adelee

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.8 Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

I'm on the quest for a good Mexican feed, but beyond the taco bills and montezumas, in the places around Melbourne which beat the authenticity drum (think Los Amates, Colmao), I'm still yet to find it, and often finish my meal feeling like I might keel over with a coronary.

Amigos now joins the ranks of disappointment, with an averagely executed menu that heavily leans on cheddar, cream cheese and more cheddar. We ordered a range of small dishes to get a feel for the menu, quesadillas, stuffed jalapenos with salsa, tacos and a number of sides, everything was stuffed full of cheese, the tomato used in the salsa was a translucent, watery pink (I'm yet to see a lovely ripe tomato in Mexican cooking), and to continue the cheese theme, everything was topped with mounds of shredded cheddar.

The saving grace to the meal was a half jug of beautifully made sangria with Cuervo Agro. In the meantime, I'll be continuing my quest.

Apr 05, 2010

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

Attention Eatability moderator: The review posted by Steve Starr for Cheng Moon in September 09 is a self post, not even a review, and advert for the restaurant where they have scored themselves the highest score across the board. I suuggest you remove it, as self posts greatly diminish the bonafides of this website.

Feb 01, 2010

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.8 Average

Drinks  4      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  4     

Nice atmosphere and alfresco set up at Spuntino Bar. A $15 tasting plate was well presented if not a bit small, with roasted capsicum dip, presumably home made crostini and a dollop of fresh goats curd.

However, a $30, half cooked simple salami pizza did not represent good value, especially given the lack of table service. Wines are also on the expensive side, given the current trend of other winery restaurants in offering competitive prices of their own wines by the bottle/glass. All in all, pretty mediocre.

Feb 01, 2010

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.3 Highly Recommended

Drinks  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

I'm not sure how this gem of a bar has managed to slip through the net of an Eatability review, particularly as it was recently named as Gourmet Traveller's Australian Bar of the year!

An extensive wine list and "first come, first served" open bottle policy (5 whites and 5 reds are open at any one time) help to make this one of my favourite locals.
Small serves of food are carefully prepared with top quality ingredients. These change nightly and might include Vic's wagyu bresaola, artisan salami and small regional hot dishes, perfect for grazing with a nice glass of plonk.

Great atmosphere, a warm bar, quirky bar staff, and a record player playing anything from Vivaldi to Massive Attack.

Jan 14, 2010

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Great relaxed place with friendly staff. Tapas represent great value at $4 - $9 and are best enjoyed in the charmingly rustic/grungy courtyard.

Jan 14, 2010

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.8 Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

I'm on the quest for a good Mexican feed, but beyond the taco bills and montezumas, in the places around Melbourne which beat the authenticity drum (think Los Amates, Colmao), I'm still yet to find it, and often finish my meal feeling like I might keel over with a coronary.

Amigos now joins the ranks of disappointment, with an averagely executed menu that heavily leans on cheddar, cream cheese and more cheddar. We ordered a range of small dishes to get a feel for the menu, quesadillas, stuffed jalapenos with salsa, tacos and a number of sides, everything was stuffed full of cheese, the tomato used in the salsa was a translucent, watery pink (I'm yet to see a lovely ripe tomato in Mexican cooking), and to continue the cheese theme, everything was topped with mounds of shredded cheddar.

The saving grace to the meal was a half jug of beautifully made sangria with Cuervo Agro. In the meantime, I'll be continuing my quest.

Apr 05, 2010

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

Attention Eatability moderator: The review posted by Steve Starr for Cheng Moon in September 09 is a self post, not even a review, and advert for the restaurant where they have scored themselves the highest score across the board. I suuggest you remove it, as self posts greatly diminish the bonafides of this website.

Feb 01, 2010

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.8 Average

Drinks  4      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  4     

Nice atmosphere and alfresco set up at Spuntino Bar. A $15 tasting plate was well presented if not a bit small, with roasted capsicum dip, presumably home made crostini and a dollop of fresh goats curd.

However, a $30, half cooked simple salami pizza did not represent good value, especially given the lack of table service. Wines are also on the expensive side, given the current trend of other winery restaurants in offering competitive prices of their own wines by the bottle/glass. All in all, pretty mediocre.

Feb 01, 2010

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9.3 Highly Recommended

Drinks  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

I'm not sure how this gem of a bar has managed to slip through the net of an Eatability review, particularly as it was recently named as Gourmet Traveller's Australian Bar of the year!

An extensive wine list and "first come, first served" open bottle policy (5 whites and 5 reds are open at any one time) help to make this one of my favourite locals.
Small serves of food are carefully prepared with top quality ingredients. These change nightly and might include Vic's wagyu bresaola, artisan salami and small regional hot dishes, perfect for grazing with a nice glass of plonk.

Great atmosphere, a warm bar, quirky bar staff, and a record player playing anything from Vivaldi to Massive Attack.

Jan 14, 2010

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Great relaxed place with friendly staff. Tapas represent great value at $4 - $9 and are best enjoyed in the charmingly rustic/grungy courtyard.

Jan 14, 2010

7.3 Recommended

Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8      Food  7     

Represents good value if you can manage to get a table in the roof top bar (you'll need to navigate past darkened, dingy rooms heavy with the stench of stale beer, I dread to imagine what this place looks like in the light of day).

Bimbo still turns out great value $4 pizzas most evenings, and no doubt makes most of it's money on (average priced) drinks. A couple of stand out pizzas include the "Al Bianco" with mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil, mascarpone and fetta, with the potato and tallegio also rating an honourable mention.

Jan 14, 2010

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

The quality of Chinese dining in Gouger St, Adelaide is quite exceptional. The likes of E-shan and Wah -Hing have opened in the last few years, joining a raft of quality well established joints (Ky-Chow, Fortuna Duck, T-Chow).

The best of these, and in my opinion, the best Chinese restaurant in Australia, is stalwort Ying Chow. The lines out the door night after night say it all. I have been enjoying under $40 meals fat Ying Chow for 8 years. Sadly, however, I'm now living in Melbourne which means I can only manage quarterly pilgrimages!

Despite the great quality of the food, the prices are kept low, which is achieved by plating up smallish serves. You can expect to pay around $9.50 for a chicken/beef/veg main, and around $14 for high quality prawns, scallops.

The salt and pepper beancurd and prawns, salty coriander chicken, garlic and chilli beans and e-shan anything, are all outstanding. Equally so, the surprisingly moreish curry puffs. For a treat, look out for the lobster and flounder specials, and treat yourself to a half bottle of Veuve Cliquot! If you're on a budget, order the $9.50 1 litre carafe of house rose.

Whether you book, or whether you choose to simply rock up, chances are you'll still end up waiting a good 15 minutes to half an hour for a table. Grab a quick drink at the Talbot Hotel next door.

Jan 14, 2010

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

I was compelled to revisit this restaurant after stumbling on their website recently, the 9 photos of salt and pepper bean curd from different angles had me salivating.

The food did not disappoint, with crisp and flavoursome money bags (filled with whole prawns of good quality) to start, and an excellent golden salt and pepper calamari with delicate dusting of sichuan powder, topped with crunchy shallots, chillies and spring onions.

A further round of courses included "shredded pork in chilli", perhaps, a little misleadingly named (bamboo and fungus, and a very mild sauce dominate the flavours), salt and pepper beancurd and a beef dish, with fresh greens.

On this occasion we opted for BYO ($2 per head), but it is worth noting that there is a small but thoughtfully put together wine list of good quality and value.

Jan 14, 2010

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  8     

Have often wandered past this place, dismissing stopping in for a meal due to its large"bistro-like" decor.

A recent $15 pizza and $5 corkage special lured me in. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the pizza - equal to and in my opinion, above the standard of others in the area (Woodstock, Osteria).

A particular standout - the "Nduja" pizza, comprises finely minced sicilian salami, spanish onion, mozzarella and tomato - a stunningly simple combination.

While the $15 pizzas and $5 corkage are no longer around (corkage is admittedly a little steep at $8), the side dishes (rocket and parmesan, roasted kipflers with pesto and pancetta and others) represent great value at $5.

Jan 07, 2010

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

Four visits down the track, this place is still amazing and has surpassed the quality of Movida in our eyes. We like to order our own selection of tapas and racion, this represents great value and the set menu can at times be a little bit stodgy.

The Syrian lentil croutons, eggplant with labne and the signature Shark Bay prawns with pancetta and salmorejo are stunning. Ditto, unintrusive service and a decently priced wine list (love the cheap and cheerful Valformosa Cava Rose NV) make this place a keeper.

Rock up and nab a seat at the bar to bypass the 6.00 pm/8.30 pm two sittings policy.

Jan 07, 2010