If you want to help the next generation of restaurant chefs and wait staff to improve their skills, then you should support this place. Conveniently located in the TAFE bldg on Harris Street, across the road from the ABC, it is about 15 minutes level walk from Central Station. Take the lift to level 6.
For around $35 you get three courses and a drink (wine or beer).
The smallish dining space is quite smart, in an old fashioned sort of way. It is carpeted and comfortable, with a casual, laid back vibe. Sound quality is excellent. Tables are laid with crisp white napery and stainless steel cutlery. Clearly, these guys take pride in what they are doing and full marks to them for this. The wait staff were neatly turned out in smart black and white uniforms and the maitre d looked natty in his three-piece suit.
My friend and I lunched here on a chilly Thurs afternoon in June, and we enjoyed the experience. All the offerings were fresh and tasty. I had a ravioli with haloumi, nuts and raisins for a starter, and a fish pie for my main. My friend had chicken skewers and goat curry. For dessert, we were lucky to be given three: orange cake, a pineapple concoction with a dollop of ice cream on top, and a creme brulee with fruit. Yum. Best dish of the day was the fish pie. The soft fluffy pastry was cooked to perfection, with nice chunky pieces of succulent bream, in a white sauce, inside the pie, and served with a small quantity of noodles and a creamy potato and pea mash.
The staff are polite and well meaning, although our order taker was a tad hesitant, but we understood of course, that because these guys are in training, one needs to cut them some slack! But once the order was taken and settled (after some debate with the maitre d as to what we could and could not have!), dishes came out quickly and in the correct order. One does need to be a bit flexible as far as choices go, because the maitre d likes to give all the food preparers a chance to show their skills. But we were happy to oblige and we choose a variety of dishes, as requested.
There are ample, clean toilets just outside the dining area. There are also toilets on the ground floor, around the corner from the little cafe.
It is all very pleasant, homely and relaxed. Recommended for a lunch or dinner, and you will be helping these guys to hone their skills.
This training establishment features a small and intimate dining area. It seats probably around 30 people and was full on a Friday night. I enjoyed the white linen, fresh flowers and lamp on table very much. The food was somewhat impressive in terms of flavour combinations and whilst it had its faults, as it's by cookery students , it was delightful. A thing I noted was due to the alternate drop of the menu was that I managed to get fish for entree and dinner which bothered me as I'm not a big fan of fish and would have liked to explore more of the menu rather than be limited to that.
The whole evening really is nice because the students make such an effort for the dinner to be a whole experience rather than just popping down to the local restaurant to eat. And it definitely feels like a dining experience. The food is cheap and so are the drinks! Would go to another tafe restaurant for sure
Great skal luncheon with my Travel family! First time tasting Kangaroo, despite my initial reaction of disdain it was surprisingly tender and tasty, not gamey at all! Big congrats to the chefs in training who prepared a well thought out 3 course meal! I loved it from beginning to end 😀
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