Author: Rafael_13

I tried the dine out menu 2021 this passed weekend. It was a three course menu and I must say the food was lovely. We also took the wine pairings, our table had mixed views on them but they were generally good. From outside I...got the impression that it would be a nice restaurant, but upon entering it kind of reminded me of a sports bar, at least over towards the right hand side, where we sat in a booth. The tables were clear upon sitting down and drinks arrived on tissues with cutlery wrapped in paper napkins arriving once the food was laid down before you. Perhaps a pre-set table would raise the luxury level up a touch. It was a Sunday evening dinner and there weren't that many tables occupied this particular Sunday. I had a thought that if they had closed off one side of the restaurant and kept the occupied tables closer together it would have created more of an atmosphere and may have kept more people around. Instead from where we sat, as it emptied, we almost felt like 't was time for us to go too. I have passed outside on days where the patio appeared full and there did seem to be a good buzz about the place, it's what made me interested in the place first day. For the first course I chose the beet carpaccio over the butternut squash soup. The cilantro lime dressing was perfectly zesty but subtly so. It combined with the mix of hazelnuts, mandolin shavings of beets, goats cheese and arugula in such a way that it brought the rest of the dish together and was frankly sublime. I could have eaten another two portions! Indeed I tried to replicate the recipe at home I liked it that much. For the entree I chose the BBQ baby back ribs over the salmon or the lentil risotto. The meat just fell of the bone deliciously. The dressing on the salad was a little overpowering this time, maybe that was because I was after the starter, but for me I was getting a little too much acid by then. I still cleaned the plate though. The dessert was pavlova, a meringue nest with a decent sized scoop of ice cream and berries on top. It came on a warm plate which was surprising. I kept the ice cream on the nest as long as I could so it wouldn't melt before I got to it. Taste wise it was fine and again I cleaned the plate, maybe missing a surprise element, but I am no one to judge! Nicki served us and she was charming with a great attitude. Overall I would definitely go back there for food.Also there was a gluten free guest with us and they were able to partake in the menu which as great. I did wonder though, that while they had a larger menu, on the dine out menu there was only one dish that was seafood based, the pan seared salmon. For a seafood restaurant I expected more options on the dine out menu to promote their main menu. While the "turf" food was still lovely, it made me wonder if they put their best food forward for this menu, in order to entice people back, then why didn't they put the seafood on, which I'm assuming should be their strong point.