The Dispensary Enoteca

Over priced and pretentious is what came to mind during my Dispensary experience. Don’t expect the food and service to be anything exceptional… There’s cool and then there’s too cool… This place is the latter.
Great wine list, whiskey selection and even craft beers. All top dollar of course, especially the cocktails priced more than Hilton Hotel prices…
Stay for a drink, enjoy the funk… This place has very well thought out décor offering a chilled ambience many would find appealing. Just don’t eat.
Why?
After waiting 20mins or more after ordering our meals in an empty restaurant is a sign the chefs have forgot how to move. I watched. The kitchen was on morphine not adrenalin. Not a positive indicator on a Friday night.
When you wait for so long watching Chefs appearing to put meticulous dishes together and what arrived… Arrived… You can’t but help feel cheated and ripped off.
A badly cooked breast of duck with a floppy skin a few leaves of chicory, baby beetroot and pork crackling crumbs does not warrant $ 33…and it was bland… Really bland…
My girlfriends Snapper was well cooked but was only accompanied with a dwarfed salad of samphire and fennel… Also a hefty $ 33.
So…maybe stick to having a well prepared snack and pre dinner drink… Then go somewhere else for dinner… There’s plenty on offer in Bendigo.

The Dispensary is by far our favourite place to eat in Bendigo. The staff are friendly and well trained, and their menu is constantly changing. Every meal I’ve had has been beautiful!
I addition to the great food, they have a truly huge selection of wines, beers, spirits and cocktails from around the world — in fact, almost 2 walls are covered with their selections!
As noted in another review, it is on the pricey side — expect to spend $ 35 on a main — but I think it’s worth it for the food, the drinks and the experience.

Dinner is sensational here. It’s not over priced you get what you pay for, quality costs.

Let’s get serious here. This place is wayyyy overpriced. I know from a pal that they have a good rep for a diverse range of whiskey ‘n that. I can only comment on the breakfast menu, but my goodness… Bacon and eggs on toast for $ 17… «Big breakfast» for $ 23… I’d give them a pass mark if there was something special about this stuff… there wasn’t. Generic mehness for the cost of a decent main at dinner. I guess regional joints can get away with charging this much for this little because there’s a lack of competition. Just… nup.
ps. The coffee was also totes average.
pps. Two stars because the wait staff were friendly.