Editor’s Note (June 2026)
Since writing this review, we have learned that Lantern by Wildseed has temporarily closed its dinner service but is still currently operating as Wildseed Café for daytime lunch service only.
While we were exceptionally disappointed to hear the evening restaurant experience is no longer running in its original form, we’re incredibly glad we had the opportunity to visit twice and experience what was genuinely one of our favourite dining experiences in the Ballarat region during our time there.
What we personally loved most about Lantern was its unique pan-Asian concept, something that felt refreshingly different and stood out amongst the dining options available in regional Victoria. The team has since announced plans for a new restaurant venture closer to the Ballarat train station precinct, this time focusing on pizza and pasta. While we were admittedly a little sad to see the original concept change direction, we’re always supportive of local businesses evolving and we’ll be interested to see what comes next for the team.
Unfortunately, we never quite made it back in time to try the lunch menu ourselves, but based on the quality, service and overall experience we had during both dinner visits, we’d still happily recommend stopping in to give Wildseed Café a try.
Fine Dining Flavours in Delacombe
We’re not the most organised couple at the best of times, so when Valentine’s Day rolled around, it turned into a bit of a last-minute scramble to find somewhere to go.
We’d tossed up the idea of heading to one of the local pubs, but this time we wanted something a little more special… just without the hefty price tag. There are some beautiful places around Ballarat (we had a few saved!), but most required advance bookings, and we weren’t quite sure we wanted to commit to the level of splurge a degustation holds.
Thankfully, Isaac came through with the research and found Lantern, just a quick 12-minute drive to Delacombe from Smythesdale. It turned out they’d only recently opened, which explained how we managed to snag a last-minute table. Honestly, perfect timing.
I was already excited before we even arrived. After checking out the menu online, I could see a strong Japanese influence (my absolute favourite), and after leaving Brisbane, we really hadn’t come across anything that quite hit the spot, so this already felt like a win.
Now, we’ll be honest… when we pulled up and realised it was located in the middle of the Delacombe Town Centre precinct, we were a little unsure. In Australia, restaurants surrounded by large retail stores and car parks don’t ‘quality dining’, but this place is a definite exception.
The service? Impeccable. Our waitress, Mary, was patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind, the kind of service that really elevates an entire experience.
The atmosphere struck that perfect balance between upscale and relaxed, and the small Valentine’s touches (a red rose on each table) didn’t go unnoticed.
And the food… where do we even start?
There wasn’t just one standout dish, every single plate was incredible. The flavours, the sauces, the freshness, it all came together so beautifully. It’s one of those meals where you keep saying, “just one more bite”… until suddenly, you’ve eaten far more than you planned.
Yes, we over-ordered (as usual, we hate missing out), but everything was that good we could barely stop ourselves. We did manage to leave with a very small doggy bag… but not much!
We later discovered that during the day, the kitchen operates as Wildbean Café. Unfortunately, we just missed their lunch service on another visit (they close between 3:00pm and 5:30pm), but it’s definitely on our list to go back and try.
Not long after our first visit, we had another reason to head back to Lantern… and this one came with some great company.
At Smythesdale Gardens, we’d connected with a lovely couple travelling Australia under the name Forrests on Patrol (@forrestsonpatrol), who, like us, are navigating life on the road while working remotely from their caravan setup. During one of our chats, Isaac was able to help diagnose a small connection issue between their tow vehicle and caravan, and after plenty of back and forth, we decided to make plans to catch up properly when they were next passing through the area.
Since we’d already been wanting an excuse to return to Lantern, it felt like the perfect opportunity.
This time, with four of us around the table, we were able to order a wider variety of dishes and experience even more of what the menu had to offer. Once again, every single plate was consistently delicious, and unlike our first visit where we somehow managed to leave with leftovers, this time there was absolutely nothing left behind.
We were looked after by another waitress, who from memory was named Noon, and once again the service stood out just as much as the food. Friendly, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely helpful, exactly the kind of service you hope for but don’t always find.
After a second visit, we can confidently say our first impressions weren’t a one-off.
Lantern has firmly secured its place as one of enjoyable (& delicious!) dining experiences in the Ballarat region, and returning a second time only reinforced everything we loved about it the first time around.
For anyone staying at Smythesdale Gardens, if you’ve got something to celebrate, or just feel like treating yourself to something a little more special than a pub meal, this is our go-to nearby recommendation.
Side note: We left Benjamin behind on both occasions, but there is outdoor seating available if you’re travelling with a pup.
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