Grain Store

Oh Grain Store, Grain Store - such high expectations, but such a great disappointment.

Situated on Flinders Lane, with such exceptional reviews Grain Store had been on my 'To Do' list for quite some time.  So understandably, I was as excited as a kid in a candy store when the day finally arrived that I would be able to try their scrumptious looking eats.

The minute you walk through Grain Store's doors, it's like being whisked a million miles away from the bustling CBD. With its wooden features, homely touches (there's even a fish bowl on one of the tables) and an array of food on display, the venue is reminiscent of a French provincial kitchen. But the magic of the place stops about there.

The staff were down right rude.  Not a smile in sight when we were seated, and gosh forbid we try to  pour ourselves a glass of water (after having empty glasses for a good 15 minutes)  from what looked to be communal water jugs in the middle of the restaurant - a waitress snapping at me "don't touch those jugs, they are for us to fill up your glasses from when we are free". Good to know.  Also, don't get in their way when you are trying to pay your bill as you will get a catty "excuse me" as they are pushing past you if you fail to see them coming from a mile away.

And the food was...well...underwhelming!  I was one of the lucky ones ordering the asparagus haloumi potato gnocchi with butternut squash, tomato emulsion, toasted pine nuts and pecorino ($24).  The gnocchi itself was light, fluffy and cooked exceptionally, and the flavours of the asparagus, haloumi and butternut squash was unsurprisingly a match made in heaven.  However, the butternut squash did make up a substantial portion of the dish and overpowered the other flavours.

My friends, however, were not so lucky, ordering the quiche with salad ($19).  The quiche was dry and the salad was limp and browning - indeed, one of my friends complained of still being hungry after finishing her meal.  Not what you want after spending $19 on lunch.

I will add, however, that the front-of-house host was lovely - warm, friendly and full of smiles.  If only the rest of the staff were as lovely as her, because based on the experience we had, I will not be returning to Grain Store.

Food: 2.5/5
Service:1/5
Décor: 4.5/5
Total: 9/15
Verdict: Don't bother.

Suda

2015 was all about the Korean BBQ (well...and the Texan BBQ, Monster Shakes, Japanese fusion and so on and so on,  but the Korean BBQ definitely played a leading part in the show!)

Suda takes a more abstract take on Korean cuisine, offering the likes of  chicken pot pie (with spicy chicken, sweet potato, cheese and puff pastry) and gorgonzola garlic pizza (with sweet potato, plum honey and nuts). Located on Healeys Lane off Lonsdale Street, this (ridiculously) cheap Korean eatery is open for both lunch and dinner.

On this occasion I ordered the crumbed seafood spring onion pancake ($14.00)  and the bibimbab with spicy BBQ chicken ($14.00).

The spring onion pancake was generously packed with seafood, but the flavour of the crumbing was slightly overpowering which took away from the delicate flavours of the rest of the dish.

The bibmbab was packed full of fresh seasonal vegies, however the chicken was chewy and I would recommend ordering a different type of meat if going for this option.

Most importantly, a glass of wine at Suda will only set you back $5- $6, so I'd definitely recommend not being the designated driver for the night - especially seeing as their house chardonnay is surprisingly delicious. 

Whilst the dishes I tried didn't quite hit the mark, at such good value and with so many other options to try on the menu, I would be happy to try Suda again.

Décor: 3.5/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total: 10/15
Verdict: Like - get around to trying it at some point

Fancy Hanks BBQ

Situated near the Queen Vic Market, Fancy Hanks BBQ serves up slow cooked, wood fired American cuisine. With paper towel dispensers and cutlery jars on each table, Hanks' is a no frills kind of place, serving its meals on canteen trays and in plastic baskets.

The menu consists of many American favourites - think jalapeno cornbread, hush puppies, brisket and mac'n'cheese. However, the pork ribs are definitely the star of the show.  Sticky (with a delicious crunch) on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside, at $10.50 per 100g, they shouldn't be missed.

 

 

The sides I ordered, however, were not as inspiring. The jalapeno cornbread ($9.00), which I was hoping would be similar to Ike's Rack Shack's (which comes out warm, moist and bursting with flavour) was dry and flavourless.  

 

 

The fries with Texan chilli beans ($13) were also disappointing. Whilst the fries themselves were cooked well and deliciously seasoned, the chilli beans were luke warm and lacked in spice and flavour (thank goodness Hank's has a chilli sauce station!)

 



  

So the moral of the story is that I would only return to Fancy Hanks BBQ to splurge on their ribs. However, if attending Hank's on a hot night, I would highly recommend trying to find a spot on their outdoor balcony, which is also home to Hank's herb garden, and a prime position for a beer in the afternoon sun.

 

Food: 3/5

Service: 2.5/5

Venue: 2.5/5

Total: 8/15

Verdict: Like - but only because of their ribs!

 

Saigon Sally

Self proclaimed "the older sophisticated sister", Saigon Sally is part of the Hanoi Hannah and Tokyo Tina Group.

Hidden down a cobblestone laneway located off Chapel Street in Windsor, it's hard to miss this Vietnamese inspired venue with its neon red sign and graffitied exterior wall.  Inside, an incredible artwork of 'Sally' encapsulates one of the walls, which, when paired with the striking mirrors, creative prints and vibrant floral arrangements, creates an edgy but sophisticated design.

On this occasion we attended the 'Bottomless Brunch' which Saigon Sally offers on a Sunday - 6 share plates plus unlimited bubbles or beer for $75.  However, due to feeling a touch fragile from the night before, I decided to stick with my coke zero and just take on the food for $39.

To start with we ordered the Kingfish ceviche with pomelo, green papaya, shallots and chilli, and the banh mi with pulled pork, pickles, cucumber, sriracha and hoisin.  The ceviche was exceptional.  Vibrant fresh flavours and beautifully prepared produce, this little morsel was the dish of the day.

 

Next up was the wagyu tartare (beautifully presented but lacked in seasoning) and the dumpling of the day (delicious filling and beautifully presented, but parts of the wrapper were on the tough side and could have done with a touch more steaming).

To finish our savoury selection, we ordered the BBQ lamb ribs with mandarin caramel, star anise, fennel, perilla and betal leaf.  The ribs themselves were cooked well - sticky with a slight crunch on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside.  However, the accompanying salad was soggy and uninspiring.

To our delight, with the ribs came out a complimentary dish - the spicy mi goreng with chilli jam and fried shallots. Whilst definitely on the spicy side, this noodle dish was surprisingly textual and bursting with flavour.

For desert, how could we go past the Vietnamese donut with salted galangal caramel and toasted coconut sorbet.  The donuts themselves were an unusual texture (more glutinous then your usual light and fluffy donut) - but the flavours worked well  the sorbet and hot caramel sauce were so good that I could have easily gone a bowl of those two elements on their own.

Whilst sometimes it comes down to the dishes that are ordered, to be honest, I preferred Hanoi Hannah's simple but well executed dishes, with their clean and punchy flavours, over that of Saigon Sally's.  However, overall, Saigon Sally was still a delicious experience, and a restaurant I would still recommend you try.

Food: 3.5/5
Venue: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 12.5
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon.