Truffle lover? Then let me tell you about the night four of us sat down at Lord Lygon Dining + Bar at Zagame House for their Truffle Dinner Experience - and walked out convinced it's one of the ultimate truffle events of the Melbourne winter.
Running 1 July to 22 August, the Truffle Dinner Experience at Lord Lygon pairs a four-course, truffle-driven menu at $85 with a flawless matched wine list for an extra $45 - and after working through all four courses I can tell you every dollar of it is worth it.
The Room, The Wine, The Welcome
Lord Lygon's wine bar and dining vibe is a touch of class and highlight on this stretch of Melbourne. It's warm without trying too hard, polished without feeling stiff. The sommelier was on point all night, talking us through each pairing with real knowledge rather than a script, and the service throughout was sensational - attentive, well-timed, and clearly proud of what was coming out of the kitchen.
The Menu: Four Courses, Endless Temptation
This is a menu built around fresh Australian black truffle, and it shows restraint as much as indulgence - each course lets the truffle do the talking rather than burying it.
First Course
Slow-cooked egg yolk, confit duck, Jerusalem artichoke textures, brioche and truffle — a soft, savoury opener that sets the tone perfectly. Paired with a Domaine Sauveterre Pét Nat from Mâcon, Bourgogne, whose gentle fizz and freshness cut straight through the richness of the yolk and confit duck.
Second Course
Potato gnocchi with foraged mushrooms, truffle velouté, sage, truffle honey and pecorino. Silky, earthy, and quietly the dish I'd go back for on its own. It's matched with a 2023 Podere Monastero la Pineta Pinot Nero from Tuscany — a lighter-framed red that let the truffle honey and pecorino shine rather than compete.
Third Course
Sher Wagyu 9+, celeriac purée, truffle chickpea fries, brown butter jus gras, burnt onion and cavolo nero. This was the standout of the night for our table — the Wagyu cooked with real precision, the truffle chickpea fries an inspired touch. Poured alongside a 2023 Heathcote Estate Shiraz from Heathcote, Victoria, with enough structure to stand up to the richness of the jus gras.
Fourth Course
Chocolate soufflé, fig and hazelnut ice cream, tonka bean sauce and truffle to finish — yes, truffle through dessert, and it works beautifully. Matched with a Rockford P.S. Marion Tawny from the Barossa Valley, South Australia, which brought a warm, nutty finish that tied the whole night together.
Meeting the Man Behind the Menu
A real highlight of the evening was connecting with Chris Bonello, Group Executive Chef at Zagame Corporation, whose creativity is behind this menu. It's one thing to eat food this considered; it's another to hear the thinking behind it straight from the chef. Kudos also to the whole Lord Lygon team - the kind of tight, well-drilled service that makes a degustation feel effortless from the guest's side of the table.
Why This Is the Truffle Event to Book This Season
Melbourne does no shortage of truffle dinners through winter, but at $85 per person for four courses - with a $45 matched wine option that's genuinely worth adding on - Lord Lygon's Truffle Dinner Experience is one of the best-value, best-executed versions of the format I've come across this season. Add in the room, the sommelier, and Chris Bonello's cooking, and this is a must-visit for foodies and wine lovers before it wraps up on 22 August.
The Details
What: Truffle Dinner Experience
Where: Lord Lygon Dining + Bar, Zagame House
When: 1 July – 22 August
Price: $85 per person, four courses | $45 matched wines
Chef: Chris Bonello, Group Executive Chef, Zagame Corporation
Book your spot - seats are limited, and this is exactly the kind of local wine bar and dining gem that deserves the hype. Treat yourself to the truffle extravaganza while it lasts.