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Restaurant

Emerald City

207 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia

Recommended by 78 people

Updated

Find Emerald City

207 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 478 368 921
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 1:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 1:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 1:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Emerald City

Behind the dark curtains tucked past Cavanagh’s whisky bar, Victoria’s smallest dining room fits just four stools right inside the kitchen. No floor staff, no white-tablecloth stiffness. Solo chef Joel preps, plates, and pours everything himself, turning weekly farm boxes into a relaxed, seasonal degustation. Diners talk up the easy banter and tailored drink flights—right down to a half-pour pairing for the designated driver.

  • Victoria's Smallest Counter: A four-seat counter located directly in the kitchen behind Cavanagh's whisky bar.
  • Solo-Chef Service: Chef Joel handles the cooking, storytelling, and direct service for just four guests at a time.
  • Tailored Pairings: Curated wine, cocktail, and spirit flights, plus non-alcoholic options and half-pairings for designated drivers.
RestaurantModern AustralianRestaurant

What's On at Emerald City

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Emerald City Is Healesville's Most Compelling Dining Reservation

Behind the dark curtains lies Victoria’s most intimate four-seat kitchen counter—reserve your seats to experience hyper-seasonal fine dining up close.

  • Four-Seat Counter Inside the Kitchen

    Guests dine at an intimate four-seat counter positioned directly inside the working kitchen, turning the degustation into an up-close culinary performance.

    you’re literally eating IN the kitchen (WITH the chef and 3 other people)

    Lc Bt

  • Direct Solo-Chef Service

    Chef Joel single-handedly prepares every dish, narrates each course, and serves curated beverage pairings for an unfiltered private-chef feel.

    Joel literally did everything from handling our drinks, wine pairing and serving the food throughout the night.

    Ricky

  • Prorated Driver Drink Pairings

    Thoughtful pairing options cater to Yarra Valley travelers by offering a tailored half-flight for designated drivers alongside full wine and non-alcoholic pairings.

    offered a half pairing for the designated driver so they didn't miss out.

    Matthew

  • Effortless Decision-Free Degustation

    The hyper-seasonal multi-course menu and coordinated pours eliminate ordering friction, offering guests a relaxed, seamless tasting journey.

    Take the drink pairing option to have a complete decision free experience.

    Jennifer Young

  • Shared Countertop Camaraderie

    The ultra-limited four-seat counter fosters a convivial setting where dining companions and neighbors naturally bond over shared courses.

    By the end of the night, we had formed new friendships, sharing laughter and stories over a delicious meal.

    Maria Kakaziani

  • Interactive Chef Storytelling

    An open, interactive kitchen layout invites ongoing dialogue with the chef about regional ingredients, culinary techniques, and local discoveries.

    allowing conversation with Joel who chats away happily while preparing your meal and discussing the finer points of the meal

    Martin G

From hyper-seasonal counter courses to tailored driver pairings, explore the standout dishes and services most praised by diners.

  • Drink Pairing

    Take the drink pairing option to have a complete decision free experience.

    Jennifer Young

  • Seasonal Degustation

    Joel is a great host and his degustation dinner was exquisite.

    Neil McAllister

  • Steak

    Our favourite was definitely the steak.

    Cian Scanlon

  • Designated Driver Half-Pairing

    Drink pairing was well worth it as well and offered a half pairing for the designated driver so they didn't miss out.

    Matthew

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful, personal hospitality inside Victoria's smallest restaurant—reserve your four-seat counter experience.

  • Designated Driver Half Pairings

    Thoughtful half-pour beverage allocations allow designated drivers to experience the matched drink journey without overindulging.

  • Seamless On-the-Fly Menu Adaptations

    Chef Joel effortlessly tailors and modifies individual courses in real time during the seating to accommodate dietary preferences.

  • Reserved Pre-Dinner Bar Welcome

    Diners are greeted with a reserved table and bespoke cocktails inside the front whisky bar before entering the dining room behind the curtain.

  • Direct Chef Dialogue and Storytelling

    An open counter directly against the prep station allows guests to ask questions, hear the origins of each seasonal ingredient, and share stories throughout dinner.

Before you head over

Practical planning tips for navigating counter seating, beverage pairings, and arrival at Healesville's four-seat kitchen degustation. Reserve early to claim your counter spots.

  • Prepare for an Interactive Shared Counter

    The dining space is strictly arranged as a single kitchen counter accommodating just four guests. If dining as a pair, you will be seated right beside another couple facing the chef rather than across a private table, so lean into the social, interactive living-kitchen atmosphere.

  • Take Advantage of Driver Pairings

    If you are driving around the Yarra Valley, Joel offers a dedicated half-pour drink pairing alongside non-alcoholic options, allowing designated drivers to enjoy curated matches without overindulging.

  • Plan Side-Street Parking and Early Arrival

    Located through thick dark curtains inside Cavanagh’s Whisky & Alehouse, street parking can be tight; look for two-hour spaces on adjacent side streets and arrive early for pre-dinner drinks at the front bar. With strictly four spots per service, book your counter seats well in advance.

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