A great little place to go if you’re eating in

By BEVERLEY BRILL

WATERFRONT HOTEL, 4 Cambridge Road Bellerive 6244 2333

RECEIVED a phone call from a friend who was supposed to be meeting me for lunch at the Waterfront – and she couldn’t make it. So I went ahead and ordered for myself because I was famished. Usually the Waterfront does a great seafood chowder and they didn’t disappoint. It was a great chowder. The dessert, however, was a disaster. Apple and raspberry crumble read the menu – but someone in the kitchen wasn’t looking at the recipe. However, life goes on !!

GILBEYS Restaurant, Geilston Bay 6243 4955

NEW kids on the block – opposite the Geilston Bay High campus.

This new venture has finally opened and I can’t get any more information than “they are so busy”, and “we do run out of things”. That sounds good to me! Lunch is basically quiches and toasted sandwiches, and in the evenings there is a more extensive menu. Will report on this at a later date.

THREE LITTLE DUCKS Bistro, Cambridge Road Bellerive

NEWEST restaurant on the sunny side of the river is Three Little Ducks. Located at 38 – 40 Cambridge Road. It’s a rebranding of the sadly departed Olive Restaurant. The new leaseholder is, Ruth de Bont, and she has applied for a liquor licence

VILLAGE GREEN Ralph Terrace Rokeby

THE Village Green Tavern, 10 Ralph Terrace, Rokeby is for sale. If you have never been there, you should go. It’s like a space ship has landed. The food is nice and honest. The staff are delightful. And the place is amazingly different.

GOURMET TRAVELLER – 2012 AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT GUIDE : Top 100

ONE Eastern Shore restaurant made it into the top 100 in Australia, and it was Meadowbank Estate. What I found odd was the fact the Restaurant didn’t receive a wine glass (this part of the proceedings you receive a wine glass for your wine list), there were no stars (stars are for food levels), and nothing for vegetarian meals. Meadowbank Estate has, in my understanding, always looked after vegetarians. Something that bothers me about ‘top 100’ restaurants being published in 2011 is that so many restaurants go under in a few months so you have paid out good dollars for an advisory book which could be passed its use-by-date by the time you wish to use it.

Meadowbank is an exceptionally good restaurant. The staff are terrific, the food is very good, and the whole dining experience is memorable. The views are great as well. What more could you ask for?

APPLE ISLE MARKET, 145 East Derwent Highway, Lindisfarne, 6243 4720

THIS little corner shop goes from strength to strength. As well as really good fresh fruit and vegetables, they have an array of meats, fish and good munchies! You can usually get pickled octopus,  a variety of olives and wonderful thinks like marinated eggplant. Last month they had bunches of baby beetroot, mini Roma tomatoes and about six different varieties of local apples. The fish department has heaps of goodies as well. Go in and have a browse. Good for your soul. And don’t forget the Kelty Farm organic meats from Woodbridge. The Italian-style sausages (which you can buy at the market) are terrific, as are the neck chops.

The Waratah, 272 Murray Street, Hobart 6234 3685

THE Tah has had a makeover and a half. You can now have brekky seven days a week from 7 – 9am. Lunch is served from Tuesday till Saturday from midday till 2 pm dinners from 6 till 8 pm. (same days). A group of us went there last month and between the lot of us had the curried scallops, herb crumbed cutlets and vegetables, and crumbed scallops chips and salad. I was one of the group who dived into the herb crumbed cutlets and vegetables. The food was fantastic and not one of the plates was returned to the kitchen with any remains. Scrumptious lunch.

METZ, Sandy Bay Sandy Bay Road Sandy Bay 6224 4444

I HADN’T been to Metz for ages, so meeting up with some of the Friday Lunch Club was interesting – interesting being the friends! The food was fine. Mr Simpson ordered the Caesar salad with smoked salmon. It arrived with a properly coddled egg and was despatched with a smile. Wozza ordered the salt and pepper squid and was a happy chappy. The Caesar Queen had been temporarily gazumped, so she ordered the Huon Valley mushroom pizza with garlic, chives, Napoli sauce, sour cream and mozzarella – another triumph. I ordered an entree serve of garlic prawns and linguini, Roma tomatoes, Kalamata olives, capers and baby spinach. Now, really, an entree serve at lunch time was a sensible approach because the meal was huge, delicious, and I didn’t make it to dinner. The service was affable, the weather was atrocious, the company was superb – made for a nice lunch out.

REMI DE PROVENCE 252 Macquarie St Hobart 6223 3933

REMI has a special night on September 24, celebrating the Rugby Cup night with a tasting of Pinot Noirs. Cost is $25 pp. More information from the Restaurant closer to the event.

And if you are in Sydney on October 1-2, the Sydney International Food Festival is on at the Hilton Hotel. There will be more famous chefs than you can poke a stick at. There will be much frocking up at this amazing event. For more information have a look at cravesydney.com

ONYX LUNCH TAPAS, Wrest Point, Sandy Bay, 410 Sandy Bay Road 6221 1700

No bookings required at lunch

THE tapas menu has been rejigged, and the new mushrooms on bruschetta is a ripper. We also had the marinated eggplant, the flat bread and we also had a fabulous waiter! You don’t have to book at lunchtime, don’t even attempt the place in the evenings – but the lunchtime experience is wonderful. The views take your breath away (which is probably just as well when you have eaten as much garlic as we had).

GOSSIP

JEFF Ho has taken over the eastern end of the Elizabeth Street Pier and it is now called the Asian Gourmet. Most of you will be familiar with Jeff’s cooking when he ran the Asian Room at Wrest Point. He will be opening the Asian Gourmet restaurant from Tuesdays till Sundays for lunch and dinner. Bookings on 6224 4428. Look forward to some smashing food.