Every single dish was 10/10 fantastic, the kind of meal that puts every other soon after to shame because you just can’t get it out of your head. Very attentive server who when we said we were too full for desert suggested espresso martini’s - fantastic call, they were also 10/10. Will return whenever I’m in Melbourne

Visited on a Wednesday night 7:30pm and it was relatively busy! Beautiful and relaxing ambience, very smooth and sweet staff, and excellent dishes (ft. in photos: Dry Aged Beef Tartare, Yellow-Fin Tuna, Wagyu Rump). Impressed by every meal; even the butter milk aioli included with the French fries (not featured in pics) was surprisingly memorable; a very creamy mouthfeel with a sharp pepper bite!

We went here yesterday and despite having a reservation we waited at the bar for 15 minutes past our reservation time at to be seated. That said the drinks were great and the bartender was very helpful and accommodating to our individual drink preferences. We started off with the tartar which was amazing but unfortunately the quality of the food went downhill afterwards. We got a few sides including the bread which was very dense and didn’t taste of much. My friends both got a steak that was pretty average and I got the lamb which also wasn’t amazing (pictured below). The waiter recommended it particularly because it came with baba ganoush but as you can see on the picture there was only about a teaspoon of it. I was unpleasantly surprised by the very small portion of my main which was significantly smaller than my friends steak and still priced at 49$. The small portion size was not clarified at all by the waiters and the menu even described it as a large dish which further added to my surprise. When I brought it to the attention of the waiter I was told that I could not replace my dish even though I had not touched it at all. After a while we found a compromise and they cooked some more lamb which I appreciated. Overall a mixed experience with room for improvement in some areas. I do not think the food justified the price but that said the bartender did well and the tartar was great

I finally made it to Poodle in Fitzroy after having it on my list for so long, and I’m so glad I did. We went in for their Wednesday steak night and the whole experience exceeded my expectations. From the moment we arrived, the staff were friendly, welcoming, and attentive. We were greeted with a smile, shown to our table straight away, and throughout the night our glasses never went empty and plates were cleared promptly without ever feeling rushed. It was the kind of service that makes you feel well looked after from start to finish. Even though we went specifically for the steak night, we couldn’t resist trying one of their entrées, especially since their menu has recently been updated under a new head chef. We ordered the steak tartare, which was beautifully presented in a bone and served with vinegar crisps. It was unique, full of flavour, and one of the best tartares I’ve had in Melbourne. Then came the main event: the steaks. Cooked exactly how we wanted, juicy and flavourful, with a generous serving of salsa verde on the side. The dish also came with a mountain of fries – so many that we couldn’t finish them, which is always a good problem to have! For $30, the value was fantastic given both the quality and the portion size. To drink, I tried the Davidson plum spritz which was refreshing, slightly tangy, and paired perfectly with the meal. Overall, I couldn’t fault anything about the night. The food was outstanding, the service was seamless, and the atmosphere was lively but still comfortable. Visiting Poodle has made me even more eager to return, and next time I’ll definitely be exploring more of their menu beyond steak night. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for great food, excellent service, and a memorable dining experience in Fitzroy.

A night of snacks, mains and sides at Poodle Bar & Bistro We decided to order a bunch of snacks to share—perfect way to try more from the menu. Everything was rich, flavourful and beautifully done, from the starters right through to the mains. Here’s what we had: 🥖 House-made coffee & rye sourdough 🦀 Spanner crab & cod roe profiterole 🧈 Parmesan scroll 🍢 Pork neck skewers 🐟 Charred Fish Wings 🍗 Duck breast with grilled radicchio 🥩 Hanger steak with peppercorn sauce 🥒 Heirloom cucumber 🧅 Salt & vinegar onion rings Loved the retro glam vibes here—definitely one to revisit for a long, leisurely dinner or drinks.