Embassy @ 97 - Williamstown

It's Friday night 19:40, yacht clubs, the seaside (sort of), nice long esplanade, overlooking Melbourne's city skylight, and there are only 4 diners in a 40-50 seats restaurant, us and another couple. What is wrong? Set up within a heritage building on the Esplanade, Blue...More

I'm a local resident and have been meaning to try out Embassy@97 for ages as it looks lovely outside. Being May (and chilly) we chose to eat inside for our evening meal. The decor needs a big overhaul. A few flags and prints doesn't give French ambience. The staff were friendly but the food was very average. Strange tasting French onion soup, not like what I've had in France. Mussels were good but not the best. The wine list wasn't extensive and tasted average too. Not the best restaurant but not the worst. Saying that, I probably won't go back for a meal but maybe just a coffee in the morning as it's a nice setting.

When this cafe first opened the staff had some inkling of what a French cafe was meant to be, however the current staff have no idea. We both ordered plain croissant with jam and coffee, the coffee was more like coffee flavoured hot milk and the croissant was nothing that resembled a French croissant. It had been sliced in half and toasted flat, just no understanding that a croissant is meant to be serviced warm and crisp, not toasted flat. When the waiter asked if we enjoyed the coffee and croissant, I responded that I was very disappointed and didn't enjoy it at all, I told him we had previously been to have coffee but this time it was so bad that we would not be coming back. He made no effort at all to rectify the situation.If you enjoy over priced coffee flavoured milk and flat toasted croissant in a cafe decorated with prints of Paris and other mock French themes this is your place!!

On a rainy day we wandered into Embassy@97 and were greeted by a very friendly and helpful waitress. Sitting by the window over looking the sea we immediately felt comfortable. The menu wasn't extensive, however, we all were able to find something suitable to our tastes. The creme brulee was the stand out dish. Coffee and hot chocolates were steaming and very good.

We enjoy coming to this restaurant for breakfast/brunch like it was on Monday. We were enjoying tasty omelettes and beautiful view, and suddenly some people from council came and disturbed our meal, they went to the bar like it was their house, so disappointing. We don't have any complain on the food ever, so it was unfair to do so to this restaurant.