The Botanical Hotel

Ph: (03) 9820 7888; 169 Domain Rd, South Yarra 3141 www.thebotanical.com.au

Modern Australian, $$$, ** for Food & Ambience
Open breakfast lunch dinner; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $15 bottle; AE DC BC MC V EFT
Chef Paul Wilson & Stuart McVeigh (6-02-08) Owner Cornerstone Hotels Property Pty Ltd (7-11-07)

Mietta's Review
This new fit out by designers BURO+ and Hecker Phelan, marks an architectural shift in Melbourne's Hotel scene. It is lush, posh to the extreme. Granite, open fireplaces, stainless steel, mirrors, and glass, conspire to create a space that is light filled and luxurious. Crisp and clean surfaces are a refreshing change from Melbourne designer's lean toward arabesque fabrics and recycled materials. The Botanical covers four areas, a bottle shop servicing walk by clientele and diners in the restaurant where British chef Paul Wilson presides, formerly of Radii at the Melbourne Park Hyatt, who has brought a loyal following and his mastery of the grill with him. The Bar, with its own mirror lined entrance from the street to has a small courtyard adjoining, large television screens for sports watching and an open fireplace, all make the beer go down faster. For those who prefer sparkling, The Bubble Bar, its entrance from the bar area, is dimly lit, has low, well-padded banquet seating, large green armchairs, glass tables, and beautiful light fixtures. This drinking section is great for Saturday afternoon drinks, and as dusk settles, the party begins, cigarette smoke and teeny weeny clothes abound. The service, overseen by Erez Gordon is, as one would expect, warm, friendly and knowledgeable.

Other published opinions

The Age John Lethlean, 15-4-2008 Score: 17/20 "The Bot is a cauldron of big flavours, big personalities, big conversations and even bigger egos. It is a loud restaurant, literally and metaphorically, a brassy barometer of conspicuous consumption, silly property values and bull markets. Yet here we are, sitting more or less alone, and voices are tuned to "discreet chat". ... Has the departure of founder and noted networker Chris Lucas, who sold the restaurant last year to a faceless hotels investment group, seen the plug pulled on the famously affluent crowd that packed this restaurant every day for five years too? ... Has the sale made much of a difference to this restaurant? Not that I can tell. Because executive chef Paul Wilson is still here (not that he was actually cooking the night we ate) and Wilson's food is, simply, his own."

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 17/20, Two Hats "For lovers of Paul Wilson's inventive, boldly flavoured food, there's a sense of anticipation in eating at Botanical that rarely goes unfulfilled"

Gourmet Traveller 2008 Australian Restaurant Guide "Everything about the Botanical is big, including the flavours and the sense of generosity behind the always great, sometimes wondrous, food of Paul Wilson and his loyal offsider Sean Donovan"

Herald Sun Bob Hart, 3-03-07 "THE Great British Breakfast is a I wondrous thing. And the breakfasts served at Botanical are for the most part British, and in every sense Great. Executive chef Paul Wilson, one of our finest practitioners of the culinary arts, is a Porn who has stacked his breakfast kitchen with fellow Poms. A wise move, clearly ."

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 17/20 2 Hats "After two years at the top of Melbourne's dining tree. Botanical remains in glorious bloom. The fashionable buzz has subsided to a dull roar (except on Friday and Saturday nights) and there's a steadier focus on food-and service basics. The dining experience is outstanding"

Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide ** "Melbourne's rollicking Botanical has well and truly cemented its position as one of the city's most energetic, innovative modern brasseries. Indeed, it's the hub of affluent South Yarra social life for many, and that can sometimes mean big noise levels and a slightly hectic environment."

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 Two Hats "BOTANICAL is a high-maintenance South Yarra blonde: stylish, popular and noisy. So imagine the surprise of having a night out with her and discovering plenty of substance there, too. The chic, split-level dining room lies between food and drink - one wall wine, the other an open kitchen and between the two is an army of knowledgeable staff to assist in the difficult task of decision-making."

Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide ** "The mark of an inspired chef is the constant development of new dishes and Paul Wilson's menu reflects a restless urge to put new food before his audience. Botanical remains a sassy, informal, wine-focused brasserie playing host to big flavours and and an unpretentious haute rustic style."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004,'Breakfast here is not for the faint-hearted.A wood-roasted Botanical breakfast includes sausage,black pudding,baked beans and poached eggs.Bring a big appetite or a big friend.'

The Foodies Guide 2004, Allan Campion and Michele Curtis,'The Foodies Guide Cupcake Awards 2004-our pick of the top foodie experiences'

SMH GFG 2004,'The look is an opened-out,modern bistro,there's a wine shop at the front and Paul Wilson is now rattling the pans.Dishes run from flounder with wild mushrooms to the classic chateaubriand,and the wines are at bottle-shop prices.'

The Age Good Food Guide 2004-Restaurant of the Year, 2 hats

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004,2 Black Stars, Excellent wine list, 'is noisy,fun,fairly, priced and very satisfying. WIne and service are both treated with requisite importance.'

Herald Sun, Weekend, 31/1/04, Bob Hart,'Melbourne's Greatest Dishes'

Herald Sun, Weekend, 24/1/03, Bob Hart

The Age, 28/12/03, John Lethlean

Herald Sun, citystyle, 2/12/03, Michele Curtis, 'Melbourne's top 10 brekkies'

The Age, Sunday Life, 7/12/03, John Lethlean

The Weekend Australian, 1-2/11/03, Cameron Stewart

The Age, Epicure, 2/9/03, John Lethlean

Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, Dani Valent, 6/7/03

Herald Sun,City Style, For richer,for poorer,17/6/03

Age, Epicure, Restaurants, John Lethlean, 27/5/03, Score 17/20

Herald Sun, city style, Dining Out, 6/5/03, Stephen Downes, Score 17/20

The Sunday Age, The 2003 Rugby World Cup, Ben Canaide

The Age, 22.09.98, John Lethlean

The Age (SundayLife) 16.07.00 eatstreets Carolyn Holbrook