cardinal

Reviews

Restaurants, Chinese, Vegetarian, BYO, Food Delivery

Overall 4.8 3

4.3 Below Average

Food 3 Ambience 5 Service 6 Value 3

Takeaway was ready on time but otherwise disappointing. Eggplant and tofu with mushrooms was nice and gooey. Sichuan prawn was ordinary, prawn with ginger and shallot should have been a classic but wasn't. Not sure what was going on with the Budda's hotpot, not a hotpot but more of a dry veggie and fungus dish with a slightly odd taste. I’ll have Thai next time.

Mar 27, 2011

Ruby Chinese, Dickson

Restaurants, Chinese, Seafood, Vegetarian, Good For Groups

Overall 6.8 2

6.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 7

A cut above your average Chinese, think dressed up waiters, large surrounds, fish tanks and good food. Obviously seafood is the house speciality. With lobster or crab a real splurge at Ruby's prices we settled for less extreme fare. Pippis were delicious in a fresh exo sauce, seafood hotpot was tasty thick with chunks, the scallops with ginger and shallot rewarding, and all complemented by a generous serve of delicious 6 or so type mushroom dish. I'd eat a Ruby again and would definitely try their takeaway if I lived in the area.

Feb 13, 2011

Hanumarn Thai Restaurant, Toorak

Restaurants, Thai, Fine Dining, Romantic and Intimate, BYO

Overall 5.7 2

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 7

Note takeout only: Heading North out of Melbourne we pulled off the freeway onto Toorak Road hoping the Village might have something quick and tasty to eat before resuming our midnight drive. Was really happy to stumble onto this Thai restaurant given we were stressed for time and wasn’t exactly dressed or prepared for dining out on expensive cow sized steaks in Toorak.

The dodgy carpet/walls in the staircase wouldn't exactly sell the Hanumarn but the restaurant itself is nicely appointed. It was very quiet (very early Sunday evening in Toorak), could be the context for the takeaway menu advertising reduced prices. In any case our dinner proved to be both delicious and excellent value.

Typically wide Thai selection on the menu although not too crazy a number of options. We ordered Khao Pad (Thai style fried rice with prawns, crab, vegies and egg) and Pad Si Ew Puk (thick rice noodles with vegies and tofu with thick dark soy sauce). Both dishes used fresh and quality seafood/vegie ingredients. The rice was not oily and very tasty (although the accompanying chilli sauce provided some zest). The noodles were similar to char keow teow and not something I’d automatically identify as Thai but they were quickly demolished.

Based on my experience, I would be very comfortable recommending dining in and giving the Hanumarn a chance if I was after Thai and in the region.

Nov 15, 2010

Noble Palace Chinese Seafood Restaurant, Phillip

Restaurants, Chinese, Yum Cha, BYO, Has Bar

Overall 7.3 18

7.3 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 6 Service 7 Value 8

I've eaten yum cha/dim sum at Noble Palace twice now and been thoroughly pleased on both occasions. My immediate recollections are that the chicken feet are fantastic and that service is very good for this form of eating (perhaps, even a little too intrusive). Most waiters seem taking order or serving a dedicated item off the menu but there was always seemed to be a free floating staff member to take any ad hoc item orders we requested or to ensure that prawn dumplings from the trolley on the other side of the room made their way to our table.

Given my comments on the promptness of the service, if I was going to be mean, my impressions were almost as if some waiters were working on commission to sell the chicken pies to a table as quickly as possible before reloading.

Noting another review, the fried lobster dumplings are indeed delicious (but much better piping hot). The prawn dumplings were my staple and they were served in a number of varieties including with spinach or coriander. Battered whitebait was tasty enough.

If there is a better place for yum cha in Canberra I am unfamiliar with it. In any case, as a value for money proposition or based on the quality of food, I would recommend Noble Palace with confidence or take overseas guests there for yum cha.

Curiously, our table of eight has each time averaged $25 each and we did not hold back on the food we ate. I’m interested that some describe Noble Palace as expensive for yum cha, I thought this was a very reasonable price for Aus.

Nov 05, 2010

Local Italian, The, Bargo

Restaurants, Italian

Overall 6.8 13

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 7

The tastiest pizza I've found on the trip between Sydney and Canberra so far. Bases are thin and crispy and flavoursome. Excellent variety of toppings and pizza base sauce seems homemade. Pesto on the base is arguably a little oily but a good feed in any case.

Oct 23, 2009

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Member since 2008

Last updated on 1st Jun 2012

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Displaying: 1 - 10 of 11 reviews

China Tea Club, Lyneham

Restaurants, Chinese, Vegetarian, BYO, Food Delivery

Overall 4.8 3

4.3 Below Average

Food 3 Ambience 5 Service 6 Value 3

Mar 27, 2011

Ruby Chinese, Dickson

Restaurants, Chinese, Seafood, Vegetarian, Good For Groups

Overall 6.8 2

6.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 7

Feb 13, 2011

Hanumarn Thai Restaurant, Toorak

Restaurants, Thai, Fine Dining, Romantic and Intimate, BYO

Overall 5.7 2

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 7

Nov 15, 2010

Noble Palace Chinese Seafood Restaurant, Phillip

Restaurants, Chinese, Yum Cha, BYO, Has Bar

Overall 7.3 18

7.3 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 6 Service 7 Value 8

Nov 05, 2010

Local Italian, The, Bargo

Restaurants, Italian

Overall 6.8 13

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 7

Oct 23, 2009

Shang Hai Yangzhou House, Hurstville

Restaurants, Chinese, Fine Dining, BYO, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.2 12

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 8

Have to agree with the positive reviews. Service and the promptness of food being brought to the table is great. Need the photogenic menu again, no prob. Scope and variety of dishes are awesome. Food in my experience is generally of a consistently high quality and presents good value. BBQ eggplant and the salt and pepper tofu are great. Salt and pepper items are non-greasy, light in texture and a distinctive coating. I have had a chilli prawn dish with two many dried chillis and not enough flavour but otherwise my experiences have been satisfying.

Oct 23, 2009

Pizza's In The Mist, Robertson

Restaurants, Modern Australian, American Express

Overall 7.1 12

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5 Average

Food 5 Ambience 5 Service 5 Value 5

The restaurant was not open on our Saturday night trip back from the Coast to Canberra. We decided to have a couple of pizzas boxed up for us and watch the somewhat artsy crowd hanging out near a nearby community gallery. The basic seafood was an ordinary mix whilst my partner’s gourmet Greek had better toppings but could have done with a little more temperature. Tastier than your average takeaway pizzas but we would not seek them out.

Jul 27, 2009

Zest Cafe & Bar, Kingston

Cafes, Has Bar, American Express

Overall 3.2 9

2 Not Recommended

Food 2 Ambience 2 Service 2 Value 2

My first time at Zest. Lazy Saturday afternoon with a lovely sun. Unfortunately, the food was bland and far too over priced. Calamari was greasy and soft accompanied by a limited rocket salad. The club sandwiches were well-sized but too bready and a tad dry. Pig tail curly fries were a novelty. Service was inexperienced and uninterested. A spoon with the coffee would have been nice. I’ll try elsewhere next time for brunch in Kingston.

Apr 12, 2009

Le Rendezvous, Manuka

Restaurants, Italian, Pizza, BYO, Licensed

Overall 4.6 9

4.5 Below Average

Food 4 Ambience 4 Service 5 Value 5

Le Rendezvous was full of people for my Friday night farewell. Service was prompt and friendly and considering the size of the various tables well coordinated. Mind you we were having the banquet. Breads were good, the salad standard fare. I was reminded of club bistro food although the pizzas were better than that.

Reports were the chicken was moist but the veal dry. Unfortunately, they were both wrapped in a drab prosciutto. The vegetarian stack and mushroom lasagna weren’t the best, being oily and over-creamy and cooked respectively. You get what you pay for and not a bad experience by any means. Judging from all the teenagers and families some people lap it up. Not my scene although I wouldn’t say no to a pizza.

Mar 21, 2009

Rama's Restaurant, Pearce

Restaurants, Indian, Vegetarian, BYO, Food Delivery

Overall 7.1 7

7.8 Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 6 Service 8 Value 8

My favourite Indian fare in Canberra. Who would have thought suburbs could have treasures like this. Having eaten here numerous times the consistency in the quality and taste in food is exemplary.

Personally I prefer to be inside amongst the vibrant colours, aromas, volume and people rather than risk the cold outside.

Banquets are great and even the cheapest feels like a feast. Groups are well catered for always worth booking as Ramas is consistently packed.

Entrees are varied and interesting especially the hearty samosas with their great dipping sauce. The Palak Paneer is highly recommended. The chicken korma must be the best seller with its well balanced spice and creaminess. If you tend towards vegetarian Ramas will mix and match and that delicious korma sauce will complement a vegetable dish if that’s your desire. It’s true the owner must remember most of her customers and she will always try to accommodate to requests. You should not walk out hungry or hard done by.

If I have a concern with Ramas it would be the Fijian-Indian nature of its food - watch your waist as coconut milk and quantity abound. Can’t wait to eat there again!

Mar 13, 2009