Staying at the Pullman Hotel (five star and all) is very nice but you should get out and eat around. Lucky for us there was a really excellent Italian restaurant directly down stairs. Even better in hot, hot Bali they have a sealed conditioned room. And even better again we had it all to ourselves. One small complaint is no matter how many times the music was turned down it would turn itself back up to the point of being uncomfortable.
The food was really top class and very fresh. Wines on the menu are limited but the Chianti went down a treat. Bella Italia is run by an Italian and you could feel his presence coming right through the food. Add to a delicious main and starter was a selection of great desserts. Does it get any better? Yes it does. Our waitress was excellent company and excelled in satisfying our every request and we showed our appreciation at the end of the night.
We headed off very satisfied, cool and pleased with our easy find. I want to return but we must stretch ourselves to try other places. Still hoping to go back for one more meal. If you are around this end of town this little restaurant has be on your list. Dine inside or out you are in for an Italian Bella treat.
Revisit: We went back for another meal. Once more we were confronted with the same awful music, up loud, we experienced at our first sitting. In the end I spoke to the manger and as best I could keep control, complained bitterly about the loud inappropriate music. Finally she turned it off for our room. The food though was not as good as our first visit. Apart from having dessert there late one night we did not return for another meal.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
Grossi Florentino Grill - Bourke Street Melbourne
Finding myself once more in the city of Melbourne right on lunch I had to track down yet another fine dinner experience. Call me crazy but spending $100 on lunch for one , to me, is money well spent. I had eaten next door at Omara Bar only recently but this time took the Grossi plunge.
Décor is simple, subdued, modern and screams "good food here". Music was quiet and tasteful. Once more I planted my grumbling stomach right in the window for the promenade and gestation experience. Foods good, view is good and wines OK. Smartly dressed table staff take your order, make suggestions and rattle off the specials. Sardines aren't for everyone but each time I've had them I've been happy. Next veal poached in milk. Delicious.
Eating downstairs (Grill) is less expensive than upstairs but you are guaranteed the same very high quality of food and service. This was only lunch and I did notice a number of business lunches going down (pun intended). Would I recommend Grossi, yes, definitely.
Décor is simple, subdued, modern and screams "good food here". Music was quiet and tasteful. Once more I planted my grumbling stomach right in the window for the promenade and gestation experience. Foods good, view is good and wines OK. Smartly dressed table staff take your order, make suggestions and rattle off the specials. Sardines aren't for everyone but each time I've had them I've been happy. Next veal poached in milk. Delicious.
Eating downstairs (Grill) is less expensive than upstairs but you are guaranteed the same very high quality of food and service. This was only lunch and I did notice a number of business lunches going down (pun intended). Would I recommend Grossi, yes, definitely.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Ombar Salumi Bar - Melbourne
We are surely blessed living in Melbourne. So many fine restaurants, diners and eateries, almost too many to choose from. On a recent visit to the big smoke I had gone with the intent to dine out, try somewhere new and enjoy the diversity. I train in on these days because I expect to have more than few drinks. I go for not only the food but the enjoyment of being able to soak in the atmosphere without the fear of Mr. Plod tapping on the window of my car with breathalyzer to the ready.
I headed straight to the east side of Melbourne up Burke Street. I have eaten up this way on a few occasions. In fact I realised, while seated in the window of Ombar, I had eaten next door just a few years back. That experience was excellent but what of this one? Food - Italian, how bad can it be? As it turns out not bad at all, in fact, quite good.
Staff are friendly and will linger for a short chat of service allows. This restaurant is long and thin with subdued lighting with stools and chest high tables. Not for everyone but for me it was the window seat to watch the human traffic go past. Always amusing! I went for the trout and if you go you should too. A good portion, boned and delicious. Rarely I do desert but this time I did, also excellent.
Pricing is about right but it isn't McDonalds or the local pub. If only the local served trout like this I'd be there weekly. Drinks list is sufficient and drinks can be ordered by the ml??? Have you ever heard of this one before. Designed to maximize the profit on drinks as if it isn't already a big rip-off.
You never know ordering your drink by the "ml" might become trendy. Now for my beef. The BLOODY music was absolute shite! A modern, almost trendy, inner Melbourne Italian restaurant playing 60 back soul and R&B music. Pathetic. When I made mention of the fine food and crap music I was told they were giving the restaurant a modern feel. That's right, Ray Charles and Little Richard screaming black music in your ear, over lunch, is a modern feel. Hard to believe. Who told these guys this is how to wow your paying customers. Too bad food was really delicious. Sorry guys its a deal breaker for me. Last time you'll see my $100.
I headed straight to the east side of Melbourne up Burke Street. I have eaten up this way on a few occasions. In fact I realised, while seated in the window of Ombar, I had eaten next door just a few years back. That experience was excellent but what of this one? Food - Italian, how bad can it be? As it turns out not bad at all, in fact, quite good.
Staff are friendly and will linger for a short chat of service allows. This restaurant is long and thin with subdued lighting with stools and chest high tables. Not for everyone but for me it was the window seat to watch the human traffic go past. Always amusing! I went for the trout and if you go you should too. A good portion, boned and delicious. Rarely I do desert but this time I did, also excellent.
Pricing is about right but it isn't McDonalds or the local pub. If only the local served trout like this I'd be there weekly. Drinks list is sufficient and drinks can be ordered by the ml??? Have you ever heard of this one before. Designed to maximize the profit on drinks as if it isn't already a big rip-off.
You never know ordering your drink by the "ml" might become trendy. Now for my beef. The BLOODY music was absolute shite! A modern, almost trendy, inner Melbourne Italian restaurant playing 60 back soul and R&B music. Pathetic. When I made mention of the fine food and crap music I was told they were giving the restaurant a modern feel. That's right, Ray Charles and Little Richard screaming black music in your ear, over lunch, is a modern feel. Hard to believe. Who told these guys this is how to wow your paying customers. Too bad food was really delicious. Sorry guys its a deal breaker for me. Last time you'll see my $100.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
The Shed Cafe - Seaford, Victoria
When you find your better restaurant closed on a Saturday morn. you then search locally for another. The one we wanted as our substitute breakfast Café was packed. Get it, it was packed? Why? Because it is good. Yes it has good food. Service is a bit "how's your father" but food is better than average. We headed down the road. We found The Shed Café. Let's cut to the chase. Food is ordinary to poor. Décor is a half ass attempt at something, not sure what. Sit outside, in the front or out the back. The food will not get better but here is dog bowls of water out front.
Staff were friendly, parking is available. Food for both my wife and self didn't "WOW" us. What of the coffee? According to some comments posted for this café coffee is good, Not according to my senor coffee expert I had along for the day (mind you we came in her car so I had to be nice). No, not even the coffee was good.
What to do? Eat house competition is huge anywhere and every where you go in the hospitality industry. Eating out was always popular now it is an epidemic! There are dozens of restaurants and cafes everywhere. Great I say. Hunt them out, don't put up with poor food or service whether you are having breakfast, lunch or dinner. No more rubbery omelettes or under cooked mushrooms. We are going to vote with our legs and walk. Improve the food quality and cooking "The Shed Café" or you will be dining with us, just down the road.
Staff were friendly, parking is available. Food for both my wife and self didn't "WOW" us. What of the coffee? According to some comments posted for this café coffee is good, Not according to my senor coffee expert I had along for the day (mind you we came in her car so I had to be nice). No, not even the coffee was good.
What to do? Eat house competition is huge anywhere and every where you go in the hospitality industry. Eating out was always popular now it is an epidemic! There are dozens of restaurants and cafes everywhere. Great I say. Hunt them out, don't put up with poor food or service whether you are having breakfast, lunch or dinner. No more rubbery omelettes or under cooked mushrooms. We are going to vote with our legs and walk. Improve the food quality and cooking "The Shed Café" or you will be dining with us, just down the road.
il Solito Posto - Melbourne,Vic
Boy you would have to go a long way to find an Italian restaurant that looks more out of the 60s or 70s than this one. Its subterranean, its in the cool\trendy part of Melbourne, it has real "eating house" savvy. And just a little quirky and setting you up for an genuine I-t-a-l-i-a-n meal you will tell your friends about.
Tell your friends to stay away. Tell them not to go to il Solito Posto. Food was bloody ordinary. If ever there was a place that said, no SCREAMED Italy, it was this one. Why, why. why. Yes they have their dailies who "have a table" and eat there - I say "look around". The grass and food is greener else where. Service was attentive and professional but I feel that it was so to get cover two in ASAP. I have eaten there some years back and felt back then the whole experience was better.
What a disappointment for a place that has all the potential to be "the spot" for a lunch. Bring the client and sign the deal! A lot of clients may not be all that fussy with what they are eating and to printout that the food wasn't full of Italian flavours and the salad, as a side, was drowning in far too much oil may not work in your favour. Please don't highlight that the six sprinkles of parmesan was to offset the poor oily, sparse and almost insulting side.
Not for me.
Tell your friends to stay away. Tell them not to go to il Solito Posto. Food was bloody ordinary. If ever there was a place that said, no SCREAMED Italy, it was this one. Why, why. why. Yes they have their dailies who "have a table" and eat there - I say "look around". The grass and food is greener else where. Service was attentive and professional but I feel that it was so to get cover two in ASAP. I have eaten there some years back and felt back then the whole experience was better.
What a disappointment for a place that has all the potential to be "the spot" for a lunch. Bring the client and sign the deal! A lot of clients may not be all that fussy with what they are eating and to printout that the food wasn't full of Italian flavours and the salad, as a side, was drowning in far too much oil may not work in your favour. Please don't highlight that the six sprinkles of parmesan was to offset the poor oily, sparse and almost insulting side.
Not for me.
Monday, July 3, 2017
Casa de PLAYA - Main Street, Mornington
After experiencing an awful meal at Koy in South Melbourne and putting up with loud and screaming female soul music at The Little French Deli recently, it was a culinary epiphany to eat at Casa de PLAYA in Mornington. We just walked the main street and on a whim drooped in here for a bite. We were in for a treat we really didn't expect. Opting for three different Tapas (I would suggest go for the Tapas unless you are after a big feed), we were not only delight in the food quality, preparation and presentation but the overall taste. The Tapas were good, even great. Here's a tip; order the Cigar.
We had a window seat (inside for a cold but sunning day) looking out at the promenaders. Service was prompted and friendly and the Tapas brought out one at a time to allow us to enjoy one before the other came. The décor could fool you that you were dining in Spain and even the music had Spanish themes (thank God). There is just something wrong with eating out at a French, Italian or Spanish restaurant with Electro, Dance or Trance or even the most boring, hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s music playing. Do you really want to ingest food to AC/DC's screaming guitar? The music should be firstly quiet, relaxing and secondly themed with the food style. At Casa de PLAYA it was all of that; quiet and themed. Not only good food and rustic décor but pleasant non-boring music to make for an excellent Tapas experience. JUST DO IT!
We had a window seat (inside for a cold but sunning day) looking out at the promenaders. Service was prompted and friendly and the Tapas brought out one at a time to allow us to enjoy one before the other came. The décor could fool you that you were dining in Spain and even the music had Spanish themes (thank God). There is just something wrong with eating out at a French, Italian or Spanish restaurant with Electro, Dance or Trance or even the most boring, hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s music playing. Do you really want to ingest food to AC/DC's screaming guitar? The music should be firstly quiet, relaxing and secondly themed with the food style. At Casa de PLAYA it was all of that; quiet and themed. Not only good food and rustic décor but pleasant non-boring music to make for an excellent Tapas experience. JUST DO IT!
Koy Restaurant - South Melbourne Market
Having been to Turkey (about thirty years ago) I was keen for some authentic Turkish food, Turkish beer and Raki. Koy, at South Melbourne market claims to server authentic Turkish food. Well they may but the cooking of the food was so poor that there was no flavour left to prove it. I had the five meats (which included fish) and I think all of it had been frozen, cooked once and re-cooked or re-heated before severing. All the protein was totally dried-out, tough and almost inedible. I couldn't tell the fish from the other meats. One word would describe the "meat" - AWFULL! The rice salad and other greens were only acceptable but really you purchase this meal for the meat.
The beer was good but the Raki (I ordered the cheapest) was bad too. The décor is Ok and the service warm and friendly. But you can get this service anywhere and you could combine it with edible food. Koy is not where you want to eat. Hard to believe that food this poor can be the result of a big, well equiped kitchen and copious support staff. For Gods sake they are in the South Melbourne Market where fresh food is sold by the ton. There is no excuse for food this bad. Stay away.
The beer was good but the Raki (I ordered the cheapest) was bad too. The décor is Ok and the service warm and friendly. But you can get this service anywhere and you could combine it with edible food. Koy is not where you want to eat. Hard to believe that food this poor can be the result of a big, well equiped kitchen and copious support staff. For Gods sake they are in the South Melbourne Market where fresh food is sold by the ton. There is no excuse for food this bad. Stay away.
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