Max's Restaurant at Red Hill Estate Winery

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Posted 2013-05-04 by Lorraine A ⇒ follow

Red Hill Estate is a bit of a tradition in our family for milestone birthdays. It started with my sister's 18th birthday and continued for 21st, 30th, 40th and 50th birthdays, not to mention all the other special occasions in between.

As you can see, we have been going there for years.

What is that draws us back year after year and will it continue to do so?

For me, I cannot find a more enjoyable view (inside a restaurant) to relax and look over the vineyard towards Western Port with Phillip Island on the other side. The view is uninterrupted and picture perfect.

As you enter Red Hill Estate from Shoreham road you will follow a curved gravel driveway lined with agapanthus and through rustic timber farm gates, the view at this point is stunning, with wine barrels and tables scattered about thoughtfully for everyone to admire the vineyard with Western Port in the background. As you go a little further, you will pass the cellar door and find the car parking area.

When you first step out of the car, you will hear the gentle sounds of water coming from the feature flowing into the pond that is surrounded by manicured lawns and rose bushes, with an arch that leads you towards the restaurant.

As we got to the door, the waiter opened it and gave us a warm welcome before showing us to our table. The wait staff have always been friendly and knowledgeable, which is a credit to them.

The interior is nice, simple even, but enough not to take away from the view. The menus were handed to us in a rather well used and ordinary looking album, which I was a little surprised at, seeming as everything else was so neat.

The set menu prices are different from previous visits and I don't like it, it doesn't have enough flexibility and it makes it expensive if you are like me, and only had enough time for one course.

Price for a main meal is a set $50 and includes a glass of wine, sides are $9 each, two courses is $70 and three courses is $80. Children's menus are available also, at a set price of $30 which includes main meal, soft drink and ice cream, so for my family it would cost $220 for the minimum one course meal and 4 children's meals. That's too much money for one meal in my opinion but I'm sure many will disagree.

Included with the price is crispy bread for everyone to share.

I ordered the steak for my meal and it was lovely, others ordered the pork and were equally happy with their choice. I don't drink wine which probably misses the point of going to a winery and I was instead offered a soft drink with my meal instead of the wine.

To sum it up, it's a beautiful spot with great waiters, great food but expect to pay for it, if it's a special occasion it's definitely a worthy spot for it.

A visit to the cellar door is very popular activity, there you will find approximately a dozen different varieties of wine, that range in price from $22 for a Chardonnay - $65 for Blanc de Blanc per bottle with the average price being $25.

Accommodation is also available at Max's Retreat for $300 per night, per couple with a minimum of two nights.

Red Hill Estate started in 1989 with the winery and later in 1994 Max's Restaurant was established and became highly acclaimed with food critics and still is winning many awards for service, food and wine. It probably comes as no surprise that 80,000 visitors per year visit Red Hill Estate and Max's Restaurant.

And maybe you will too!