourne again in the future, I’m certainly putting this restaurant on my itinerary.
I was most appreciative of the fact that the restaurant warmly welcomed our baby and did not bat an eyelid when we fed her a food pouch, fed her milk, and even when she cried. That could have gotten us the stink-eye at other places, but the staff here (actually, the other customers too) were all very relaxed and accepting of our parenting struggles. It made our dining experience much nicer and a little less stressful, which, as any parent will tell you, can be very rare to have.
If you’re keen on trying this fine dining experience in Melbourne, you can check out their menu here. Most importantly, remember to make a reservation on their website!
DIRECTIONS
Address: 115 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
FAQ: Philippe Restaurant (Melbourne)
Quick answers before you book — tap to expand.
Philippe is located at 115 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. It’s tucked near the Collins Street luxury strip, so it can feel a little “hidden” even though it’s right in the CBD.
Yes — book ahead. It can fill up quickly (especially after noon for lunch), and it’s the kind of place where reserving makes the whole experience smoother.
Many fine dining restaurants also have a credit-card hold and late-cancellation policy, so it’s best to check the booking terms before confirming.
Surprisingly (and happily), yes. They welcome babies and young children, and they have high chairs available.
In the review experience, staff were very kind about typical baby things like milk feeds and food pouches — which makes a huge difference when you’re dining out with a little one.
Think upscale French fine dining with polished service — but not stiff. The team is professional and friendly, and you can enjoy the experience without feeling like you’re walking on eggshells.
If you love seafood starters, the cured Ora King salmon (as featured in the review) is a standout — rich and intensely flavourful.
For mains, the charcoal grilled porterhouse is a classic pick, and the real scene-stealer is the pommes frites (the kind you keep reaching for even when you’re full).
For dessert, a refreshing sorbet/ice cream option is a great palate cleanser, while a crème brûlée is perfect if you’re craving something more indulgent.
If you prefer a calmer dining room, arrive a little earlier. In the review, it was quiet before noon and got much busier after lunch service started properly.
For the most accurate hours (and seasonal changes), check the restaurant’s official site before you go.
Yes. Even if the team is French, you won’t need to speak French to dine here — service is smooth and comfortable for English-speaking guests.
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