Vue De Monde
9691 3888, 295 Drummond St, Carlton. VIC 3053 www.vuedemonde.com.auOpen Lunch Tue-Fri dinner Tue-Sat from 6.30pm, Closed Good Friday, Xmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day; Licensed; AE DC MC V, Seats inside 70, Outside seats 20, Private room 60
Chef: Shannon Bennett (25-2-10) Owner: Shannon Bennett (25-2-10)
Mietta's Review
Shannon Bennett has moved his rather homespun take on haute cuisine and restaurants to the city. Here he is making statements about fine dining that have made Melbourne catch its breath. He only serves degustation menus the cheapest of which is $80 for four courses. The setting is linen, crystal and silver - the accoutrements of a fine restaurant. At this time, shortly after opening, Melbourne hasn't placed the establishment in its dining firmament. Comments ranging from John Lethlean's (The Age's senior reviewer) score of 18/20 to those of a less exalted diner - "It's bullshit and far too expensive". It will be interesting to see what happens over the next year or two - as Humphrey Applegate would say "It's a brave venture", even for a publicist as good as this.
Other Published Opinions
The Australian John Lethlean, 13-09-2009 Score: 8/10 "DE MONDE is a world of surprises. Not the least of which is news down the line that, should I cancel a reservation within 24 hours of the appoint ment, $150 - per person - may be charged to my card. VdM already qualifies as one of Australia's more expensive restaurants before you've even nibbled a (handmade, choice of styles, petite, sourdough) bread roll. We don't have space here to explore cancellation fees and surrendering credit card details. Except to say the practice is widespread overseas, particularly in America, where the parlour game of multiple reservations precipitated its introduction, and VdM is the only place I've been subjected to the process here, ever. Qantas has nothing on these guys. And, in all seriousness. I don't think Vue measures itself against local business practices anyway"
Age Good Food Guide 2010 Score: 18/20, Three Hats "In a city enamoured of casual dining. Vue de Monde delivers an unashamedly elite, turbocharged, dramatic top-end experience, with a similarly powerful price tag for its intricate degustation dinners"
The Australian A List, 50 Great Australian Restaurants, John Lethlean, Necia Wilden, 5-09-09 "Shaggy-haired Shannon Bennett, the precocious chef-child whose dream of owning and running Australia's best fine-dining restaurant has probably come true, remains as determined and focused as ever"
The Age Epicure score 18/20 John Lethlean 9/8/05 "Glamorous, professional, ambitious, expensive: the quintessential big-night-out restaurant."
The Age Good Food Guide 2005 score 17/20 Two Hats "VUE DE MONDE is pure theatre, and a reminder that theatre can be a brilliant display of expertise, energy and originality. Star Shannon Bennett works with his cast from an impossibly small kitchen, offering those lucky enough to be in the front stalls a real show."
Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide ** "Shannon Bennett trained in London to get a classical French education, doing spells with Marco Pierre White and the Roux brothers, and his Carlton clientele are reaping the benefits, though a move to city premises is planned."
Age Two escapes for parents 26/12/04 "Serves beautiful food but is expensive. Go when you are alone then you are actually practising great fiscal responsibility and not just spoiling yourself."
The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'$27.50 gets you two courses of some of the best modern French food in town cooked by Shannon Bennett and a glass of wine.'
The Age Good Food Guide 2004- 2 hats 16/20- commended for wine list
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, 2 Red Stars, Excellent wine list,'His decisively modern take on traditional French food is underpinned by fine European and local produce...Presentation is stylish but not pretentious, with the desserts, in particular...The chef's vigour is shared by professional and engaging floor staff'
Herald Sun, Weekend, 31/1/04, Bob Hart,'Melbourne's Greatest Dishes'
Herald Sun, citystyle, 6/1/04, Stephen Downes, Score 14/20,'offers a style of food that celebrates a chef's skills. But sometimes all the work can still result in flavour imbalences...The service is excellent, the wine list extensive and expensive.'
The Age, 28/12/03, John Lethlean,'Carlton's sometimes brilliant Vue de Monde'
Age, A2, Food&Wine, Jane Faulkner, 12/7/03. Serving classical French cusine - which according to owner/chef, Shannon Bennett, is a dying art. The 'menu gourmand' is a tasting menu that allows the diner to sample a wide variety of French dishes. Has an impressive wine list.
The Weekend Australian Finiancial Review 15-16/3/2003, Observer, Food, Charles Wright, 'a $149 evening called Don't Eat with Your Mouth Full, which couples expatriate English actress Emma Poole reading with a menu prepared by chef Shannon Bennett based on the author's favourite dishes and French wines, sold out in a few days.'
Herald Sun, weekend, Bob Hart, 15/2/03. Serving the first $100 burger, which comes with Perigord truffles, Wagyu beef and truffle infused bread.
The Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, 10/8/03,'there's something utterly enchanting about Vue de Monde's fusion of fire, food and performance.'