Cape Cod

2 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

I took my wife to Cape Cod Deakin for the advertised $119 a head seven course dinner for Valentine’s Day 2012. We arrived at the advised start time of 7pm and the only table left available was against the front window with one having to sit on the window bench which was higher than a chair so the seat cut into the thighs. We did not notice any Valentine’s day decorations in the restaurant.

The free glass of champagne on arrival was about 50 mls of Ninth Island NV Brut Sparkling in half of a small champagne glass. The stingy serve was not a good start. When we drank the complimentary drink the waitress served our bubbly and filled the glasses.

There were eight courses on the menu. The first course was ‘Potato and Leek soup with crab and prawn wonton’. It was served cold in a spoon and the wonton looked like the contents fell out during cooking as it was empty pastry about the size of the nail on a small finger. The soup was cold and not enjoyable so being a tiny serve was fortunate. Maybe this should have been a taster but was never identified as such and when I enquired the waitress advised it was ‘the Potato and Leek soup’.

The second course was ‘Trio of freshly shucked oysters – wasabi, cointreau and natural’ There were two of each on a plate of six for us to share. The wasabi oyster was tasty and the oyster natural was nice. We could not taste any Cointreau on the other oyster so do not know if it was missed or too small to be tasted. After we finished the dish the waitress brought out the oyster forks. We later found there were two forks under the menu that the waitress had placed the plate upon.

The third course was ‘Yellow fin tuna sashimi, green papaya salad with tamarind and vodka vinaigrette’. Unfortunately, the tuna was heavily coated with lemon which spoiled the tuna taste and the sprinkled dill also spoiled the taste. The green papaya salad was nice.

The fourth course was ‘Kingfish with prosciutto and rocket salad’. The kingfish was dry and would have benefited from a sauce such as tartare. The prosciutto and rocket salad was excellent.

The fifth course was ‘Raspberry poached salmon with baby vegetables’. Unfortunately, poaching salmon in Raspberry does not work and this was exacerbated by then placing the salmon in a bowl of runny white juice. The vegetables were a very small baby carrot, a very small stick of something green (maybe bean or pea side) and a segment of bitter parsnip. The vegetables were cold and undercooked.

The sixth course was ‘Rose water sorbet’. Rose flavour was an unfortunate selection as it tasted sickly and was not cleansing as intended and as lemon or orange flavour would have provided.

The seventh course was ‘Chef’s cheese selection’. This was a plate to share of three thin slices of blue vein, camembert and tasty cheddar cheese with water crackers and a very small but decorative and tasty serve of fig and ginger. It was an enjoyable and tasty course.

The eighth and final course was ‘Trio of chocolate and strawberry tian’. I don’t understand why it was called tian as it was not layered. There was one plate to share with a round mound of strawberry jelly and two slices of very ordinary tasting cake with a dash of cream sauce. It seemed like us most diners did not eat it.

The meal took three hours to be served and the waitress did ensure that the water glasses were kept full. The cost for corkage was $10 so the bill was $248. We certainly did not give a tip and will not go back to Cape Cod until there is a change of management.

Feb 14, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

Great restaruant. The food is amazing and presented really well. The staff are very friendly and ensured I had everything I needed including a full glass of wine and water at all times.

Apr 13, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  7     

Fresh produce and nicely cooked. Not too adventurous but good quality food. It's a bit pricey but to be expected of a seafood restaurant in Canberra. Lunch mains were in the high $20 range.

Sep 17, 2010