Restaurant Review: Maze Melbourne

Crown Metropol is the new flagship hotel of the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne and home to new Gordon Ramsay restaurant ‘maze’ this long awaited opening has been rumored for a few years but it was unsure which Australian city would play host to the new business venture. Two years after the first announcement made in 2008 maze’s grand opening was this week. Hand picked by Gordon himself the Head Chef Josh Emett delivers a experience which is unique to compliment the local produce.

Maze is situated on the 1st floor facing out toward Spencer St. the restaurant takes up ½ the floor with spacious bar and two dinning rooms, the first being maze and adjacent maze grill.

The floor plan is very spacious and the décor is classy and modern. The high walls opposite the silken drawn windows feature branches with birds perching overlooking the dinning room. During service the lights are dimmed for a beautiful and romantic ambience.

The menu comprises of 16 items both heavy and light dishes. The idea is to mix and match to create your own specialized experience. There’s also a 7 course chef’s menu available and a separate desert menu with 8 items.

The floor felt short of staff, there was no fuss and attentiveness you would expect to receive from a restaurant with the look and feel of maze. If you are a bread fan the in house baked bread is amazing, perfectly fluffy inside with a light crunchy crust outside it’s served with seaweed butter and Melbourne sea salt.

The menu is cheap with nothing over $26. we found the servings small but adequate, the food is simple and for everyone good clean flavours developed around the produce from Australia.

Queensland mud crab,
pressed watermelon, pickled ginger, rock melon sorbet


Applewood smoked kingfish,
fennel purée, pickled celery, globe artichoke, finger limes

 Jerusalem artichoke velouté,
southern rock lobster and green beans

Seared yellow fin tuna,
white radish, yuzu, enoki mushrooms, black garlic

Seared leg of rabbit,
jicama, green olive, almond and brown butter vinaigrette

Citrus cured king salmon,
soy salt, “succotash”, bok choi, white asparagus

Poussin “coq au vin”,
savoy cabbage, smoked bacon

Chocolate cremeaux and banana bread,
salted macadamia nuts, pearl barley ice cream

Hot chocolate and violet fondant,
salted almond ice cream

Strawberry Ice Cream coated in White Chocolate petits fours

I expected more from Gordon Ramsay's first Australian Restaurant, but I was happy and would definitely come back again to try the rest of the dishes. My most memorable dish of the night was definitely the desert! the fondant was perfectly cooked with the chocolate just oozing out at the lightest touch of the spoon.

Address: 8 Whiteman St, Southbank, VIC 3006
Reservation: 03 92928300
Menu: Maze Melbourne Menu
Website: http://www.gordonramsay.com/mazemelbourne/