Dracula's Theatre Restaurant

100 Victoria Street, Melbourne.

Sorry, no photography inside.

 I’ve got to tell you that I had my doubts about a theatre restaurant with a horror theme but I got the surprise of my life.  This was a really excellent night out.  The entertainment was an amazing mix of musical comedy, cabaret, burlesque, rock and roll, rhythm and blues and music hall all rolled into a non stop hand clapping toe tapping sing along good time. 

3 million customers and counting. 

 The theatre is run like a well oiled machine as guests are greeted and led through a house of horrors décor to the bar, complete with glass floor with a body in a coffin under your feet.  You are then invited to ride the in house ghost train.  The atmosphere is Halloween fun with shrieks and screams from party loving patrons.  As we were ushered into the main theatre towards our table by Elvira Queen of Darkness, a rhythm and blues band of vampires blew everyone away from the stage. 

The makeup and costumes is first class, equalled only by the amazing musical talent of the performers.  The vampires teeth are so well done, I started to wonder if they really were vampires treading the boards for their next pint of the red stuff.

Now, let’s talk about the food.  It was ok.  That’s it.  That’s all I can say about it.  It was just ok.  These guys put out three courses to hundreds of people with military precision.  Everyone gets each course within the same couple of minutes, which is pretty impressive.  The desert is a mass produced chocolate coffin filled with cream.  Cute, but ho hum.  The other dishes were fairly pedestrian but at least they arrived hot.

Even the street hawkers outside are entertaining.



This is where you have to think about what constitutes a good time.  Is it great food above atmosphere, or the other way around?  The way I look at our night at Dracula's is this.  We were treated to a world class show of dancing singing and amazing special effects, something that would sit well in Vegas, Broadway or London.  We didn’t go hungry or thirsty, and we totally enjoyed ourselves for about 80 bucks each.  Thats a bargain.

So I can honesty say to all of our wonderful readers that a night out at Dracula’s in Melbourne is worth every cent and a wonderful way to spend an evening.   
Karl (Count Karl the un-dead foodie)

Colonial Tramcar Restaurant Melbourne

Why not start off with one of Melbourne's iconic eateries.  To tell you the truth, I didn't get my hopes up when we decided to give it a shot, but it surprised my socks off.   This isn't a fine dining experience in the pure sense of the word.  It's a sightseeing tour with fantastically prepared food and insanely friendly service.  Sounds like I loved it, doesn't it?  Well I think I did too. 

The tram is a restored 1948 beauty that has been fitted out in luxurious old world style.  Definitely a bit of first class "Orient Express dining car" going on here.  Once seated, our maitre de introduces himself and his staff and makes us all feel very welcome.  Sparkling wine is served with an exquisite pate and dip platter.  The tram trundled along into the city and then back out to St. Kilda at a comfortable pace that allowed us to enjoy our food and the views with out spilling a drop.

There are two dinner sittings each evening.  We chose the early sitting so we could enjoy the sights in daylight.  The later sitting would definitely be more romantic.  I really was bowled over by the beautifully kept old homes that were along our route.  Melbourne is such a beautiful city.

The set menu gave us a choice of a chicken or beef dish.  The idea of a set menu had me worried from the start but both choices of the main course were cooked to perfection.  The Mediterranean style chicken was delicate and tender with delightful vegetables.  The eye fillet beef was a study in the art of steak cooking.  I overheard dinners commenting on how this was probably the best steak they had ever had.  It melted in the mouth and was a very generous portion indeed.  Fantastic.

Throughout the meal, the wine kept on coming.  Delicious Victorian reds and whites especially selected to compliment the menu.  By the time the tram rolled down Acland Street in St. Kilda I was in foodie heaven.  Now it was getting dark and the lights around the boulevard, Luna Park and St.Kilda beach added to the magic. 

The desserts were not a disappointment either.  The softest most delicious sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce, or a white chocolate passionfruit panacotta with praline were a hard choice to make.  Of course we shared each others deserts so we got to try both.  Just wonderful.  

The whole meal was finished off with coffee and liqueurs as we settled back and enjoyed the rest of the journey back to the starting point tramstop opposite the crown casino.  I was totally enthralled by the whole experience.  I didn't notice that we had been travelling for nearly two hours.  Time flies when your having fun.

The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant certainly is something special that all Australians should visit and be proud of.  A real slice of Melbourne.  For prices and booking information you can visit their web site http://www.viator.com/tours/Melbourne/Colonial-Tramcar-Restaurant-Tour-of-Melbourne/d384-3412TRAM?pref=02&aid=g1201

I know this sounds like an advertisement but it's not.  This is one venue that really impressed me. It was a great night out.  One last thing before I sign off.  A huge thankyou to Carl, Dot, and Katrina for working so hard and making our night so memorable.