gorgeous breeze whisks through this lovely space. we immediately order the chilli/garlic/parsley pizza and some ciabatta while we make decisions.
and let me pause there - the moment pizza appears on a menu, i’m immediately thinking b or c grade. yet this place’s prices are a grade. something’s not quite right, but i’ll come back to that. also, 500ml sparkling water for $8/bottle bothers me. we order 8 of them. where is a 1l bottle sizing? but i digress.
the pork belly entree is exquisite. great spear of crackle, perfectly cooked belly, and delicious sauce. then snapper fillet for main - the miso sauce is so rich and lovely. but the snapper is more a chunk than a fillet, the thickness of which prevents it being evenly cooked. that wasn’t a baby snapper!
the battered fish and chips would be more at home in the local rsl club. no fancy microleaves or delicious tasty slaw - just plain old fish and chips.
the heirloom tomato side dish just miss the mark - tomatoes not quite luscious enough, no evo or vinaigrette - bland. similarly the beautiful copper cocotte of paris mash has a layer of cream floating on top - not sure if intended or a consequence of poor blending. oh, and it was missing a handle.
we have the schlumberger alsace pinot gris, with a wonderfully floral nose. the wine list has some interesting offerings generally.
first waitress was overly stressed. second overly familiar - neither are quite right.serviceis reasonably attentive, but juggling multiple 500ml water bottles (some full, some empty) obviously bothers waitstaff too. glasses are regularly empty, and in the end she gives up, leaving the bottles on the table for us to pour ourselves.
so, the place seems to have an identity crisis. $46 fish or $24 pizza? haute cuisine or chummy local? it is simultaneously both and yet neither.
ditch the pizza. more attention to subtle flavours. michael law
katherine morris