Orient Heritage - Melbourne

I've walked by this boutique hotel (just at the corner of the next block from our home) a dozen times and never really noticed it.

The Seasons Heritage is a quaint, charming hotel on the corner of Roy and StKilda.

Citro have an interesting fixed price menu. It allows you to combine entrees, mains and desserts for a set price regardless of what you pick. The meals were great and if you like chocolate... definitely try the death by chocolate! The meals were also served very promptly.

Couldn't be bothered going far afield, so we walked to here from our nearby hotel; phoned ahead and turned up. Raymond was on duty at the bar, and showed us to our seats. A friend and I were watching our food intake, since holidays tend to be great eating occasions, so we shared an entre and a main between us. We chose the spring rolls, but as the serving size was three, Chef very kindly made it four, so we could divide it evenly. They each came wrapped in a cabbage leaf, and were yummy.Then we shared the lamb shanks with mash and steamed vegetables, which was a really decent portion size, and was eaten to the last drop of gravy, being so 'just like grandma makes' good. I scraped the plate with my spoon to get it all, and Raymond said he heard me and we told him it was because I couldn't bear to waste any. I think he was pleased. We asked him to pass compliments to Chef.Dinner, for two, was $40, so I think great value.

We were staying at the Seasons Heritage and had a tight timeline, so were glad to find that their restaurant opened for dinner at 5.00 pm instead of the usual 6.00 pm in most places. Even better was our surprise on entering the restaurant to find that the furnishings included many beautiful original features of the Victorian house that it once was, in particular the carved fire surround and leadlighted bay window. Other furnishings were a good mix of Victorian and modern, making an overall effect of comfort and opulence. The menu was another pleasant surprise in such plush surrounds - with mains at $15 for Australian pub/cafe options (e.g. burgers, fish and chips) and $18 for international cuisine (e.g. Italian and Asian meals) or $30 for a sirloin steak, it was very affordable. So much so that we went down to the restaurant again for breakfast, when again the options were wide enough for anyone's tastes and pocket. Very impressed.