Biota Dining - Bowral

Consistently gracing Australia’s top restaurant lists, the two-hatted Biota is a must-do for anyone serious about eating, or just anyone visiting the magical Southern Highlands.

Husband treated me to a weekend in the Southern Highlands as a little post-birthday escape. I’ve heard about Biota and always wanted to try it, so we built the weekend around our planned visit. We even stayed here on the Saturday night that we ate. Both of us thought from the photos of the countryside on the website that both the restaurant and accommodation would be out in the bush, overlooking a field! But it’s just a little ways from the town centre, so not quite as pretty or remote as expected. The room is very stylish though.

Great dining experience. Got a cozy spot on couch by the fire. Standout dishes of the night was the octopus with tomatoes and basil (so much flavour in the little dish) and bitter chocolate dessert (loved the smooth and crunchy textures, presentation with the dried milk bits, balance of sweetness with slight saltiness). Next would be potato with whipped roe. Loved the creaminess and the saltiness from roe. Whole fish was not a pretty dish but whatever it was that coated the skin was full of flavour. All the flavour was on top so parts of fish without it were a little bland. Lamb was cooked well and quite a big piece of meat so enjoyed it at first but then became too much meat. In hindsight, since it was the 2 of us, should not have ordered fish or lamb as these were quite large. Should have ordered more smaller dishes to sample greater variety.

We arrive for late brunch/early lunch this fine Monday. The place is still preparing for the throng.<br/ <br/ The waiter is personable and efficient, albeit a strange, subtle discomfort with our party of 7, including 2 littlelies. Perhaps we don’t fit the white linen Bowral demographic.<br/ <br/ Not having been here before, the waiter was helpful with his suggestions about ordering 3 4 from the entrees, 7 of the mains. Hang on there are only 7 mains? And we don’t really like the sound of two of them (steak tartare and fish head) so now what? Ahh, there’s a scampi special. We’re still the only ones in the place.<br/ <br/ The dishes arrive, and they’re lovely particularly the scampi superbly fresh, soft, delicious, not overwhelmed by the garlic/lemon. The croquettes were pleasant but nothing out of this world. The salumi with pickled chillis was rubbish. <br/ <br/ The tortilla of pork belly was first class. The beef brisket burger was ok, but the beef shin was the pick. The chicken wings were all a bit agricultural in their presentation, but very tasty.<br/ <br/ No room for dessert, but time for a very good macchiato. Interestingly, no petit fours (or indeed anything of that nature). No amuse bouche either, now that I think of it.<br/ <br/ Space is minimalist and kinda funky with the driftwood art intrusions. Some Mum has said to their directionless adult child that they think they’re artistic/clever.<br/ <br/ Only negative is charging for the bread prices aren’t that skinny as to justify the desperation of such silliness. Maybe the regular patrons over participate, but this frugality is out of place.<br/ <br/ The pace was a little offputting. We had a team of waiters veritably running dishes to our table. Am I being too harsh? Mistaking efficiency for disdain? Hard to tell.

Great ambience and service. Staff were friendly and attentive. We came here after friends recommended it to us as a must do when in the southern highlands. Food was decent, but a little overpriced for what it was.