Ms Creosote

Infusion in South Hobart

2009-05-30T14:27:00.003+10:00

Food reviewer Graeme Phillips said "it’s all casual, friendly, professional and truly excellent".

We say "it is crap".

Our table of 12 was the only one occupied and yet we had to wait an hour for our not-at-all complicated meals (basically eggs, bacon and toast all round) which were bland and cooling by the time they were delivered. Stunningly each plate arrived at five minute intervals, so no one ate at the same time!

The two waitresses attended the table once, when we first sat down, to provide coffee, then disappeared.. avoiding all eye contact.

I'd be ashamed to work there too. Infusion should be put out of its misery.

Another doozy

2008-06-30T09:09:00.002+10:00

I heard some jaw dropping feedback from a large reservation at a North Hobart pub last week.

Apparently the group ordered at the bar and waited yonks for meals to come out. When the waitress turned up with a couple of plates, they weren't what was ordered but, instead of finding the right table, she plonked them down and suggested the diners sort it out. The food sat there cooling for five minutes until a neighbouring table wandered over to claim their meals.

It's like musical plates!

Room to eat

2008-06-13T12:49:00.003+10:00

It's taken some pondering but I've finally pinned down the connection between three recent, disparate meals. It's all about the room.. or lack of it. Actually it's about poorly thought out room.

I have a passing interest in design but am nowhere near an expert, let alone qualified to comment, but it's interesting how an eating experience can be altered by the kitchen/bar/stairs in the wrong spot.

Take Francisco's: It's a buzzing restaurant with attentive service and FANTASTIC food. I'm still thinking about the creamy, smokey paella stuffed with calamari, king prawns, mussels, fish, chicken and other tasty morsels. The blokes at our table (and how unusual to see men in an almost identical pink/purple striped shirt, nice one) feasted on a seafood platter with the crunchiest whitebait..mmmm. Being in Battery Point, you expect space to be at a premium but how ridiculous to have the bar/service area dominating the middle of the room, forcing some of the tables too close together. Surely it would be better tucked away in a corner near the kitchen?

And Sugo (Salamanca Square) has the same problem but fewer excuses. It was tailor-made with the loooongest concrete service block down the centre of the cafe. It's a monolith perched across the brightest part of the room so, if the place is busy and you really want to sit, you get stuck at a table in the gloom near the toilet door. Why, oh why didn't they build the service area across the backwall and leave the prime floor space to more tables? Luckily the $16,000 coffee machine does takeaway.

More worrying is the set-up at Pigeon Hole (Goulburn Street). The food and feel are very Melbourne laneway, the coffee is good (especially as they're using Merlo - pah), and the locally-made nougat is UNBELIEVABLY divine but the tiny kitchen sits in the middle of one wall, which creates a seating nightmare. A couple of tables are in the dark against the beautifully wallpapered rear wall (also opposite the toilet door) but you have to squint because of the glare from the front window. More two-person tables run down the corridor beside the kitchen and in front of the lone window there's just one high table with two uncomfortable stools. It's a shame because the staff is sweet, the small menu is interesting and the decoration is really quirky but the layout gets in the way of rushing back with lots of friends. (And there's sod all parking nearby.)

So, space is a distraction. Is it the be-all? Maybe not. But it certainly influences my mental list-making. Francisco's food outweighs the environmental glitches; Sugo is more an outdoor venue; Pigeon Hole should consider expanding into the empty shop next door.

Apologies & excuses

2008-06-06T09:22:00.004+10:00

It's been too many months, and many more meals, since my last post so a quick wrap of some of the menus that have passed my way since September..

As Onba was the last post I'll return there first.. last night we had a quick bite to eat and enjoyed the "tapas", which is more meal than bite-sized. I had a sweet, zingy, tomatoey gnocchi and a cider soaked chorizo dish. The gnocchi was delicious, fluffy and plump. I can't really rate the chorizo as there was only one slice among the beans in the pot. I pointed that out to the waiter who was most apologetic. Speaking of waiters.. Onba's are friendly and attentive, and kept the Cosmos flowing! The meal was very filling and the atmosphere is like a busy, dimly lit lounge room. In all a lovely relaxed time that cost about $50 for two cocktails and two dishes.

The absolute highlight of recent dining has been Marque IV. I arrived a little sceptical about all the rave reviews but I was blown away by the 6 course tasting menu. A dazzling array of flavours, styles and presentation complemented by discreet, knowledgeable service. Each plate was eye catching and, two hours later, we were all stuffed to the gills! The night cost about $150 per head but is worth every shekel.

I've got a love/hate relationship with The Bund in Shanghai. Love: food, quirky service, reasonable prices. Hate: MSG. I've been twice in recent months and each time has left me dry-mouthed and suffering terrible sleep. Yes, it's their choice to use chemical flavouring but a) they should note it on the menu and b) offer options without.

Still at the posh end of the street - Monty's on Montpelier has had much good press but I found it a bit undercooked. Nat Starkey runs a tight ship but I found the service intrusive and we sat at a wobbly table for two in the doorway, which did nothing to enhance my appetite. I confess to being extremely tired on the night but my upsized entree of fried gnocchi didn't appear to have any flavour. Dessert of crepes suzette was also bland. My partner loved his venison shank though so I reckon we'll give it another try and request a better table.

My current breakfast favourite is Salt in Moonah. It's so easy to get to, park and find a table, add great food and bewt coffee (oddly better than it's sister-store Dukkah), as well as room for kids to roam and you've got a winner.

Enjoyed in brief: Tricycle breakfast, Sugo coffee (new owners do the BEST short black), the Fish Bar in North Hobart (good value), bento boxes from Yume.

So much more to recall but I can't overlook the chocolate fudge slice from Zeps Cafe at Campbell Town and I'd like to farewell Express Cafe at New Town.. I'm sure we'll soon see Steve and Bec rise from the angst with an exciting new venture.

Onba a little off kilter..

2007-09-30T12:01:00.000+10:00

Popped into the newly opened Onba, opposite the Republic Bar in North Hobart, for a quick coffee and a luscious chocolate brownie. Both very good and just the right temperature, so we decided to return for Saturday breakfast.

Our group settled in on the vast, comfy couches upstairs then moved into the small dining room to eat, which was a mistake as the hard floors and walls amplified every word.. and we share a lot of words!

The breakfast menu ($10-15) is a mouthwatering read and offers so many temptations but our group was underwhelmed with the real thing. One person loved the cassoulet but my omelette was more like a solid round of scrambled egg. Another friend's toast was overcooked and hard, and the scrambled eggs + trout was watery. Although our food came out in dribs and drabs, the service was friendly and attentive.

It's great to see another cafe in this precinct, especially one with a bit of style. They've obviously put plenty of time into the layout and furnishings. Personally, I'd add some colour or art to the walls and give the concrete floor a polish. I would also reconsider placing a long table in front of the entry.. it makes getting inside a bit tricky and I wouldn't like to try with a pram or wheelchair.

As it's only new, and the owners are working on a list of things-we-forgot-to-buy, I'll give Onba another whirl and hope the kitchen fires up.

Onba
FOOD 4
SERVICE 7
ATMOS 6

Fantastic food..

2007-09-20T20:12:00.000+10:00

The only spoiler at The Bund in Shanghai (Sandy Bay) is the Kenny G soundtrack.
That aside, the food is scrumptious and the service quick and discreet.

We feasted on subtle pork dumplings, crunchy duck pancakes, spicy salt and pepper squid, chicken stir fry, and an amazing duck special with pumpkin and lychees.

All the dishes were beautifully presented and we wolfed them down.

It's a big restaurant, so you don't feel crowded. The staff were busy but attentive and I wish we could've stayed longer (toddlers have very short attention spans!). Our bill was $130 for four (and we were stuffed).

Change the music, add some Chinese beer to the menu and it'd be perfect.

The Bund in Shanghai
Food 9/10
Atmos 7/10
Service 8/10

I don't mean to sound like an advertisement but..

2007-09-01T13:11:00.000+10:00

Sensational spicy, meaty, red duck curry.

Pungent, zesty chicken chilli cashew stir fry.

Plump, creamy noodles with crisp colourful veggies, gingery fish and tangy sauce.

Welcome to Darjoh's at Bellerive. It's friendly, prompt, generous, well priced and bloody delicious. (Eat in BYO or takeaway.)

An all round 8/10!

The worst meal I can recall..

2007-09-01T12:54:00.000+10:00

We went to Golden Harbour in Hunter Street, Hobart on the recommendation of a couple of blogs and the Mercury's reviewer.

Big mistake.

The service was lacking but the food was entirely DREADFUL.

All our entrees were fried and tasteless; do they really think we don't know the difference between reconstituted squid and calamari?

The mains ($28 each) came out plate by plate and consisted mainly of oil.
The pork was a wet battered mess, the tiny chicken pieces were oversauced and outnumbered by cashews, the eggplant was drowning in canola oil (and made me gag), the scallops were chewy and the fish.. well it could've been anything. The only edible part of the meal was the rice (with peas and bacon bits).

I can only wonder if the Golden Harbour has changed hands since the glowing reviews I read? Or maybe they couldn't cope with two large groups?

My recommendation: save your money.

Something to smile about!

2007-07-28T11:03:00.001+10:00

Moonah's mile of smiles finally has a reason to get happy.

SALT has opened in Ali Sultan's latest pre-fab project. It's the Dukkah boys' baby and their style is echoed in the menu and the light fittings. SALT is a smart looking cafe with nice heavy cutlery and plenty of room around the tables.

We popped in for breakfast and, despite a staff shortage, the service was warm, friendly and very speedy.

The breakfast menu is small but I'm told it'll expand as they get an idea of what customers want. I had an enormous plate of creamy scrambled eggs and mushrooms on sourdough. Others enjoyed omelets and muesli.

The coffee is OK, nothing to rave about but entirely drinkable. However, I've never been a fan of Red Star beans.. I wish they'd buy an Oomph mix.

SALT is open for dinner and has been packed to the gills - sounds like it's really filling a hole.

Salt
ATMOS 7/10
SERVICE 8/10
FOOD 6/10 (it'd be 7 with a better brew)

In Chris we trust..

2007-06-27T08:46:00.000+10:00

I've almost given up the battle of the winter bulge.

This cold snap makes it impossible to stop baking and, even when I do, I can't resist the lure of Jackman & McCross.

Their rocky road is made with dark chocolate and competes with the caramel slice for best in show. The pies have big chunks of lean meat and flaky, unctuous pastry. When I'm pretending to be healthy, the muesli slice does the trick. And I've got a new favourite bread - J&M rye with sunflower seeds.. the tastiest accompaniment to Saturday eggs and bacon.

Now if only there was a gym next door!

2007-06-25T21:15:00.000+10:00

It must be heartbreaking for the kids in the kitchen, when they're working their coits out, to be completely undermined and overshadowed by a sloppy and disinterested FOH.

I can only imagine that the folk behind the stoves at The Beach in Blackmans Bay must tear out their hair. Apart from the bistro's shocking noise level (my elderly relatives were left dumb and mute for our lunch date) and the hour long wait for our simple meals, I was stunned that such rude and lazy waitresses had found employment.

Both of the two young women we had the displeasure of dealing with seemed more interested in the seaview than our satisfaction. They were abrupt, barely made eye contact and plainly didn't think we were thirsty.

I had to go to the bar about wine; I inquired about their range of chardonnays and was told "It's only wine". Luckily the bloke behind the bar was nearby and intervened, showing a greater level of warmth and expertise.

Determined to avoid the waitresses, I went back to the counter to ask someone with a stripy apron about the desserts (a list of cakes doesn't mean much to me) and found a shy but helpful girl refilling the bain. So I ordered a handful of biscuits and coffee. The bikkies arrived quick smart but the coffee took another 20 minutes!

The food at The Beach was hearty and tasty; perfect pub grub at the right price. We enjoyed the enormous, tender chicken parma and the juicy beef tenderloins with loads of crispy chips and fresh veg. Another guest raved about the duck salad. And the bill was an impressive $30 dollars a head!

The Beach
ATMOS 4/10 (the sun was shining and the water sparkling)
SERVICE 1/10
FOOD 7/10

There's a first time for everything..

2007-03-25T12:27:00.000+10:00

I never thought I'd agree with Graeme Phillips but he's right about the Lotus Eaters cafe on the main drag at Cygnet.

The food is spot on and well worth the drive. However, the physical cafe has some drawbacks.. the chairs are uncomfortable and it's draughty when both doors are open. It's also noisy (wooden floors, brick walls).

We scoffed olive pizza (simple and tangy) and Boks bacon tart (looked more like quiche to me) with fresh salad and spicy sauce. The service was cheery but a bit slow given there was nothing complicated to cook.

I'm already scheming a return trip.. hopefully, it won't be so busy.

Lotus Eaters Cafe
ATMOS 5/10
SERVICE 5/10
FOOD 9/10

Two questions:

2007-03-11T14:11:00.000+11:00

1. Would it be wrong to go out for dinner and only have cocktails?
2. Is it ok to have quail entree followed by duck main?

Well, I didn't and I did, and then I was glad I didn't.

Restaurant 373's wine list is sooo tempting but, three glorious courses later, I was glad I stuck to two glasses of bubbles.

We've tasted 373's hospitality a few times now, so the novelty factor has worn off but they're still solidly hitting the mark. The quail was beautifully flavoured but needed to be butterflied (is that a word?) as it had dried out in the pan. The duck was spot on and the tart is heaven on earth.

Now, I just wish they'd set up a few bar stools, so I could have a go at answering question 1.

restaurant 373
ATMOS 8/10
SERVICE 9/10
FOOD 7/10
CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS 9/10!

Next time, just shoot me..

2007-03-11T13:49:00.000+11:00

I'm blaming another blog for my latest nightmarish trip to Glenorchy.

Moving house gave the fambly a good enough excuse to try the oft-blogged, newly beiged Maypole. Of course we hadn't booked and, like everyone else it seems, couldn't get a table.

So we decided to venture north and (on a colleague's reassurance that the kids' playground makes for a relaxed dinner) ended up at the Carlyle Hotel.

I wish I'd read the Gobbler's pub-spotting guide (http://the-gobbler.blogspot.com) before we drove into the carpark. I should've listened to my inner voice, which started screaming when it saw the pokies lounge, but laziness led me through the door.

The Carlyle is disgracefully overpriced ($20 for a burger sans veg) and devoid of atmosphere. At those prices you'd expect table service, not a queue to the cashier. Even the playground was closed for "maintenance". The food was muchos deep fried and I'm not convinced the fisherman's basket contained any genuine seafood. We did score a free dessert (I don't know how or why).. two scoops of icecream in a metal bowl.

It makes me sad that people go to the Carlyle for a special night out. I wish I could distribute leaflets at the front door, listing suggestions for a decent cheap eat.

My only advice if you're contemplating the Carlyle - avoid like the plague. It doesn't even deserve a rating.

Big yellow taxi's revenge

2007-02-07T19:47:00.000+11:00

Very pleased to hear that Mr Sultan is going to get one back for Joni and turn that enormous Salamanca car park into something a little more edifying.

I hear the darlings at Dukkah have their eyes on the prize and are planning a modern yet casual mega-restaurant, serving BL&D. (That's after they set up a decent caff in Moonah.)

Kristian's already working on his cocktail menu and hopefully Sarah will crack the whip out front (I don't know if that means they'll have the kids in the kitchen?!).

The only downside is the wait.. it could be a few years in construction!

Vale Garrulous Gourmet

2007-02-02T19:50:00.000+11:00

Your blog served us well and certainly taught me a thing or two about cookin' in this town!

I hope you'll someday return in whatever format affords you that most valuable of commodities - anonymity.

Summer glutton (had me a blast)

2007-01-28T14:47:00.000+11:00

Summer = a green flag for indulgence, tempered by days of salad and, since my last post, I've been at the fork-end of the good, the bad and the ugly.

Some pleasant memories:

Spicy, crunchy, vegetarian pickings at the Falls festival. I was surprised to see the busy Hare Krishna van and even more surprised that I bought and enjoyed its unidentifiable offerings.
BIL's squid, marinated three ways, scoffed hot off the BBQ.
Christmas pork.. the one and only day of the year I don't feel guilty about crunching on crackling.
Golden apricots from the Midway Point roundabout.
BBQ King's duck pancakes - the real reason we go to Sydney.
Restaurant 373's Valrohna chocolate & golden syrup roasted hazelnut tart.. need I say more?

And some holiday shockers:

The Bruny pub at Alonnah - sweet, tender fish that was soured by the 90 minute wait for it to be served (with no apology or appeasement, while we corralled a very tired toddler).
The Penguin Cafe (Bruny again) - if I'm going to pay $15 for a Jackman & McRoss pie with a bit of salad, I want miles of free smiles; this Adventure Bay cafe was empty but still the manager made us feel like an inconvenience.
Every single coffee I tried in Sydney's CBD - beige milk in huge glasses; no wonder so many of the city's worker bees resort to smoking.
Bland nibbles at Moorilla - I can't complain too loudly as I was supping aboard the "rich bastards & freeloaders" deck but there's gotta be a better way to soak up Moorilla's bitey bubbles than with chickpea salad and acres of salmon slices? I'm usually impressed with food from The Source but these horses doovers just didn't match Chrissie Hynde's sublime offerings.

All in all a good start to the year. I would like to know why Bruny Island can't offer decent service, particularly at the height of the season.

One of my 2007 resolutions is to find time for eating excursions further afield, although I'm not sure how that gels with my resolution to stay within the confines of my current clobber!

Kristmas kardonnay

2006-12-10T15:29:00.000+11:00

My favourite lethal combination - sunshine, childcare, gossip, chardonnay and Kaos's deck. Had a ripper afternoon but way too many drinks, got sunburnt, and stumbled into bed at 8pm.

A little shabby the next day but still recall a tasty spinach and fetta lasagne (which the menu described as cannelloni) with a little to much melted cheese on top, accompanied by a basic but zingy side salad.

A lovely arvo, with friendly service, ruined only by the next day's hangover!

Kaos
ATMOS 8/10
SERVICE 7/10
FOOD 6/10

The Princess and the peeps

2006-11-24T10:12:00.000+11:00

I can now say with certainty that stir fried chicken with veg and cashew is much, much tastier when accompanied by Royalty.

We had dinner at the crowd pleasing Mai Ake in North Hobart last night and were delighted when the Crown Princess and her family rocked up.

I don't think the MA staff had a clue who they were dealing with, which was probably a refreshing change for the oft-stared at Royal couple. Their presence created a little buzz but they were left to relax in peace.

Unfortunately Prince Christian was a no-show and missed out on a chance to romp with our two year old (who's developed a taste for prawns and almost mastered chopsticks!).

As for Mai Ake.. fresh, spicy, decent-sized meals at good prices (about $25 a head for entree + main) but it took ages for our mains to arrive and one person was without food for 10 minutes longer than everyone else. I rekcon they need more hands/woks in the kitchen.

Mai Ake:
ATMOS 6/10 (the backdoor needs an awning to stop the arvo glare)
SERVICE 5/10
FOOD 7/10

The next best thing..

2006-11-23T14:51:00.000+11:00

to eating good food is reading about it.

I've just dipped into 'Don't Try This At Home: Culinary Catastrophes from the World's Greatest Chefs' by Kimberly Witherspoon and Andrew Friedman.

It's glorious and such a relief to know the experts have bad days too!

All aboard!

2006-11-12T11:31:00.000+11:00

PTL, the Skinners are back in their natural habitat! Bec and Steve have resurfaced; they're running the gorgeous Express Cafe at the New Town Station Nursery on Bellevue Parade.

We popped in for brekky on their second weekend and it was terrific. The design and layout is bright, funky and cheery with a lovely outdoor area amidst the greenery.

What really makes it is the excellent service (thanks Alice) and wholesome, hearty fare.
They have crayons and puzzles to keep the littlies entertained while you drown yourself in Hobart's best coffee. The menu's not huge but there's plenty of variation to keep everyone happy.

We loved it and are really glad New Town finally has a decent cafe to lay claim to. (My only complaint is that the nursery has a frightening array of trinkets, baubles and knick-knackery on display to tempt the curious toddler!)

Apparently weekend trade is going gangbusters. Express Cafe is now open Wednesday-Sunday but is likely to extend trading hours as more staff are trained up.

Express Cafe:
ATMOS 8/10
SERVICE 9/10
FOOD 8/10

So near and yet so far..

2006-11-07T15:36:00.000+11:00

I've only had a couple of Starbucks coffees in central Melbourne so I wasn't too fussed when an outlet arrived in Hobart. I'd pretty much decided to stick to Hudsons when I was in a rush.. you know, support the Australian company, wave the flag etc etc.

I can't look a gift horse in the eye so when I lucked on to a $10 Starbucks card, I thought I should pop in on my way to work, if I could find a car park. Lo, the chariot slipped into a spot outside Angus & Robertson and I nipped over the road for a long black.

From there it just got too complicated.

It took 10 minutes to serve the touristy-looking couple in front of me because the girl behind the counter treated them like morons; I think their European accents threw her. When I got to the register and had waded through the coffee "menu" (no I don't want a muffin/to upsize/any toppings), I handed over the card but it just wouldn't scan. 5 minutes of running the card through the machine later and I had decided to leave. It was then she realised it was 3.30pm and the 'line is down' at 3.30pm.. on Sundays. Did I want to have my coffee in the shop and wait til the line was up again (no, she didn't know when that would be)? Or I could just pay cash??

Erm, no. Freebie or not, I'm off to Hudsons for some service.

Starbucks Hobart
ATMOS: Irritated
SERVICE: As if
COFFEE: Who knows?

42 reasons I hate dry fish..

2006-11-03T13:33:00.002+11:00

T42 is a dandy place for a pre-wedding dinner. I'm chuffed that a table full of over-30s women can drink&laugh&drink&holler without feeling ancient and out of place. And on a mildish night, you could easily forget to count the empty bottles of fizz.

Our hen's night was easy, breezy and the service was quick, friendly and unobtrusive (although we had at least four different waiters.. is that normal?). The drinks weren't cheap ($7 Corona, $34 Four Sisters vino) but we cared not.

I did expect a little more from the kitchen. On a waiter's recommendation I ordered harissa coated King fish on a bed of greens. I was prepared to overlook the oily spinach leaves but the dry fish made me gag. It wasn't a big piece and so easily frazzled. I don't know if the spice was nice because the fish was completely devoid of moisture. Maybe some diners enjoy really, REALLY dead fish but I like it a bit fleshy in the middle.

I let them know as we were paying the bill and the dear things gave me a cut price (that's the displeasure discount). Hopefully they also gave the chef a clonk with the frying pan.

T42:
ATMOS 7/10
SERVICE 8/10
FOOD 4/10

Time flies when you're losing the plot..

2006-10-28T13:47:00.002+11:00

What on earth has happened to South Hobart's La Provencal?

It'd been five years since we last enjoyed the French fare at this family-run cornerstone. I had fuzzy recollections of a cosy but classy atmosphere and hearty, wholesome food. Alas, the best thing at dinner there last week was the Yarra Valley shiraz I had to buy at the pub up the road.

We arrived at opening time (7pm) to be told to "pick a table". The butchers paper table covering, paper serviettes and tiny wine glasses were the first indication that something had gone awry since 2002. The water bottle carried in the waitress's armpit, dirty cutlery, and the waitress twiddling her long hair while she recounted the specials had us dreaming of an escape route.

With entrees around $15 and mains around $30 we had high hopes that the food would be LP's redeeming feature. But no. My pork "terrine" was potted pork butter that tasted mainly of salt and, fresh out of the fridge, was cold and hard. The accompanying toast, a few lettuce leaves and olives were cooking by numbers. I persisted with another entree of chicken gnocchi; it consisted of two bland golf ball-sized gnocchi in a non-descript, creamy capsicum sauce. The Bloke was complimentary about his main of beef fillets but half the plate was covered in cheesy potato and we had to pay $5 extra for a small dish of carrots and zucchini.

We fled, $80 and 45 minutes lighter. Deeply disappointed and baffled - LP was full of customers and we couldn't work out why!

The evening was redeemed by dessert at Restaurant 373 in North Hobart but that's another story...

La Provencal:
ATMOS 1/10
SERVICE 1/10
FOOD 2/10

Why?

2006-10-28T13:34:00.000+11:00

This is a forum for discussing Tasmania's many and varied eating establishments.

The good and the bad, the extraordinary and mundane. Feel free to join the debate!