Had the small hot and spicy wings. Cooked well with enough spice. Great place with good selection of drinks. Very quiet for a lunch venue on a friday. Be an amazing place at night.

Woolly Mammoth Ale House was first introduced to me by a craft beer enthusiast early this year. The large selection of micro brews on tap and fun, chilled out vibe has prompted me to revisit. Drinks are good, but how about their food offerings? With that question in mind we made our way here for weekday dinner. 

It was a quiet night with only a handful of diners around. Our waiter/bartender greeted us with a smile and showed us to our table near the craft beer bar (oh god…). With a brew in hand, I started reviewing their menu. The simple two pager consists the usual bar restaurant offerings, but look closely and you will find Asia inspired fusion and interesting combinations. With only a light lunch, I was ready to indulge. Between the three of us we ordered: popcorn chicken, salt & pepper squid, USA pork ribs (full rack), wagyu rump steak and sweet potato chips.

Popcorn chicken: large bite size thigh pieces lightly crumbed drizzled with lime caramel sauce, paired with kimchi, roasted peanuts & rockets. The meat was crispy on the outside and consistently tender inside. The lime caramel drizzles on the other hand lacked flavour and overly sweet. The house made kimchi was lightly pickled, mildly flavoured with an appetising crunch. 3.5/5

Salt & pepper squid: on capsicum aioli topped with pickled fennel and greens. The thick cut squid was butter soft with a flavourful salt and pepper coating. Capsicum aioli: well-seasoned with hints of capsicum taste. Paired with the crunchy and lightly sour fennel you have a great dish with a good balanced flavour. 4/5

USA pork ribs: brushed with bourbon bbq sauce, buttermilk slaw and thick cut fries. First impression: big serving size. A bite of the ribs is where the issue begin. The mildly warm ribs were chewy, dry and tasted old. The flavourful bourbon bbq sauce saved the ribs to a certain extent but was overshadowed by the salty taste. Buttermilk slaw was well made but failed to provide refreshment due to the rich white sauce. 3/5

Wagyu rump steak: served with tarragon butter, fries and a touch of greens. We ordered the steak medium but were served towards the medium rare side. The so called “wagyu” steak was difficult to cut through and was presented on the watery side. The meat was chewy and showed no depth of flavour. The fragrant tarragon butter made the dish easier to eat but the poor quality meat cannot be overlooked. 2.5/5

Sweet potato: in house rough cut chips topped with aioli. The piping hot chips were served perfectly cooked with a mushy centre. Paired with the well flavoured aioli, you have the perfect snack for downing craft beer. 4/5

Overall service that night was good. It was refreshing to see the waiter/bartender so patient to explain menu items and the ability to recommend beer pairings for each dish. The lack of staff on the other hand should be addressed. 4/5

Hint: Focus on the small share plates and snacks. Weekday food deals presents great value for money.