We had a great shared lunch here and tried a cheese board, a dip plate and a seafood platter. Everything was tasty and fresh and the portions were generous. We also shared the squid and fish and chips plates and enjoyed them as well We...tried all three wine samplers which include red, white and a mixed offering. Our favourites were the sparkling Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and the Frizzante. The whites complimented the cheese board and seafood platter perfectly. There is an information booklet provided with the wine samplers to describe the wines and provide tips on how to better enjoy the different wine types. Very well done. We also tried the lemon tart, coffee and tea after our meal and then walked the grounds. Everything is well maintained and we enjoyed the landscape, the sunset over the water and the many interesting birds.More

Terrible service. Went with friends on a weekend 30 minutes before closing. Some Staff just wanted to get rid of us. Go elsewhere. lots of better wineries and eateries to go to on the BellarineMore

Staying at Starhaven Retreat recently we had lunch at The Jack Rabbit Restaurant, which was really good, a nice young lady looked after us, the food was excellent and we had a glass of Riesling which was really good and I bought half a dozen...bottle to take with us. Having had a recent total knee replacement, the young lad was good enough to carry it to the car for us. We will be back next time we stay, many thanks.More

A place with a splendid view over Swan Bay. Service is not good - it was a birthday and had to clear our own table. Yes we were in the bistro but everyone else got their table cleared. Food was acceptable but not excellent, managers...attitude needs attention.More

Wonderful staff in meeting and greeting and excellent service at our table and beyond. We ordered the octopus entree and the quail entree. The quail was super tasty and absolutely delicious but the octopus should never have left the kitchen. My husband and I were...sharing and neither of us could cut it and only tasted the thin ends. Very disappointing!! The waitress noticed that we had left most of the octopus and asked if there was anything wrong. We told her that it was way too tough and she took it back to the kitchen. To her credit she came back and said she would not be charging for that entree. I would not have been writing this review had it not been for one of our main meals. My husband ordered the duck and I felt really sorry for him. It was two fillets of duck that looked very unappetising and the rest of the meal looked very dry and dreary. I told him to order some more gravy but he did not want to make a fuss after our entree being sent back. I did not want to make a big deal of it as we were celebrating a significant wedding anniversary and did not want to spoil our day. Very unfortunate if we had just ordered two dishes on the menu that were not up to par but we were disappointed on our special day outMore

Went here to try the wines while having a snack. A friend bought 3 glasses of wine to try; I bought the red wine tasting paddle. The Merlot in the tasting paddle had turned - just after we bought our wines we were told by...a young lady staff member that Jack rabbit was closing and that we shouldn't have been served - closing time was 5.00pm - this was about 10 to 5. I then informed this server that the Merlot had gone off - I wasn't complaining or asking for a refund, just advising her so that they didn't serve it to anyone else. She tipped it out and basically told me that I didn't know my wine and others liked it. I do know my wine and have a substantial cellar and that particular bottle of Merlot had turnedMore

This is still my favourite place on the peninsula. It was too windy to sit outside as requested, so we were given a table by the window with a great view. I chose two entrees rather than a main, and both were delicious, and beautifully...presented. A shared dessert was the perfect finish to lunch. As usual, wait staffer were very efficient, but friendly. Highly recommended!More

I was catching up with my daughter who was staying at St. Leonard's for several days and asked her to arrange somewhere the four of us could have lunch. It was a two hour drive there thanks to the years of never ending road works...that seem to never be completd by the Daniels's Government so not a relaxing drive once coming off the Westgate bridge for the next thirty minutes. Now that's off my chest I was expecing a pub meal, nothing fancy but what a surprise. The restaurant has sensational views and is spacious with tables well set apart, though they need to get adjustable table feet as I noticed not only our table was rocking but others as well which was very annoying to eat from because with every movement the table would rock. Poor attention to detail is very important and not something the customer should pick up, like the neigbouring table surrounded by a few moths on the windows and around them causing her to scream when one fell. The food was delayed, however the table service was higher level than most cafe's and restuarants with the waitress coming to tell us rather than us asking so I was pleased with that. With that said and not knowing how far away the meal would be other than in the next service, we should have been offered a free drink or another bread roll rather than having to ask for a bread roll. The attention to table service could be a little better to top up drinks. What saved the day and worth the over an hour wait for all four of us was the meal. OMG, the meal was to die for. I had lamb loin, two of the party had steak and there was another meal I cannot recall. All of us were impressed but I think none more than I. My comment was I wanted to take the chef home the meal was that good. I cannot remember the last time I experienced a meal of such flavour, texture and tender meat. I left a tip morso because of the excellent meal than anything else. Before leaving I decided to take the minute or two to walk over to the Jack Rabbit cafe for a take-away-coffee for the drive home, now set up to expect an amazing taste sensation. Not only was it an ordinary cappucino where the cup leaked everywhere in the car cup holder and onto myself but the price was stunningly over priced at $5.05 for 180 ml, not even three mouth fulls! I will be coming back to JR retaurant for a meal but will give a wide berth to the JR cafe.More

We love living on the Bellarine with its views, wineries and eateries. The views at JR are wonderful over the vineyards, bay and You Yangs. Today we are in the restaurant area. Situated in the outside area the views and cool breeze was lovely. We...chose a mixture of starters and mains . The menu is varied in meat choices and provided a selection of vegetarian options. Wine selection was also broad covering other local vineyards which was pleasing. Food: The highlights. The tomato consommé was magnificent, crisp and delicate flavours with a refreshing finish. The scollops with pea purée was a combination I have never experienced, it was simply just so beautiful! Meal servings are more than adequate and there is no skimping in this restaurant. Staff were friendly and courteous. Meal delivery and drink service sadly was slow which let them down. A one hour wait between starters and main is just too long I am afraid .More

An extremely popular venue. We arrived mid-afternoon without a reservation. The staff were very good and found us a table outside. The view over Bass Straight was spectacular as was the food and wine.More

Great food, service and views. We had a lovely lunch with friends and would recommend this as a go to on. The bellarine peninsulaMore

This is the first time we have been. What a great place with wide views of the bay , Avalon and Melbourne in the distance. The staff were excellent, friendly, attentive yet did not intrude. A great suggestion for the wine, a light sparkling red....A great balance well done all. The food was excellent and just enough. Pork Belly on-tray with plumb sauce was superb. Mains with crispy Quail (done to perfection crisp, but moist inside) and Snapper with smoked mussels. The lemon sauce and beans was also great. Desert was Panna Cotta and Creme Brule with blueberry ice cream yum. This was reasonably priced a great afternoon with family with lively conversation rising out of the view, food and family.More