Given the recent ranking in Gourmet Traveller’s top restaurants list it will come as no surprise to hear my friends and I had an amazing meal here. I’m not a food critic so I don’t have all the right phrases for how amazing this food...was. Suffice to say that every mouthful had the perfect combination of flavours and I may have moaned out loud once or twice. We had a mix of dishes between the three of us and there was nothing I didn’t enjoy, but you absolutely have to try the rice and the tacos. The dessert was especially fun, it’s not often fish is served with chocolate (check it out, you won’t be disappointed). Aside from the food, the ambiance is relaxed, a little funky, and really inviting. And the staff were all absolutely lovely. A special shout out to Lex who made us feel so welcome when we arrived and patiently talked us through everything. I believe it’ll take a while to get in here (my friend had been trying for months) so book ahead!More

I wish I could give higher than 5 out of 5! My partner and I just had the most delicious meal at Serai. Every dish was unique and SO full of flavour. A beautiful interpretation of Filipino food. We both agreed that it’s the best...meal we’ve had so far this year. This was made even better by the high standard of service. Our waitress Katie was delightful - so friendly and lovely. She also went out of her way to describe in detail the coeliac-friendly items on the menu (almost the whole menu is coeliac-friendly or can be adapted to be). All the staff were really friendly and efficient, and all seemed to really enjoy their job. We can’t wait to return to Serai to try more of the menu! Highly recommend.More

Worst food service for a fine dining restaurant. Server were very un attentive and doesn’t even check on us if everything was fine, toilets were so dark I cant see anything. Special mention to the girl chef with the glasses working on larder section she...had a really bad attitude her face really looked very irritated and told us if we were going to take a video we should not include her which a bit strange especially when the kitchen was an open kitchen and we booked for a chef’s table experience. She was also cutting raw fish next to the cooked meat board which where in the fish was already overlapping and they didnt even bother to wash the board and just continued using it to cut other cooked meat, she was also always rubbing her nose with her bare hands then proceed to plate dishes and the worse thing she did was she sneeze again using her hands then proceeded to use the same hand to crush some kind of crackling. So far I didn’t feel any chef interaction it was like eating at a fast food chain. But shout out to the girl chef on the grill she was the only one who really interacted with us and was really a good at the kitchen if she wasnt there I think I would rate my experience 0. I dont recommend this place such a waste of 500 dollars. Maybe the place is called serai cause 1 of the chef is Sira ulo.More

Serai is the place to be if you’re searching for the “the gastronomical feast” when in Melbourne. The menu consists of some Filipino dishes prepared and served to cater to international taste buds but still with that taste of the Filipino palate. Generous serving for...2 pax. Book in advance or check their availability from time to time.More

The food was very nice but it is a small venue where the maximum number of tables are crammed in. The tables next to us were about 20cm away so we may as well have been at a common bench. There is no privacy in...conversations, so it's not recommended if you're going out on a date. The prices are far too high for what the restaurant is. For example, $12 for one scallop, $14 for one prawn, $58 for one very small Morton Bay Bug. We were going to order the Bugs, but changed our mind when we were told there was only one and saw the next table receive a very small one. The restaurant is relatively new in Melbourne, so it draws a large curious crowd. I would be surprised however if many customers return.More

We came for lunch on a Sunday. Place was booked out and people were constantly being turned away. Restaurant was a small room with use being made of every space. You don’t come here to eat and expect a private conversation. Luckily the music and...happy conversations of other diners was loud enough to drown out intimate details of our neighbors conversations. However, the food was divine! We had the $90 “Feed me” menu and were served a number of small dishes that made our taste buds zing. A modern take on Phillipino cuisine with a culinary twist. With the exception of the lamb ribs (a bit dry) we loved every dish from the open lumpia starter through to the generous serve of delicious smoky pork belly, palapa salsa and rice to end. (Make sure you leave room for this) We both agreed that that in dining like this we ate dishes we probably would not usually order (eg blackened savoy cabbage with roasted garlic) but we were so glad we did. We can see why this place has earned a Chefs Hat and if we were living in Melbourne this restaurant would be a place we would visit regularly.More

Appalling service. Had to wait nearly an hour for our duck dish. I think they had forgotten and when after waiting 45 minutes there was no apology and took another 10 minutes to get the food. Also the wine was corked and when I questioned...them they denied it. Then when we asked for r clean plates between courses it was like we were asking for r the world. Apart from that the food was quite good (the calamari and the duck) but no vegetables to speak of. With their fire they could easily have roasted potatoes or carrots.More

Overrated!Food was not great at all! regret going there. never coming back again.It is not worth paying that much money for the food that they served.

Went for the final meal of our trip to Melbourne and it did not disappoint. The food was outstanding and the service was great. We had the feed me menu, some cocktails and some wine. This was up there with some of the best restaurants...I’ve ever been to! Will definitely return when back in Melbourne.More

First Philippine restaurant we have been to and we loved it. Our waitress guided us well through the menu and the service was excellent. The food was delicious especially the John Dory special and never had rice like Sinangag before. Well worth seeking this place...out.More

The food was great had the $90 chef feed me. This was a good variety but no desert that was extra. The down side is they cramp people in especially if your a couple in that we had to squeeze at the bar and have...bar man using this also to put glass on to pour his cocktails as has no room. They even have cans of coke and bottled oj sitting on the floor next to you big a good lookMore

Went to Melb for tennis and didn't have too much time to wine and dine, so was very selective with where to go. Didn't want the usual cuisines that can be easily found in Singapore, such as French, Italian, Spanish etc.. and upon searching online,...found Serai, which piqued my interest. Even if there is Filipino cuisine in the multicultural hotpot that is Singapore, Serai's menu looked unique, so we booked. It was a Sat lunch and it was buzzing. Dining al fresco could have been an option if not for the little flowers (?) from a nearby tree falling like snowflakes around us. So we chose indoors, and lucky us, there was a couple sitting next to us, whose accent I immediately recognised as Filipino. So after eavesdropping a little, trying to make out if they were enjoying the food, I asked them and it was a thumbs up from them. They basically said that it was Filipino food for sure, just very different from what you traditionally would find. I guess that was validation from 2 Filipinos :) Every dish we had was delicious and different - pig's head tacos, kingfish and pineapple tart, adobo sauce sticky lamb ribs, the duck yolk claypot rice, oysters, all wonderful. Staff are friendly, and overall, very satisfied with this interesting find in a city where good restaurants are a dime a dozen.More