About 4 years ago my Dad suggested that we should try the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. We weren’t in Melbourne for very long on the trip and didn’t have the extra $$ so gave it a miss.
This time round we still didn’t have the extra $$ but decided we’d splurge anyway on our last night in Melbourne. Our friends, Nicole and Brendon decided to join us too.
We could have gone with the 5 course dinner or the 4 course lunch, instead we opted for the slighty less expensive 3 course early dinner, meant for the pre-theatre crowd it suited us just fine.
The historical trams are decked out in plush carpet, velvet upholstery and brass fittings. The booths for four were a bit tight fitting but we never felt uncomfortable.
Three very chirpy staff (chef, maitre d’ and waiter) kept us highly entertained, and hydrated, or well liquored up, might be a better way to put it. (All drinks are included in the price of the meal and they are not stingy on the servings. I don’t think our glasses were ever empty.)
Before the tram left the station we started of with a glass of bubbly each. We switched to wine and beer for dinner. It was all very tasty.
As the tramcar travelled from Melbourne to St Kilda and back we dined on:
Chicken Liver and Cognac Pate (I was the only of one of the 4 of us who actually ate this) and Roasted Red Capsicum Dip with lots of crispbreads and water crackers. Brendon really liked the dip, and informed Nicole that she could recreate it at home. Let me know how that goes Nicole.
For mains we had a choice of Macadamia Chicken with sweet potato mash, baby spinach and macadamia pesto paste or Victorian Farmed Eye Fillet of Beef with potato and herb rosti, seasonal veggies and onion marmalade. The guys both went for the beef, Nicole and I had the chicken. The chicken was really good, perfectly cooked and I could have licked the pesto of the plate, but hubby wouldn’t let me. The boys seemed pretty content with their beef, and there was nothing left on their plates.
All four of us chose the Chocolate Dome with vanilla raspberry syrup and toasted almond flakes for dessert. The other choice was Warm Sticky Date Pudding. The only complaint was there could have been more of it.
We finished off with a glass of port and some chocolates.
Well almost, just at the tram was pulling into the final stop, the waiter called last drinks and convinced hubby that he needed a glass of Bailey’s.
It is very touristy and a little bit corny. But it is something different. The food is good. The drinks are never ending. The service is fast and friendly. It's a great way to see a little bit of Melbourne. If your ever in Melbourne we’d recommended trying it out.