A modern Lebanese restaurant called Sama opened inside the Grandview Hotel on Heidelberg Road in November 2025. Early menu data and critical coverage from Sydney Morning Herald Good Food suggest the venue is repositioning as a dual dining destination.
Last checked: 2026-10-24
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Property: Grandview Hotel · Location: 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield VIC 3078 · Restaurant: Sama – modern Middle Eastern (Lebanese) · Opening hours (liquor store): Mon 11 AM – 10 PM, Sun 11 AM – 9 PM (varies) · Phone: 03 9489 8061 · Media coverage: Sydney Morning Herald Good Food (Feb 2026)
How we researched this
Last checked 2026-10-24.
Sources reviewed: official property website, OpenTable listing, Tripadvisor reviews, Yelp reviews, Sydney Morning Herald Good Food, secondary aggregators.
No on-site visit was conducted. Staff interviews were not performed. Menu prices were verified against OpenTable as of the date of review; actual prices at the venue may vary.
Snapshot: Grandview Hotel Fairfield & Sama
- Sama is the Lebanese dining venue at the Grandview Hotel (The Grandview Hotel).
- Situated at 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, in Melbourne’s Yarra region (Tripadvisor).
- Banquet menus start at A$65 (El Tashkila) and go to A$80 (El Soufra) (OpenTable).
- Baba ghanoush A$19, charcoal half chicken A$40, moghrabieh beef cheek A$43 (OpenTable).
| Property | Grandview Hotel |
| Location | 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield VIC 3078 |
| Restaurant | Sama – modern Middle Eastern (Lebanese) |
| Opening hours (liquor store) | Mon 11 AM – 10 PM, Sun 11 AM – 9 PM (varies) |
| Phone | 03 9489 8061 |
| Media coverage | Sydney Morning Herald Good Food (Feb 2026) |
What is the restaurant at Grandview Hotel Fairfield?
Sama occupies the former bistro space of the Grandview Hotel on Heidelberg Road. It opened in November 2025, replacing the standard pub dining with a focused modern Lebanese concept (The Grandview Hotel). The official venue website describes Sama simply as ‘Lebanese Dining’.
Historical coverage from the launch period described the restaurant as charcoal-grill-driven, focusing on Levantine flavours with dishes such as tabbouleh served in lettuce cups and harissa-marinated charcoal chicken.
The implication: the Grandview is positioning itself as a dual-venue destination, hoping to draw diners specifically for Sama while maintaining its existing clientele for traditional pub offerings.
What is the Grandview Hotel Fairfield menu?
The Grandview Hotel Fairfield operates two distinct food offerings: a standard pub menu and the separate Sama dining concept (Koalahotel).
Modern Middle Eastern dishes at Sama
The Sama menu, captured via OpenTable, focuses on modern Lebanese sharing plates. Starters include house pickles (A$12), marinated olives (A$8), labne (A$15), baba ghanoush (A$19), and hummus (A$20) with variants including lamb awarma, spicy capsicum chickpeas, or lemon capers butter. Larger dishes feature chicken shish (A$25), lamb kafta shish (A$28), a charcoal half chicken (A$40), and grilled market fish (A$40) (OpenTable).
SAMA. Lebanese Dining.
— The Grandview Hotel website
Beyond a la carte, two banquet options structure the experience: El Tashkila at A$65 and El Soufra at A$80, the latter offering a broader progression of shared dishes.
Drinks and liquor store offerings
The hotel operates an attached liquor store with hours that vary by day. The pub’s beer selection has been described by reviewers as commercial-grade, and pool tables are available.
The bottom line: diners choosing Sama can expect a focused mezze and charcoal-grill menu, with banquet options providing the most straightforward path to exploring the kitchen’s range.
What do Grandview Hotel Fairfield reviews say?
Early reviews of the renovated venue indicate a positive reception for the food, though the aggregate scores are based on small sample sizes.
Sydney Morning Herald Good Food review
The most authoritative coverage to date is the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food article published 9 February 2026, which gave the venue its first major critical write-up. The review placed Sama within Melbourne’s evolving Middle Eastern dining scene.
User review platforms
A Tripadvisor reviewer praised Sama’s staff as “kind and attentive” and described its Lebanese food positively. Another noted the pub’s beer selection and pool tables (Tripadvisor).
What a surprise!
— Tripadvisor reviewer
On Yelp, a 2021 review praised the chicken parma, portion sizes, service, and the ability to substitute vegetables for chips, though it criticised the croquettes as overly creamy (Yelp).
A secondary aggregator reported a Tripadvisor snapshot of approximately 3.8 out of 5 from roughly 21 reviews as of early 2026 (Koalahotel).
Good food at reasonable prices and decent portions are all a win in my book.
— Yelp reviewer
The pattern: actual diner feedback on Sama is sparse but positive, while the pub has a longer trail of modest reviews. The Good Food endorsement is the most authoritative signal so far.
Grandview Hotel Fairfield Specifications
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Property Name | Grandview Hotel |
| Address | 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield VIC 3078 |
| Restaurant | Sama |
| Cuisine | Modern Middle Eastern (Lebanese) |
| Phone | 03 9489 8061 |
| Liquor Store Hours | Mon 11AM–10PM, Sun 11AM–9PM (varies) |
| Opening Date | November 2025 |
| Notable Media | Sydney Morning Herald Good Food (Feb 2026) |
Location and Getting There
The Grandview Hotel sits at 429 Heidelberg Road, a major arterial connecting Melbourne’s inner north to the eastern suburbs. Fairfield is a riverside suburb roughly 8 kilometres north-east of the Melbourne city centre. The venue includes on-site parking, though its capacity suggests it primarily serves local visitors. Public transport options include the 246 and 251 bus routes, which stop within walking distance.
Timeline of Recent Developments
- November 2025: Sama opens, introducing modern Lebanese dining to the Grandview Hotel bistro space.
- January 2026: An Instagram reel highlights the venue, generating pre-review buzz.
- February 2026: Sydney Morning Herald Good Food publishes a review of Sama.
- Early 2026: Secondary aggregators report a Tripadvisor snapshot of ~3.8/5 from approximately 21 reviews.
Our Pick
For diners seeking a modern Middle Eastern meal in a relaxed pub setting, Sama at the Grandview Hotel is a compelling choice. The El Tashkila banquet at A$65 offers the best introduction to the kitchen’s approach, while the pub side remains a practical local option. Given the limited independent review data, first-time visitors should book for Sama with realistic expectations—but the early signals point to a kitchen worth seeking out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the address of the Grandview Hotel Fairfield?
The Grandview Hotel is located at 429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield VIC 3078.
What phone number can I call the Grandview Hotel at?
The phone number is 03 9489 8061.
Is the Grand View Hotel in Queensland the same as the Grandview Hotel Fairfield?
No. The Grand View Hotel in Queensland is a heritage-listed property. The Grandview Hotel in Fairfield, Victoria, is a separate venue.
Where can I find recent reviews of the Grandview Hotel Fairfield?
Recent reviews have been published by Sydney Morning Herald Good Food (February 2026), and user reviews can be found on Tripadvisor and OpenTable.
What are the opening hours of the Grandview Hotel liquor store?
Hours vary by day. A typical example is Monday 11 AM to 10 PM and Sunday 11 AM to 9 PM.
Sources
- The Grandview Hotel – Official Sama page
- OpenTable – Sama Restaurant listing
- OpenTable Australia – Fairfield pub list
- Tripadvisor – Grandview Hotel reviews
- Yelp – Grandview Hotel Fairfield
- Koalahotel – Sama dining overview
- Koalahotel – Grandview Hotel reviews
- Koalahotel – Sama reviews