Welcome to Bistro Maison

Welcome to Bistro Maison, situated in the heart of Mount Eliza village with a panoramic view across Port Phillip bay to the silhouetted skyscrapers of Melbourne in the distance.  Inspired by the excellent suburban bistros of Paris this is all about community and celebrating the region’s remarkable produce.

Fully licensed with some exciting French listings and, of course, Peninsula wines, including our excellent house wines sourced from one of the region’s top makers (a tightly held secret).

Bistro Maison is the latest project from Mornington Peninsula restaurateurs Bernard and Rachael McCarthy. In many respects it is completing the circle for this high-energy couple.  Bernard’s passion has always been the more rustic end of French cuisine. It has long been their vision to open a cozy and relaxed place for locals and the region’s many food tourists. At Bistro Maison they’ve created a place for families to gather, romantics to nestle and lovers of great food and wine to celebrate their good fortune.

Bernard commenced his training at landmark French Bistros Fanny’s and Tansy’s in Melbourne in the late 1980s. He furthered his skills as Head Chef at Madame Jo Jo's in St Kilda before opening Spanish cuisine pioneer Hairy Canary in Little Collins Street, which also become a Melbourne institution.  

In 1998, Bernard moved to Western Australia to head up 44 King Street in Perth, which was awarded Best Cafe in Australia by the Mietta’s Restaurant guide.  He was then approached to return to Melbourne to spearhead what became the highly successful EQ Cafe Bar at the Arts Centre.

Bernard made the move to the Mornington Peninsula in 2004. With wife Rachael he took the reins at Salix at Willow Creek, which has since been recognised with a number of prestigious industry awards and a loyal following. Bernard and Rachael still own and operate Salix.