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MELBOURNE | Melba Restaurant at The Langham Hotel in Southbank (named after famous opera performer Dame Nellie Melba) is one of the Southbank’s signature restaurants. The spectacular variety of cuisine is created using fresh harvest from Victoria’s farmlands and the Tasman Sea.
It is fair to say that the infamous Melba buffet is as much about the experience as the food. Customers are given the opportunity to indulge in a unique dining experience, which fuses theatre and culinary creativity with quality food. Diners are invited to watch as experienced chefs cook everything from Char Grilled Wagyu steak and Grilled lamb cutlets just the way you like them to handmade sushi and sashimi.
One of my favourite cuisines of the evening came from the Asian Pancake Station, where tender, five-spiced roasted duck is rolled into pancakes right in front of you, topped with cucumber and hoisin sauce. I was also immensely impressed with the Japanese station, where I chose a variety of fresh sushi and sashimi, with options including salmon with avocado and tempura prawn sushi and tuna and king fish sashimi. Moreover, Melba offers an extensive fresh seafood selection of the fisherman’s catch of the day, ranging from chilled oysters and king prawns to blue swimmer crab and green lip muscles.
Drawn in by the incredible aroma, I couldn’t leave Melba without sampling something from the Tandoori Oven and Spice Kitchen. I went for the incredibly tender and delicious Lamb Korma, which I paired with pilau rice. The curry provided the perfect mixture between creamy and subtly spicy. I followed this with a couple of pieces from the Asian Wok and Clay Pot Station, choosing Singapore fried noodles and Vegetable dumplings. The fusion of flavours was delicious and authentic.
If none of the dishes I tasted take your fancy, there are plenty more options. The decadent Rotisserie Carving Station offers everything from free-range pork and prime rib of lamb to corn fed chicken and roast and steamed vegetables. If you’re feeling healthy, the diverse selection of meats can be paired with a range of salads, such as organic couscous and puy lentils, buffalo mozzarella and baby beetroot with aged balsamic. If you are looking for more of an Italian twist, the Pasta Counter serves Pumpkin gnocchi, Black truffle ravioli and Squid ink linguini.
One of the highlights of the Melba dining experience for me is the dessert buffet. As someone with a sweet tooth, I was instantly drawn in by the spectacular Lindt chocolate fountain. Guaranteed to satisfy any sweet craving, desserts include mini cupcakes topped with Maltesers and raspberries, chocolate éclairs, carrot cakes macaroons and strawberry tarts. The impressive dessert selection can be paired with a wide range of seasonal fresh fruit and Belgium chocolate and vanilla ice cream. And if that isn’t enough, you can further enhance your DIY dessert by adding treats from the popular Cadbury candy buffet.
There is no doubt something for everyone at the Melba buffet. By far the most difficult part of the evening is choosing between such a wide variety of delicious cuisines! Normally buffets are things to run away from but that’s not the case here. I would highly recommend this restaurant for an evening of indulgence, whilst overlooking spectacular views of the beautiful Southbank. Melba provides the perfect choice for a special occasion or celebration with friends and family, or simply an excuse to treat yourself!
Melba Restaurant
The Langham Hotel
1 Southgate Avenue
Southbank
Victoria 3006
Australia
Telephone: 1800 641 107
E-mail: n/a
Website: http://www.melbarestaurant.com.au/
Open
Mon – Sun: 6:30pm to 11:00pm