Gondola Gondola

Hidden in plain view, this gem of a restaurant is a Asian inspired delight!
With its kitsch yet lush interior adding a zest to the flavour of the bar. Each dish we tried as a group of 5 left us wanting for more.
The tasting plate was sizeable and was was presented way to make your own rice paper rolls, the dumplings were fresh & zesty, the eggplant & squid just lightly fried with that «crunch» and the banana blossom a joy plus the pork belly & noodles melted off the tongue.
It also had a great wine list, tasty cocktails and Asian beers for days, Will definitely recommend to future travellers & locals alike.

Fab little resteraunt beautiful food great vibe good tunes great service waitress’s were fun and engaging and were really helpful with the menu
The only thing I can criticise which is minor is the front of house bar person needs to find his sense of humour maybe he was having an off day but he didn’t have very good people skills or didn’t engage seemed a bit too hip and cool for us don’t forget front of house is your first impression

This place deserves a high 5. The food was full of flavour and well priced. Staff were attentive and service was fast. Meals were a good size with beautiful presentation. If you can’t eat all your food ask for a takeaway container so you can take it home.
I can’t wait to go back!

Celebrated Christmas dinner and drinks at Gondola Gondola with a couple of girls and couldn’t of been more happier with our choice of location!
Despite the crazy 40 degrees outside, Gondola Gondola was pleasing to all the senses which distracted us from the fact that it was just a little bit hot. good vibes, classic tunes and an open kitchen producing all sorts of flavours and smells tempting us for more and more!
We grabbed a spiked Ice tea jug to start the night off consisting of berries, rum & gin. so refreshing just hitting the spot!
We decided to share a few entrees and mains so that we had room for cocktails! The dumplings were perfection and the seared scallops were presented beautifully and tasted even better!
We were surprised at the size of the mains when usually at these sorts of places can be quite small. not at Gondola Gondola! The standout dish was the squid which I can honestly say is the best crunchy squid I have ever tasted! The pork belly noodle salad was also tasty with that crackle super crunchy! Finally we also shared the banana blossom which consisted of prawns, chicken and noodles wrapped in a banana leaf. The flavours of this dish were so fresh & amazing!
We couldn’t move on to our next drinking spot without grabbing a cocktail — so glad we did! The Weeboo was an Asian spin of a mojito meanwhile the Happy Ending was a dessert, cocktail & experience in itself!

Great spot. Stoked it was recommended to me. Owner is awesome. Get the Ban Xeo. Great dish.

Upon arrival i knew immediately service would be less than acceptable. The bar tender seated me almost on top of another couple dining even though the resturant was half full. I asked if i could move and he said yeah narrr probably not. Food was to die for and that would be the reason to return. Ordering drinks however left you waiting far too long it almost seemed as though bar staff preferred. to either enjoy their own concoctions whilst watching the world go by. Would have made 4 or possibly 5 stars if the service matched the food.

I am INSANE for this place. I wanted to find a good spot for my birthday dinner, something on Peel St so we could trip off for a drink after, that wasn’t too expensive and wasn’t just pub style food. Gondola Gondola, a relatively new South East Asian place on the corner of Peel and Hindley, popped up and they let me book a large table (10 max) for 8:30pm. We rocked up at 8 and ordered a couple drinks, our numbers had dwindled by then but they were totally relaxed about it, they still seated our party (now 4) at the large table and we said yes to letting another couple who were waiting sharing the table with us.
I ordered a cocktail that was a rum, coconut cream, something something. It was creamy and delicious. We decided to order a bunch of things to share and so we got the salt and pepper eggplant which was a special and was seriously so good that it rivalled the salt and pepper eggplant at East Taste which is actually one of my most favourite dishes ever. So big deal. We also got the master stock beef ribs, some crispy pork belly on noodles, the pandan chicken, and the crispy squid. EVERYTHING was delicious. Fresh, favourful, spicy, salty, sweet, sour, cruncy, slippery, delicious. I just cannot wait to go back, one of the best places I’ve eaten this year.

When you hear the name you would think it’s an Italian restaurant, but no. It’s a fusion of Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai food. Does Gondola mean something else? I loved the trendy décor of neon and food brand signs, and the outdoor pop-​up restaurant look. We ordered the daughter-​in-​law eggs with dried chili on top, pork belly ribs in coconut sauce, and a side of rice. The eggs were soft and tender but don’t eat the chili! The pork belly was tender, and served in a cut coconut. I tasted some coconut juice but not much. We also ordered two drinks which came to about $ 30 each. Not bad as the food was very filling. The cocktails looked cool so I’ll have to come back and order one of them and try another dish next time. Service was quick and staff attentive and friendly.

I have been very excited about the restaurant since I first heard about it. South-​East Asian food paired with an handsome cocktail menu and sake list. Hell yeah! Ticking way too many boxes for me!
The first thing that excited me about this restaurant is the interior decoration. It is really cute! The kitchen is set up like a market stall with a corrugated iron roof and wooden frame. Along with the bar looking like it’s own market stall at the front. The restaurant area is sunken after walking around the bar and offers plenty of seating.
Of course we started with the Cocktail menu and I could not go past a Japanese Whisky «Notice Me Senpai» which is similar to an Old Fashioned. Very well made and not two sweet, which is great!
The menu really shows off the modern twist to their dishes. It was really to choose from this menu as everything looked appealing to me. However, my guest and I settled on a few dishes, and really filled up our little table!
Entrée — Seared Scallops — Cooked perfectly and with a lovely sweet tamarind sauce and lemongrass background served in the shells. So pretty!
Mains — Master Master — Slow cooked beef ribs with a Master sauce. I love master sauces, something that is quite magical in Asian cuisine. It is salty and spiced with cinnamon and star anise flavours. Something homely and comfy about it.
Bahn Xeo — Vietnamese Pancake with pork and prawn. Amazing flavour in this typical of Vietnamese influence and balance of sweet, sour and salt in the dressing. The pancake was light and fluffy. It was a little difficult to eat without a knife and fork. But, maybe I am just not a chop stick master! I don’t mind getting down and messy with my food anyway. It is about the flavour to me!
We somehow managed to get through all this food. It was a challenge, but we did! We could not fit in any more food, but I would have loved to have tried the Jack Fruit Pana Cotta. Dang!
Last thing to mention is the lovely staff. You are really looked after in this restaurant, the staff are attentive and will ensure that you have what you need.

Gondola Gondola is a fantastic addition to the Peel St landscape. They’ve done a fantastic job on their fitout — you feel like you are in an Asian street market. Grab a comfy booth spot and you won’t want to leave.
The meals come in too sizes: smaller and bigger. Lots of Vietnamese specials think Sizzling pork, Curry served in an actual coconut, Special Vietnamese pancake (highlight) etc.
The drinks list is quite extensive so I feel you can comfortably pop in just for drinks also.
The staff are super attentive so if you want a special sauce or extra chili they will gladly accommodate.
Great unfussy place to bring friends.