little gourmette

7 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  9     

Cheap and cheerful is all you want from a dumpling place, and Sea Bay certainly delivers. I've converted dozens of friends to Sea Bay and now they're all addicted too!

The vegetarian dumplings are the best I've had, some places make them really bland, but here they rival the meat ones for flavour. The handmade chicken noodles are amazing, as is the shallot pancake. Crispy, full of flavour and perfect, melt-in-your-mouth flaky pastry. I get Sea Bay cravings every time I leave Sydney!

My only tip: get there early to avoid the crush for a table, or the din (the walls are tiled, so everything echoes).

Jun 22, 2011

4 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  4     

After being spoiled by my local Lebanese in Sydney, I was hoping to find an equivalent in Melbourne. Perhaps, I've been spoiled, but I found the food here really bland. The shish tawook was almost tasteless and the entree tasting plate was very average and a little on the greasy side.

I feel awful saying this, as she did try very hard, but the waitress we had didn't speak English so ordering stressed us out a bit. For the price, I'd probably go elsewhere for a more memorable meal.

Jun 22, 2011

8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

I dined at Ezard for a special occasion with a friend and was very impressed.
The attention to detail in each dish and combination of strong and subtle flavours was amazing. I had the Canadian scallops for entree and the Wagyu beef for main, both were faultless and a memorable indulgence.

Ezard lacked the airs, graces and pretensions of many fine dining restaurants which was very refreshing. I can see how other diners may have mistook the waitress' behaviour for rudeness (if indeed it's the same one), but I actually liked that she was super-professional, efficient and didn't fawn over us.

I would highly recommend Ezard for a special occasion, particularly for couples or small groups.

Jun 22, 2011

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Had lunch here last week and can easily say it was the most foul, inedible meal I've ever had the displeasure of ingesting.

The calamari was off (it was grey, had a foul fishy odour and made me feel sick afterwards) and was swimming in sweet chilli sauce. Literally, My chips were floating in it and too soggy to eat. The salad accompaniment would have been a saving grace, had it not been wilted.

At $20, it was the most expensive mouthful I've eaten in a while too. Service was slow despite only a few tables being filled (perhaps, they got wind of the off calamari and went elsewhere? Lucky them).

My advice, go a few doors up Burwood Rd and get pizza or Thai.

Jun 22, 2011

4.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  3     

While the atmosphere and food are great, unfortunately, the rudeness of the senior staff has turned me off Zenobia - for good. The ridiculous noise levels are also off-putting. There's festive, and then there's the 'I-can't-hear-my-dining-companion' din. The attitude of some of the staff has lost them my (and my friends/associates/family's) business. Particularly when there's so many other fine Lebanese restaurants around with equally good food and far better service. My advice? If it's a special occasion, plan it elsewhere!

Feb 23, 2010

7 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  9     

Cheap and cheerful is all you want from a dumpling place, and Sea Bay certainly delivers. I've converted dozens of friends to Sea Bay and now they're all addicted too!

The vegetarian dumplings are the best I've had, some places make them really bland, but here they rival the meat ones for flavour. The handmade chicken noodles are amazing, as is the shallot pancake. Crispy, full of flavour and perfect, melt-in-your-mouth flaky pastry. I get Sea Bay cravings every time I leave Sydney!

My only tip: get there early to avoid the crush for a table, or the din (the walls are tiled, so everything echoes).

Jun 22, 2011

4 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  4     

After being spoiled by my local Lebanese in Sydney, I was hoping to find an equivalent in Melbourne. Perhaps, I've been spoiled, but I found the food here really bland. The shish tawook was almost tasteless and the entree tasting plate was very average and a little on the greasy side.

I feel awful saying this, as she did try very hard, but the waitress we had didn't speak English so ordering stressed us out a bit. For the price, I'd probably go elsewhere for a more memorable meal.

Jun 22, 2011

8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

I dined at Ezard for a special occasion with a friend and was very impressed.
The attention to detail in each dish and combination of strong and subtle flavours was amazing. I had the Canadian scallops for entree and the Wagyu beef for main, both were faultless and a memorable indulgence.

Ezard lacked the airs, graces and pretensions of many fine dining restaurants which was very refreshing. I can see how other diners may have mistook the waitress' behaviour for rudeness (if indeed it's the same one), but I actually liked that she was super-professional, efficient and didn't fawn over us.

I would highly recommend Ezard for a special occasion, particularly for couples or small groups.

Jun 22, 2011

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

Had lunch here last week and can easily say it was the most foul, inedible meal I've ever had the displeasure of ingesting.

The calamari was off (it was grey, had a foul fishy odour and made me feel sick afterwards) and was swimming in sweet chilli sauce. Literally, My chips were floating in it and too soggy to eat. The salad accompaniment would have been a saving grace, had it not been wilted.

At $20, it was the most expensive mouthful I've eaten in a while too. Service was slow despite only a few tables being filled (perhaps, they got wind of the off calamari and went elsewhere? Lucky them).

My advice, go a few doors up Burwood Rd and get pizza or Thai.

Jun 22, 2011

4.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  3     

While the atmosphere and food are great, unfortunately, the rudeness of the senior staff has turned me off Zenobia - for good. The ridiculous noise levels are also off-putting. There's festive, and then there's the 'I-can't-hear-my-dining-companion' din. The attitude of some of the staff has lost them my (and my friends/associates/family's) business. Particularly when there's so many other fine Lebanese restaurants around with equally good food and far better service. My advice? If it's a special occasion, plan it elsewhere!

Feb 23, 2010

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  10      Value  8     

We were so impressed with this restaurant that we'll be back (regularly, if I have a say in it!). The service was superb, so attentive and friendly. Food was great, very authentic and good serving sizes. We usually go somewhere else for good Lebanese, but after trying Laytani's I don't think we'll return. I'm glad to have found my new favourite restaurant so close to home.

Feb 23, 2010