Overview
When entering Reine & La Rue, it's hard not to be enamoured by the interiors — which won the top gong at Australia's Interior Design Awards in 2024.
The 150-seat restaurant (Reine) boasts tall granite columns, lofty ceilings, ornate neo-gothic details and a showstopping stained glass window right behind one of the bars. It's an absolute beaut.
Whether you're first walking in or just nipping off to the loo, you'll be looking up and around the space, simply gawking at it all — making the waiters constantly remind you not to fall down the many small steps scattered about the space.
But the interiors are but just one part of the Reine & La Rue experience, providing a great backdrop for some truly spectacular food.
Contemporary French fare is the name of the game here, and it can be sampled in a myriad of luxurious ways. First, you can drop by for a next-level sip-and-snack session, pairing a bunch of small bites with champagne and cocktails. This is the way to go for those wanting to dine here without totally blowing the budget.
Alternatively, you can head in and order the enormous seafood platter for two people ($250), and take your time feasting on this alone. Of course, a glass of champagne wouldn't go a miss here, nor would some totally unnecessary but altogether lavish caviar service. Yes, this stuff is fancy.
But that is just the beginning. Rue's menu just goes on and on, stacked with outstanding French dishes. We recommend filling the table with whatever jumps out at you, but highly recommend the silky smooth duck liver parfait with sauternes and rhubarb and blue fin tuna tartare with black olives, anchovy, and house-made pomme gaufrette.
For mains, look no further than the half Loddon Estate duck, which comes with sugar loaf cabbage and jus gras — this has got to be one of Melbourne's finest. Pair it with buttery mashed potatoes with bone marrow and more jus gras for a really decadent feed.
Steaks are of course a huge highlight here as well — especially as the chefs love to take full advantage of the kitchen's woodfired hearth. No less than five top-grade steaks feature here, easily paired with house-made sauces and a stack of sides.
As this is a true French fine-dining gem, dessert is far from overlooked at Reine. You can keep it relatively simple with profiteroles, cheese (wheeled over on the cart) or soft serve Jersey milk ice cream, but we recommend going for the more intricate sweet treats.
The chocolate bavarois with blood orange and basil is a total knockout, and the frozen coconut meringue with fruit vert and honeydew sorbet is the perfect palate cleanser — great for those choosing to feast on the richest French eats on the menu.
For drinks, you can get on the cocktail train, sample spirits and play around with the non-alcoholic options, but you'd be a fool to ignore your sommelier. These guys are pros and clearly love what they're doing. If you have the budget, let them go rogue and pair each course with some next-level drops — you won't be disappointed.
Alternatively, you can sneak around to the small eight-person walk-in-only bar La Rue for a more intimate drinking experience.
However you choose to experience Reine & La Rue, you're in for one hell of a good time. Yes, the size of the bill will astound many, but it's one of those places where you won't feel ripped off by any measure. Spend big, and you'll be rewarded ten-fold.
