Nov 4, 2024
I went for my anniversary... - I went for my anniversary dinner and the experience was amazing , we opted for vegetarian food and the food was delicious. The overall experience was awesome and i would like to book the private cabin for next time 🥂
Review provided by Viator
Aug 10, 2024
A relaxing and interesting experience and journey. - Everything was excellent, the train, the meals, the service, cannot fault anything. We both enjoyed the trip from beginning to end. Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 26, 2024
Wonderful experience - From the moms you arrive at the Drysdale platform the experience could not be faulted. Friendly helpful staff guided us to the complimentary sparkling and nibbles.
The degustation meal was well balanced in many ways, flavours were fresh and complimentary. The starters were spot on as with the meat dishes, the delicate piece of porterhouse melted in my mouth.
Good selection of local wines.
It is very relaxing watching the rural scenery as you sip on your wine.
This makes for a lovely Sunday
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 11, 2022
Amazing lunch experience - Amazing food, fantastic waitstaff, great service. Enjoyable and ever changing scenery. A wonderful experience and we'll be back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 27, 2022
Wonderful experience - We found this to be an enjoyable experience. Our host, Liam, was friendly, knowledgeable and set the tone for a beautiful night.
We particularly enjoyed the explanations of each course as they were being served and learning the origins of the local produce.
The meals and wine pairings were delicious and we would definitely recommend this experience to both the local Bellarine community and visitors alike.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 27, 2022
Great experience - We left the Drysdale train station and boarded the Q Train bound for Queenscliff! Along the way we were served a wonderful 5 course degustation menu, my husband and I don't drink so a mocktail was pared with each course. We sat in our own first class dining carriage and coasted along looking at the beautiful views as the sun set. Great service from start to finish, nothing was to much trouble. I'd highly recommend this unique dining experience that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 14, 2020
Great Experience-lovely staff and good local food - Nice to see an experience of this kind supports its local community. We went first class so we had our own carriage and I know from speaking to other passengers that they said if they went again they would take the 1st class option. Good wine on board and somellier so overall a really good experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 27, 2025
Poor Menu Choice & Overpriced - Q CLASS
We were treated to a 5-course set menu meal whilst travelling in a beautifully decked out carriage with heritage and art deco accents and a gentle rolling hills as the train moves slowly between Drysdale and Queenscliff and back again.
The whole dining experience took about 3 hours and its was not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. If I have a negative comment to make of any sort it’s that the view along the journey is a little dull. Unlike other train trips I have taken that have breathtaking views, something unique or special, the Q train initially travels through the outer edges of suburbia of Drysdale through to grazing land with a few cows here and there and on to Queenscliff. There are two stops on the first leg so passengers can step off and stretch their legs however having said that there was nothing at the stops to provide any interest. One of the stops was adjacent to a winery but even then, there was nothing to do, see or taste. Once at Queenscliff the engine is connected on to the other end of the train and the journey back to Drysdale we go.
We each enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, and wines and beers with the meals. I am saddened to say the food was a complete disappointment to say the least, from stater to final course.
Fried blackened cauliflower with purple kale – zero flavour - charcoal infused – shocking & pointless dish - nevertheless I suspect cauliflower was chosen as it is in season and extremely cheap to purchase and minimal effort to prepare.
Herb crusted seasonal fish with fondant potato pistachio, tossed broccolini and served with a lemon aspen cream sauce – In all honesty you could not even call it lukewarm, more colder than anything else.
Slow-roasted ‘Meat Crew' lamb with rosella-infused polenta, braised cabbage, finished with a pomegranate – this was stone cold – in edible - the fat off the lamb had set.
By far the dish that was sent right back to the kitchen was the pumpkin panna cotta !
I am all for supporting and understand using the local produce – however when clients are asked to pay top dollar, they are not expecting this horrendous and tasteless gelatinous so-called dessert of Pumpkin panna cotta – horrible!!!
Staff were very friendly, professional and well versed in up selling the lunch menu.
When our dessert dished were being collected not a single word came from the waitress our two desserts were 2 of many within our carriage that were taken back barely touched.
As a dining experience, having paid in excess of $375.00 for two I would not recommend the Q Train - Yes the food, was sourced locally from the Otway’s, Bellarine and Geelong areas however its important for the Q Train powers that be to use tried and tested recipes that have stood the test of time – especially when the asking price is in excess of $140 per person without drinks.
Well below average set menu options and taste. As an experience by itself I don’t think I would go out of my way again to do it again or recommend it to family and friends both local and overseas.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 29, 2024
Take a jacket or maybe 2 - Unfortunately the experience was that great, the train was absolutely freezing and although bringing this to staff’s attention, our carriage did not get any warmer even with the train moving!! Funky enough first class was very toasty !! My steak was also very over cooked so it didn’t add fir a good experience
Review provided by Viator
Nov 29, 2021
Trip was fine however the main attraction - the food - was disappointing - Q Train are not going to appreciate this review but it is an honest appraisable, which was shared by a few other tables in our carriage. Lovely surroundings and enjoyable trip along the coast and rural countryside. However, the food was disappointing. 1st course was 2 slices of tomato with some goat's cheese on top. It was okay however nothing special. 2nd course were fish balls. Dry and salty and barely a taste of seafood. 3rd course pork belly with vegetables in a pepper broth. The meat was good and not overly fatty so enjoyed this plate, although the broth was quire teasteless. 4th course braised osso bucco in risotto. Beef was tender but the rice uncooked - every agreed on this. Finally flourless chocolate cake with berries and cream. It was fine.
When the table of 4 next to us complained to the manager about the seafood balls and rice, he responded that post covid it was diffifult to obtain good staff. Understand that it adds pressure on them however I don't believe customers should be paying full price for a sub-standard offering. Hopefully, for their sake, we caught them on a bad night and they will lift their game for future train riders.
Review provided by Tripadvisor