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Ratings and reviews

Travellers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
USD 7 - USD 26
CUISINES
Contemporary, Australian
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
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meals, features, about
Reviews (452)
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450 results
Traveller rating
285
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3
13
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LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
285
117
32
3
13
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Reviewed 2 weeks ago

The location of this restaurant is a great start to the experience - almost feels like it is hidden down a back lane and close to the Shamrock Hotel. Once inside you see the quality wines ready to go. Attentive service and more than enough...food - you won't go hungry like some similar quality places. Scallops were great, mussels and pipis delectable! Stuffed zucchini superb and different. But what about the soft shelled crab?? Nice beers and cocktails as well. Be sure to order the potato cakes which will ensure you leave fully satisfied.More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 2 October 2023 via mobile

Had lunch here a couple of days ago. The cuisine is Contemporary Asian. We ate Tapas style and shared several dishes. All were very tasty. The service was excellent. We do recommend booking early as inside spaces are quite limited. Would definitely recommend.

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 1 October 2023

I booked the Dispensary for my 65th birthday dinner. I’d been for lunch 18 mths earlier when I visited the Elvis exhibition. Back then it had been a real delight on every level. It may have changed management but last night’s experience couldn’t have been...more different. Our waitress was very professional and helpful and the wine we had by the glass very good, but the food was truly dreadful. We chose the Seven courses-chef’s choice. The lamb cutlet was fatty and tough, and the main meal of beef with noodles was, for me, inedible. Salty, thick pieces of ?corned beef(not sure). To call prawn crackers and edamame a course was pushing it. I was so disappointed.More

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 18 September 2023 via mobile

Wow - deliciously different food, great cocktails, friendly staff - AND open on Sunday. Happily catered for mixed dietary requirements (coeliac, no seafood) without issue. 7 course ‘chefs choice’ was a great way to try out the menu, with different offerings for dietary requirements so...we weren’t all ‘forced’ to eat the same thing. We travelled from Melbourne by train for the day - the Sunday lunch was the highlight of the day. Definitely worth the 2hr train tripMore

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed 23 July 2023

This place rocks. Staff are brilliant but OMG the food. We had the lamb chop starter, tuna mayo tofu then chicken kung pao and each dish was perfect. It was one of the best lunches I have ever been served. Thank you so so much

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 22 July 2023 via mobile

Cosy atmosphere like a small French bistro. We had the 7 small courses selected by the chef. Our dislikes were taken into account. Superb fine dining. Great wine list, especially including interesting local wines. Warm, attentive and informed service.

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 22 July 2023 via mobile

Absolutely outstanding. We selected the 7 dish feed me option. We chose very wisely. The variety was terrific. Every course was a beauty. Lots of innovation. Lots of great flavours and textures. We had no trouble selecting some good wines to share with the meal,...as well. Service from Annabel was outstanding throughout. This is high level regional dining at a reasonable price. We would return here any time. Highly recommended.More

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 6 July 2023 via mobile

First off - bookings essential, and it’s easy to see why. Secondly, be very watchful when you’re trying to find it - it is down a very narrow and unobtrusive alley. It is a very small restaurant, and the excellent food makes it very popular....One note of caution: if you book, make sure you actually turn up - they charge a $50 per head no-show fee. They do two excellent “set”menu options - “Lucky Seven” - you get seven dishes - four starters, a main and two sides - and they are whatever the chef feels like giving you ($56 a head). If you are feeling particularly adventurous (and hungry) for $88 a head you can try ALL of the dishes (including dessert). We went for the Lucky Seven, which was just the right amount, and then added a dessert tasting plate to round everything off. Definitely one to try again.More

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 10 June 2023 via mobile

Very enjoyable dining experience. Food was outstanding and wait staff were very helpful in explaining the dishes and how much to order. Only negative was the pace at which the dishes came out. A little too rushed.

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed 28 May 2023 via mobile

the $44 hour of power is possibly the best lunch experience ever. Explosions of flavour, fantastic service, Very highly recommended.

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 17 May 2023

Pretentious , overpriced, disappointing Waitress forgot my dish so I was eating after my wife had finished here (mostly) cool fish Paid more for a can of pilsner that a glass of white wine Again disappointing

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 11 May 2023 via mobile

I would describe this establishment as a great cocktail bar with interesting food. On arrival, I got the impression that we could order almost any known cocktail, but we chose our favourites - olive martinis. My spouse had a traditional clear martini with Tanqueray gin,...but I chose a dirty martini made with olive brine and Spanish herbal Gin Mare. Both were expertly made and delicious. For food, we shared the sashimi-style scallop entree with a pimiento sauce. For mains, my spouse had the baby snapper and I had the quail. Wines by the glass were good. Service was helpful and timely, if a little inexperienced. Ambience was a bit crowded and noisy, but some people might like that. Recommended.More

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 14 April 2023

Fabulous food- interesting as well as tasty. Beautiful wine. Great service from Andreas. Not cheap but great for a special night.

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 8 April 2023 via mobile

From the moment I stood at the door to paying the bill, the service was first class. As it was Good Friday, they had a fish special, and the drinks were very distinctive to match the menu. Parking on the weekend is easy. Park in...the multi-storey car park around the corner from Chancery Lane.More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 5 April 2023

Disappointing. The lamb noodles sounded promising but bland. Two pork mains were ordered, but they were disproportionate serving sizes and fatty. Service was average and indifferent. Will not be returning.

Date of visit: April 2023
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THE DISPENSARY BENDIGO - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Dispensary Bendigo

Yes, The Dispensary Bendigo offers takeaway services.

Yes, The Dispensary Bendigo is taking precautions against COVID-19. A full list is available within the "safety precautions" section of this page.

The Dispensary Bendigo is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5