Middle Brighton Baths

Ph: 9539 7000; 251 The Esplanade, BRIGHTON 3186 www.middlebrightonbaths.com.au

Contemporary, $$ +
Open Tue-Sun noon-3pm Wed-Sat 6-9pm; Licensed; AE DC MC V EFT
Chef Steve Davidson (5-12-08) Owner Elias Dannaoui (5-12-08)

Mietta's Review
Over a ground-level casual cafe, with great sea views the Middle Brighton Baths restaurant presents excellent classically based dishes at the prices you would expect (mains around $30). Service sometimes lacks focus. There was considerable consternation in the food press in 2002 - the then chef Maurice Esposito, with his whole brigade, decamped to the Stokehouse in St Kilda while the Stoke's chef, Paul Raynor and his kitchen staff moved here. Extraodinarily, this has worked well for both establishments particularly here at the Baths where the food displays considerable refinement.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 14/20 "The early noughties refit might be ageing fast, but it's worth ignoring the printed walls, bobbled tablecloths and plasma-screen urinal at this formal bayside institution because there are two things that outweigh the cosmetics"

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 15/20, One Hat "A sympathetic and expensive makeover to the Art Deco foreshore building propelled Middle Brighton Baths into the realms of occasion dining in 2002, but a revolving door of chefs contributed to mixed critical fortunes"

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 14/20 "Middle Brighton Baths is a 'how to' lesson in contemporary sophistication: the tasteful dining room is designed by architects McGauran Soon, floor-to ceiling windows offer a wide-screen view of Port Phillip, and waitstaff are discreet and officient. In the kitchen, however, the merry-goround continues, with Paul Raynor trading places with Barry Vera, formerly of Joseph's at the Mansion."

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 score 15/20 One Hat "While its St Kilda neighbours have oodles of beachside buzz, the Baths is more uptight, with sometimes aloof waitstaff and a menu that needs a gastro glossary."

Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide "Down the coast in beautiful Brighton, moneyed locals now have a restaurant worthy oftheir dough. Smart but conservative, the restaurant's great asset is chef Paul Raynor, a Britpacker whose modern, post-classical food embraces the lighter touches and finesse a New World audience demands."

Age Epicure John Lethlean 11/5/04 score 15.5/20 "Inspired modern cooking at more-than-fair prices. Holding the place back is a lack of passion on the floor."

Herald Sun, Weekend,1/5/04,Bob Hart,'our meals began as they were to continue:stylishly and deliciously...this is no ordinary restaurant:rather,it is an extraordinary restaurant'

Details from The Age Good food Guide Awards 2004 1 hat, score 15/20, excellent wine list, excellent bar

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004,'The Bath's dining room gazes out to the bay through double-height windows, the view interrupted by the spectre of the eerie enclosesd baths that give the place its name...food treads a smart path between Mediterranean tradtion and modern innovation...Service is keen and the wine list serviceable.'

The Age, A3, 29/12/03, Jane Faulkner

Herald Sun, Food&Wine, Dining out, Steven Downes, 12/11/02, Score 13/20

The Sunday Age, Eat Streets, John Lethlean, 20/10/02

The Age, Epicure, Restaurants, John Lethlean, 21/5/02, Score 13/20.