Mabu Mabu - Big Esso

Review summary

1. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Victoria2 reviews

   3.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   The good was outstanding and a great experience. However the service was average .
   

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2. D

   Dean

   Melbourne1 review

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   6 of us has a good variety, some were vegetarian, and menu made it easy to accomodate requirements.
   

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3. F

   Fiona

   Melbourne11 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We chose the Feed Me menu, which was great value and encouraged us to try some of the more exotic dishes on the menu, for example Crocodile tongues on skewers! We received a large range of dishes and each one was delicious and beautifully presented. The flavours Nornie puts into her meals are fantastic. Very enjoyable and original menu.
   

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4. m

   melissa

   Melbourne4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 1 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   we had cocktails and and early dinner with shared plates for three. the plant based / vegan options for primo and super satisfying and flavoursome. from the damper to the yam, salads and just a great combination. it was a perfect evening into night and the atmos was crystal.
   

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5. Y

   Yoshi

   Melbourne1 review

   4.0

   Dined on 28 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   First time dining, great range of food. The purple yam was a hit ! Highly recommend.
   

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6. L

   Lillian

   Melbourne5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 27 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Quite an experience! The fresh, new menu challenges and tantalises taste buds. Even my interstate guest, who isn't very adventurous, enjoyed it - especially the emu steak.
   

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7. K

   Karina

   Sydney3 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on 23 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   I had never tried traditional Aboriginal food before, so when I saw a post about this restaurant on a friend's Facebook, I decided to give it a try. A friend from Sydney was visiting, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to try something different. We ordered the fried crocodile. I'm not sure if it’s meant to be served hot or cold, but it seemed like it was pre-prepared and served cold. It was drizzled with either mayo or yogurt (I’m not entirely sure which), and while it tasted okay, I was a bit disappointed. It didn’t have the “wow” factor I was expecting and instead reminded me of deep-fried calamari that was overly cooked. Along with the crocodile, we had a cucumber salad, which was refreshing. We also tried the fish, which I think was mackerel. It was flavorful, but again, didn’t leave a lasting impression. While the experience was what I was looking for, it didn't quite meet my expectations.
   

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8. T

   Teri

   New York City1 review

   5.0

   Dined on 22 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing staff. Food was incredible. Cocktails were great. 10/10.
   

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9. L

   Luba VIP

   Portland45 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on 22 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We were interested in trying aboriginal food and Mabu Mabu was profiled in one of the articles we read. The service was very friendly and readily addressed all questions. The menu is short. Even with a short list, one of the items we wanted to try — alligator tongue dish — was sold out. Three dishes we ordered had interesting ingredients, like emu meat. Though, it was not warm enough temperature for the main course. Drinks were average. Later, a Melbourne friend told us that the place is mostly visited by tourists, but if you want to try unusual ingredients, like G&T with green ants, this place is for you.
   

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10. S

    Simone

    Melbourne1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 21 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Amazing dining experience. Everyone needs to eat here honestly it was so delicious, expertly crafted and perfectly prepared.
    

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