Dining from 35 Floors High: A Review of No 35 Melbourne

Chocolate fondant with ice cream

Melbourne is a city full of great people, shopping and food, with a plethora of options to suit any palate. When looking for new restaurants to try, I tend to look at two things: 1. It has to be in a good area, preferably with a view of any notable landmarks, and 2. It needs to have a variety of food choices. The restaurant in Melbourne that seemed to fit these two criteria the most was No35.

No35 is the signature restaurant of the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, a lovely hotel located just a short walk from Federation Square (the go-to hot spot in downtown). Upon entering the hotel lobby we were greeted by the concierge, Pablo, who was aware of our reservation and was ready to show us up to the restaurant. You may be wondering why it is called No35... Well, that's because it is located on the 35th floor. We made our way into the nearby elevator and were whisked up immediately, even though we were 45 minutes early for our reservation. The elevator goes very fast so we were up to level 35 in no time and I was soon informed that there are two flights of stairs that you must go down in order to get to the restaurant. As I am in a wheelchair, so many stairs would normally present a problem. However, the staff said that there was a lift that would carry me with my wheelchair down the stairs. This lift was kind of like a wheelchair lift that might be in a van, but went sideways and down the stairs instead of just up into a van. The lift did move quite slowly, but I did not want to be galloping down the stairs anyway. Better safe than sorry.

 

no 35 melbourne

The view of beautiful Melbourne from our table.

As soon as we got to the bottom of the stairs, we saw floor to ceiling racks of wine and immediately knew that we were in for a treat at one of Melbourne's most beautiful restaurants. The layout of No35 is an L-shape, which gives nearly every table a great view of the bustling city below. My mother and I were seated at a table with a prime view of the Eureka Skydeck, a notable landmark in Melbourne and before we could even ask, a waiter brought a bottle of tap water for the table. After strolling around the hot city all day (and getting a terrible sunburn) we were extremely appreciative that the water was brought out so quickly. What happened next was one of the most superb levels of service that I have seen... probably because I do not visit 5 star restaurants frequently, but it was still pretty awesome nonetheless. My mom went to put her purse under her seat and one of the staff members immediately brought over a stool chair for her to put her purse on so that it did not have to touch the floor throughout our meal. It was my mom, me and her purse at dinner that night, each with our own seat. Can it really get any better than that?!

The dinner menu offers many fresh options including oysters, salmon, barramundi and steak, and after scouring it for a few minutes we were ready to order. Both my mom and I opted for the main course of truffle poached corn fed chicken with parsley emulsion, parmesan gnocchi, asparagus and broad beans with a side dish of hand cut chunky chips and herb mayonnaise. Just a short wait later and our meals arrived to our table. The chicken was beautifully presented and it was actually a pretty large portion, but we both ended up eating every bite of it because it was so delicious. It was very tender and the gnocchi and asparagus were good compliments to the chicken. The side of hand cut chunky chips (fries) were perfection as well. They were thick, but still crispy throughout and the herb mayonnaise served as a great dipping sauce.

 

no 35 melbourne

Truffle poached corn fed chicken with parsley emulsion, parmesan gnocchi, asparagus and broad beans

 

 

no 35 melbourne

Hand cut chunky chips and herb mayonnaise

Since the main course was so delectable, when the waitress asked if we were interested in dessert, without hesitation the answer was YES! I am somewhat of a chocolate fanatic and there were two chocolaty choices on the dessert menu this evening, the chocolate fondant with ice cream and the double chocolate tart with peanut butter ice cream and peanut brittle. They both sounded exquisite so we decided to get them both and split them. The chocolate fondant was everything that I wanted it to be: warm and gooey on the inside with melted chocolate flowing out of the center with every bite. It was truly one of the greatest things that I have ever eaten and I really didn't want to swap it with my mom for the chocolate tart, but I am glad that I did because the double chocolate tart was amazing as well. It was a bit harder than the fondant, but the peanut butter ice cream quickly softened it up. My two favorite foods, chocolate and peanut butter, were both in one dish and I was in heaven.

 

no 35 melbourne

Chocolate fondant with ice cream

 

no 35 melbourne

Double chocolate tart with peanut butter ice cream and peanut brittle

 

After gorging ourselves with an exemplary meal, it was time to leave. The staff showed us out and escorted me up the lift again after one of the greatest dining experiences that I have ever had. Everything about No35 was top-notch from the delicious food to the jaw dropping view. If you ever find yourself hungry in Melbourne then it's definitely time to visit No35.

7 Comments

  • Eva Gold says:

    that food looks absolutely amazing! it was probably the wrong post to read today. I had my wisdom teeth out last week and am still on the soup diet. I want real food so bad 😉 but seriously – great view AND a great view? what more do you want in life!?
    Eva Gold recently posted…Dining Out around the World: the Doggy BagMy Profile

    • Cory Lee says:

      Ouch! I can only imagine how that feels as I’ve never had mine taken out, but I can’t imagine that it feels very good. Hope you feel better soon and get to eat lots of delicious food in the near future! Have you ever been to Melbourne? If not, you should definitely plan a visit to No35. That dessert alone is worth booking a flight for. 😉

  • Britany says:

    OMG that double chocolate tart with peanut butter ice cream… looks amazing. It’s like ten degrees outside right now but I think i need to go find some Ben and Jerry’s to deal with this sudden craving.
    Britany recently posted…Panic on a Bridge: The Tarzan Swing in Monteverde, Costa RicaMy Profile

    • Cory Lee says:

      10 degrees?! WOAH. That’s way too cold! It’s actually over 60° Fahrenheit here in Georgia today, but trust me – Ben & Jerry’s can’t compete with that peanut butter ice cream. SOOO GOOD!!

  • Nice pics!!!!!!!!!!! looking a delicious food and fantastic market.I will surely plan my upcoming vacation to this place. thanks for posting nice views…
    Best holiday destinations recently posted…Uttaranchal – The land of The GodsMy Profile

  • Nicole says:

    Been wanting to visit No35 for a while now (I’m based in Melbourne) but the time has never been right. Think I’m going to have to make a special occasion so I can go because the food looks delicious!

    That double chocolate tart with peanut butter ice cream and peanut brittle looks amazing!

    How did you find prices stacked up? Reasonable? A little higher than expected?
    Nicole recently posted…The Snow Queen: Where Food and Art CollideMy Profile

    • Cory Lee says:

      Nicole, you definitely need to make a special trip to No35. Would be the perfect place for a birthday dinner or any special occasion. It is a bit expensive, but I thought it was worth it for the quality of service, spectacular views, and great food. It’s about average price for any really nice restaurant in the Melbourne area. If you go, let me know how you liked it 🙂

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