Imbue Food and Wine

Thanks to Imbue, Maribyrnong’s dining scene has been taken to new and unexpected heights. The menu is designed to surprise and delight over perfectly executed dishes that retain your interest from start to finish. 

There was an incredible precision to Head Chef Phong Nguyen's cooking that spoke volumes about his calibre. 

The ambience of Imbue is comfortable and relaxed, providing the perfect canvas for the culinary art. The dining room is marshalled by excellent service staff, led admirably by Rod, who ensures your experience is a memorable one.  

We loved being taken on a delicious journey with Nguyen's tasting menu. The beautifully decadent dish of whipped feta, honeycomb, dukkah and flatbread crisps set the scene of what was to come - simply stunning!

The next course of burrata and beetroot was lovely. This cheese sensation demonstrated that unforgettable dishes can sometimes be very simple. In this instance, dollops of unadulterated burrata simply paired with beetroot and a labne dressing. The sumptuously rich yet sensibly balanced flavours were sensational.

The Tuna Poke served with ponzu, shallots, sesame, rice crackers was next. A wonderful explosion of flavours blending harmoniously to create a bright dish with a perfect savoury-sweet-heat balance.

The Char Grilled Octopus was similarly delicious. The octopus was wonderfully tender, courtesy of being cooked to perfection and burst with umami.

For mains, a hearty array of Wagyu Porterhouse alongside the crispiest patatas bravas and refreshing zucchini pasta concluded the savoury courses on a high. Like most high-quality cuts, it was best cooked rare to medium. Displaying a mastery in the manner the steak were cooked, the centrepiece steak was cooked perfectly from end to end. 

For dessert, the vanilla pannacotta served with compote, freeze dried raspberry, was perfection. Silky smooth - just barely holding its shape, it was quivering on the plate. A simple traditional dessert that was well executed and thoroughly enjoyable.

Imbue is an extremely capable restaurant that offers a wonderful dining experience. We left spellbound - from the amazingly tender steak to the enticing tuna poke. Each course was well thought out, complex, delightfully balanced and impeccably executed.

Location: 2/419 Gordon Street, Maribyrnong
Phone: 03 9318 8866
Link: http://www.imbuefoodandwine.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian