Food-Maze Grill

Maze

Crown Casino, Melbourne

I was recently invited to attend the 'soft opening' of Gordon Ramsay's new restaurantMaze located in Crowns new five star third tower complex.

Maze? I asked.

Maze Melbourne is the fourth installment of Gordon Ramsay's French/Asian inspired bar and grill. This completes the quad of Ramsay's Maze restaurants located in London, New York and Prague. Maze opens its doors to the public on the 29th March with both a fine dining and grill area available.

Let's just say my stomach is still full from this outing. I may never eat again. (Hah… no not really.)

The wait staff at Maze were more than accommodating, and were always on top of refilling our water, offering more wine, and recommending several of the dishes on the menu.

The interior of Maze is extremely sleek and modern. The space has high ceilings that provide great acoustics and the lighting only adds to the city/sleek ambiance. There is an open kitchen plan where patrons can sit nearby and watch the action, or as the sommelier pointed out, relieve any awkward first date tension by providing several conversation starters. "Oh hey... look at that chef... he's... cooking."

Outstanding dishes of the night:

- Pigs trotters with a caper garnish, most unusual but hey ill try anything.

-Tomato Arancini Balls; Melt in your mouth salutation reaction

-Soft shell crab

So this place is about meat. (Yay for the men of this world.) Here you can order different breeds and cuts of meat cooked over coal. I went for the NZ Wagu with Béarnaise sauce. From my humble beginnings as a well-done girl, I was proud to announce to the waiter my order of "'medium' cooked please."

Maze also encourages share plates for starters and sides which range from thick cut potato wedges to the strange but interesting quinoa, as well as the potato puree which I'm sorry mum, has outdone your standard mash.

Dessert was the final straw as we left any trace of credibility and maturity behind through excited shrieks and spoon/fork wars as we clambered to get the last bite of the pear and almond tart accompanied by homemade malted ice cream. The Pimms jelly cup with melon sorbet was oh so refreshing after our huge feast.

There was no doubting that my friends and I were more than impressed. The last people to leave we had eaten till our hearts, heads and bellies were content. We may not ever be able to afford such an extravagant outing, but that is the beauty of a soft opening- Free.

Oh the perks in life. Thank you Michael Warner.

Date Rate: Start saving

Coffee Cure: This place is a grill… that is all I will say.

Hangover happy: I would pay to see someone hung over here.

Price: Like I said start saving. (But worth every penny)