Quintets

Reviews

Bars, Music Venues, Hip and Trendy, Outdoor Dining, Water View

Overall 5.3 142

7.3 Recommended

Drinks 7 Ambience 7 Service 8 Value 7

I read all the negative reviews and still took my family there for a celebration. Why? It's about the mussels.

We needed a place to celebrate (first choice University offer came through) when I told the manager we were disappointed the all-you-can-eat mussels night was not that night, he said he would throw in a bottle of bubbly and ensure a u-shaped booth. Okay... we'll go.

The mussels did not disappoint. Green curry, provencale and laksa were all richly flavoured and balanced. The kicker was out of three pots, there was only one unopened mussel, which shows attention to detail. My wife commented they were the best she's had since the ones she had in Montreal 15 years ago. Certainly better than the pot of unopened ones she had at the MG Garage back when. The rocket, beetroot, goat cheese salad was, although not particularly original, hit the spot as a refreshing palate cleanser after we devoured the mussels.

My girls were happy with the calamari rings and unhappy with the chicken skewers off the kids menu. I might add the battered calamari rings are possibly the sleeper dish. Very light and nicely done. I wonder if you have to have kids to order it. The service isn't great, but hey, it's a noisy pub where you order at the bar. What did you expect? All in all, a great meal.

Jan 22, 2011

Jasmin, Lakemba

Restaurants, Lebanese

Overall 8.2 127

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 7 Service 8 Value 9

A friend and I went to this restaurant based on reviews below and wasn't disappointed. The flavours were clean and crisp and the serving sizes were generous. It's the best Lebanese food I've tasted. There were a few rustic homestyle dishes that I've never seen at lebanese restaurants before. When I saw them being served that I wished I had ordered them instead, maybe next time.

It's a family run restaurant and the decor is a bit kitsch-y, but not too over the top (just). Hah!

Jul 03, 2010

Mixing Pot, The, Glebe

Restaurants, Italian, Air Conditioning, BYO, Good Wine List

Overall 6.2 60

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 7

It's been years since I've been to this Northern Italian classic and it hasn't changed much. The menu is, as the previous reviewer observed, not geared towards vegetarians but some parts of the Italian culinary family are designed to be eaten as they are cooked and IMHO, if you cannot eat their food, then you're missing out.

My partner is a veggie and she thoroughly enjoyed her Fior di Zucchine filled with cream cheese and herbs. Even the stem of the zucchini was cooked to perfection. I started with the pappardale with duck and truffles. The flavours were rich and heart-warming. For mains, my partner had the linguine with prawns and tomato and scallops and rocket which had a stunning aroma. My slow-cooked goat had excellent flavour, well-balanced and and the meat fell off the bone. We didn't have room for dessert save the homemade sorbet.

In terms of value, it's not entirely original cooking but they do Italian classics well and that's what they make their name on. The waiters all looked like classic older Italian uncles wearing ties and polite. The ambience hasn't changed and still gorgeous and evocative of restaurants in Italy. The service was even and well balanced but then again, we went on a Monday night so it wasn't crowded. Good Monday night restaurants are hard to find so we'll be going back again.

May 08, 2006

Tre Amici @ Croydon Park, Croydon Park

Restaurants, Italian, Pizza, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 6 17

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 9

A hidden gem in Croydon Park. The venue is modest, but the pizza is amazing. A medium thick crust and generous toppings. The Fishy Affair and Devil's Advocate pizzas are a perennial favourite. They have been very consistent over the last three years.

Mar 15, 2005