A creation of husband and wife team, Megan and Troy Rhoades-Brown, and opened in March 2009, Muse Restaurant is not about dinner, it’s about dining.  The perfect mix of contemporary Australian cuisine with professional and friendly service, the restaurant is in a world class setting, located within the grounds at Hungerford Hills Winery in the Hunter Valley.

Founded on simple cooking and great produce sourced from and supporting local when possible, the importance of the dining experience lies within treating the product with care and knowledge.  At Muse you can experience meals that bring the best out of the ingredient without confusing or losing its true flavour.

After consuming several glasses of wine along the way on the ‘Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Tour’, our stop at Muse Restaurant revitalised my being, when seated in its outside dining area. The gorgeous outdoor settings with light wood furniture and muted colours were aesthetically pleasing.

First class dining can often be intimidating, but not at Muse.  The atmosphere was relaxed with the staff welcoming in talking about the winery and surrounding area. Their extensive knowledge of the wines to compliment the meals  was extremely helpful.

After a scrutinisingly decision over whether to order the Pork Belly or Wagyu Beef, I sipped on my local Hunter Valley wine and decided on the beef. When it arrived, it was plated beautifully and a delight on the taste buds with perfectly cooked beef on a bed of salad mixed with roasted figs and blue cheese.  I was hoping to try the infamous Nitro Ice-cream, an inventive dessert made with the use of dry ice, but I was too satisfied with the main meal that I couldn’t possibly eat anymore.

When I asked about the menu, our waiter informed me the menu constantly changes as it is dictated by the seasons.

Muse Restaurant has received a number of accolades, most recently has been named 2010's Restaurant of the Year and the winner of 2010's Best Contemporary Australian Restaurant Award - 2010 Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence in the Hunter Valley

‘I wish not to follow trends as the food I serve is the food I love, at this point in my culinary journey’ - Muse Restaurant, Head Chef/Owner, Troy Rhoades-Brown