Eleonore's Restaurant

42 Melba Highway 

Yering, VIC 3770

First impressions of a restaurant normally sets the tone for the rest of the evening. Upon arriving at Chateau Yering to dine at the highly rated Eleonore's we were shown to the drawing room prior to the dining room to have an apertif. The cosy, relaxed yesteryear drawing room seated in antique chairs by the fire drinking champagne definitely set a very nice tone for the evening.

While we could have sat there all night enjoying the fire, we moved to the dining room which again is antithesis of the modern winery dining room. Tables are well spaced with good quality tablecloths, cutlery and very comfortable chairs. In fact the only thing that isn't from the mid 1800's is the menu which is by all standard very modern.

There was a cute little amuse bouche to start the evening and it wasn't too long before the entree of Roasted Squab, porcini, chestnut, fig, toasted grains, spiced jus arrived. Overall it was a pleasant dish, nice flavour combinations, the squab was nice but felt there could have been a bit more, especially when I was looking over at the Prawns my wife was enjoying. 

Fortunately the next course more than made up for it. The Char-Grilled Wagyu Jerusalem artichoke, confit winter vegetables, Perigord jus was an absolute cracker. I normally refrain from steak at a restaurant like this, but wagyu paired with Perigord jus was just too hard to resist. The wagyu was up there with the best I have had in Australia and the jus was simply magic. Would order this again in a heartbeat.

The final course of Devil’s Chocolate Cake caramel sauce, cashew short bread, earl grey marshmallow, cherry sorbet was possibly more style over substance. The dish looked amazing and there were some great flavours, but the chocolate cake itself was a bit dry and crusty, I think putting Devil in the title made me think Hot and oozy which sadly it wasn't. It was enjoyable, but not quite amazing.

Post dinner we enjoyed a final drink in the drawing room as we waited for one of two taxi's in the Yarra Valley to take us back to our hotel. I would definitely return to Eleonore's, despite a couple of niggly things it is a great fine dining experience and isn't too exorbitant at $98 for 3 courses. Everything you want from a fine dining country restaurant.

Winning in the country