The only reason that Belles isn't packed to the rafters every minute it's open is because it's at Bellerive and not Salamanca or the CBD or North Hobart. Belles, you are on the wrong side of town for how excellent you are and Eastern Shore folk are not giving you the appreciation that you soundly deserve. Or maybe that's just lunch times? I honestly hope so.
Belles describe their menu as Asian-inspired American style food and at first I scratched my head a little, but now that I've been there, I can't disagree. The cauliflower nuggets came with a satay dipping sauce, for heck's sake! And it was perfect! I'm normally all for a burger but I couldn't help myself from ordering two snack plates as my main, because those two snack plates were already-mentioned cauli nugs and chipotle mac and cheese, perhaps my Achilles heel of menu items... I also got a spritz to drink made with Okar, which is Aussie distillery Applewood's take on Campari. So good, so good.
The dining spaces are airy and lovely, some booths, some stools, and an open kitchen. The back of the restaurant looks out over Bellerive boardwalk and really the only thing missing here is outside dining on the boardwalk side, because summery days shoving Belles burgers in your faces on the boardwalk would be DIVINE.
I'm already such a fan of Belles that I'm confident I'll be dragged over to the Eastern Shore to make my way through the menu more often. And I actually can't wait. read more