Cumulus Inc. is really good

Some people may claim this place is pretentious but I beg to differ. It can't help that it has developed a character of its own through time.
My friend and I decided to try Cumulus for lunch and we were not disappointed.  As we entered, we were met with a bespectacled big smartly dressed man. We were told it would be a 30 minute wait. No problem.  We sat by the window on bar stools whilst enjoying a cafe latte and English breakfast tea.
15 minutes later, we were led to the bar and seated.
Now, the food.  The tuna tartare on peas and goats cheese ($34) came first.  Tuna perfectly seasoned. Smashed peas and goats cheese complemented the tuna...heavenly.
Next came the kitchen selection charcuterie ($29). The hams, salami and prosciutto mix were not up to expectations so will give it a miss the next round.  The finale was the flounder special with butter and corn ($36). The fish was fried bone in, perfectly cooked. Flesh was soft and I could taste the sweetness of the fish, a sign of freshness.  I liked the corn in butter sauce. Very tasty. This dish was ordinary though as it would have been a typical dish in my household.
Overall,  it was a great dining experience. Will go back for the signature lamb dish.

Cumulus Inc
45, Flinders street
Melbourne, Victoria.

Food with a View

The Views restaurant and bar at The Grampians motel in Halls Gap is a gem. The food is delicious and the hosts were very hospitable.  We ordered the tomato and bacon soup, grilled fish, eye fillets and a scotch fillet. Soup was super tasty with a good portion of bacon bits that went very well with the soup. The grilled fish was perfectly cooked. It was topped with a white creamy seafood sauce that complemented the fish well. The steaks were beautifully cooked to order and came with a side of mashed potatoes and pumpkin.  The highlight of the restaurant,  in my opinion,  is the kangaroo fillet ($34).  Cooked medium rare, it was tender and moist.
Their desserts are fairly good. I had the apple and raspberry crumble which had a nice tang but would have preferred the apples to be softer and the overall to be more moist.  The special banoffee with meringue was very good, just like eating a parfait. The sticky date pudding was a highlight as it was sweet and moist complemented well with vanilla ice cream.
I would visit the restaurant again when I go to Halls Gap.