Arc Of Iris, Margaret River - 3 Stars

The info:

• (08) 9757 3112; 151 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River 6285
• BYO only
• The do take cards (despite what you might hear)
  

The Good:

• Comfortable and cozy place, come to dinner early and stay and talk all night.
  
• Eccentric decor adds to the atmosphere.
  
• Service was excellent.
  
• Cool name.
• The pork belly is excellent.
  

The disappointing:

• Overall the imagination of the menu
  

The Bad:

• Almost certain that the baked lamb is in fact mutton or hogget. It is tasty and soft and fall apart and overall a nice dish. But it is strong smelling and tasting and just not lamb. The bowl presentation is not great either-looks good, but its difficult to eat. Lies about the ingredients is unforgivable so I am really hoping I am wrong about this, but I don't think I am.
  
• The fennel and tomato salad with orange vignette is disappointing, mostly greens and little in the way of orange flavour or fennel. I think when you are naming the salad, the main ingredients need to come first. We make a really amazing fennel, orange and toasted almond salad, the salad here just did not match up
• Spiders webs in the corners, this place needs a clean beyond the apparently clean kitchen.
  

The bottom line:

• Cannot decide if I can look beyond the failings to relax a little and really like this place. I really want to like it.