Firstly, being forced to order everything through QR code on your phone makes a terrible dining experience. It isn't fun for the technically un-savvy nor for anyone who wants an actually pleasent evening where they and their companions aren't forced to be on the phone constantly. Why has this horrible trend taken off? I fail to understand how it reduces covid risk. But anyway, onto the rest of the info... Food was ok, nothing exceptional and tended to err on the too spicy side so beware if you can't handle your chilli. Portions are large for sharing which we did not know of course (since you can't actually interact with wait staff) so ended up with a large excess of food I won't be going back read more

This place is basically an old school beer hall, and while at first it looks like a restaurant, it is actually a lot more than that as down the side you have your typical side rooms like those you would find in your average hipster bar. Actually, that is what makes this place so cool, especially since there are a number of rooms upstairs with some quite comfy seats. The fact that it was quiet when I was there adds to the charm of the place. While there is an outdoor area, it is mainly for the smokers, and not really a place where you can sit down. Oh, and as is typical with Brunswick there are also quite a few craft beers available. read more

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Delicious food, a great variety of beers and quick service. It's pricey but well worth it. read more

The Brunswick Mess Hall - The back of the bar - Bars Near Me - Brunswick, VIC

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Awesome! Underrated deserves more recognition had a great experience... Located right next door to the penny black hotel you will find however, that on most nights you'll be better off planning ahead as it can get quite busy read more

The fit-out is amazing. Drinks are pretty decently priced. We ordered a whole bunch of food to share the duck red curry and seared tuna were my favourites. Nice vibe, really good place to have a few drinks and share some food with mates. read more

High expectations for a brilliant space that's been severely under-utilized on fickle Sydney Rd. The decor ticks a lot of boxes - moose head, 80's neon, purple velvet and plentiful bearded staff with requisite tattoos. Yet somehow, it felt devoid of personality and not a little contrived. The glass of Pinot Grigio I ordered was a nice example, and the bar staff were amiable and competent. In fact, all the staffing encounters I had suggested a comprehensive briefing by the owners of deportment, products and service levels - warm but brief. Of my bahn xeo, I can't say I was impressed. The condiment platter that came with my table setting saved the dish- I find drowning things in vinegar and chilli can rescue almost anything. The eggs were thin but peppered with some kind of legume- perhaps mung beans? These added an unpleasant mouthfeel that added little of value to the plate. The pork was fine, the prawns fresh and plump, the sides adequate, yet overall, the dish lacked the fresh flavor kick you expect from South East Asian dishes. My partner's dish was similarly uninspired, but I'll let her post in her own time. Overall, there's potential, provided Brunswick doesn't beat it down as it has so many before it. read more

We have been here twice now and have not been disappointed. Both times the beer on tap have been great and not too expensive. I've eaten the same meal here twice now, as i'm a vegetarian and there doesn't seem to be a lot of options. However, on my last visit, the waitress recommended me to ask the chef to do one of the stir fries vegie, as they will take requests. Thiss was really great information, and something that will make me come back again. The other really quirky thing about this place is that they take your order off a menu which they leave on teh table and you fill out in grey lead pencil! Really rad and kinda fun! read more

BMH is such a lovely space. I love the high ceilings with beautiful decoration and a 'chapel' feel to it. It's always buzzing and even on a quiet night it still has a great atmosphere. In fact I think BMH is one of those venue for everyone. Cocktails are fun and food is pretty good too. Great for groups as well as the space can accommodate easily. read more

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Cocktails are amazing. Decor and atmosphere interesting (I like the changing animal projection). But unfortunately the food was horrible. We ordered a banquet (perhaps we should have gone for individual orders?), most rounds were 'bitsy' and cold dishes that just didn't hit the spot. The flavours didn't work and it just came across as trying very hard to be unusual for the sake of it. It's a real shame because the drinks are really interesting and the bar tender who made our cocktails was amazing - it was a performance as well as a drink! read more

Modern Asian done extremely well! This bar Is a great place to hold a birthday dinner or a group outing as you can book long tables sitting everyone comfortably. I had my graduation dinner there with my family and close friends in the little room out the back for a group. Worked out perfect for the occasion ! This bar is a really funky environment . All the food is designed to be shared so everything comes out when it's ready (the way great Asian food should!). The crispy tofu is one of my fav as a starter ! I have made many non-tofu lovers try this and they have all enjoyed it as it has a very unique but delicious taste! The big punch bowls of booze are a little pricey but considering how much alcohol and mixers go into it it's a great one off to remember ! The presentation of the bowls are awesome too! read more

The Brunswick Mess Hall - Steamed dumplings and espresso Martinis - Bars Near Me - Brunswick, VIC

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I've recently moved to Melbourne and have only been here once before on a Saturday and for a mates birthday - which was great. I recently went again and took my friend that was in from Dubai and another mate. We got there around 9pm, on a Wednesday, and stood behind the enormous foliage that asked us to wait to be seated but simultaneously hid us from view of staff. When the waitress finally did see us she awkwardly tried to place us at a small, unset, table until we advised that a fourth person was joining us for a drink shortly. We were begrudgingly sat at a table set for four but advised that they wanted to close the kitchen so if we would quickly order from the bar menu that would be ok. I think the waitress realised that she wasn't really doing her best at looking like a friendly waitress so became overly nice for the remainder of our, short, visit. Once we ordered the food we went to the bar and ordered a drink each. We were about 5 minutes into our beers when the overzealous, and keen to go home, waitress returned to say that she was calling final drinks if we wanted to order another. We declined. Once the food arrived it was ok. For what it was, it was a little overpriced. If you want asian style food I'd suggest going to an asian venue where it'll probably be more authentic and cheaper. I'm not sure what that pumpkin thing is but at $16 it didn't blow my socks off. For three people eating only off the bar menu, and with three beers, a bill just shy of $100 didn't seem reasonable. Particuarly in an unwelcoming environment. To be fair, the venue seems great - big and full of character. It's just a shame that despite advertising themselves as being open until 11pm we were fed and booted within 40 minutes of getting there. Being new to Melbourne - this surprises me. Of all the amazing food and drinking venues on Sydney Rd and in and around Brunswick I cannot recommend going here. A relaxed night with some old friends, one from overseas, became rushed and awkward. Disappointing. read more

Delicious food and well priced. Amazing drink range and wonderful service. As brunswick gentrification takes over i feel as though this bar will boom in years to come. Expecting great things in the shape of food and drinks. read more

There's a bowl full of little plastic giraffes sitting on the front counter when you first step into the Mess Hall. I don't know why, but it makes me like the place even more. The setup here is pretty simple. There are two front rooms where you can kick back, relax and people watch through the large windows that look out over Sydney Rd. once you step inside the large main room there are tables on the left that you can grab a drink or a quick bite at, larger tables in the middle that can seat 6 and that you will usually end up sharing with strangers and large picnic style benches for larger groups. We've never had a problem getting a table for two here without a reservation, but it can get fairly busy. Once you are seated you will be given a two page menu filled with a mix of Asian dishes from all over, as well a few more Western style dishes with an Asian twist. The menu has recently been updated with a lot more vegetarian options. The menu is designed for sharing, but you can easily grab something just for yourself too. To order, you simply fill out the menu with the pencils provided, marking how many serves of each thing you want then take it up to the bar. The bar is quite good here and the staff seem knowledgeable. They also make an apple hot toddy that smells AMAZING. service is quick and our food has always been brought out very quickly. I've never eaten anything here that I didn't like, so order a bunch of stuff to share and you'll find plenty to fill your belly. The last time we ate here the food was very hot though and was a little hard to eat when it first came out, but if that's the only bad thing I can say in my review then there really is nothing to complain about. read more

Originally, I was worried that I would not be able to lock in a reservation; I know how hard this can be on a Saturday night. Luckily, I managed to squeeze in for dinner. I arrived with my Wife and two friends, and was instantly amused by the giant giraffe peering through the window at the rear of the venue. The main room is combination of fun and entertaining genres. This immediately gives off a relaxed yet entertaining vibe. We were escorted to our table in a room just outside the main hall. While small, the room did a great job of cutting out the noise. For my first drink, I asked for a Kung Foo Lager which unfortunately at the time was unavailable. What really impressed me was the Waitress returned with a different beer, telling me that the barman recommended the Brooklyn Lager as a "delicious alternative". Indeed it was delicious, I ended up having three. Something we all noticed on the drink menu, really stood out. You can order any cocktail in a Punch Bowl, and I'm not talking about an over-sized margarita glass you would get at Taco Bill, but an actual full-fledged punch bowl. We did not order this but another time, for sure. The food was amazing, delicate and tasty; we were in Flavour Country. I'm not normally a tofu fan, in fact I actively dislike it, but we ordered it anyway. And yet EVERYONE at the table was reaching for more, the Crispy Tofu is a must have item. I truly recommend this place to everyone looking for a tapas dinner. read more

Dreadful food. We won't be going here again in a hurry. In such a prominent position on Sydney Road, this place has a lot of strong competition so they really should try harder. I doubt this place will be around long. read more

Yum and yum! Great food, huge drinks menu and a beautiful venue. We had 3 or 4 dishes to share between 3 of us and found it all very tasty. It's a busy place so book ahead! read more

Love the atmosphere of this place and the bar have good selections of drinks. It's a perfect place just to hangout with mates & have some drinks. The food is quite disappointing, as an Asian I love Asian food but the food that I ordered was one of the worst Asian food I've ever had. read more

The Brunswick Mess Hall is an amazingly unique venue. It's an old church, which they have converted into a beer hall / cocktail bar. The food is decent, serving Asian shared plates. The food quality was good but a little pricey compared to other places on Sydney Road. The bar staff in particular know how to make amazing cocktails and the beer list is extensive. Overall it's a great experience for a big night out. read more

Would not recommend... we booked for the banquet, then the staff "recommended" (cough pressured cough) us to go sit in the front room instead, and order off the bar menu. We weren't even gone for 5 minutes and they had already split our original tables and sat new patrons there. Our group wrongly thought we would still get to eat the banquet, so when we found out we couldn't we requested to be moved back into the main room. By that time, some of the group had already eaten bar food so we weren't all having the banquet. Rather than asking us, the wait staff assumed that everyone would be doing the banquet and then tried to charge us for those who had already eaten their bar food. We had collectively spent over $2K on food and beverage, but the wait staff were trying to sling us for the 3 people who didn't eat the banquet, because "they brought out food for them". We sent back most of the dishes half full, but yet they tried to claim that we ate the additional 3 people's food, which was absolute lies. Rather than being reasonable, the wait staff chose to tag team our group, without budging. It literally took our entire group of 24 people to arc up before they would even listen... absolutely appalling customer service! Will never go back here again!! read more

Great vibe set by the people and music. Food was excellent and tasty. Service was exceptional, very professional attentive staff. Would absolutely recommend to friends and will be coming back again. read more