Cumulus Inc

Posted by: Janeausten | 16 August 2011, 3.10am

From the menu it looks like the chef is smart in choosing budget produce and turned them into superstars. Great flavors and well cooked meals. Always pumping and this gives the place a great atmosphere but this may be why service was less than attentive and more of packing them in

Food:			Visit: Thu 4 August 2011 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: jake. | 28 March 2010, 11.04pm

the place looks nice, the food is quite simple and refreshing prices are quite good for breakfast but the service is terrible. you would think for with a "no bookings policy" they would have at least 1 person standing at the door at all times awaiting customers to seat.

Food:			Visit: Sun 28 March 2010
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Posted by: Easytiger | 25 September 2009, 3.03pm

I wish I had read the review posted here on the 2 Feb much earlier than I did. I also ate at CI to celebrate a special occasion with my partner. We ventured out with high expectations fueled by the unanimously ecstatic reviews we found in every inch of the food media. Initially we were disenchanted by the cavernous interior, and our night continued downhill, as we found ourselves served a cumulatively disappointing array of dishes by a boorish waiter.
First, I can confirm that CI is a poor choice for the romantic dinner date. It seems popular with upscale CBD workers for knock-off drinks and snacks but, the noisy, open-plan layout and minimalist-bordering-on-food-court design doesn t work for occasions calling for mood or warmth. In spite of all the praise for its interior design, Cumulus generates as little atmosphere as a cafe in a hotel foyer during a convention.
All the same, it s easy to forgive your surroundings if a kitchen delivers great food. Given CI s stellar reputation, this was a welcome possibility. We got off to a promising start with a selection of oysters and charcuterie. Then we tried some appetisers of scallop and octopus. These were fine, but lacked flair. We were still wondering how this kitchen got its superlative reputation when we ordered a mussel dish from the seafood menu. These were clearly overcooked, served in the shell, yet dry and chewy, with a splash of ill-matching sauce. The side-serve of toast was too burnt to eat. We tried a choucroute which had little to offer beneath a blast of smoke and salt, and risked only a madeline for desert. In all, just ok, but we had to ask: how does a rock star kitchen burn the toast?
Impatience from floor staff didn t help the situation either. Where did they get the idea that sarcasm was an appropriate response to earnest inquiries about menu items? This literally added insult to injury at the end of a dud night. We felt like suckers.
Such choices often come down to pricing. If you've planned and saved for a special night, many places in Melbourne with less inflated reputations will provide the dining/bar experience inexpensively, warmly and with culinary flair. Cumulus is like dim sims for millionaires: fine if you don't care - they don't care either - there's just the aura of the brand to bathe in.

Food:			Visit: Wed 26 August 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Clownshoe | 2 February 2009, 12.41pm

We went based on reviews dripping with superlatives only to find a restaurant that was choking on its fashionableness and its "no-booking policy". We walked in well before 6pm on a week night looking for a table for two. Were told "certainly, take a seat at the bar and we'll be with you soon". Over an hour, and three (not cheap) drinks later and having watched numerous groups who came in after us get seated before us (we were a couple - and they only seemed to have one or two tables for two) we were getting somewhat irritated. The fact that those being seated looked a little more middle aged and well-heeled made our paranoia really set in. No communication from the floor staff didn't help matters. When I piped up as to how much longer we'd have to wait, they offered to feed us where we were at the bar - propped right up against the register. My partner had to contend with people leaning over him to sign their credit card bills as he was trying to eat. One tipsy customer even launched the pen onto his dinner plate!
I spent the evening apologising for dragging him to such a place for his birthday. (Note to couples - Cumulus is not conducive to a romantic date). The food was good, but by that point we were so fed up with the whole experience that we weren't really enjoying it.

Also baffling was the fact that at one point during the evening there were at least three tables free and countless people standing around waiting - couples I assume. I even overheard one guy who was waiting with a larger group try to make a deal with the floor staff by offering to split up his friends and sit at a couple of the free tables just so they could eat. I'm not sure he was granted an elusive table even then. Shouldn't it be the restaurant that tries to accommodate the customers, not vice versa?

As for us, our annoyance would've been avoided had the staff been upfront with us from the outset and said we could be waiting well over an hour - and even then we would likely be served at the bar. At least then we could've decided whether to wait it out or make other plans.
The whole experience felt a bit like an overpriced counter meal. I doubt I'll be returning.

Food:			Visit: Mon 2 February 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: M&B | 5 November 2008, 1.56pm

Flying solo, I decided in CI for brunch & it was a great decision. With lots of seating options, chose the raised communal table so I could spread the (provided) paper out. There was a positive buzz about the place which was reinforced by excellent staff who explained how the plave worked & kept an eye out for anything that you reqd. I tried the Turkish eggs & was well rewarded with excellent flavours which were a great change from the traditional B&E combo's at other places. I am looking forward to returning to try the a la carte menu, which reads with simplicity, but no doubt delivers above expectations

Food:			Visit: Tue 2 September 2008 Mealtime: brunch
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Posted by: gourmetsearcher | 12 October 2008, 11.11am

Went here for a pre-show drink and nibble. melt in your mouth octopus and a bowl full of crisp crunchy tiny shrimp. Husband tried wagyu for the first time and enjoyed. Great service. We came around 6 pm - by 6.30 there were people waiting for tables. Seemed to be a lot of women dining - girls night out perhaps? Would love to go back and eat at the bar overlooking the kitchen.

Food:			Visit: Fri 10 October 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Mary M | 9 October 2008, 10.29am

The smell when you step inside is like no other restaurant, it's intoxicating and you want to try everything, with the small tapas style you can.
Oysters are a must and if you like an open kitchen the bench seating is great.
One small minus is that they want you to hang your own coat..
It's a must visit for us when we are in Melbourne.

Food:			Visit: Fri 26 September 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: withheld | 25 August 2008, 4.33pm

Took some overseas and Sydney-siders here last Friday - had a great meal and we enjoyed the service! The tuna, gnocci, and bean salad were all yum! Will be back with more guests.

Food:			Visit: Mon 25 August 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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