Saturday, January 27, 2018

Los Argentinos - now at Karingal Hub, Franskton Victoria

I enjoyed this restaurant when it was on Nepean Highway Frankston. It has moved to Karingal Hub only 15mins away and I think better. This night we had been to the movies and now out for dinner. Argentinian steak is all about flavour and this night I wanted the best steak I cold have. I was not disappointed. Not only was the steak hand height and wide it was deliciously cooked over a charcoal grill. Perfect.

If it was only the steak that was delicious you would be happy but as they say in the classics, "there is more". And there was. The whole baked potatoe was also charred and stuffed full or sour cream ( I did ask for more sour cream which was happily delivered). Add to this warmed veggies (just a few), a glass of the house red and your laughing! I was.

So close for us and so nice. This may well be our second "go to" restaurant. For a man who is happy to pay $55 for a steak in the heart of Melbourne, Los Angentinos is a no brainer and a lot cheaper with easy parking. Décor is only fair, staff or barely coping but the food we bring you back. The steak will make you wish you were there every night. Just go.

Geonbae - Korean BBQ, Frankston Victoria

If you want something just a little different how about a BBQ right on your table top in the restaurant. Really the BBQ is sunk into the table and has a large exhaust snoot which is lowered down. The plate is convex and heated by gas flame from below. Your friendly waiter\cook\drinks waiter lines up bowls of food to be cooked then goes ahead and does it all for you. Great idea, novel and really nice food.

Geonbae is a Korean BBQ done right in front of you. The décor is modern diner style with booth style seating, more open general seating or even outside dinning. Not only is there a good variety of food but some great beers and wines to choose from. I tried a couple of the Korean beers and found them excellent. It just adds to the experience.

This restaurant is right on the Kananook Creek which these days has been cleaned up a lot. Plenty of local parking and once you have had your fill you can take a walk to the beach or a creek walk. Don't get too hung up on the quality of the food and you are in for a good. Something different as I said, lots of food cooked fresh and well and a clean modern feel about the restaurant. Go, have a good time, do try the beers and take that walk after.


Friday, January 26, 2018

The Lorne Pier Seafood - Lorne, Victoria

Not hard to imagine a warm sunny day on the coast, looking out across the water, cool breeze blowing and the smell of freshly cooked seafood. If you are outside of Lorne Pier Restaurant this reality is not difficult. In fact it is very real. For my first here visit we went inside, the night was too warm but we did get a window seat.

Boy did it get noisy real quick. Not only patrons, but the staff lifted. Staff smashed down fresh crockery and cutlery at the servery and the diners yelled over the top. Then the cooks, who were elevated, yelled service to the staff below. So loud and such a calamity. Awful.

The food was ordinary, dry, tasteless and poor quality. Staff were efficient and friendly but it didn't make-up for ordinary food. Add to all of this the noise this would not be the venue for a first date. Here is the flip side; sunny day, no too hot, outside taking in the scenery, cold beer and a meal. If you are not a super foodie the meal may just suffice, want better than "just ok", go elsewhere.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Joseph's Restuarant and Bar - Mansion Hotel, Werribee.

Staying at the Mansion Hotel in Werribee has a number of benefits. Firstly you don't need a car and can walk to the Winefax winery for wine tastings of both local and inter-state wines, have a meal indoor or out or just tipple as desired. A short wander back to the extensive Mansion Hotel and Werribee Mansion for a meal and a night or two away. How convenient. When finished your tasting and selected vino walk the grounds for some interesting history, wonderful scenery and sculpture park.

Back at the hotel, which are the converted monks dorms, the lobby is grand and there are many guest's common rooms to explore. Joseph's is the restaurant within the hotel complex. . Décor is modern but music a little (attempted anyway) esoteric. What's more the music is boring and not conducive of ingestion. But few eateries ever, if ever, get the music right. Evidently all restaurant mangers are deaf! Wait staff, here, also need some serious training. My wife signaled the waiter twice over a ten minute period to be told "just a minute" on both occasions. In the end she just gave up. Also don't order any common cocktail the barman has no idea. Ask him for a whisky and you'll get a bourbon. If you say that's not whisky he will reach for every other bourbon on the shelf until you say "I'll have a bourbon instead". Ask for two ice cubes and no more and he'll plop them into your glass curtesy of his bare fingers!! OMG!!!

Back to the restaurant. My food was OK but just OK. But my foolish wife, the one still waiting for "just a minute" to expire, asked for steak. The steak was pathetic. Now that's a new way to describe food. A pathetic steak. Roll-up, no other restaurant can serve the "Pathetic Steak". I wouldn't serve meat to my friends that looked like this but here they charge you for the privilege. OMG!!!

Now here is the clincher. About 30 minutes after eating the steak my wife had to rush to the toilet and was violently ill, both ends. She was sick all night, the whole night and extremely weak the next morning when we had to drive home. The steak? Who knows? Fist time we have left more than we ate. In the morning breakfast is back in Joseph's and a reasonable spread, no complaints. Oh that's bull shit of course there was something wrong. The same shity atmospheric music. It's obvious they only have one CD. Here's a tip, buy another then you will have two.

The Werribee Mansion is a must see. Sick and weak my wife dragged her weak body though the many and palatial rooms which make this magnificent building. If nothing else see the Mansion. If you don't want to spend the big bucks at the restaurant there is café. Just don't order the steak unless you want a whole body detox.

Friday, January 12, 2018

KONG - Asian BBQ, Richmond, Victoria

I'm not going to waist a lot of words here KONG BBQ speaks for itself. Lots and lots of delicious food, succulent tender meat, cooked fresh and lots of it. Go for the $60 all you can eat meat plan. There is not just meat but the meat courses are really exceptional. Décor is OK staff are great parking may be an issue. DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE. Go before you die.