EstherOsita

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

I and two friends dined here (this) Saturday morning. As it was hot today, the Air Cond'ing was very welcome. We sat and were served just at 11 am. The food was great, with much to choose from. We were a group of three, and each basket and plate contained three options, having a fourth member to dine with might have been tricky.

Lots of prawn-based dumplings to choose from, only at the end of our meal was a beef option presented. Won-tons and spring rolls were average, but the sticky pork spare ribs were delicious, as were the steamed pork spare ribs. No vegetarian options passed our table in the hour we were seated.

We were the first to sit, but people drifted in over the next hour, the place was never overly loud or packed, although it is very early January (8th) and many people may still be away from Melbourne.

I will certainly eat here again, saturday or sunday mornings. I urge anyone going to skip breakfast and wait for yumcha. I hope this is a helpful review.

Jan 08, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  5     

Went to this place on Saturday. We arrived at five p.m. to meet friends for dinner. Coffee was passable (Long macchiato is a real hit and miss order in Melbourne).
Atmosphere: fresh and funky. The cafe is a very light-filled open space with lots of knick-knacks and an very eclectic vibe.

Dinner was unimpressive. I ordered the tomato, onion and pesto pasta, which, while filling, tasted quickly made (thin sauce with a 'fresh' tomato flavour') I also didn't appreciate the dehydrated onion through the sauce, and two days later am still suffering the consequent smells. My partner had a mushroom risotto which he described as 'sitting for a long time".

On the way out I looked over the 'kitchen' set-up and it looks as if a microwave re-heats most of the meals served here. The place is busy, but not overly noisy. I suspect most of the clientele are students from surrounding apartment buildings.
I'd return if I was in the area during the day and needed to kill a couple of hours reading a book over coffee, but not for dinner.

Sep 20, 2010

5.5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  5     

I had my first ever yum cha here for a friends birthday. Because I have not eaten yum cha before, I can't made a statement about the food except that I was pleased and left very full.

Our table of 10 was reduced to six after people cancelled, but the staff did not show any annoyance. The staff seemed very competent and attentive, but not overly so (they did not rush us). Our table agreed to the $42 all you can eat. No one seemed disappointed. Very tidy atmosphere, very "convention centre/reception halll" decor, limp pinks and browns. The view was pleasant.

Overall a pleasant three hours spent in great company with a large amount of food.

Sep 11, 2010

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

I and two friends dined here (this) Saturday morning. As it was hot today, the Air Cond'ing was very welcome. We sat and were served just at 11 am. The food was great, with much to choose from. We were a group of three, and each basket and plate contained three options, having a fourth member to dine with might have been tricky.

Lots of prawn-based dumplings to choose from, only at the end of our meal was a beef option presented. Won-tons and spring rolls were average, but the sticky pork spare ribs were delicious, as were the steamed pork spare ribs. No vegetarian options passed our table in the hour we were seated.

We were the first to sit, but people drifted in over the next hour, the place was never overly loud or packed, although it is very early January (8th) and many people may still be away from Melbourne.

I will certainly eat here again, saturday or sunday mornings. I urge anyone going to skip breakfast and wait for yumcha. I hope this is a helpful review.

Jan 08, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  5     

Went to this place on Saturday. We arrived at five p.m. to meet friends for dinner. Coffee was passable (Long macchiato is a real hit and miss order in Melbourne).
Atmosphere: fresh and funky. The cafe is a very light-filled open space with lots of knick-knacks and an very eclectic vibe.

Dinner was unimpressive. I ordered the tomato, onion and pesto pasta, which, while filling, tasted quickly made (thin sauce with a 'fresh' tomato flavour') I also didn't appreciate the dehydrated onion through the sauce, and two days later am still suffering the consequent smells. My partner had a mushroom risotto which he described as 'sitting for a long time".

On the way out I looked over the 'kitchen' set-up and it looks as if a microwave re-heats most of the meals served here. The place is busy, but not overly noisy. I suspect most of the clientele are students from surrounding apartment buildings.
I'd return if I was in the area during the day and needed to kill a couple of hours reading a book over coffee, but not for dinner.

Sep 20, 2010

5.5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  5     

I had my first ever yum cha here for a friends birthday. Because I have not eaten yum cha before, I can't made a statement about the food except that I was pleased and left very full.

Our table of 10 was reduced to six after people cancelled, but the staff did not show any annoyance. The staff seemed very competent and attentive, but not overly so (they did not rush us). Our table agreed to the $42 all you can eat. No one seemed disappointed. Very tidy atmosphere, very "convention centre/reception halll" decor, limp pinks and browns. The view was pleasant.

Overall a pleasant three hours spent in great company with a large amount of food.

Sep 11, 2010