The Essence

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1. JH

   JaneH

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall5food5service2ambience3

   We enjoyed the experience and the restaurant was really easy to find. The staff were not very experienced.

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2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on April 15, 2022

   overall3food3service5ambience2

   The service was exceptionally professional but the food wasn’t on the same level compared to the service! My stalk was dry and over cooked and the pork tasted funny!

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3. KS

   KatrinaS

   Melbourne

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 19, 2022

   overall3food2service4ambience4

   I have eaten here before and enjoyed it. Yesterday not so much and was glad it was not my first time there or I would probably not return. The pumkin gnocchi was chewy, not soft and light that I would have expected if it was home made. The sauce was pretty bland. I wish I had ordered something else. My husband has the barramundi and said it was "ok". The waiters offered us a drink when we came in, which arrived promptly and left us water as well. But no-one offered us a glass of wine or another drink with our meal. We would have ordered wine, but drank the water instead. Yes we could have asked but when not asked before the meal arrived, we just dismissed the thought. I know it is picky but it is what we are used to at other venues.

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4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Victoria

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 19, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   It was a filling 3-course meal with our choice of wine pairing. Great when you have back to back theatre shows or just needing a meal pre-show. Essence is less than a 5 minute walk to Princes Theatre if you’re watching Harry Potter & The Cursed Child and just a block away from Her Majesty’s theatre if you have tickets for Hamilton. Highly recommend!

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Melbourne

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 12, 2022

   overall1food2service1ambience2

   Poor service. Have to wait 30 mins for the waiter to come.

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6. RT

   RoulaT

   Melbourne

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 5, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Service was great! Food was delicious 😋 Definitely recommend!

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7. RE

   REATZ

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 19, 2022

   overall4food4service4ambience4

   Lovely High Tea to celebrate my Beautiful daughter Mumma expecting her second baby. Great experience however savoury items would have been better enjoyed if warmer/hotter.

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8. KC

   KateC

   Melbourne

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 31, 2021

   overall4food4service5ambience4

   The food was very nicely presented and excellent value. The ambiance was lovely - but there was a table next to us with some very noisy young children. Parents need to be mindful that other patrons may want to enjoy a quiet meal - maybe have a rule that young children leave the restaurant before 8.00 pm? Otherwise a great place to eat.

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9. SM

   ShaneM

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 31, 2021

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Large portions, fresh and tasty food. Nice sitting by the window.

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10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 25, 2021

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Christmas Lunch 2021 was spent in The Essence Restaurant at The Marriott and it was a rather mixed bag in both food and service quality. Buffet style lunch with drinks was the menu for Christmas and as someone who doesn’t usually enjoy buffet style dining, it suited other family members who prefer a more relaxed dining experience. The food as plentiful, as were the drinks and the variety on offer did cater to all of us even though some of the warm food looked tired and not particularly appealing. The staff overall were courteous and pleasant, however at one point whilst we were at the buffet getting dessert our table was being cleared by staff who assumed we had left the restaurant. I found this unprofessional given that my handbag, a wallet, a phone and a jacket were still at the table and in plain view. Overall it was a pleasant Christmas Lunch and after the year 2021 was due to the lengthy lockdowns because of Covid, it was an enjoyable experience.

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11. G

    Gazza

    Melbourne

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 13, 2021

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    Certainly not a bad meal or experience. But not outstanding. I had the fish which was slightly over cooked and my partner had calamari which was a bit chewy. Wine selection was good and we enjoyed the cab sav and Pinot gris. Service was fine but nothing special. If I was hungry and lazy I’d go back again but Melbourne has better choices.

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12. CS

    CrystalS

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 11, 2021

    overall2food2service3ambience3

    Best to go for A La Carte instead of Pre Theater . Overall food was good but limited choice.

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13. F

    Floosey

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 11, 2021

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    I’m not one to usually write a review the idea of the experience was amazing the staff really tried and atlete lovely. I just feel and it’s most restaurants these days, if I could really give some honest feedback it would’ve been nice to have an understanding perhaps a list of the items we were eating, when will restaurants tap into children’s needs. People with children should be made priority as kids have a short attention span also my child eats with proper cutlery and he would’ve no doubt appreciated a little plate and maybe a little fork and knife as well, children observe what adults do I just want to participate in being involved. Overall a beautiful experience a great idea and ambience bubbly happy staff we definitely will return.

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14. DT

    DaveT

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 6, 2021

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Quiet and comfortable with good food and service.

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15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 29, 2021

    overall4food5service5ambience5

    Steak was amazing. Overall nice experience.

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16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our waiter was fantastic! Catered to any special requests as much as they possibly could and seemed to have a well running, enjoyable restaurant the very first day out of lockdown which is no easy task.

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17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Exclusive

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Delicious food, great value.

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18. EH

    ElizaH

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2019

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    I brought my partner here for his birthday on Monday September 2nd. I specified that it would be for a birthday and the staff and set up a nice table decorated for us. One of the waitresses sat us and gave us drink menus. We ordered the seafood stack therefore this was put through straight away- however no one came back to take our drinks order until when asked when the food arrived at the table.. The restaurant had only around 2 tables on the night with 4 or 5 staff on.. we did not know what they were doing the whole time. The waitress brought over a drink for my partner and had another pint of beer on her tray for another table. as she placed this down the pint of beer spilled all over my partners suit, the table, the bottom plate of food, the floor and a bit on me. She was very very apologetic but only handed us a few cloth napkins to clean up and she used these to wipe the table and the floor- not to an appropriate standard. I understand she was flustered and embarrassed, but we weren't offered another plate of food or a new table. I am not one to demand anything or complain but this should have been the minimum offer. She did not pass on this incident to any of the other staff or a manager, so we sat there with soggy food, wet clothes and a wet table and hazardous floor. No drinks, discounts, desserts or anything was offered in compensation for this problem. I was very disappointed and we will not recommend this place to anyone, especially in hoping for a quality dining experience for my partner's birthday.

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19. HH

    HeleneH

    Melbourne

    12 reviews

    3.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 1, 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    We were a party of 6 having breakfast for Fathers Day. The booking process through Open Table was simple and quick. We were greeted with a welcoming smile by the concierge however it all went downhill from there. Our table was fine with a nice view of the streetscape and large enough to accommodate all of us plus a high chair. Sadly however the service was very poor. Organised chaos would sum it up. We kept having to chase wait staff for coffee and water, we placed our orders and then we waited. And we waited. And we waited. The restaurant was only half full and it seemed that staff numbers were plentiful so we were not sure what the delay was. We all ordered breakfast dishes so were a little perplexed about why our order took so long. Finally our meals arrived, the 3 egg omelette was very small in comparison to what you are served at other Melbourne cafes - if there were 3 eggs in that omelette then I’ll go he. The “inner city” breakfast was more substantial but lacking taste, and the protein breakfasts were missing the avocado as the hotel restaurant had run out. What sort of restaurant runs out of avocado at 10am on a Sunday!? Overall a disappointing experience and we won’t be returning.

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20. GW

    GaryW

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2019

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    We had a lovely evening with great food and service.

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21. JE

    JewelE

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2019

    overall2food3service1ambience2

    I received my high tea 20 minutes before my friends and didn’t want to eat too much before they got theirs. I had to ask someone how much longer I had to wait and by the time it came to my table it was cold. Disappointed since I called to make sure everything would be prepared for my table the days before.

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22. CV

    CatherynV

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 28, 2019

    overall4food2service4ambience3

    The chicken in the set menu was terrible. But the desserts were delicious! Very cold in the restaurant. Sat near 2 Windows and was freezing!

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23. TK

    TrishK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 18, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Yes I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. They catered to my gluten free request and the food was delicious and service excellent.

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24. GT

    GeraldT

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 17, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a wonderful Seafood meal in a dynamic location and enjoyed the entire experience. We are inspired to go there again when we next go to nearby a theatre or concert. Thank you Open Table.

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25. CO

    ColleenO

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The high tea was really good. Staff and service was very good.

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26. PG

    PeterG

    Melbourne

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 1, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    We had the seafood platter for 2 with voucher so was great value, without the voucher, probably not.

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27. AM

    AnneMareeG

    Brisbane

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 24, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Usually come here for our pre-theatre dinner for shows in vicinity. This time the menu had changed and although the choices were fine, there seemed to be some confusion generally. The menu had one only starter which is apparently part of a four course menu. The menu itself had no price anywhere and only when we asked were we told the prices, for a 3 course or 4 course menu. We ordered the starter but alas at 5.30pm they were out of that starter and no alternative was available. But then we were able to order one entree to share, followed by 2 mains----fish was delicious----and then we shared a sweet. The waitress told us this would now be considered as a 2 course meal! The sweet we ordered was delicious but we were at pains to find the apple taste, shreds, whatever. When we mentioned to the waiter that there didn't seem to be much apple in the sweet, he looked at his computer and realised that although the correct order had been put into the computer, we had actually received the wrong sweet! We then ordered 2 espresso coffees and he said these would now be on the house for which we were grateful. However, when we went to pay there was again a few issues and in the end we realised we had paid for the coffees which were macchiata not espresso as ordered. We hadn't wanted to to say anything because they were supposed to be "on the house". Although there were some strange happenings here, the food itself, the personnel and the general ambiance were great and we would return.

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28. DL

    DomenicaL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 19, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful service. Food amazing and the staff so attentive and friendly. A big “wrap” for our young waitress looking after our table (apologies l cannot remember her name)! Nothing to fault! Highly recommend!

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29. BW

    BrookeW

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 19, 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience2

    Not enough service staff. Unable to serve beverages and did not ask if any other order / food was wanted. Walked out to reception area and waited as no service staff assisted us

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30. A

    Adrian

    New York Area

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2019

    overall3food3service3ambience2

    Ok for a meal before the show. Had been looking forward to the ‘fresh chocolate soft centre’ cake but told they had run out - so in other words it wasn’t ‘fresh’ they were frozen - little bit disappointing

    Report
31. AC

    AshleyC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 13, 2019

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    I bought a seafoof voucher for four people, which included a stack of fish, chips, calamari, soft shell crab, salmon, oysters, mussels - a range of seafood with 2 bottles of brut sparkling. The food was nicely cooked and service was amazing. Waitress took our photo, pour our drinks and was really kind. Expected from a hotel restaurant! Would like to try high tea next time.

    Report
32. GC

    GaryC

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 12, 2019

    overall2food1service1ambience3

    My wife ordered duck and it was so dried out she had to send it back ( that takes a lot for my wife). I asked for lemon wedges and was served chip wedges, which I didn’t order. They replaced my wives dinner with the fish, which was very nice, but by then I had finished my dinner. We asked for extra water several times, but this was not brought. We were getting so frustrated we asked to see the manager, who acknowledged our problems, but was not prepared to offer something to make up for a spoilt night. We would have been happy if he would have said for example “desert is on us” ....just something to make a bad experience a little better.

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33. a

    amandah

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 8, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    We really enjoyed our Hi Tea experience at The Essence. The food and service were both very good.

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34. EC

    EileenC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 7, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    FOOD DELICIOUS AND ATTENTIVE SERVICE WOULD RECOMMEND

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35. RG

    RobG

    Philadelphia

    9 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on July 6, 2019

    overall1food4service1ambience3

    Food is good but service is very poor - this restaurant has a clear issue of management of their operation and communication with open table and between the waiters and the kitchen - understand that your main course could take very very very long (happened to me for lunch and for breakfast while I stayed in the Marriott hotel) I made a reservation through open table for dinner in 6 of July and when I reached the restaurant they said they could not take my reservation because of Christmas on July event so I was offered to go to the bar of the hotel with a menu limited in options and not unexpected my main course took forever having to ask the waitress where was my food several times

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36. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Frankfurt Area

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 4, 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    The food quality of the seafood stacker wasn’t great, especially on the hot food side. Throughout the whole dinner, our server didn’t even bother asking us how the dinner was even though she walked by our table a few times.

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37. JH

    JennyH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 3, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    The Essence was a delightful break and even my grumpy husband enjoyed the High Tea provided I drank his bubbly and bought him a beer as an alternative. Normally he is an extremely hard man to please but he tried everything offered, which is quite unique for him. But more importantly I booked the High Tea FOR ME! and enjoyed it immensely!

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38. DO

    DavidO

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 28, 2019

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    Good food, service was a bit slow but good. Lovely ombiance

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39. LB

    LindaB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 23, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Enjoyed every minute of it. We were made very welcome and could not fault the service at all..

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40. C

    Cora

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 22, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    We have been here twice now and the food and service is very good.

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