4.5 excellent
came here for celebratory lunch and unfortunately it was overcast and we were booked for outdoor dining. i couldn’t reach them over the phone but fortunately they had a continuity plan by not having all indoor tables booked and were able to place us inside. after ordering our food and drink we wandered outside to take some snaps, by the time we arrived back at our table there was food waiting for us (dishes would come as they are ready).
to drink i had their repose cocktail which i quite enjoyed with sweet and sour notes. didn’t get a chance to try out their wine as i was neglecting my drink during dinner and preoccupied chatting and eating.
we shared a platter of their salumi which had varying cuts but it’s hard to beat the classic prosciutto with its salty and fatty characteristics. we also had some sardines on toast, very simple with preserved lemon and a light burn on the bread. the chive waffles with creme fraiche and salmon roe were delicious with bursts of umami.
the kingfish crudo was one of my favourite things, the freshness of the fish combined with curry oil, puffed grains, citrus and fried basil gave it a mixture of textures and flavours without confusing the palate as i could distinguish each ingredient. the barramundi wings were also a great choice which had been perfectly fried so it was crispy on the outside whilst maintaining it’s delicate flesh inside. there was quite a bit of meat on it considering the cut and went well with the almond skordalia which was nutty and the nduja butter wasn’t particularly spicy but mild.
we also got some vegetable dishes to share which could hold their own or accompany a main dish. the charcoal eggplant was great, the various seasonings on top really popped with the red miso standing out and complimenting the sweet eggplant. the humble potato dish caught everyone’s eye with some purple varieties thrown in. not sure if they were naturally purple but there was a slight hint of beetroot. the medley of pine nuts, pickles and tarragon highlighted the local produce.
we don’t always order salmon but for a large chunk like this, it was cooked perfectly inside their woodfired oven. the skin was nice and crispy and the natural fat speaks for itself, came with a sesame cream which didn’t detract from the quality of the salmon. they really did a number on the confit duck leg, the heavy seasoning on the skin really tickled my tastebuds. the accompanying yellow beets and radicchio wasn’t anything to scoff at either. our favourite however was the scotch fillet which was bursting with flavour and was melt in your mouth perfection. it was swimming in a black garlic butter sauce and the thick cuts of sweet leek, chef’s kisses.
for dessert we had their signature woodfired chocolate chip cookie with malt ice cream. the ice cream was melting pretty fast as we soon figured out that the cup was touching the scorching hot pan. the texture of the warm cookie was great, chewy and certain parts crisp. it was pretty sweet and i’d definitely struggle to finish it by myself though i admittedly kept going back for more. the choux bun was airy and filled with a creamy fennel seed custard and rhubarb compote which gave the dessert it’s tartness. we also had their baked pear frangipane which had been overshadowed by the other two desserts, it was decent though.
overall i don’t think i could have chosen a better spot to celebrate, the venue was family friendly and had great views of the vineyard. the food was exceptional with some clear standouts. i would state however that i was unsuccessful in contacting them via phone multiple times as i wanted to make some enquiries relating to our outdoor booking conflicting with the weather.