Villa Howden - BLACKMANS BAY

Upon our arrival, the chef even prepared a local dish for us, despite the kitchen being closed at that time. My only suggestion would be to expand the wine list to offer a greater variety, although this didn't detract from our overall dining experience. It’s quite disappointing to see so few positive reviews about this place, especially considering the hard work the staff puts in to ensure an amazing experience for all guests! A side note: the menu listed on Zomato is not accurate as of 2018, so I recommend contacting the restaurant or hotel directly for the most up-to-date menu.

We started with freshly baked bread and a delightful cheese plate, with pastries from Skorones Bakery specifically made for us! They were served with fresh cream and locally made sky jam—absolutely delicious! As for the cheese plate, it was simply delightful! Dinner was fantastic! We had half a dozen Kilpatrick oysters and half a dozen natural ones—sensational! We followed this with the eye fillet and salmon, both cooked medium rare to perfection. However, the rocket and pear salad was just average. The bottle of Magic Pinot Noir was truly impressive! Unfortunately, we skipped dessert because we were too full. We had high expectations for breakfast, as the freshly baked bread and locally produced marmalade we had the previous day were phenomenal. However, today was a letdown. Our poached eggs with speck and salmon (Bruny breakfast) came with smooth bread, while the side was what seemed to be Cottee's strawberry jam. We were not overly impressed, especially for a 5-star hotel with a well-maintained restaurant. I've uploaded four photos and will share the others later from my wife's phone.

The risotto was the worst I've ever had – overcooked, mushy, and overwhelmed by the taste of sun-dried tomatoes, which made it excessively acidic. I can't understand how this dish was presented in a beautiful hotel with such a lovely location. I would rate the restaurant with a missing star.

High tee: not repeated. not enough food for the price. location is beautiful. the gardens stuffed and loved to go into the water. the recovery is great.

When we arrived at the hotel, the chef readily prepared a local produce platter for us, even though I believe the kitchen was closed at the time. My only suggestion would be to expand the wine list to include a greater variety, although this did not detract from our dining experience in any way. It’s truly disappointing to see so few positive reviews for this place, as the staff puts in tremendous effort to ensure every guest has a wonderful experience. Additionally, the menu listed on Zomato is outdated as of 2018, so I recommend contacting the restaurant or hotel directly for the most current menu options!