Sunday, May 11, 2008

Cullens Winery, Caves Road, Cowaramup, (08) 9755 5277

We love this place. Sitting on the grass and watching the vines and the people play casual games. Lots of local organic produce.

Its generally busy on the weekend so go early or late if you want to get a spot and have not booked (open 7 days from 10am to 4.30pm).

http://www.cullenwines.com.au/restaurant.htm

Champion Brewery, Margaret river, 3 stars, 8 9758 8177

Nice beer, surprisingly nice beer.

Kolsch was excellent as the is pale ale and Amber ale, actually all are good.

The squid was the only food we had and that was OK I would say. Nice enough, but only ok.

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.

Winos Margaret River, 3 Stars, (08) 9758 7155

It surprises me that there are not more great places to eat (and drink ) in Margaret River. Why isn't this place a cool, quiet town in the evening with people out and about and some really great places to eat.

Winos appears to be one of the better places in this town. The atmosphere is immediately attractive, Noisy with a large bar area and relaxed comfortable looking restaurant.

We did not eat, but the menu looked interested. the wine was excellent and the staff knowledgeable.

The staff worked hard on the service and that paid off.

As the evening wore on it became less attractive and groups of locals took over the balcony with smoke breaks and the bar with the beer drinking!

Update of the food:  Good, not extraordinary, but good.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Clancy's Fish Pub, Fremantle, 3 stars

Feeling

This place is immediately appealing. The wood floors, the older building, the long list of beers, and the smiling staff.

Fun

The atmosphere is great. Sitting outside of an evening sipping a excellent beer or inside on Sunday evening listening to a band.

Food

The food in ok, only ok I am afraid, I would think about eating elsewhere.