We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
USD 45 - USD 45
CUISINES
Australian
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
View all details
meals, features
Reviews (268)
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.
Filter reviews
266 results
Traveller rating
181
59
19
2
5
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
181
59
19
2
5
Show reviews that mention
All reviews buttermilk chicken barramundi lovely food great meal courses meals
Sort and selected filters
Sort FilterEnglish
Updating list...
Reviewed 17 August 2023

We've been in the Gippsland region for just over 2 years now, but illness has stopped us from trying all the good eateries in the region, & eating out is the single thing that hubby & I love to do. So yesterday, we patronised a...little gem, Nielsons Kitchen, in Traralgon. This place is SO good, that I'm a little reluctant to tell people for fear of it being booked out whenever we want to eat there, (again). Hubby & I have eaten at most of the big name establishments in Melbourne, & this is on par; possibly even better than some. So, having decided at the 11th hour, to have my birthday lunch there, I was a little annoyed after arriving & settling in, that hubby decided that we would have the 5 course chefs' menu, when I'd already decided what I was going to order, having perused the fabulous menu. But I have to say, he was right (yes, there you go...I said it). Every single course was amazing. Starting with the 4 little plates as a first course, that consisted of a couple of oysters (both for hubby), with a pickled onion dressing; along with perfectly cooked, crispy arancini with black garlic puree & Kewpie mayo; a couple of lobster vol au vents, topped with caviar, that were a perfect mouthful; & my favourite...the cute little potato cakes, with a creamy green sauce that's worthy of bottling. Other than the oyster (for me), all were finger lickin' awesome, & hubby said the oysters were perfectly balanced. 2nd course was the most delicious tuna crudo that we've ever had, which was so good I literally licked the plate clean. I don't even like dill pickles, & would never normally order anything remotely associated with them, but this dish has converted me. At first I thought it was odd that it didn't have a crispbread accompaniment, BUT...it was one of most perfectly balanced dish, topped with fine crispy truffle shavings, & crispy puffed rice, which were the crispy element & better than any boring old crispbread. And just when I thought the crudo couldn't be beaten, 3rd course was a fabulous goats cheese filled raviolo, on a super-silky pumpkin puree, with beurre noisette, crushed hazelnuts & a shaved piece of fresh pumpkin. I loved this SO much that I ate it as slowly as possible in the tiniest bites, in order to stretch the experience out for as long as possible. 4th course was a lovely piece of wagyu steak, perfectly seared, perfectly med-rare, & perfectly seasoned, served with a refreshing celeriac salad. What I loved about this dish was its simplicity & integrity, & personified that old adage that "less is more". The only criticism I have about this dish is that I would've loved a teeny bit more of that celeriac salad, because it was uber-delicious. 5th & final course was "chocolate with raspberry", which the chef was good enough to indulge me (because it was my birthday). This is a perfect, not-too-sweet, balance of dark choc brownie, with choc bits, & choccie mousse, paired with a refreshing raspberry sorbet to cleanse the palate. Delish!! But as much as the food was incredible, it would be remiss of me if I didn't mention the equally incredible table service. Our 2 servers were not only professional & very able, keeping my glass topped up with water, the whole time; explaining each course as it arrived; chatting with us; & all the stuff you'd expect from your server...BUT..the difference here is that they were genuine. They were 2 of the most delightful young ladies you could hope to serve you, & I feel awful that I had a "senior moment" & didn't think to get their names, so I can give them a personal shout out. I love that they don't have a published menu, so, as an ex-chef myself, I had a feeling that this was always going to end well; so we'll definitely be back, because I intend on eating my way through the whole menu.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 16 July 2023

A bizarre mixture. Food of outstanding quality. Very good wine list. In a made-over old house, done poorly; wall adjacent to our table of naked concrete, all adding to a high level of echo which, along with background music rather too loud, made conversation near...impossible. To date, the toilets have escaped the makeover; they should have been the first place to get renovated, not the last. Menu and pricing an incomprehensible muddle, with multiple classes of dish, some (but by no means all) of which can be up- or down-graded to become entrees, main courses etc; wait staff trying to explain compromised by background noise. Menu itself cheaply produced and riddled with typos. Prices quite high, appropriate for the food/wine quality but a real stretch when all the rest is considered. At those prices, tablecloths and cloth serviettes called for, but not provided. Again, a bizarre mixture, but seriously good food.More

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?2  
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.
Reviewed 8 June 2023

To celebrate an anniversary, we though Neilson's would be special. Looking for somewhere quiet to enjoy the evening, it was all but quiet. The area was small and crowded and just noisy. Food was good but nothing special. In ordering sides as an extra they...were huge. Each side was enough to feed at least 4 people. So a lot of waste between the two of us. Fries were so salty we didn't eat them, and they were taken off the bill. Service was excellent with courses well timed, and the staff were very attentive.More

Date of visit: May 2023
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 8 April 2023 via mobile

Great and helpful prompt staff but seriously disappointing meal. 4 off us had Parmesan crusted pork schnitzel which was dark brown / black and dry and tasted burnt. Staff said the chef told them he used quinoa for schnitzel coating which has a nutty flavour...so sorry it’s not to your taste. 4 off us thought is was burnt and unpleasant. Menu description mentioned Parmesan no mention of quinoa. Made to feel as if the customer doesn’t know what tastes good or bad.More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 20 March 2023

We were a group of cyclists travelling through the area and our organisers had booked us here for dinner. It was way above my expectations and one of the best meals on the trip. Excellent menu choice, lovely atmosphere, very helpful service, great attention to...dietary requirements and really superb food. I'm unlikely to be in the area again any time soon but would happily travel to Traralgon just to eat here!More

Date of visit: March 2023
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 23 February 2023

Had not been to Neilsons for many years but seeing as we had guest from Japan here on their honeymoon we thought it was about time we visited again . A good choice as the food was scrumptious and our visitors were very impressed. Service...was good . We all enjoyed our choice of meals , plates were licked clean so to speak and we left with full stomachs. The chicken dish for entree was heavenly , followed that up with the Barramundi which was superb. Good value at the set prices, 2 courses for $49. 3 courses for $59 A nice night, the lovely food makes up for the fact that the place is a bit noisy. There is outdoor dining also which may be quieter. Look forward to eating there again in the future.More

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 22 July 2022

What a brilliant find this was on our recent trip to the area - I would consider going back just to visit this gem of a place again. They are great with dietary issues and offered lots of gluten free options - so much so...I found it difficult to choose. The highlights for my hubby were the beef cheeks and the soufflé with peanut caramel sauce and for me crispy prawn entrée and the barramundi main. Brilliant food, friendly service - we will be back - soon I hope!More

Date of visit: July 2022
Helpful?2  
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.
Reviewed 23 March 2022 via mobile

Unexpected gem in Traralgon. Came in for lunch based on reviews. I had wild mushroom tart for entree with bbq lamb rump for main. Partner had buttermilk chicken for entree with bbq pork for main. Both meals were totally delish!!! Delicate mushroom flavour followed by...beautiful char on the rare cooked lamb and I’m in heaven!!!! Great wine list to choose from.More

Date of visit: March 2022
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 8 October 2021

my friend and i had lunch here today barramundi for her burger for me followed by pavlova and a malted ice cream brioche all was delicious ..we will be back.

Date of visit: October 2021
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 21 September 2021 via mobile

Omg what a culinary experience .. table if friends out we all ordered something different but had to taste each others.. food was amazing.. top chef in Traralgon.. I wouldn’t think any other restaurant would come close.. amazing cocktails going all night..

Date of visit: September 2021
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 12 July 2021

This place was recommended to us for lunch and it didn't disappoint. The food was absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the area. If this place was in Melbourne, it would be booked out for months.

Date of visit: July 2021
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 5 March 2021 via mobile

Dinner was just perfect. Staff were friendly and helpful. Excellent GF menu. OX perfectly cook on delicious pure. Desserts were creative and yum. Kids friendly.

Date of visit: March 2021
Helpful?
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.
Reviewed 21 February 2021

This is a delightful restaurant and we had a very enjoyable Saturday lunch with friends. The restaurant was very busy but the staff were able to fit us in without a reservation. The menu was very interesting and we enjoyed all our dishes including the...sashimi entree, the slow cooked lamb gnocchi, ox cheek with porterhouse steak and barramundi. Food and service were great and it was good value for money.More

Date of visit: February 2021
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 1 February 2021

We had the pleasure of stopping at Neilsons on a wine tour day and just loved it, great sashimi as entrée, both the slow cooked lamb & been cheeks were to die for, Combine that with some good red wine, lunch was amazing, the only...issue is that we dont live close to come back more often Oh, btw, they dont do breakfasts as per Google Maps & Trip Advisor states because of COVID but it didn't mater to usMore

Date of visit: January 2021
Helpful?1  
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.
Reviewed 9 October 2020

My husband & I had our 1st stop on our week trip in Traralgon. We went to Neilsons Kitchen for dinner & it was amazing. It really set the bar for the rest of our trip. The food, atmosphere & staff we just so good....Staff are lovely I wanted to adopt them all. We highly recommend stopping in & I hope we can stop back in on our way home to Bendigo.More

Date of visit: October 2020
Helpful?
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.
View more reviews
Best nearby
Best nearby hotelsSee all
Comfort Inn Traralgon
69 reviews
.36 km away
Mantra Traralgon
18 reviews
.40 km away
Black Bull Motel
81 reviews
.63 km away
Best Western Governor Gipps Motor Inn
56 reviews
.63 km away
Best nearby restaurantsSee all
Traralgon Thai Restaurant
143 reviews
.18 km away
One Shot Double Shot
36 reviews
.20 km away
Dal Mondo Restaurant & Function Centre
56 reviews
.18 km away
Best nearby attractionsSee all
Latrobe Visitor Information Centre
35 reviews
.26 km away
Newman Park
49 reviews
.42 km away
Traralgon Farmer's Market
20 reviews
.65 km away
St Michael's Church
21 reviews
.49 km away
Questions & Answers
Ask a question
Amanda P
19 January 2017|
AnswerShow all 5 answers
Response from TapasLover51 | Reviewed this property |
Hi. I just rang Neilsons Kitchen to check that they do have gift vouchers and the answer is YES. There is NO minimum amount for these either. Enjoy the experience there.....
1
Vote
Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing

NEILSONS KITCHEN, Traralgon - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Neilsons Kitchen

Neilsons Kitchen is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 4.5