Laura Restaurant

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#4 of 5 Restaurants in Merricks$$$$, European, Contemporary

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

26 reviews

#4 of 5 Restaurants in Merricks

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

Learn More

PRICE RANGE

$276.00 – $527.00

CUISINES

European, Contemporary, Australian

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

features

Location and contact

3649 Frankston-Flinders Rd Pt. Leo Estate, Merricks, Victoria 3916 Australia

+61 3 5989 9011

Improve this listing

Is this an Italian restaurant?

Yes

Unsure

Details

Manage this business?

About

Welcome to Laura, Pt. Leo Estate's most refined expression of dining. Where art meets the sea in a story told through impeccable produce. Named after the 7-metre- tall, cast iron sculpture Laura by Jaume Plensa that looks into the dining space. Laura offers guests an unhurried dining experience that elevates the simple luxuries of time, space, comfort and attention. We focus on the very best ingredients. Each dish and our selection of wines are carefully considered, ensuring your visit is as authentic and beautiful as our surrounds.

PRICE RANGE

$276.00 – $527.00

CUISINES

European, Contemporary, Australian

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Gift Cards Available

Contribute

Write a review

Upload a photo

Ask a question

We perform checks on reviews.

Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews

Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.

When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.

Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.

Learn more about our review moderation.

4.5

26 reviews

Excellent

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Tania d

670 contributions

Exceptional experience!

Jan 2020 • none

We had a beautiful New Year's Eve dinner at Laura and received friendly and knowledgeable service. Our table had lovely views of the sculpture garden and the restaurant is light, airy and well appointed. We have previously had a number of good meals in the main bistro restaurant. This upmarket restaurant serves a 5 course degustation menu and it was truly excellent. Usually we find these are too long, too much and only feature one or two great dishes - on this occasion all were excellent and we were not overly full at the end. They also catered superbly to our dietary needs and for our friends who delighted in a completely superb vegan menu. The appetizers were beautifully presented and the nori tart was a highlight. The mushroom forestery consommé with dumpling was absolutely delicious and the Hawkes Farm potato duchess with cauliflower & shiitake was yummy. For main we had the pan seared snapper with pinenut risotto & honey cabbage - a small serving, but of outstanding freshness and flavour. Then a fresh sorbet as palate cleanser followed by a delicious custard 'melt in your mouth' dessert, and there was a lovely chocolate to finish. We had a wonderful evening and there are many wonderful wine by the glass options as well as a vast wine list. On departure, we also received tickets for complimentary access to the sculpture gardens which are valid for 12 months. Highly recommended for a special occasion.

Written 2 January 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ptleoestate

Hi Tania, we are so glad to hear that you had such an enjoyable dining experience on your recent visit to Pt Leo Estate. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Written 28 March 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Alan

Melbourne12 contributions

Laura, a restaurant that epitomises fine dining.

Jan 2022 • none

We had great memories of our first time at Laura almost 12 months ago for an anniversary celebration and this time was no different. Our overseas friends were with us to celebrate milestone birthdays as well. Lily from Laura made us feel welcomed again as did all the wait staff, who were all extremely friendly and accommodating. The sommelier was very knowledgeable and patiently explained the different wine paired with each dish. Did I mention that the food presentation and taste was absolutely fantastic? Our dining experience was what I was expecting and more. Laura did not let us or our overseas friends down. We all had an unforgettable time and will most certainly make Laura our special celebration place.

Written 1 January 2022

kcowlishaw

Melbourne7 contributions

outstanding high quality at Laura

Feb 2020 • none

We enjoyed the set menu lunch at Laura. It was a five course meal and every course was outstanding from the canapés, prawns duck for main and a super custard based dessert. It was really high quality cuisine- a taste adventure. For such high quality the $145 was real value. Really right up there with the best in Melbourne. Overlooking WesternPort having lunch- fantastic

Written 26 February 2020

ptleoestate

Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are so glad to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience in our fine dining restaurant - Laura. We hope to welcome you back to Pt. Leo Estate soon!

Written 28 March 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

bat056

2 contributions

A great location, but tiny serves of mostly simple food and a pushy waiter!

Feb 2020 • none

My daughter had kindly arranged a splendid corner table for lunch at Laura last Saturday (29th Feb). Four of us were celebrating my birthday and our hopes were high for a wonderful meal. Alas, this was not to be. The first negative sign was our waiter's attempt to tempt us with additional courses that were not mentioned on the 5-course menu. An extra cheese course is printed on the menu, but the oysters and an avocado-based dish were not. Having extra courses printed on a menu is a very old tradition in France, but they would never try to promote more courses that were not printed once we had chosen a fixed-price menu. First point lost. Some of the starters and one of the entrees was tasty, but each entree was tiny. We assumed that the mains would be more generous. Unfortunately not. The main course of snapper served to my daughter was quite possibly the smallest serve of fish I have ever seen! Two more points lost. On the positive side, the view of the sculpture park and the water is superb and our Sommelier was excellent. But the food we received at Laura was well below the quality expected for $145 per head. There are several other gourmet restaurants on the Peninsula who offer tastier creations at more reasonable prices.

Written 6 March 2020

ptleoestate

Hi bat056, we thank you for your feedback however it is such a shame that you didn't have an enjoyable experience with us in Laura. We will forward your review onto our management team who will take this into consideration, as we do pride ourselves on setting such a high standard for the food served here at Pt. Leo Estate. We thank you again for taking the time to provide your feedback and do hope we will see you another time soon.

Written 28 March 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

JEL

Mt Martha3 contributions

Not so fine dining

Jan 2022 • none

There is no doubt that Point Leo Estate is a lovely place to visit. Friendly staff, beautiful location, thoroughly enjoyable sculpture park. However, the restaurant Laura does not live up it’s reputation. I feel that sometimes when people are aware of a reputation that they assume they have to agree that the food was wonderful even if it wasn’t. It wasn’t. The portions were tiny (even by degustation standards) but far more importantly they were bland and uninteresting, repetitive and in some cases texturally unpleasant. So many repeated ingredients (you don’t want it to ever be obvious that a fine dining restaurant is being efficient with food costs). So many “emulsions” which can honestly make your palette feel like it’s coated in slime. And it felt like a pescatarian menu. Given how much great produce there is on the Peninsula, this felt quite restrictive. Peppering the menu with some luxury ingredients, like lobster and caviar, is no remedy to this, especially when often they were lost anyway, instead of celebrated. I paid $95 for lobster that was honestly poorly executed, despite the ‘flambé at the table’ theatrics. Even the wagyu was fine, but we’ve had better. The desserts were repetitive and had some poorly executed elements. The cocktail was bland and in a glass that made it difficult to drink. When the waiter came up afterwards and excitedly asked what our favourite dish was - we struggled to choose. Don’t get me wrong, things were well cooked, I.e. the fish. There is certainly a level of skill, but it didn't translate to vibrant, interesting and delicious food. However, the biggest insult was when I gave this feedback privately to the restaurant via email, no one condescended to contact me, without me following up several times, and even then, all I got was a message on my phone, with no invitation to call back. To me, it’s not a measure of a fine restaurant to see how they treat happy customers but how they treat those who feel that their offering fell short. What I really hope is that some of the Peninsula wineries break away from this same-same degustation trend. I miss the times when you could choose entree, main and dessert from a selection of delicious, refined and exciting dishes, with decent portions, still fine dining that is elevated beyond gastro pub fare, but without so many foams, emulsions and succulents.

Written 4 February 2022

ClassyLad

484 contributions

Beige, boring and bland.

Apr 2022 • friends

Loved the sculpture park. Sadly Laura didn’t reflect the creative spirit of the place. Our group had the $175pp 8-course lunch menu with extra courses. Total cost $2000 for the 5 of us. The majority of courses were tasteless and they all had a beige colour palette. Extremely disappointing. Worst meal on our regional Victorian food tour. When we complained the waiter came back and told us the chef said that they were all ‘tasty’ because he/she said so. Apparently we were the problem. This menu won’t last. Service and wine recommendations were excellent though.

Written 18 April 2022

karenalloyd

Melbourne41 contributions

Outstanding Food as always

Dec 2021 • none

We went to Pt Leo at Christmas. There was a set menu which I was a little nervous of as I really like to have choice. Saying that, there was a choice of starters, mains and desserts. We all chose different meals so I got a good gauge of what was on offer. Everything was excellent. My only complaint is the choice for children. My son (aged 10) had fish, chips and vegetables which was excellent but choice was limited which was a shame. Maybe it’s to discourage people bringing children? Complimentary access to the sculpture park is included with your meal which is an added bonus and it’s a beautiful way to end your meal/special day. Service and knowledge of the menu and wine list is excellent. We actually bought some wine from Pt Leo before we left but strangely, the cost of wine to buy from the shop is vastly more expensive than consuming wine with your meal !

Written 6 February 2022

Jane a

1 contribution

Amazing service and food

May 2021 • family

Now this is what I call service! Had an amazing lunch on a beautiful day here with the fam. Restaurant manager was professional and treated us like special guests! We loved the degustation menu and the food was absolutely tasty. Thanks for a beautiful meal on a weekend where we had a bad experience at Marina Seafood Restaurant in Hastings the day before. Laura at Point Leo - showing what the standard in Melbourne food is really like!! Will return xoxo

Written 11 June 2021

Pt. Leo Estate

Thank you for this wonderful review Jane. We are delighted to have provided you with an incredible dining experience at Laura, elevating the simple luxuries of time, space, comfort and attention. As we focus on the very best ingredients at Laura, each dish and our selection of wines are carefully considered, ensuring your visit is as authentic and beautiful as our surrounds. We thank you for your lovely words which have been passed along to the kitchen, reservations and front of house teams. We look forward to welcoming you back to Pt. Leo Estate again soon.

Written 22 June 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Karina C

Melbourne121 contributions

Fine Dining at its Best

July 2021 • none

A picture perfect view and a delicious 4 course meal was enjoyed by our party of 6. The ambiance was inviting and the friendly knowledgeable staff made our experience all the more perfect - it helps that the views looking out over Port Phillip Bay were stunning on this clear day. The servings are small, however the quality is outstanding , as is the extensive wine list. Thoroughly enjoyed our lunch.

Written 30 July 2021

Pt. Leo Estate

Hi, We thank you for taking the time to leave your lovely feedback. Laura is our love letter to the Mornington Peninsula, and something we are most proud of. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your experience and we hope to welcome you back to Laura soon.

Written 1 December 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Petitegem

Melbourne844 contributions

Sunset with Laura

Dec 2021 • friends

Beautiful scenery with views of the sea and sculpture park . Watching the sunset through your dinner was a highlight of the event . Chose the eight course degustation with the flame lobster . The courses were pretty however I couldn’t give it 5 stars as the condiments used for presentation were a bit similar . The first course used beluga caviar and so did the lobster dish . I must say the servings were a tad small with the wagyu just bite sizes. After a fine dining meal , you needed something more for a long drive back to Melbourne .

Written 29 January 2022

Jeff H

Brighton88 contributions

Simply outstanding in every detail

Mar 2024 • couples

Words cannot adequately describe this amazing venue. Gorgeous food, genuinely friendly and welcoming service, food and drinks specifically tailored to diners needs and a view that is simply breathtaking. Cannot wait to return !!!!

Written 7 March 2024

Evo_and_family

Melbourne40 contributions

A sublime degustation - take your time!

Nov 2021 • none

What a fantastic way to celebrate a milestone birthday. Thank you for an amazing long lunch. From the first course to the last, it was delicate, throughfully produced food. Very clever touches and cooking. The food and wine matching was also sublime. Perfection. We can't wait to be back! Everard and Michelle.

Written 4 November 2021

Pt. Leo Estate

Hi Evarard and Michelle, Thank you for this wonderful review of your dining experience in Laura. As we focus on the very best ingredients in Laura, each dish and our selection of wines are carefully considered, ensuring your visit is as authentic and beautiful as our surrounds. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your experience and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.

Written 1 December 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Thebig

Yarraville11 contributions

Exquisite

Mar 2022 • none

Truly beautiful location on a perfect day. We had the four course and a couple of extras. The food was exquisite and the suggested wine pairing - perfect. Best birthday present ever!! Thanks for you wonderful service- really made the day.

Written 14 March 2022

Scott Edwards

48 contributions

Wow this Restaurant is 5 star plus

Aug 2024 • friends

Our table of 9 were here Saturday for my birthday lunch ,the food and service thanks Cassie and team for an excellent experience.This celebration was one to remember a big Thankyou my 70 birthday will be remembered.

Written 3 September 2024

Warren D

Melbourne14 contributions

Pick of the Peninsular: lots of light and engaging conversation make this top degustation-only stand out.

Mar 2023 • solo

Summary: I ate here last year; the team created such an enjoyable memory I just came back for my birthday, an experience that was again wonderful, diverse, enchantingly enjoyable and a very special memory. Depending on budget, whether you’re looking for an annual indulgence, a once in a decade treat, or a once in a lifetime truly exquisite meal, Laura (or Pt Leo next door) is definitely worth your consideration. What is fine-dining? A plate of food arrives, aromas tease, eyes are seduced, ingredients are described, the heart races, a first bite is taken, tastes are realised, flavours combine, the palate is flooded, emotions soar, adrenaline levels go off the scale... Okay, now eating food isn’t normally as exciting as a Hollywood action movie, however the best degustation menus can be — as over several hours and many courses you get a combination of: top-quality ingredients, cooking techniques, ambience and service. You also get a top-quality price. How much does one have pay to have a few senses completely transported to another world for over three hours? Interestingly I did this recently for only $33 with an IMAX ticket to James Cameron’s second Avatar movie. However, this is a restaurant experience… I see you… then, I eat you. Of course, this is the Mornington Peninsula, where eastern Melburnians come looking for a Brae of various budgets, and without having to cross the Westgate bridge. And a range of budgets there are. This lunch was the most expensive I’ve had. Is a meal worth “this much” money is of course a personal choice, partly dictated by income and occasion uniqueness. Ultimately what you are buying here isn’t food, it is a special, highly unique, and ideally deeply cherished memory. Did I enjoy every course? No. I’ve had some large course degustations were I’ve loved ever course; but here, as with most degustations, I’ve only loved most dishes. What made this experience so memorable? It is several factors working together: the room is bathed in light from floor-to-ceiling via three-storey windows, making this a mini cathedral for fine-dining; there is the detailed on-going engaging, curious and passionate conversations with several members of staff throughout the three hours on what is in each dish and what I thought of it; then there is the obvious wonderful amalgamation of a few flavours in each dish of top-quality local ingredients, carefully prepared and combined. Both degustations I’ve had here were eight courses—twelve by the time all the amuse-bouches and palate cleansers were added. Last year I was very impressed with the “budget” matching drinks option: as all drinks were very enjoyable, no drink tasted cheap, and together they created a fascinating journey around the world of alcoholic drinks: one drink was a cider. The pacing and amount of the drinks was also ideal, I was always able to greatly enjoy and appreciate the food as I was only ever in this light alcoholic haze: as the alcohol of several drinks earlier had wore off by the time the next drink was served. This year the top priced Cellar Pairings was a similarly enjoyable exploration of what tastes the world of wine can produce. The timing of this meal is interesting, as recently I’ve eaten in several other options: two months ago I ate in the 10 Minutes By Tractor restaurant, ironically nearby at only 12 minutes by car; last month I ate in Pt Leo Estate’s fine dining restaurant next door, which I enjoyed so much it inspired this return to Laura; last week I discovered the exemplary Sardine—by ex-head chef of CBD-tower topper Vue de Monde—well worth the four hour drive to Paynesville in Gippsland; plus several times in the past year I’ve greatly enjoyed a Sunday lunch of six dishes served in two courses, for $85 in hot springs neighbour The Cups Estate. So, the Peninsular has several fine-dining options, and for me, Laura is the finest I’ve found.

Written 30 March 2023

Showing results 1-15 of 26

Best nearby

We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.

Best nearby hotels

See all