This place kills the dinner game. The ambiance is top notch. It gives off the warmth of being in…read moresomeone's home with elevated, chic, minimalist decor that is very welcoming. The food here is quite elevated. We had the three course meal where we got to pick our courses from a selection of offerings. Everything was really great except that the mussel entree was a bit overpowering. I was also obsessed with their open floor plan table bar where you could walk around it and survey the offerings.

Absolutely five stars…read more Great fresh local food. Wonderful service. Good wines at fair prices. Beautiful setting, inside and out. Inside where we were seated is white and modern with a formal feeling. We did not do the tasting menu, but rather the three course a la carte menu. Writing this review too long after our visit, with no website to look at, all I can remember is the carrot and ginger soup amuse, with wonderful flavors, and the venison main course. The venison was cooked perfectly and accompanied by a nice assortment of fresh garden vegetables. I do remember that everything was great and cooked perfectly. Lunch is served a couple days a week, otherwise its dinner only.

The best restaurant in the Hunter Valley. Hands down you wont find a better place. Because of that,…read morebook! Don't try just rocking up, you won't find a place. Minimum two course order, it is $75 a head. Or you can pay $120 and get the taster. Either way all is good! Each meal is better than the last, you won't be disappointed. From the noodles in sake cream to the 70 hour slow cooked steak, it is all good. You will be sharing and enjoying each dish. If you get the taster, they will also give you wine for each meal. The service here is also nothing less than amazing. But you wouldn't expect any different. If you haven't got from this review, I love this place! I come here anytime I am in the Hunter, and every time I have never been disappointed. So come a long, and come with an empty stomach.

Went here based on previous reviews. I wasn't disappointed! Thi place served up fantastic courses…read moreof chicken, duck, venison and pork. Every mouthful of food was incredibly delicious! The wine recommended was absolutely amazing. Also, given the somewhat dated exterior of the restaurant, the interior was superbly designed and laid out. The on the house starter also tipped me over the edge to a perfect score. These people run a seriously tight ship, with perfect customer service. I'm very impressed, and will 100% come back to Muse on my next visit to the Hunter!

Great restaurant overlooking a billabong, we had the whole snapper which was deliciousread more

From the owner: Experience fresh, smart and simple dishes during your outdoor dining at Leaves and Fishes…read more Specialising in seafood, with non-seafood, vegetarian, vegan, coeliac and lactose-free options, Leaves & Fishes delivers a unique blend of Asian and Modern Australian cuisine in a relaxed, casual and friendly environment. Leaves and Fishes has an ambience unique to any restaurant in Hunter Valley Wine Country - be sure to drop in on your next visit!

One of the best meals I've had in Australia…read more We had no idea what this place was like, we were just up at the north end of the Hunter Valley and saw it listed no our wine tourist map as a place to eat and phoned ahead for a reservation (it was a Sunday at 2:30pm and places were closing). We got in and I'm so glad we did. It's Italian villa style. The dining rooms have arches and iron chairs and Mediterranean accents. The outdoor patio is relaxed, covered and sunny. When we arrived people were playing bocce on the back lawn. My wife and I shared one of their large pot roasts, lamb in our case. It was absolutely delicious. We love food served like this, meat and veg and seasonings all slow-cooked together. It was very European and a perfect excuse for a long, slow lunch on a hot, sunny afternoon. The wine list had an extensive selection of Italian wines. For those worried about air miles they also have a selection of wines - by the glass and bottle - from a winery just down the road. The atmosphere was continental and perfect, with happy families, leisurely lunchers, and lots of wine. The service was exemplary, and all delivered with a smile. If you believe a great meal requires a great experience as well as great food, The Beltree is a spot worth seeking out.

This place isn't the top-ranked restaurant in Polkolbin for nothing. Superb nouveau Italian with…read morebrilliant service and a small but well-curated menu. Lovely Tuscan staples like rabbit and porchetta augmented with fusion dishes make this a pretty faultless nook of bella Italia in the heart of Hunter wine country. The panna cotta and the peach sorbet bellinis both have to be tried to be believed.

A pleasant surprise…read more To book for this restaurant you have to book online or call in the day to see if they have room. My partner and I booked online and it stated we would be contacted to confirm our booking. We never heard anything by 8.30 on the day before we wanted to go so we called up and was told someone would defiantly get in contact with us. Next day came and still no one had called or emailed us so we went to the hunter to do some wine tasting before going for dinner. We called back at 5 pm to confirm our booking for 6 pm and the lady who answered stated they don't send confirmations for bookings yet online it states otherwise! Anyway the lady had confused us with a different couple and had to try and fit us in for 6 pm which ended up happening. When we drove up there and down the driveway we were shocked to see the restaurant was a house and very basic. We walked around to the front door and straight away great service from the staff. We ordered the 3 entree's ravioli, king prawns and filled mushroom. Great food and full of flavor. It is fairly pricy but worth it. Mains we ordered the steak and again amazing food. Very filling and cooked medium as we ordered it to be. Dessert we ordered two different dishes and well worth it. Only bad part the dessert was the biggest dish of the day compared to entree and main. As we had finished our dessert we were taking in the view and relaxing. When the waitress came and picked up our plates and asked us how it was we said good thank you and her response was "are you ok. You seem really sad" I'm sorry but that is very unprofessional when all we were doing was taking in the view and relaxing. Only because we weren't loud or as enthusiastic as she expected apparently we were sad! The couple sitting behind us even made a comment when the waitress left and said how unprofessional that was and apparently now you can't enjoy the view and the company. It only went downhill from there as when I got the bill I had a voucher for the restaurant which was given to me as a gift. The waitress straight away seemed annoyed when I showed it to her and was not very friendly when I said I would like to use it. Her response was "you know I can't refund you the money I will have to give you a new voucher". I never expected a refund or anything as it was a gift given to me and would only expect to have the remanding money for if I was to return to the restaurant. As the waitress walked away she shrunk her shoulders and had a slight attitude as it seemed like she was after more. One thing that would be very helpful would be something for the flies outside when you are eating as there was an insane amount around you and got quite frustrating. Apart from the few mishaps it was good food. It's not a place I would rush back to for the above reasons but certainly worth a try once.

Came with my partner for Sunday lunch for our anniversary. We decided on 3 courses. Both seafood…read moreentrees were nice but I think there could have been one more ravioli for the price. We both ordered the eye fillet. To look at, mine was overdone, but it was still incredibly tender. The galette, butter and gravy were perfect accompaniments. We were discussing what we thought so far and were not fully impressed but decided to hold off criticism until we had dessert. We made the right choice! I ordered the banana pudding and it was amazing. I didn't eat the toffee on top but it completed the WOW factor. The price was fitting for the location, service and food. Staff were very friendly and always on top of clearing the table and refreshing drinks. We also spotted a few roos amongst the vines. Lovely afternoon.

Went for lunch with some friends and our 18-month old son - cannot fault the service. From the…read moremoment the front door was held open for us, the service was impeccable. Warm, friendly and attentive, without hovering or being overbearing. The tasting menu was absolutely delicious, with the chicken being an absolute standout, followed by their signature coconut dessert. The pairing and quality of the wines really added to the experience, but I strongly suggest you have a designated driver if you are doing the matched wines - they don't pour short.

As an adjunct to the multiple-hat rated Muse Restaurant, we were very happy to stop in here for…read morelunch on our Winery Tour. From welcoming service to wonderful food, being able to get a good quality feed in the Hunter at lunchtime could not have been better. Watch for the full-body prawns! My gnocchi was so nice, my partner had to snag some after beheading her prawns.

We had the best lunch today at Emersons Cafe! Started with Duck pate w toasted cibatta. The pate is…read morerich and smooth, perfect w the crispy cibatta. The jelly on top is just divine! Then we shared Roast pork loin, pickled red canbage, apple chutney and crackling. The crackling is yummy, but the pork loin is amazing. The meat is tender, juicy and flavorful! It is perfect w the apple chutney and cabbage. And finally Braised wagyu beef cheeks, truffled potato cream, peas and onions. The beef melted in my mouth. The potato cream is to die for. Really friendly staff and the booking was simple and efficient. Would love to visit again!

Outstanding service Food was amazing…read moreGreat atmosphere and excellent view 10/10 experience

A perfect 5 star experience all thanks to an amazing location, outstanding food and a manager named…read moreSharon who made my recent visit something to rave to friends about! After touring some of the wineries in the area, I wanted to sit outside, enjoy the beautiful scenery and have some terrific food and wine. The Verandah, located at the Calais Estate, was the perfect solution with their wrap around upstairs porch overlooking the rolling estate. There were two choices for lunch- a pre selected "Tapas Tower" which is a feast for two with several daily selections ($80) or a la carte tapas items listed a few pages back in the menu. I went with the latter and had a chance to taste a wide range of their offerings and all were amazingly good. My favs were the polenta coated soft shell crab, the mushroom aranachi, and the jambon. They also had a nice wine list and were able to find me a local Cabernet that was quite nice! The service staff was super helpful, even re directing the fan my way given it was a very hot day on the veranda. But my visit was really topped off by the welcoming nature of Sharon, the manager. She kept stopping at my table to ensure all was well and even related a story about her recent trip to Chicago where someone went out of their way to help her and her husband. It made for a great visit. So I'll end where I began. If you want a great location, outstanding food and a staff that cares, look no further than The Verandah. It really will make your entire experience in the Hunter Valley one to remember!

So in the words of Nike - Just Do it!! There is amazing food…read more& there is food with love....this is food with love!! Aaaaaand.....I loved it. Gorgonzola Gnocchi that just melts the heart, ragu, staff who care, great wine! Come here, just come here......you will leave more whole!