Encore Restaurant - Hotel Grand Chancellor

So what brought us to Encore, well like any over zealous voucher buyer I had purchased another one of those deal vouchers for a 3 course meal. I make reservations for dinner on a Sunday night and Encore was a hotel restaurant located right smack in the city. We got there half an hour late due to the difficulty in finding carpark and I was panicking that they had given my table away but when I got there the restaurant was not full at all with only a few tables occupied. The wait staff seem to be use to people being late and was not really bothered by our tardiness. She showed us to our table and handed us our menus.

For entrees I had the pork tasting platter which was presented beautifully, it comprise of dumplings, pork belly and spring roll with a chilli dipping sauce. The description on the menu was really good and knew I had to try it. But the taste test did not fare very well. The dumplings were a little bland, pork belly was too fatty and the spring roll ordinary. Hubby had the soft shell crab tacos and boy they were awesome I was a little jealous and upset I did not go for that entree instead. The crab was generous in size and the salad went very well with it. 



Top: Soft shell crab tacos
Bottom: Pork tasting plate

For mains I had the herb crumbed chicken which again was ordinary nothing to rave about. And hubby had his usual steak with a mushroom jus and chips. Again hubby enjoyed his steak saying it was melt in the mouth and cooked just how he liked it. I was not doing well with meal choices and hope that dessert would save the night. 

Top: Herb crumbed chicken
Bottom: 300gm Scotch fillet

Both of us were really full by this stage and I did not even finish my main I had half of it still left on my plate. I had the banana tart, again another disappointment, the portion was huge but that was about it. The pastry was too thick and still tasted a little raw not baked long enough. The bananas were a little burnt and could have been better it was a little more ripe. The only thing that was good on that plate was the rum and raisin ice cream. Hubby had the chocolate tart again his choice came out the winner, the tart was light and the chocolate filling not too sweet but unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it. 

Banana tart with rum & raisin ice cream

Overall one of those restaurants that I would not be in a hurry to make a return anytime soon. But in all fairness I must add the service was excellent and the ambience was fantastic. 

Location:

131 Lonsdale St 

Melbourne 

VIC 3000 

Railway Pub Hotel - South Melbourne

It was hubby's birthday and I was left to decide on a place to go, but unfortunately due to lots going on at the moment I got the place I wanted to go mix up. I make reservations at the Railway Pub hotel in Sth Melb when I actually wanted to go to the Railway Club hotel, I hate it when places sounds alike. When I realise my mistake and try to book it at the railway club it was fully booked out and so was everywhere else that fateful night. So not wanting to end up not having a place we decided to still go ahead with the railway pub.

We were greeted by someone working behind the bar that showed us to our table that we make reservations for. The common dining area was small and only had a few tables that fit in that tiny space.  And it was really dim as you could see from the pictures I took, I could hardly read what was on the menu, no idea if they wanted to create a romantic feel or just could not afford proper light fixtures.

We ordered the garlic bread and wings to start with, garlic bread was warm and it was garlic infused instead of the usual garlic spread that most places just spread on. The wings was described as "salt roasted crispy skin chicken wings" but what we got was more barbecue than crispy skin but the sesame soy aoli it came serve with was delish.

Garlic Bread

Wings with Aoli

I had the char grilled lamb with mash and baby fennel & dill salad. The lamb was a little dry since there was no accompaniment of sauce although I enjoyed the fennel and dill salad which was refreshing and light. Hubby had the 300gm scotch fillet with mash and garlic butter. The steak was cooked right and he enjoyed it. This time we skipped dinner as we were full from the entree and main. 



300gm Scotch Fillet

Char grilled lamb

Overall dinner was pleasant and not too bad. Although I still must go to the other hotel I initially wanted to go to and will blog about it another time.

Location:

Railway Hotel
280 Ferrars Street
South Melbourne
Vic 3205

St Peters - Melbourne CBD

I bought a voucher for this restaurant through Groupon, I usually do so when I see a good deal too hard to resist. This restaurant was offering a 3-course meal each of a entree, main and dessert for two. The other good thing about buying this kind of meal vouchers it gives you a chance to try what is on offer at a fraction of a cost and if they are good it will be a place that I would frequent again.

We were warmly greeted as soon as we walk in through the door and was showed our table when my name was checked off under the reservation list. I was a little disappointed thought that we had the table in one corner of the restaurant close to what seem like a store room. We were given the menu and was told that we could order anything from the entree and main except for dessert where the only choice was Tiramisu.

While waiting for the entrees to arrive, we were serve with a side of warm bread. DH chose the Bruschetta on sourdough bread with tomatoes and mozzarella which he said tasted really good. I had the Calamari fritti served on rocket with a garlic and balsamic dressing, the calamari was cook perfectly but the chef overdid it with the salt on the rocket.



Bruschetta

Calamari Fritti

For mains I chose the Tagliatelle with balmain bugs with chilli and garlic in white wine sauce but the wait staff stuff up my order and brought out the Tortellini which I would have been happy to have but unfortunately from the menu I had read earlier it was a prawn & ricotta filling, I was recently diagnosed to be allergic to prawns, so I had to turn the dish away and insist on what I ordered. The wait staff was apologetic and assured me that I would have my mains as soon as. 

Tagliatelle

DH had the 200g char grilled eye fillet served on polenta, his jaw dropped when he saw the serving size of a small piece of meat sitting in the middle of a huge plate. Nevertheless he tucked into it and enjoyed every bite of it as the meat was cook just the way he like it. The wait staff kept coming back to our table to give me updates on where my main was. I was happy when my main finally arrived as I was starving by then, only to be disappointed to find 3 measly pieces of balmain bugs. Again this dish would have been enjoyable if the chefs had gone easy on the salt.

Char Grill Eye fillet

Plus point was service between meals was really quick and wait staff was pleasant. Downside was the 2 dishes I had both were too salty and the portions were small if you were going to pay the actual price for it. I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that it was because it was through a voucher deal?

Location:

6 Melbourne Place

Melbourne