In General
I lived in Busselton for a year and a half before we finally ventured to The Goose. What initially put me off was the menu on their website contained no vegetarian options as mains (other than perhaps salad). Despite this, we had a special occasion to celebrate so we thought we should try somewhere different, and The Goose is definitely special.
The Food
The menu had been changed and there were a few options that appeared meat free. I opted for the roast butternut pumpkin risotto with rocket & roasted roma salad, shaved parmesan and balsamic reduction ($26.50). I was surprised by the portion size when the meal arrived at our table. The pumpkin risotto was a small square offering with salad on the side and the balsamic reduction dribbled over it. It’s not that I mind small portion sizes at restaurants (so long of course they’ve gone for quantity over quality), but that my dining partner’s meal was huge. The risotto was the cheapest main on the menu, with the Pork Belly being around $6 dearer, but it was over double the size. Aside from that, the risotto was very good without being brilliant. It’s main appeal was its more patty like texture rather than the creamy offerings of say the Dome’s pumpkin risotto or The Vasse’s. It wasn’t necessarily better, but it was different, which is sometimes just as good.
Atmosphere/Service
While Holden shirts may not be out of place at The Esplanade, nor footy jumpers at The Vasse, The Goose provides a much more classy venue for an evening meal. Words can’t do the view justice, although having spent many hours out on the Busselton Jetty, the location of the Goose was always going to be a winner in our books. The service was also immaculate but the atmosphere was a little stiff. However, the timing of our arrival unintentionally coincided perfectly with the sun setting over the bay, which demanded far more of our attention than anything happening inside the restaurant.
To conclude
Despite maybe the minor gripe with the portion size, I still want to refer to our dining experience at The Goose as perfect. The meals are more expensive than other favourite restaurants in Busselton, but the quality and presentation of the food, the superb service and the unbeatable location make it worth the extra cost. We definitely will not be waiting another 18 months before we return.
Food 8/10
Value 7.5/10
Atmosphere 8/10
Service 9/10
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The High Road Hotel
The Food
The menu didn’t have an overwhelming selection of vegetarian options. The standard pizza was present, so I went with that. It had all the makings of a good pizza with toppings of zucchini, sweet potato, pumpkin and funky cheese that was definitely the best suited gourmet cheese I’ve had on a pizza. The pizza was the last of the meals to come out, but was oddly over cooked which gave an otherwise brilliant vegetarian pizza an unfortunate burnt taste.
The presentation of the meat meals were very well done with all fellow diners appearing to have thoroughly enjoyed their meals.
The Beverages
As it was during exam period, I was strictly on water but the beers were constantly coming to our table. They were reasonably priced, but turned out very cheap when the waitress forgot to add half of them to the bill. We brought this to her attention and still were not charged for them which was a major bonus.
Atmosphere/Service
Loved it! The girls serving us were very friendly and made the experience a lot more pleasant than similar bistros. Only complaint was the excessive wait between starters and mains, but other than that, loved it!
Food 6.5/10
Value 7/10
Service 9/10
Atmosphere 8/10
The menu didn’t have an overwhelming selection of vegetarian options. The standard pizza was present, so I went with that. It had all the makings of a good pizza with toppings of zucchini, sweet potato, pumpkin and funky cheese that was definitely the best suited gourmet cheese I’ve had on a pizza. The pizza was the last of the meals to come out, but was oddly over cooked which gave an otherwise brilliant vegetarian pizza an unfortunate burnt taste.
The presentation of the meat meals were very well done with all fellow diners appearing to have thoroughly enjoyed their meals.
The Beverages
As it was during exam period, I was strictly on water but the beers were constantly coming to our table. They were reasonably priced, but turned out very cheap when the waitress forgot to add half of them to the bill. We brought this to her attention and still were not charged for them which was a major bonus.
Atmosphere/Service
Loved it! The girls serving us were very friendly and made the experience a lot more pleasant than similar bistros. Only complaint was the excessive wait between starters and mains, but other than that, loved it!
Food 6.5/10
Value 7/10
Service 9/10
Atmosphere 8/10
Ironbark Brewery (otherwise known as EPIC FAIL).
In General
Okay, so we went to Ironbark for my birthday lunch, therefore I was in the mood to have a good day. However, with flu season upon us my dining party ended up being just a small group of us with too many reserved seats, which already had me pretty bummed. Things didn’t get any better.
Food
The vego options on offer were: nachos ($14), vegetarian baguette ($14) and vegetarian pizza ($21.50). I went with the pizza option. It was all bad. The toppings available were very basic and resulted in a boring meal however that’s not why I was so disappointed. There were bits of ham! Not a whole heap as in they had given me the wrong toppings but just a few to indicate that they had been careless applying the toppings. I rarely take a meal back. If something is missing or is shit, I tend to just put up with it and then not go back to the place. However, I pulled the few bits of ham off and continued eating a few slices only to find that there was ham UNDERNEATH my pizza, on the fucking plate. I took the pizza back to the counter and the girl seemed pretty unimpressed at having to remake the pizza. I asked for just a small one as I had already had a few slices. Although I didn’t ask for one, a refund of the difference or a comp would have been nice, if not expected in the situation. She did apologise and was kinder and more sincere with her apology when she bought the replacement out but I was still very unimpressed.
The other thing that annoyed me was that the pizzas for the table were brought out at least 10 minutes before the rest of the meals. I understand that they are cooked in different parts of the venue, but the people with pizzas were finished before the others received their meals.
The Beer
The beverages faired a little better than the food. The debilitator was very good for a darker ale as I usually don’t enjoy the darker beers that much and the wheat was the best beer I had that day (we ventured off to a few different places afterwards.)
Atmosphere/Service
The bar staff were very friendly and didn’t harass my friend for not having I.D. after being asked for it (we are in our mid-20s after all). The atmosphere was solid but the band had the worst song choices for a sunny Sunday afternoon with depressing covers of songs such as Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (LOVE the song, but not when I’m trying to have fun).
Closing Comments
Being my birthday lunch and at a brewery, we weren’t really there for the food. We were there to have a good time and drink some beer. However, the restaurant managed to perform so poorly that it ruined the quality of the beer and we hurried along to the next brewery as soon as we could. If anything, I got the impression that they just weren’t trying that hard to provide quality food, particularly not vegetarian. Very disappointed.
Food 0/10
Value 0/10
Beer 7/10
Service 6/10
Atmosphere 3/10
Okay, so we went to Ironbark for my birthday lunch, therefore I was in the mood to have a good day. However, with flu season upon us my dining party ended up being just a small group of us with too many reserved seats, which already had me pretty bummed. Things didn’t get any better.
Food
The vego options on offer were: nachos ($14), vegetarian baguette ($14) and vegetarian pizza ($21.50). I went with the pizza option. It was all bad. The toppings available were very basic and resulted in a boring meal however that’s not why I was so disappointed. There were bits of ham! Not a whole heap as in they had given me the wrong toppings but just a few to indicate that they had been careless applying the toppings. I rarely take a meal back. If something is missing or is shit, I tend to just put up with it and then not go back to the place. However, I pulled the few bits of ham off and continued eating a few slices only to find that there was ham UNDERNEATH my pizza, on the fucking plate. I took the pizza back to the counter and the girl seemed pretty unimpressed at having to remake the pizza. I asked for just a small one as I had already had a few slices. Although I didn’t ask for one, a refund of the difference or a comp would have been nice, if not expected in the situation. She did apologise and was kinder and more sincere with her apology when she bought the replacement out but I was still very unimpressed.
The other thing that annoyed me was that the pizzas for the table were brought out at least 10 minutes before the rest of the meals. I understand that they are cooked in different parts of the venue, but the people with pizzas were finished before the others received their meals.
The Beer
The beverages faired a little better than the food. The debilitator was very good for a darker ale as I usually don’t enjoy the darker beers that much and the wheat was the best beer I had that day (we ventured off to a few different places afterwards.)
Atmosphere/Service
The bar staff were very friendly and didn’t harass my friend for not having I.D. after being asked for it (we are in our mid-20s after all). The atmosphere was solid but the band had the worst song choices for a sunny Sunday afternoon with depressing covers of songs such as Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (LOVE the song, but not when I’m trying to have fun).
Closing Comments
Being my birthday lunch and at a brewery, we weren’t really there for the food. We were there to have a good time and drink some beer. However, the restaurant managed to perform so poorly that it ruined the quality of the beer and we hurried along to the next brewery as soon as we could. If anything, I got the impression that they just weren’t trying that hard to provide quality food, particularly not vegetarian. Very disappointed.
Food 0/10
Value 0/10
Beer 7/10
Service 6/10
Atmosphere 3/10
Mash Brewing (Bunbury)
The beer
To begin with I ordered their newest beer, the Bunbury Blonde ($7 for a regular). I didn’t enjoy it very much as it lacked the smoothness and easy drinking characteristics that are the most attractive features of the more commercial Blondes on the market. They did however have quite a few other beers on offer that may be worth exploring in the future.
The food
There were two vegetarian non-salad options available: eggplant pizza or roasted vegetable filo. I opted for the filo only to be told they didn’t have any made up. A disappointing start to the evening but the p
izza ($21) sounded nice enough. Unfortunately, it too was disappointing. It’s not that the pizza was bad, it was just boring. The sauce was plain and personally I thought that the choice of using Danish feta instead of a chewier textured feta was a poor decision. I love the simplicity of Little Creature’s pizzas served with great beer, but the Mash’s eggplant pizza managed to be too simple. In contrast, Mash was more like my Father’s home brew served with my own homemade pizza. Not bad, but not something you want to pay much money for, and definitely not worth $4 more than the Little Creatures pizza I last had.
Atmosphere/Service
The location, on the Marlston waterfront, makes Mash one of the most beautiful places in Bunbury to dine. The design and layout of the restaurant with lots of open space, large communal tables and long windows to view the surroundings was perfect. The service was also flawless. With such competent staff and the great location, it made it even more disappointing that the food was so forgettable and the beer not to my taste.
Food 5/10
Value 3.5/10
Service 8/10
Atmosphere 8/10
To begin with I ordered their newest beer, the Bunbury Blonde ($7 for a regular). I didn’t enjoy it very much as it lacked the smoothness and easy drinking characteristics that are the most attractive features of the more commercial Blondes on the market. They did however have quite a few other beers on offer that may be worth exploring in the future.
The food
There were two vegetarian non-salad options available: eggplant pizza or roasted vegetable filo. I opted for the filo only to be told they didn’t have any made up. A disappointing start to the evening but the p
izza ($21) sounded nice enough. Unfortunately, it too was disappointing. It’s not that the pizza was bad, it was just boring. The sauce was plain and personally I thought that the choice of using Danish feta instead of a chewier textured feta was a poor decision. I love the simplicity of Little Creature’s pizzas served with great beer, but the Mash’s eggplant pizza managed to be too simple. In contrast, Mash was more like my Father’s home brew served with my own homemade pizza. Not bad, but not something you want to pay much money for, and definitely not worth $4 more than the Little Creatures pizza I last had.Atmosphere/Service
The location, on the Marlston waterfront, makes Mash one of the most beautiful places in Bunbury to dine. The design and layout of the restaurant with lots of open space, large communal tables and long windows to view the surroundings was perfect. The service was also flawless. With such competent staff and the great location, it made it even more disappointing that the food was so forgettable and the beer not to my taste.
Food 5/10
Value 3.5/10
Service 8/10
Atmosphere 8/10
The Esplanade Hotel (Busselton)
The Food
The Esplanade serves hearty pub food at reasonable prices. They have two vegetarian options: vegetable lasagna; and vegetable filo. However, the filo is almost always unavailable. Vegetable lasagna reminds me of the days I first became vegetarian and would eat the hideously bad frozen meals available in supermarkets. Fortunately, the Esplanade’s lasagna is far better. With chunky vegetables, perfect sauce and a cheesy top served with beer battered chips it is always reliably good. For an entree, a complimentary salad bar is available. The soup often contains meat, however, on my latest visit it was white onion and garlic which was a beautiful start to the meal. The salad bar is limited in its options, and some do contain meat, however the mains are on the larger side so there is no need to go wild with the salad anyway.
Non-Vego
The mains are simple but very enticing. Huge chunks of steak are accompanied by chips and your choice of sauce. My dining partners have always come away satisfied and happy with their meals.
Atmosphere/Service
The Esplanade is quite drab in its appearance. The simplicity of the food and its presentation is equalled by the appearance of the main dining area. Orders are placed at the bar and this results in waiters buzzing around when the place is busy trying to find the table the food belongs at, often doing two or three laps. However, as the meals are relatively cheap, the lack of service is forgivable.
In General
The Esplanade is an old reliable favourite that always produces simple, enjoyable meals. If you are looking for a dining out experience, perhaps try somewhere a bit more scenic (The Goose/Equinox) or somewhere with a bit more of a lively atmosphere (The Vasse) however if you are just after a good meal at a reasonable price then the Esplanade is definitely a good option.
Food 7/10
Value 8/10
Atmosphere 4/10
Service 4/10
The Esplanade serves hearty pub food at reasonable prices. They have two vegetarian options: vegetable lasagna; and vegetable filo. However, the filo is almost always unavailable. Vegetable lasagna reminds me of the days I first became vegetarian and would eat the hideously bad frozen meals available in supermarkets. Fortunately, the Esplanade’s lasagna is far better. With chunky vegetables, perfect sauce and a cheesy top served with beer battered chips it is always reliably good. For an entree, a complimentary salad bar is available. The soup often contains meat, however, on my latest visit it was white onion and garlic which was a beautiful start to the meal. The salad bar is limited in its options, and some do contain meat, however the mains are on the larger side so there is no need to go wild with the salad anyway.
Non-Vego
The mains are simple but very enticing. Huge chunks of steak are accompanied by chips and your choice of sauce. My dining partners have always come away satisfied and happy with their meals.
Atmosphere/Service
The Esplanade is quite drab in its appearance. The simplicity of the food and its presentation is equalled by the appearance of the main dining area. Orders are placed at the bar and this results in waiters buzzing around when the place is busy trying to find the table the food belongs at, often doing two or three laps. However, as the meals are relatively cheap, the lack of service is forgivable.
In General
The Esplanade is an old reliable favourite that always produces simple, enjoyable meals. If you are looking for a dining out experience, perhaps try somewhere a bit more scenic (The Goose/Equinox) or somewhere with a bit more of a lively atmosphere (The Vasse) however if you are just after a good meal at a reasonable price then the Esplanade is definitely a good option.
Food 7/10
Value 8/10
Atmosphere 4/10
Service 4/10
Tony Roma (Perth)
In general
I knew Tony Roma’s was not going to be a very vegetarian friendly restaurant. However, my two previous dinner outings with my family had been to a strictly vegetarian restaurant and a Japanese restaurant. My father is very much a simple meat and mash kind of guy, so to compensate for the lack of steak in the previous two outings, we headed to the land of big ribs and coleslaw. Put simply, Roma’s does not even try to accommodate vegetarians, so be aware that you’ll be taking one for the team if your meat eating consorts decide to go here for dinner.
The food
We ordered the onion loaf to share for our entree. We decided as a group that this unique creation was somewhat like Hungry Jack’s onion rings, except it tasted far better. Even the meat eaters went away talking about the onion loaf rather than their ribs and steaks. In regards to mains, the only vegetarian options were salads, and expensive salads at that. I loathe having to order salad for a main when out to dinner. I’m very much a tofu or pasta type person. I ended up ordering the Caesar salad, as it was the only salad that didn’t contain meat to begin with. Put simply, it was a bowl of lettuce. A $14.90 bowl of lettuce with parmesan and Caesar dressing mixed through it with a few croutons thrown in. To be fair, the menu described exactly what I was given, yet I was still flabbergasted that it was more or less a big bowl of lettuce. My friend noted that “you may be taking one for the team here, but that is just ridiculous.” Perhaps the only positive thing I could say was that the dressing was definitely above average. It is offered as a side as well, so if you find yourself being dragged along here, perhaps ordering two side dishes instead of a main might be a better option.
Atmosphere/Service
Our waiter had a thick accent and her understanding of English was limited. This wasn’t a big deal; it just meant having to repeat a few orders and worrying whether she had taken everything down correctly. In her favour, she was exceptionally pleasant. The other quirk was when we asked for water we had a waiter come around with a jug and individually pour our water for us. Not being a high end restaurant, we would have just preferred the jug placed at our table for us to pour at our own convenience. The feel of the restaurant was quite American, with the big screen TV airing ESPN, which is obviously attributable to where this chain developed. In general, it felt more like a place to get boisterous with mates than enjoy a family dinner.
Food 4/10
Value 1/10
Service 6.5/10
Atmosphere 6/10
I knew Tony Roma’s was not going to be a very vegetarian friendly restaurant. However, my two previous dinner outings with my family had been to a strictly vegetarian restaurant and a Japanese restaurant. My father is very much a simple meat and mash kind of guy, so to compensate for the lack of steak in the previous two outings, we headed to the land of big ribs and coleslaw. Put simply, Roma’s does not even try to accommodate vegetarians, so be aware that you’ll be taking one for the team if your meat eating consorts decide to go here for dinner.
The food
We ordered the onion loaf to share for our entree. We decided as a group that this unique creation was somewhat like Hungry Jack’s onion rings, except it tasted far better. Even the meat eaters went away talking about the onion loaf rather than their ribs and steaks. In regards to mains, the only vegetarian options were salads, and expensive salads at that. I loathe having to order salad for a main when out to dinner. I’m very much a tofu or pasta type person. I ended up ordering the Caesar salad, as it was the only salad that didn’t contain meat to begin with. Put simply, it was a bowl of lettuce. A $14.90 bowl of lettuce with parmesan and Caesar dressing mixed through it with a few croutons thrown in. To be fair, the menu described exactly what I was given, yet I was still flabbergasted that it was more or less a big bowl of lettuce. My friend noted that “you may be taking one for the team here, but that is just ridiculous.” Perhaps the only positive thing I could say was that the dressing was definitely above average. It is offered as a side as well, so if you find yourself being dragged along here, perhaps ordering two side dishes instead of a main might be a better option.
Atmosphere/Service
Our waiter had a thick accent and her understanding of English was limited. This wasn’t a big deal; it just meant having to repeat a few orders and worrying whether she had taken everything down correctly. In her favour, she was exceptionally pleasant. The other quirk was when we asked for water we had a waiter come around with a jug and individually pour our water for us. Not being a high end restaurant, we would have just preferred the jug placed at our table for us to pour at our own convenience. The feel of the restaurant was quite American, with the big screen TV airing ESPN, which is obviously attributable to where this chain developed. In general, it felt more like a place to get boisterous with mates than enjoy a family dinner.
Food 4/10
Value 1/10
Service 6.5/10
Atmosphere 6/10
Tangle Head Brewery (Albany)
The Build Up
It was all about the alcohol when we arrived at Tangle Head. We had spent the afternoon on a superb wine tasting tour (Grape Southern Tours, I would highly recommend the tour to anyone spending some time in Albany) and were keen to follow it up with sampling the local beers. After about four tasting trays between the eight of us (we had such a great time on the tour that we all went on to the brewery together) we settled on a pint of White Ale. I had been cautioned about its strong banana flavour earlier in the day and went in quite sceptical but it turned out to be one of the better beers I’ve had in awhile.
The Food
The vegetarian options were not listed on the menu. Instead, we were instructed to ask the waiter as to the current vegetarian options. I was impressed that our waiter was able to list them off without a moment’s hesitation. The standard response is usually “ah, I’ll just go check for you.” The options were vegetable curry, pizza or spinach and ricotta tortellini. I didn’t want to chance the curry and I’ve become quite bored of pizza so I decided to go with the tortellini. We also ordered bruchetta for an entree. We decided to indulge in another pint of white ale with our food. The beer was delivered by a different waiter and we received only a middy each. We asked what had been put on the bill and we were reassured that we had only ordered middies. When our original waiter came back later, she noticed that we had been given middies and apologised for the
mistake.
I usually quite like brushetta but Tangle Heads version was doused not only in the usual oil but also with balsamic vinegar, making it rather damp.
The tortellini was enjoyable but the serving size was either quite small, or I was very hungry, as I managed to work my way through it quickly. Although, I have to admit that I’d prefer a smaller size that leaves me wanting more than a huge daunting size that feels like a chore to work through.
Non-vego
My dining partner wasn’t that impressed with her fish and chips, after an amusing confusion in regards to the batter. However, the restaurant was booked out so it is conceivable that their other options are quite popular. We were there at the height of the tourist season, so it may have also just been booked out by tourists like ourselves looking to try out a new restaurant.
Atmosphere/Service
Other than the mix up with the size of the beer, the service was commendable. Our waiter seemed quite flustered and rushed, but was pleasant to deal with and managed to squeeze us in despite being booked out. The atmosphere was brilliant. We had been told that Tangle Head was popular with the freshly legal 18/19 year olds which can be off putting to those in the mid twenties and above. However, there was a good mix of ages the night we were there.
In General
If you love sampling new beers like myself, definitely venture out to Tangle Head if you visit Albany. The food comes secondary to the beers, but is good enough to enjoy with a pint or three of White Ale.
Food 6.5/10
Value 6.5/10
Beer 9/10
Service 7/10
Atmosphere 8/10
The Food
The vegetarian options were not listed on the menu. Instead, we were instructed to ask the waiter as to the current vegetarian options. I was impressed that our waiter was able to list them off without a moment’s hesitation. The standard response is usually “ah, I’ll just go check for you.” The options were vegetable curry, pizza or spinach and ricotta tortellini. I didn’t want to chance the curry and I’ve become quite bored of pizza so I decided to go with the tortellini. We also ordered bruchetta for an entree. We decided to indulge in another pint of white ale with our food. The beer was delivered by a different waiter and we received only a middy each. We asked what had been put on the bill and we were reassured that we had only ordered middies. When our original waiter came back later, she noticed that we had been given middies and apologised for the
mistake.I usually quite like brushetta but Tangle Heads version was doused not only in the usual oil but also with balsamic vinegar, making it rather damp.
The tortellini was enjoyable but the serving size was either quite small, or I was very hungry, as I managed to work my way through it quickly. Although, I have to admit that I’d prefer a smaller size that leaves me wanting more than a huge daunting size that feels like a chore to work through.
Non-vego
My dining partner wasn’t that impressed with her fish and chips, after an amusing confusion in regards to the batter. However, the restaurant was booked out so it is conceivable that their other options are quite popular. We were there at the height of the tourist season, so it may have also just been booked out by tourists like ourselves looking to try out a new restaurant.
Atmosphere/Service
Other than the mix up with the size of the beer, the service was commendable. Our waiter seemed quite flustered and rushed, but was pleasant to deal with and managed to squeeze us in despite being booked out. The atmosphere was brilliant. We had been told that Tangle Head was popular with the freshly legal 18/19 year olds which can be off putting to those in the mid twenties and above. However, there was a good mix of ages the night we were there.
In General
If you love sampling new beers like myself, definitely venture out to Tangle Head if you visit Albany. The food comes secondary to the beers, but is good enough to enjoy with a pint or three of White Ale.
Food 6.5/10
Value 6.5/10
Beer 9/10
Service 7/10
Atmosphere 8/10
Hana BBQ
Hana BBQ, as the name suggests, is heavily focused on meat products. As a quick rundown, basically it’s a Korean buffet restaurant. There are BBQ plates located in the middle of all the tables. You pick out what you like from the buffet area and return to your table to cook the meat yourself. Great concept for the meat eaters!
I really don’t have much to say about this restaurant other than it quickly became my least favourite restaurant in terms of vegetarian food. There was barely anything of substance on offer that didn’t contain meat, and what was there wasn’t that pleasant.
However, if I was a meat-eater, I would definitely frequent this place. At $25 for lunch it was amazing value considering how much meat my dining partners stocked up on.
I really don’t have much to say about this restaurant other than it quickly became my least favourite restaurant in terms of vegetarian food. There was barely anything of substance on offer that didn’t contain meat, and what was there wasn’t that pleasant.
However, if I was a meat-eater, I would definitely frequent this place. At $25 for lunch it was amazing value considering how much meat my dining partners stocked up on.
Bootleg Brewery (Margaret River)
The Food (as in, not another lasagna!)
To be fair, there was also a vegetarian wrap on offer as well. However, the menu described it as “Turkish lavish bread filled with house made spicy vege burger & locally grown fresh produce.” I despise spicy vege burgers! So I ordered the lasagna ($22), which was described as “layers of roasted vegetables of the season, pasta and a rich Napolitano sauce, topped with a mized seed and Bechamel sauce. Served with garden salad and chips.” It sounded alright, but having been to Duckstein only a few days beforehand who also failed to offer many vegetarian options beyond the vegetable lasagna, the thought of having to have another one was very disappointing.
The lasagna was quite badly burnt in places, with the filling failing to raise much interest. The chips were standard and served without sauce, and the salad was your average garden salad. In general, the meal lacked originality with only the generous serving size redeeming the drop in quality.
The Beers
While the Duckstein goes for quality over quantity in regards to food but is let down by its unappealing beers, Bootleg has been a long time favourite of ours for boutique beers. Aside from the darker beers such as the Raging Bull, the rest of Bootleg’s beers such as the Hefe and the Sou’ West Wheat are very enjoyable. At $10, the tasting tray of seven beers is probably the best value for money out of all the breweries in the region and is highly recommendable for any new visitors.
Atmosphere/service
Up until a few months ago, Bootleg’s atmosphere and lakeside setting was second to none. However, with the newly opened Duckstein, Bootleg now comes off as a little tired and basic. The staff are nice while remaining somewhat standoffish, and like the Duckstein, all orders are placed at the counter with patrons picking up their own cutlery and water.
In General
Bootleg has proven immense staying power as a “beer oasis” in the middle of the Margaret River wine region. Despite newcomers to the market, it has remained a firm favourite of visitors to the area and will likely continue this success into the future. Personally, I love the beers and it will only be a matter of time before I’m back enjoying another tasting tray or two. However, in regards to lunch, the area is littered with many restaurants, most of which I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting yet. I would definitely recommend trying somewhere else for lunch unless the lasagna or wrap sounds appealing to you.
Food 5/10
Value 5/10
Beer 7/10
Service 6/10
Atmosphere 7/10
To be fair, there was also a vegetarian wrap on offer as well. However, the menu described it as “Turkish lavish bread filled with house made spicy vege burger & locally grown fresh produce.” I despise spicy vege burgers! So I ordered the lasagna ($22), which was described as “layers of roasted vegetables of the season, pasta and a rich Napolitano sauce, topped with a mized seed and Bechamel sauce. Served with garden salad and chips.” It sounded alright, but having been to Duckstein only a few days beforehand who also failed to offer many vegetarian options beyond the vegetable lasagna, the thought of having to have another one was very disappointing.
The lasagna was quite badly burnt in places, with the filling failing to raise much interest. The chips were standard and served without sauce, and the salad was your average garden salad. In general, the meal lacked originality with only the generous serving size redeeming the drop in quality.
The Beers
While the Duckstein goes for quality over quantity in regards to food but is let down by its unappealing beers, Bootleg has been a long time favourite of ours for boutique beers. Aside from the darker beers such as the Raging Bull, the rest of Bootleg’s beers such as the Hefe and the Sou’ West Wheat are very enjoyable. At $10, the tasting tray of seven beers is probably the best value for money out of all the breweries in the region and is highly recommendable for any new visitors.
Atmosphere/service
Up until a few months ago, Bootleg’s atmosphere and lakeside setting was second to none. However, with the newly opened Duckstein, Bootleg now comes off as a little tired and basic. The staff are nice while remaining somewhat standoffish, and like the Duckstein, all orders are placed at the counter with patrons picking up their own cutlery and water.
In General
Bootleg has proven immense staying power as a “beer oasis” in the middle of the Margaret River wine region. Despite newcomers to the market, it has remained a firm favourite of visitors to the area and will likely continue this success into the future. Personally, I love the beers and it will only be a matter of time before I’m back enjoying another tasting tray or two. However, in regards to lunch, the area is littered with many restaurants, most of which I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting yet. I would definitely recommend trying somewhere else for lunch unless the lasagna or wrap sounds appealing to you.
Food 5/10
Value 5/10
Beer 7/10
Service 6/10
Atmosphere 7/10
The Bayswater Hotel
The Food
The menu contained little in the way of vegetarian options. I would have gone for the vegetarian pizza, however, the rest of my table was opting for the buffet. As the pizza probably would have arrived as everyone else was half-way through their meal if not nearly finished, I decided to be a sheep and stick with the crowd. The buffet was limited and basic in terms of vegetarian options. The potato bake was the only standout, with not much else being on offer other than the standard steam vegetables, rice and salad. Although these were undoubtedly nice, $24 is a lot of money for a plate full of steamed vegetables. (I must note again, that I am a vegetarian that DOESN’T like salad. I much prefer pasta dishes or mock meat. So any restaurant that doesn’t offer these types of dishes will always rate lowly in my opinion, but may suit a salad lover’s tastes perfectly.)
In contrast, the meat eaters came away very satisfied and found the buffet to be better value for money than others they had sampled. I personally failed to see the appeal of the venue, but I seemed to be in the minority.
Beverages
$15 jugs had me holding a glass in my hand far more often than a knife or fork, but in general there wasn’t an overwhelming selection of beers on tap.
Atmosphere/Service
The Bayswater is your standard suburban bistro, albeit bordering on the more bogan side of things (IMHO). In general, the atmosphere and service were standard with no standout points be it negative or positive.
In general
I had amazing company, and was buzzed off the beer, so I had a great night. The vego food was disappointing, but if your mates are keen on heading here, don’t pass it up just for this reason. Otherwise, you can probably find better options as far as the suburban bistros go.
The menu contained little in the way of vegetarian options. I would have gone for the vegetarian pizza, however, the rest of my table was opting for the buffet. As the pizza probably would have arrived as everyone else was half-way through their meal if not nearly finished, I decided to be a sheep and stick with the crowd. The buffet was limited and basic in terms of vegetarian options. The potato bake was the only standout, with not much else being on offer other than the standard steam vegetables, rice and salad. Although these were undoubtedly nice, $24 is a lot of money for a plate full of steamed vegetables. (I must note again, that I am a vegetarian that DOESN’T like salad. I much prefer pasta dishes or mock meat. So any restaurant that doesn’t offer these types of dishes will always rate lowly in my opinion, but may suit a salad lover’s tastes perfectly.)
In contrast, the meat eaters came away very satisfied and found the buffet to be better value for money than others they had sampled. I personally failed to see the appeal of the venue, but I seemed to be in the minority.
Beverages
$15 jugs had me holding a glass in my hand far more often than a knife or fork, but in general there wasn’t an overwhelming selection of beers on tap.
Atmosphere/Service
The Bayswater is your standard suburban bistro, albeit bordering on the more bogan side of things (IMHO). In general, the atmosphere and service were standard with no standout points be it negative or positive.
In general
I had amazing company, and was buzzed off the beer, so I had a great night. The vego food was disappointing, but if your mates are keen on heading here, don’t pass it up just for this reason. Otherwise, you can probably find better options as far as the suburban bistros go.
Albies (Busselton)
The Food
By far the best thing about Albies is the complimentary salad bar that comes with all mains. Unlike other places (Sizzler!) the salad bar only contains meat free options, and goes well beyond the standard green salad and coleslaw offerings. For a lunch time outing, it would undoubtedly satisfy a moderate vego eater’s hunger on its own.
We went on a Monday night after a long day of wineries and breweries. My friend had been the DD (designated drinker) which left me sober and not that hungry to begin with. I ordered the vegetarian filo for my main ($21), but Albies had at least two or three other vegetarian options on offer. After being very impressed with the salad bar as an entree, my eagerness to continue my dining experience diminished when a bland, slightly burnt, filo came out with crusty chips by its side. The relish on top was far too spicy for my liking, which is one of my biggest gripes with non-vegetarian restaurants. Too often they substitute meat for spices presumably compensating for the “lack of flavour” left after taking the meat out of a dish. I scraped the sauce off, which left the filo very dry and left me feeling very disappointed. However, the content of the filo was quite nice. So on another night, with a different sauce, I’m sure it could have been a completely different dining experience.
The Meat
My friend ordered the porterhouse steak with mushroom sauce for her main ($28). The portion was generous, the meat cooked perfectly to order and she too loved the salad bar.
Atmosphere/Service
For a Monday night, it was impressively busy with all diners in good spirits, making for an enjoyable atmosphere. Our waiter was very young and didn’t yet appear confident in her job. Nonetheless, aside from a sizable wait to pay the bill, everything else was quite good. I loved the simple colour scheme of Albies, although this success appears to be more due to laziness than any real attempt to impress. However, the layout of the restaurant had us situated in a thoroughfare of sorts with waiters buzzing backwards and forwards. This became increasingly annoying as the night progressed, but is probably unavoidable.
In general
Having only visited Albies once, I’m prepared to give it another try. However, if you’re only in town for a short period as most people are, I would pick The Vasse for a guaranteed satisfying vegetarian meal.
Food 8/10 (salad bar); 3.5/10 (main)
Value 5.5/10
Service 6/10
Atmosphere 6/10
Update (Bacongate)
I returned to Albies with my extended family for a Saturday lunch on a scorching hot day. I ordered the pesto gnocchi for my main. I’ve never been a huge fan of gnocchi but it was the only option aside from the vegetarian filo. With that in mind, it was okay but I wouldn’t order it again. The main reason for the update was a little saga my brother named “Bacongate.” There are three options listed under Vegetarian on the menu: Vegetable Filo; Pesto Gnocchi and “Salad Bar Only”. Now, as noted above, the salad bar was exceptionally good on my last visit. Importantly, it is listed under the vegetarian section. I must have missed the potato salad on my last visit, as half way through my salad bowl I found myself chewing on something particularly foreign to my tastebuds. On further inspection, I picked a reddish strip out of my salad bowl and asked my friend to tell me what it was... “Yup, that’s bacon.” I felt quite sickened at the thought that I’d just had pig flesh in my mouth for the first time in a very, very long time. Most salad bars have dishes that contain meat and I’m usually very cautious, but Albies listed the salad bar under vegetarian and had no markings next to the dishes to indicate otherwise. We spoke to the waiter who apologised and noted that she would bring our complaint to both the chef and the manager’s attention. I definitely will not be keen to return any time soon.
By far the best thing about Albies is the complimentary salad bar that comes with all mains. Unlike other places (Sizzler!) the salad bar only contains meat free options, and goes well beyond the standard green salad and coleslaw offerings. For a lunch time outing, it would undoubtedly satisfy a moderate vego eater’s hunger on its own.
We went on a Monday night after a long day of wineries and breweries. My friend had been the DD (designated drinker) which left me sober and not that hungry to begin with. I ordered the vegetarian filo for my main ($21), but Albies had at least two or three other vegetarian options on offer. After being very impressed with the salad bar as an entree, my eagerness to continue my dining experience diminished when a bland, slightly burnt, filo came out with crusty chips by its side. The relish on top was far too spicy for my liking, which is one of my biggest gripes with non-vegetarian restaurants. Too often they substitute meat for spices presumably compensating for the “lack of flavour” left after taking the meat out of a dish. I scraped the sauce off, which left the filo very dry and left me feeling very disappointed. However, the content of the filo was quite nice. So on another night, with a different sauce, I’m sure it could have been a completely different dining experience.
The Meat
My friend ordered the porterhouse steak with mushroom sauce for her main ($28). The portion was generous, the meat cooked perfectly to order and she too loved the salad bar.
Atmosphere/Service
For a Monday night, it was impressively busy with all diners in good spirits, making for an enjoyable atmosphere. Our waiter was very young and didn’t yet appear confident in her job. Nonetheless, aside from a sizable wait to pay the bill, everything else was quite good. I loved the simple colour scheme of Albies, although this success appears to be more due to laziness than any real attempt to impress. However, the layout of the restaurant had us situated in a thoroughfare of sorts with waiters buzzing backwards and forwards. This became increasingly annoying as the night progressed, but is probably unavoidable.
In general
Having only visited Albies once, I’m prepared to give it another try. However, if you’re only in town for a short period as most people are, I would pick The Vasse for a guaranteed satisfying vegetarian meal.
Food 8/10 (salad bar); 3.5/10 (main)
Value 5.5/10
Service 6/10
Atmosphere 6/10
Update (Bacongate)
I returned to Albies with my extended family for a Saturday lunch on a scorching hot day. I ordered the pesto gnocchi for my main. I’ve never been a huge fan of gnocchi but it was the only option aside from the vegetarian filo. With that in mind, it was okay but I wouldn’t order it again. The main reason for the update was a little saga my brother named “Bacongate.” There are three options listed under Vegetarian on the menu: Vegetable Filo; Pesto Gnocchi and “Salad Bar Only”. Now, as noted above, the salad bar was exceptionally good on my last visit. Importantly, it is listed under the vegetarian section. I must have missed the potato salad on my last visit, as half way through my salad bowl I found myself chewing on something particularly foreign to my tastebuds. On further inspection, I picked a reddish strip out of my salad bowl and asked my friend to tell me what it was... “Yup, that’s bacon.” I felt quite sickened at the thought that I’d just had pig flesh in my mouth for the first time in a very, very long time. Most salad bars have dishes that contain meat and I’m usually very cautious, but Albies listed the salad bar under vegetarian and had no markings next to the dishes to indicate otherwise. We spoke to the waiter who apologised and noted that she would bring our complaint to both the chef and the manager’s attention. I definitely will not be keen to return any time soon.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Brisbane Hotel
The Food
There weren’t many vego options on offer at the Brisbane. Other than the standard salads, the only meat free o
ptions were pizzas. Having become a recent convert to the wonders of Pad Thai, we enquired as to whether the prawn Pad Thai could possibly be made up in a vegetarian friendly version. The waiter was pretty confident that this was not possible. I therefore was cornered into ordering the roasted pumpkin, caramelised onion and goat cheese pizza ($19.50). It was beyond fantastic. The amount of toppings was perfectly rationed with the strong goat cheese balancing out the pumpkin and onion.
The Beverages
I had been to a wine bar a few days before visiting the Brisbane, and to my surprise, the Brisbane managed to have a far wider and better selection of wines than the specialised bar. The range of beers on offer was also pleasing.
Atmosphere/service
Our waiter was a very pleasant young guy who took our orders unaided by pad or computer. The atmosphere was a bit stifled, with a small, slightly more upper class, lunch crowd enjoying their Friday afternoon beverages and meals. The decor sat perfectly within the character of the Brisbane, with contemporary charm and cool.
In General
I have a new found love affair with the Mount Lawley/Highgate area so the Brisbane was high on my list of restaurants to try out. The revamped building presents one of the most appealing layouts and decor in the area. The pizza was great, although the options were quite limited, and if you’re looking for something more substantial than pizza or salad, perhaps the Brisbane is not for you. But in general I really enjoyed dining at the Brisbane and am keen to revisit the hotel some time soon.
Food 9/10
Value 8/10
Service 7/10
Atmosphere 6/10
The Brisbane Hotel
292 Beaufort Street (Corner Brisbane Street)
Highgate, Western Australia
There weren’t many vego options on offer at the Brisbane. Other than the standard salads, the only meat free o
ptions were pizzas. Having become a recent convert to the wonders of Pad Thai, we enquired as to whether the prawn Pad Thai could possibly be made up in a vegetarian friendly version. The waiter was pretty confident that this was not possible. I therefore was cornered into ordering the roasted pumpkin, caramelised onion and goat cheese pizza ($19.50). It was beyond fantastic. The amount of toppings was perfectly rationed with the strong goat cheese balancing out the pumpkin and onion.The Beverages
I had been to a wine bar a few days before visiting the Brisbane, and to my surprise, the Brisbane managed to have a far wider and better selection of wines than the specialised bar. The range of beers on offer was also pleasing.
Atmosphere/service
Our waiter was a very pleasant young guy who took our orders unaided by pad or computer. The atmosphere was a bit stifled, with a small, slightly more upper class, lunch crowd enjoying their Friday afternoon beverages and meals. The decor sat perfectly within the character of the Brisbane, with contemporary charm and cool.
In General
I have a new found love affair with the Mount Lawley/Highgate area so the Brisbane was high on my list of restaurants to try out. The revamped building presents one of the most appealing layouts and decor in the area. The pizza was great, although the options were quite limited, and if you’re looking for something more substantial than pizza or salad, perhaps the Brisbane is not for you. But in general I really enjoyed dining at the Brisbane and am keen to revisit the hotel some time soon.
Food 9/10
Value 8/10
Service 7/10
Atmosphere 6/10
The Brisbane Hotel
292 Beaufort Street (Corner Brisbane Street)
Highgate, Western Australia
Monday, July 20, 2009
Duckstein Margaret River
The Food
Other than salads, the only vegetarian main option is the mushroom, sweet potato and spinach lasagne with Gruye
re cheese, bechamel sauce and sautéed potatoes ($24.50). It does get quite frustrating that a lot of restaurants fail to cater for vegetarians beyond the passé vegetable lasagne, but I digress. Already feeling unappeased by my meal before it arrived, the fact that I ended up enjoying it so much is a testament as to how good it was. It may have been yet another vegetable lasagne, but it was definitely a good one. It appeared a little overcooked in places, but this failed to detract from the quality of the meal. Also, it was served with a small bowl of sautéed potatoes which were far better than the regular beer battered chips and salad. The serving size was only average compared to other restaurants, and tiny compared to my dining partner’s veal schnitzel, but was filling nonetheless.
The Beer
The Duckstein ticks a lot of boxes in regards to location, setting, atmosphere etc. yet being a brewery, the one thing it probably wants most is to offer good beer. For me, this is one of its only crosses. The beer is simply terrible. The Hefe is probably the best beer on offer but still fails to warrant a second glass. The seasonal beer, the Framboise, looks promising with its raspberry appearance but manages to be one of the worst beers I’ve ever tasted. However, the popularity of the Duckstein suggests that I am quite possibly in the minority and that there are many people who enjoy the beers on offer. In contrast, the adjoining Saracen’s wines are among the best I’ve sampled in Margaret River. Therefore, Saracen Estate is worth a visit purely for the beverages.
Atmosphere/Service
Having recently opened, the Duckstein is extremely popular. With the restaurant booked out, the atmosphere is amazing. We were seated on the veranda overlooking the water with a live jazz band playing around the corner. Cheesy as it may sound, the atmosphere was like one big house party where EVERYONE was in a good mood. The service on the other hand left a little to be desired for. Orders are to be placed at the counter, with long queues often forming. Patrons must also pick up their own cutlery and water from a counter in the corner. I understand the practicality of this approach, but with such a stylish setting the restaurant seems to be lowering its otherwise high-standards by not taking orders at the table or delivering cutlery and water. This seems particularly odd when the waitress shows you to your booked table to begin with.
Other than salads, the only vegetarian main option is the mushroom, sweet potato and spinach lasagne with Gruye
re cheese, bechamel sauce and sautéed potatoes ($24.50). It does get quite frustrating that a lot of restaurants fail to cater for vegetarians beyond the passé vegetable lasagne, but I digress. Already feeling unappeased by my meal before it arrived, the fact that I ended up enjoying it so much is a testament as to how good it was. It may have been yet another vegetable lasagne, but it was definitely a good one. It appeared a little overcooked in places, but this failed to detract from the quality of the meal. Also, it was served with a small bowl of sautéed potatoes which were far better than the regular beer battered chips and salad. The serving size was only average compared to other restaurants, and tiny compared to my dining partner’s veal schnitzel, but was filling nonetheless.The Beer
The Duckstein ticks a lot of boxes in regards to location, setting, atmosphere etc. yet being a brewery, the one thing it probably wants most is to offer good beer. For me, this is one of its only crosses. The beer is simply terrible. The Hefe is probably the best beer on offer but still fails to warrant a second glass. The seasonal beer, the Framboise, looks promising with its raspberry appearance but manages to be one of the worst beers I’ve ever tasted. However, the popularity of the Duckstein suggests that I am quite possibly in the minority and that there are many people who enjoy the beers on offer. In contrast, the adjoining Saracen’s wines are among the best I’ve sampled in Margaret River. Therefore, Saracen Estate is worth a visit purely for the beverages.
Atmosphere/Service
Having recently opened, the Duckstein is extremely popular. With the restaurant booked out, the atmosphere is amazing. We were seated on the veranda overlooking the water with a live jazz band playing around the corner. Cheesy as it may sound, the atmosphere was like one big house party where EVERYONE was in a good mood. The service on the other hand left a little to be desired for. Orders are to be placed at the counter, with long queues often forming. Patrons must also pick up their own cutlery and water from a counter in the corner. I understand the practicality of this approach, but with such a stylish setting the restaurant seems to be lowering its otherwise high-standards by not taking orders at the table or delivering cutlery and water. This seems particularly odd when the waitress shows you to your booked table to begin with.
In General
Simply, I love the Duckstein. The beer may be pretty awful, but even this doesn’t detract from the amazing atmosphere that makes it one of the best places to spend a Sunday afternoon in Margaret River. We’ve been four times in only a few months, and although the novelty may be waring off for this newly opened brewery, were sure to call in next time were cruising through the Margaret River wine region. The vego options may be pretty run of the mill, but the restaurant is definitely worth at least one visit.
Simply, I love the Duckstein. The beer may be pretty awful, but even this doesn’t detract from the amazing atmosphere that makes it one of the best places to spend a Sunday afternoon in Margaret River. We’ve been four times in only a few months, and although the novelty may be waring off for this newly opened brewery, were sure to call in next time were cruising through the Margaret River wine region. The vego options may be pretty run of the mill, but the restaurant is definitely worth at least one visit.
Food 7/10
Value 7/10
Beer 4/10
Wine 8/10
Atmosphere 10/10
Service 7/10
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