Best Romantic Restaurants in Hawthorn East

Cool vibes inside. The booth seats are a bit too high for the tables so it’s a little awkward to sit at. Steak was perfectly cooked, although the mushroom sauce was not really a sauce but just some mushrooms on top. The side of chips were yum but could do with more salt (none provided on the table). The chimichurri side sauce also lacked flavour. Kingfish was fresh and perfect for a hot day. Cavolo nero spaghetti was the highlight!

Enjoy the experience, we did. Staff were very pleasant

If you want a review of the steaks at Meat Maiden, scroll on. I didn’t order steak…which is perhaps akin to going to Red Rooster and not ordering chicken. I went for the miso cauliflower, perhaps not the first choice of most diners. But I made our reservation because I knew my mega-carnivorous husband would love it. And he did. So yes, the food was excellent. Go for the food. But waaaaaaaay better than the food were the staff. Unlike the current trend for waitstaff to make it obvious they’d rather be anywhere than taking your food order, MM staff all genuinely looked like they wanted to be there. They were joyful, engaging and had each other’s backs. They worked together like a well oiled machine and it was fun and heart warming to watch. I’d go back for the chips. For the crème caramel, for the cauliflower and the donut. My husband would go back for the burnt ends and the pork belly and scallops. But most of all, we’d go back for Nathan and the rest of the staff.

We love how flavourful all the dishes were and the atmosphere was amazing!

Great night out! Food excellent,.. love you can order an entree size for main course 👍👍👍… Great recommendations from our waiter and we were second last table to leave! 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️