merlot

Member since 2006

Last updated on 13th Feb 2012

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Hare & Grace, Melbourne

Restaurants, European, Licensed, Serves Dinner, Serves Late Dining

Overall 4.2 2

4.2 Below Average

Food 7 Ambience 2 Service 2 Value 3 Drinks 7

Beautifully presented food with some delicate flavours, though my fish was a little salty. Scallops, ox tongue, heirloom tomato salad and filled pasta delicious.

Unfortunately, there was only one other couple dining this Saturday night, so little ambience despite the money spent on the renovations. Staff clearly at their wits end, and difficult to see if this can survive in a crowded market. Especially when service was less than 100%. There were more staff than diners, and one waitress did nothing all night but top up our water once and polish glasses.

Sazerac was excellent, and the winelist is short, thoughtful and dominated by good value local drops. Overall, however, this did not come up to expectations as the complete experience, and as I felt as though I was dining in the morgue, represented poor value.

Lastly, let me add that the poor attendance occurs despite considerable media exposure since opening in November, especially in the past month. Two articles in the weekend paper, several mentions in the same paper in the previous week, glowing testimonials from that papers Good Food Guide, and several encomiums from restauranteur Matteo Pignatelli, himself a darling of the AGFG. Have a look at the prefabricated gush and multiple recommendations from single reviewers on their Urbanspoon site. Would that other restaurants could garner such support. Quite graceless.

Feb 07, 2011

Thread Cafe, Malvern

Cafes

Overall 7.2 4

7.3 Recommended

Food 6 Ambience 7 Service 8 Value 8

New cafe in an area that badly needs some spots for a sandwich and a good coffee. Wide range of sandwiches and piadini for eating in or takeaway. Full breakfast options and salads and warmer dishes for lunch. Allpress coffee very good. Friendly attentive service with plenty of staff on the floor. Recommended.

Feb 12, 2010

Abla's, Carlton

Restaurants, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, BYO, Licensed

Overall 6.7 18

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 3 Service 8 Value 8

A recent return trip explains the beauty of this little place. It was less frantic on a Thursday night, and a look in the kitchen revealed a trio of women preparing everything by hand. Mea culpa. Service and food were far better than last time. Nominal BYO charge.

A trio of dips, then chicken wings, tabouleh, runner beans in stock, merguez sausages, lamb kibbeh, skewers of chicken and lamb. The famed chicken and pilaf was moist and aromatic. I still think the fish special is spoilt by being smothered in tahini.

Desserts miniscule, though we are quite full by the end of the banquet. Coffee strong. The dining rooms remain boring, with our group crowded in on uncomfortable chairs. A good value-for-money BYO for the locals, made special by an owner who cares, but not to my mind the final word in this cuisine.

Feb 12, 2010

Nosh @ Newport, Newport

Restaurants, Cafes, Modern Australian, Child Friendly Menus, Licensed

Overall 4.7 6

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.3 Below Average

Food 4 Ambience 3 Service 5 Value 5

Corner cafe in sleepy Newport. Service friendly. Apparently does the occasional dinner, but I'd be surpised on the basis of our recent lunch. Ocean trout skewers delicious if a bit oily, but the prawns tasted as if they may have been served a day late. The bocconcini and cherry tomatoes were excellent. A roti wrap served warm was quite greasy, and while there was plenty of rocket and avocado, less of this and a bit more salmon would have helped.

Tables had grease marks, water glasses had grease marks, and there were far too many flies for comfortable indoors eating. Definitely child friendly, with a box of toys for the toddlers, and pencils for the older kids, but beware the sign that declares bad children are losing them customers. I think there may be other reasons. Fair inexpensive nosh, but certainly not posh.

Feb 07, 2010

Middle Park Hotel, Middle Park

Pubs

Overall 5.6 2

5.2 Average

Food 6 Drinks 6 Ambience 4 Service 4 Value 6

Somewhat churlish welcome when we arrived for an impromptu dinner at 9.30 on a Thursday night (hurry up or the kitchen will close!) became all smiles and servitude after ordering several courses, a bottle of expensive red (choice of decanter?) and a few armagnacs. Recent fitout maintains the tired look of the old Gunn Island, with the addition of a stag antler chandelier.

Food is better. The initial soup was not a cleansing broth, but a heavy affair with a creamy potato gruel. The jellied eel was very English, and very good. The offal salad deserves its plaudits, with black pudding, kidney, tongue and other delicious tidbits, with shaved endive and a tart dressing to set it off.

The steaks were a small letdown, cooked as ordered, but if not a little charred, displaying no characteristic grill lines of the finest. Definitely grass over grain. Wine list excellent and reasonably priced. A good spot if the staff are on song.

Feb 07, 2010

Tempura Hajime, South Melbourne

Restaurants, Japanese, Has Bar, Licensed, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.1 12

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5 Average

Food 4 Ambience 4 Service 8 Value 4

An expensive fried food shop. If you like battered and deep fried food you will love this, if not move on. Don’t worry about the type of batter, which oils are used for frying, the temperature of the oil, the phase of the moon, if you’re not into fried food, steer clear.

This place has had its fair share of glowing reviews and blog mentions, but it did nothing for me. The room is a Spartan affair, facing the cook as he prepares the food. Zero ambience. Service is attentive, as it should be with 12 diners staggered through the night and with 2-3 staff. I resent having sake/wine topped up constantly, as one almost senses being rushed as a result. The sake list is very basic. The wine list well chosen and well priced.

The initial ocean trout, salmon and kingfish sashimi was unimpressive. A little too firm, and I don’t like chewing raw fish. The accompaniment of fresh wasabi was good. Later a miso and sesame dipping sauce was ok. The minced chicken was far too tough, served with shredded cucumber.

Next came a procession of tempura. Corn shaved off the cob as a piece was the best, followed by a prawn which was just pink. Oyster was advertised but instead we got eel, which was also good. Sea urchin wrapped in nori and scallop was a rare surprise, but the sweet potato, the tuna and avocado wrapped in nori served with Japanese mayonnaise and teriyaki sauce, the hapuka, the minced prawn stuffed into a mushroom, and the minced chicken stuffed in eggplant were all just too oily.

The promised asparagus didn’t arrive. A small salad was thankfully provided as a respite to the grease. Lastly a small patty of vegetable tempura, akin to bhaji, is served as donburi. More oil. Some sweet sake, and then dessert, yoghurt panna cotta drizzled with Cointreau and served with a few grapes.

Watching stilted Westerners bow to the cook every time a small morsel is placed in front of them was hilarious. As the restaurant has been sold, they must be laughing all the way to the bank. Strictly for the KFC crowd.

Feb 07, 2010

Harveys, South Yarra

Restaurants, Mediterranean, Modern Australian, BYO, Citibank Dining Program

Overall 5.3 5

5 Average

Food 4 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 4

Nice spot outside amongst the ivy to have a quiet lunch. Service ok. Food was a letdown, and represented poor modest value.

Two small zucchini with flowers stuffed with a little feta, then fried tempura style, accompanied by some orange slices, shaved fennel and a very heavy creamy fennel bread sauce that overwhelmed the delicate flavours. "Wasabi crusted" beef carpaccio had no wasabi, plain sesame seeds and thinly sliced nondescript fillet, with some shaved radish, fried shallots, garlic and a sesame soy coriander and lemon dressing.

Feb 06, 2010

1806, Melbourne

Bars

Overall 7.7 4

8 Recommended

Drinks 9 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 7

Easy to miss the nondescript entrance. Closed door. No bouncers. On entry, the place clearly has great vibe, music and lighting. And great cocktails. Every drink hit the spot. Quality ingredients. Bartenders happy to discuss their take on the classics. Expensive, but definitely worth it. Will try the food another time.

Feb 03, 2010

Deanery, The, Melbourne

Restaurants, Middle Eastern, Modern Australian, Vegetarian, Has Bar

Overall 6 5

5.3 Average

Food 5 Ambience 3 Service 8 Value 5

Generally underwhelming given expectations based on a number of recent glowing media reviews. The only diners when we arrive for a 7 pm booking on a Saturday night. We are taken to a small side table, just ok for 2, thinking the rest of the crowd will be rolling in soon.

The next couple 30 minutes later are offered a choice of larger tables, change seating when they're not happy, change table after 10 minutes, then harangue the staff for the restaurant's "lack of atmosphere". This rendition of musical chairs was one of the nights highlights. A third couple arrive as we complete our meal at 10 pm. Six covers for the night!

Servings were uniformly small. An amuse bouce of grapes on a disc of balsamic jelly had a sprinkling of tasteless "olive oil powder". Eel done two ways was given contrast by being served on a tart jelly. Veal sweetbreads were baked in brioche and served with walnuts, beans and a piquant tarragon mustard, which was the only flavour of note.

Mains were rabbit loin, cabbage pie and rillette, with little sweet carrots on a sour carrot base. A nice pie but little else of interest, literally. The john dory with scallops was served on a fennel and saffron veloute with pea puree, which was difficult to eat due to the shape of the plate and the high risk of splatter.

A spoon was provided promptly. Service was attentive, enquiring as to our enjoyment of the meal, but clearly not under any duress. Our waiter must have sensed our disappointment, as he sent out a complimentary course which was the highlight. St Helens oyster with cucumber white gazpacho and frozen yoghurt had great mouthfeel and depth of flavour.

Dessert were mandatory because of significant hunger. The pineapple consomme with tiny coconut ravioli, sorbet and chilli involved much work for little dividend. "Violets & roses" comprised a selection of nougats, creams and dried flowers which was a visual and gustatory delight.

Impressive winelist with typical markups and some interesting wines available by bottle and glass. But not enough to recommend returning. Why are diners not eating here? Too expensive? A kitchen staff with pedigree who didn't always deliver on the night.

Feb 03, 2010

European, The, Melbourne

Restaurants, European, Has Bar, Licensed, Outdoor Dining

Overall 7.4 43

6.5 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 7 Service 5 Value 7

Pan-European menu reflects an eclectic mix of the "best hits". Pies from England, terrine from France, croquettes from Spain, Pasta from Italy, Schnitzel from central Europe.

The croquettes had surprisingly good flavour, given how poor the offerings in Melbourne generally are, though with a nondescript aioli (the offering with the complementary bread was better). The pigs head terrine was bland, with a sauce Gribiche with too much commercial mayo and insufficient capers, egg white and mustard.

Mains were better. A whole John Dory done in the oven with thyme and lemon, with zucchini flowers and an accompanying salad. A crab risotto with enough butter to have you rechecking your cholesterol. A bean and almond salad was ok. The 100% European wine list is daunting for the uninitiated, and a bit overpriced, but there are reasonable offerings by the glass.

Service was let down by the long delay in clearing the plates at the end of the meal, looking at fish bones for 10 minutes is inexplicably poor.

Feb 03, 2010