Thats all I seemed to do this weekend, Eat. I had friends visiting from the mainland and we did alot of the tourist stuff, but of course we had to to eat as well. So here is the run down on where we ate...
Friday Night - Kawasemi - Warning...if you want to eat in BOOK! The last 3 times I have tried to walk in off the street on a Friday night they have been totally full. Had a lovely Chicken Katsudon takeaway, and the bento box got the double thumbs up from my mates girlfriend who had lived in Japan for 2 years. This place has firmly established itself as a good solid reliable source of food in the Northern Suburbs. To be booked out on Friday in the middle of winter suggests that they are definately doing something right. I still believe their bento box is one of the best value meals in town.
Saturday - Brunch at Pigeon Hole. I think the comment of "Beans on toast is now ruined" sums up the reaction. Apparently tinned beans on toast will never be enough again! I had a lovely cherry and almond scroll which was still warm from the oven. The brioche was lovely and flakey. Just right for how I was feeling. I truely wish they could be a bit bigger, but they are only allowed 20 seats, and I suspect that as the weather warms up its going to be harder and harder to find a seat unless you get there early. The other half still has to try the beans on toast, and has promised to get up early with me on Saturday so that he can get some...
Dinner at Magic Curry in Battery Point. This was a little bit disappointing. Last time I was here the food had a quite nice flavour, and was not spectacular but it was good. This time the four of us ordered the banquet, which while lots of food really did not have the kick that I was expecting from Indian food. They were very busy though, and cramming them in. There was about 15cm between our table of 4 in a corner and a table of 2 placed slap bang in the middle of the walkway near the fire. The best bits were the fish curry - the fish was firm and moist, with a lovely light curry taste. The butter chicken had no kick what so ever, and the lamb rogan josh was very very bland. The Dahl was nice - not as blended as some, the chick peas were still obvious and added needed texture. Though there appeared to be a lack of spice.
My view on the food may however be coloured by the fact I lived on the same floor in college as a group of Indian girls who used to have huge cooking parties in the buttery and invite everyone along for a meal. I have very fond memories of cooking roti on electric hot plates and smearing them with butter and gobbling them down.
Sunday - Lunch at Red Velvet Lounge. After reading reviews of RVL I was looking forward to eating here. I must say I was a little bit disappointed. I wasn't very hungry so ordered the potato cakes with paprika mayo. The intention was good but the execution fell short. Potato slices, dipped in a batter and deep fried. Has to potential to be a really good meal, unfortunately they were very oily (one slice's oil soaked through my napkin) and not really as crispy as I was expecting. When they were finished there was an obvious puddle of oil at the bottom of the bowl. The mayo was lovely though. I ended up swapping with Stephen for a few bites of his beef pot pie with mash and peas - which was lovely - although the opinion was we needed bread to mop up the sauce as the mash was a side dish.
My BIGGEST complaint however was that the room was COLD!!! I'm sorry but a place with ceilings that high can not just rely on a fireplace to warm everyone up. The staff also seemed to be slightly unconcerned about service. They talked happily to people who were obviously regulars, but I sometimes felt a bit like an intruder and that I was imposing.
We split 2 deserts between the four of us - Stephen and I shared something that was a bit like a cream catalina type thing, but was not that nice - the best bit was the sugared orange peel on top. Crunchy, sweet and sour all at once. E and L shared a slice of Banoff cake - apparently very nice.
Verdict? I'll go back as I suspect this bad visit was a combination of things - including the fact I was having a very odd reaction to the antibiotics I was taking.
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4 comments:
thanks for the low down on the pigeon hole. I keep walking past it and wondering. Unfortunately there's not much room for me + a pram (with kid) in there. I'll have to sneak off on my own sometime to try the beans.
I now desperately want to go Magic Curry..."How is your magic curry?" "Very disappointing"...
Mind you, I always wanted to go to Strudels...and never did...must try harder...
I also went to RVL last week and was very disapointed was freezing cold and the meal was not up to the standard I was expecting(ex p. bay chef etc)I found it to be overpriced and not enough variation of on the menu. The salmon had parmesan on it and a sweet caramel sauce which I thought an odd combination although I did have a taste of others at table and found it to be acceptable flavour wise, of course this is only my personal opinion. I thought an entree $14.90 for 1 sausage and some lentils with salsa verde a bit hard to stomach(pardon the pun)The worst part about the whole night was the lack of service. I felt for the poor waitresses lots of people and not enough staff. I'm sure these things will iron out in time to give the RVL a much better name than it has had of late
We ate there last night & the food though simple was faultless & the service charming & efficent.
We consider ourselves very lucky to live in a town that has two cafes of the calibre of the red velvet the lotus eaters.
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