Steer Dining Room Restaurant

Overview

With an opulent interior of floor-to-ceiling curtains and immaculately presented dining tables, you know from the moment you enter Steer Dining Room that you are in for an extra special dining experience.

The vibe here is New York meets Asia with a menu highlighting a spectacular variety of beef cuts. The team prides itself on fostering close relationships with suppliers — dating back to 2009 — so you know the ingredients on your plate are some of the finest on offer.

First off, seafood dominates the smaller plates. Get around southern rock oysters, grilled squid with fermented chilli and salted egg butter, and caviar service with potato gems and sour cream — for when you're feeling extra bougie.

But if you're coming to Steer Dining Room, it's most likely for the steaks. These bad boys are all of the wagyu variety, split into two sections — classic grain-fed and dry-aged.

These steaks are some of the best in Melbourne and don't come cheap. But god are they worth it. Pair your melt-in-your-mouth steak with stir-fried greens and some hand-cut potato chips, and you have yourself one hell of a meal.

And while this is a palace for red meat lovers, vegetarians aren't totally neglected. There are usually a couple of veggie starters — our favourite being the Jerusalem artichokes with pecorino custard and hazelnuts — and a main on offer. It's not a lot, but it does the job for anyone heading here with their meat-obsessed dining partner.

As expected for any red meat dining destination, the wine list is incredibly impressive with over 60 by the glass and 400 by the bottle. We'd suggest a rich bottle of red Bordeaux such as the 2007 Chateau de Bel-Air to pair with your protein.

Alternatively, let the Steer Dining Room team make all the decadent choices for you by ordering the wagyu degustation ($295 per person). It includes oysters, three wagyu beef starters including the exceptional steak tartare, a trio of steaks and a seasonal dessert.

You can even go for some wine pairings that start at $130 per person and go up to $400 per person, depending on the calibre of vino you're after. Steer Dining is old school and totally luxurious. Best save it for a special occasion.

Images: Tran Nguyen