We were visiting Ottawa from Chicago and found Erlings. It was a Tuesday, the night they have a prix fixe tasting menu. There were five courses and each course was amazing. The portion sizes were much more substantial than I typically see with a tasting menu. And the flavor as always incredible. Chef Unni came out to speak with us and was extremely approachable and responsive. We were extremely satisfied with the meal. I am only sorry we do not live in Ottawa because this is a restaurant I would like to return to. read more

I came here in a party of 3 on a weekday. The service was great and I loved some of the dishes, my favorite was the tofu sticks, salad and dessert. You can share a few plates and between the 3 of us we managed to share 4. I was disappointed they had discontinued their happy hour meal, that's partially why we went there. The dessert also took quite a bit of time too. The ambiance was superb, a very cute date spot. I'll hopefully come back and try some new dishes on the menu. read more

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Le menu table d'hôte du mardi soir est formidable! Une série de petits plats variés, raffinés, savamment assaisonnés, en quantité suffisante pour être rassasié mais pas se goinfrer. Le service est à la fois rapide et discret, et on ne se sent jamais bousculé. Atmosphère amicale et confortable, expérience à répéter et répéter! read more

We saw this place featured on CTV morning news so decided to drive the 30 minutes into the city to check it out. WELL worth the trip! Small plates were inventive, complex, and perfectly delicious. We shared the beet hash browns with seafood, shepherd's pie stuffed gnocchi, and mushroom flatbread with artichoke. Excellent portion sizes for two people to share. A very urban casual ambiance, with music at just the right volume.. They have an Open kitchen and we were seated at the bar watching these craftsmen do their thing. We can't wait to go back to try more of their artful creations. Very attentive service - thank you! read more

I really like this place. Nice selection of small plates along with mix and match of apps and mains. I recommend sitting at the bar and enjoy watching the open kitchen in motion. Favorites are the Brussel Sprouts with house bacon, buttermilk anchovy ranch with Avonlea cheddar. Second favorite is the spaghetti with egg yolk house bacon shallots and garlic. Big selection of wine and a small selection of beer on tap. Nice atmosphere and and awesome guard dog pug Stanley outside. read more

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A lovely spot, just off of Bank St., to stop for a break while shopping in the Glebe - or for a longer pause for dinner. Small plates are the thing here. We tried two: Scallops, and mushrooms. Both were well thought out and surprising. Hubby, who tends to love vinegar preferred the mushrooms. I agreed it was excellent, but I, tending toward the sweet side of the taste spectrum, loved the scallops. Can't go wrong with either one. Decor was perfect - charming, comfortable. Modern and retro all at the same time. Service was wonderful. The waitress did make a point of explaining it was small plates, a lesson I think she may have learned the hard way. It is on the more spendy side, so if you don't see the value in fresh well thought out food, this may not be the right choice. If you have an open mind and love to try new food combinations, try it! Would I recommend: Yes - but perhaps a bit choosy about to whom. I would only recommend it to people that I think would really appreciate - i.e. foodies. Would I return: Yes. read more

Erling's Variety - Interior - it's only empty because we were there right at opening hour on a Sunday night. :-) Lucky us since it was spur of the moment. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I must say that I was very disappointed to go here for dinner. It is small plate which means you spend double the money to eat something. We tried several dishes between the four of us and we each ordered 2 dishes plus each of us had 2 glasses of wine and my bill was $120‍ it would not have mattered if I had a decent meal but it was all very kitchy and the desert was horrible. I will stick to brunch at the place from now on. I stopped at McDonald's on the way home! read more

Erling's Variety - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

It's great to see something like this open in Ottawa - exceptional, friendly service, amazingly beautiful and delicious plates, great cocktail list and talented barkeep, great ambience! Very happy to have found and experienced Erling's Variety! read more

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The place is a bit hidden from the main street but it's a great discovery. The cuisine is refined and the plates are beautifully prepared. The decoration is very hipster. There is a huge shelving unit with plenty of random stuff on it, which makes it somehow cosy. On the other side, there was an exhibition of paintings for sale. The kitchen is completely open. On the one hand, it's entertaining to watch the chefs cooking and on the other, it's a good way to engage with them. In fact, it's possible de give a round of beer to the staff which creates a very pleasant link between the cooks and the customers. The service was also very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it for a date. read more

Erling's Variety - Tofu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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This place is interesting. Hipster-ish but it's also got the glebe-Ites. Very limber-sexual. Great selection of beer on tap and wines -eclectic. The brussel sprouts are a must try. Had the fries which were bland. Need salt! Would come back again. read more

Erling's Variety - Cute decor great good good wine list. And good beer on tap. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Went with friends the other day off a friends recommendation....... The décor is fun and I love the open kitchen area, I would sit at the bar next time so you could watch the fun. Service was impeccable, we had a reso so we were seated quickly and offered drinks, great selection of cocktails and some nice wines. Our server was very informative and brought us up to speed on their menu. I had the scallops (3) with a nice puree - $15 - $18....can't recall, and then I had the pickerel as well $18.00, tasty but a really small piece of fish..... The food was really good, but wow I struggle with paying $18.00 for a scallop dish which is basically an appetizer food, service, décor etc. I give it 4 stars.......the price brought it to 3 stars. read more

I've been about 6 times over the past 4-5 months, 4 times for dinner, and twice for breakfast. I'm not sure which meal I prefer, the staff is always super friendly, and the menus are short but somehow have more than enough options for a picky eater like myself. Breakfast - the eggs benedict with the Jalapeno/apple relish is soooo good, comes with smashed potatoes and a small salad. The breakfast sandwich is also good, but I prefer the benny. Dinner - my suggestion is to go with a group of 4 people, and order plate after plate to share. We recently did this, on our last visit and it was the most enjoyable. The scallop potatoes, beef short rib, brussel sprouts, arctic char and mushroom dish were the highlights for our group. I look forward to any chance I get to go to Erlings, it's also not too far of a walk from centertown read more

I went here for a lovely dinner last night - it's an excellent addition to Ottawa. Atmosphere: one of the best parts of this establishment. It's a big, open space with an open kitchen, lots of pretty lights, quirky art, and warm wood. The bathroom has been handpainted with an indescribable flurry of colour (much nicer than I'm describing it). Service: very sweet, if a little forgetful. But very knowledgeable about the food. She also makes a mean cocktail. she designed one specifically for me (bourbon, walnut bitters, and simple syrup with essence of some holy tree - for real). Yes, it's an expensive cocktail ($14) but I'm from Toronto and we pay more for less good cocktails. This one was phenomenal and I think worth it. Food: Beef tartare: it was like a soft, gently spicy velvet explosion in my mouth. tiny cubes of the tenderest beef mixed with lightly pickled onion and jalepeno, on a bed of aioli. It was a very generous portion, and at $13, a very good value. Also, mind-blowingly good. Kale salad: my friend had this. She liked it but wasn't nuts about it. It too was a generous portion. Beef tenderloin: beautiful and my friend really liked it. Perfectly-cooked, four chunks of beef. Pricy for Ottawa, but apparently amazing. Cod: this came with a few beet sauces and some roasted beets. It was good but the beets were watery (as if they'd been boiled rather than roasted) and the sauces didn't do much for the dish. The fish itself was nice but a touch overcooked (though the crispiness of the skin was delightful). It was definitely a "small plates" sized portion, and at $16, not quite worth it. Overall: This place is doing incredibly creative things with food and cocktails and I'll definitely be back. It's uneven (seems like the appetizers are cheaper, more generous and better than the mains), but I've no doubt that as it establishes itself it will become a go-to establishment in Ottawa. read more

Great restaurant - good vibe, doesn't try too hard and is very good at what they do. Seafood dishes are excellent - scallops were a highlight of the meal. Meat plates are meaty enough to satisfy and sides are flavorful. Next time I would love to sit at the bar to see all the plating and delicious food go by! Cocktails were nice, staff was friendly, ambience and decor are great. read more

Erling's Variety - Interior - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Oh boy, I feel like the wicked witch of the west here. Let me just say firstly that this was a special New Years Eve pre fix dinner and I suspect that usually, things are run better ( I hope). The entrance; my boyfriend and I walked into the restaurant to meet our group of 4 others. They were all sitting at the bar so we walked in to join them. We both took off our heavy coats (it was snowing out) and waited for someone to greet us, take our jackets or simply acknowledge that someone new had walked in. NONE of that happened... We just stood there in the middle of the restaurant for a good 10 minutes while servers, hostesses, the bus boys, cooks and owner all walked by but didn't do anything. In the end, my boyfriend walked up to someone who worked here and asked where he can hang up our coats and finally she said she would hang our coats for us. Yikes. We thought it would be smooth sailing from there...but no! What kind of a review would that be? Now we are standing with our group who already have drinks in hand, looking around for someone to serve us a beverage as well. This was another 10 minutes of being ignored while having made eye contact with several people who work here. Finally the owner (or manager) asks if he can get me a drink. Great, good, done. Once everyone had arrived we were seated. The ordering process was simple enough. We were served our chosen wine while waiting for the first plate. By course three, one of the guys (lets call him Bob) from the table switched seats with another (Lets call him John), and I switched seats with the other guy so that we could talk to someone else from our table. When the food came, the server walked over to us and said that they go by the seating arrangement for serving the food, so if we move it gets confusing. Totally valid! However "Bob" suggests, "Don't worry, put the food where it was originally supposed to go and we will sort it out since we know who moved. Or simply ask "who had the ______?"". This was heard but definitely not taking into consideration when the next round of food came and the servers annoyedly plopped our food down on the table. All the food was fine, some even good so no complaints there really. When the clock was getting close to midnight, the servers walked around the restaurant giving glasses of champagne to everyone. My boyfriend and "John" were outside smoking but had their food and drinks at their seats but were not giving a glass of champagne even though it was clear that someone was sitting in those seats. So when they came back in for the count down it was too late to ask the servers for a glass. Not a huge deal but kind of a bummer you know? Seeing as how everyone else got this. Needless to say, our overall experience was not good. We didn't feel appreciated, we didn't feel welcomed, and didn't feel like we received good service. And being a server with 8 years of experience I know what it is like to work in a busy environment on a busy night. But for close to $400 (which is what we spent) we felt like this should have been a much better experience. Anyway take away what you will from this since it was a one off special event, but Erling's please try and care a bit more for your customers. Especially in such a tight knit community as the Glebe, people care about good service. read more

We had a party of 10 for my sister in laws bday. We'll start with the cocktail. I got the limonade one. It was good but a bit expensive at $13. We shared the fries with aioli. The garlic aioli is good fries nothing special. For my main I got the prawns...I was a bit disappointed with the size because I thought it was a main.. it came with 2 small prawns and ONE ravioli. I was hungry when I left. But i guess i didnt hear the server when she told our table they recommend 2 to 3 plates per person ..the filling in the ravioli was really good I could've eaten 200. Overall not a bad experience but not excellent. read more

A wonderful atmosphere and delicious menu! The wait staff were great, knowledgeable, and gracious about our large party with lots of questions, musical chairs, and separate checks (especially Mel, who did an amazing job!). Small plates were perfect for sampling lots of flavors, good wine list, good local coffee. Pasta was fresh and prepared beautifully with kale and other seasonal veggies. Lavender pavlova was amazing. read more

Erling's Variety - Lavender pavlova - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

First time visit. Group of 5 in Nov 2014. First issue was plates all arrived at different times forcing people to choose between eating cold meat or eating before others were served. Plates took a long time with irregular serving. -Salad was excellent. -Seafood and pork chowder soup good. -Scallops were only 3 for price not a good value. Hardly any food on that plate. Skip it. Taste good. -Braised ribs - two per plate. Gravy is very rich. Meat properly cooked. Not over done. Again not good value. -Scalloped potatoes were excellent. Served piping hot. -Duck good. But again for price not good value. More condiments than meat. I'll pass. -Wine selection fine. Beer selection is mostly micro breweries. Fine. -Pop/soda over priced. No refills. Nice setting/atmosphere. Enjoyed it. Can be loud on Sat night around 8/830. Overall good not excellent. Would not return again but try it once as you may get better results. read more

We were going to try out Wilf & Ada's but the wait was over 2 hours. We decided to walk down the street and found this place. We ordered the benedict, the omelette and regular breakfast. The omelette and benedict were decent but the regular breakfast was just okay. read more

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When I travel, I typically make reservations ahead of time if a restaurant seems especially popular. But in planning this particular trip to Ottawa, I felt this sense of malaise wash over me, if you will. It manifested itself in this desire to not be beholden to a dinner reservation. And so it was that we wound up at Ehrling's recently at about 6:00 on Thursday night, only to be told the place was fully booked. As we were walking back to the car and I began scrambling for a plan B, an employee from the restaurant ran towards us to let us know they had a last minute cancellation. Yay us! We felt even more elated when just a few minutes later, we noticed another party of 3 being turned away. In dining as in life, it really is all about timing. At any rate, we settled in and took in the lovely dining space and open kitchen. We glanced over the (small plates) menu and decided to order minimally and see how it went. Our server was pleasant but did not really go out of his way to recommend any menu items or make any sort of lasting impression. We started with a raw brussels sprouts salad, which ultimately bummed us out because it was overwhelmed with lettuce and there were very few actual brussels sprouts to be seen--or tasted. We had expected this much maligned veggie to be front and center in this salad. Call us perverse, but we are a family of brussels sprouts lovers...even our kid. That being said, the salad was good; just not what we expected. Another poster talked about not liking the roasted cauliflower dish with raisins, pine nuts and chili flakes because the florets were too firm--but that is actually what we liked most about it. The dish was full of flavor and the firm bite from the cauliflower worked for us, making it feel more summery (which is when we dined there). Aside from the cauliflower, I'd say our favorite dish was the sliced beef tenderloin in a mushroom sauce. Not especially innovative but definitely yummy. We also got the salad nicoise which I really wound up regretting. I think I had a momentary lapse in forgetting my deep conviction that really high quality olive oil packed tuna makes the best salade nicoise. I sort of got sucked into the idea of this salad with seared fresh tuna and cute little quail eggs. But the tuna turned out to taste kind of bland and looked like it had been seared ahead of time, And the salad was composed mostly of the same lettuce we'd already eaten with the brussels sprouts. Meanwhile, we kept seeing this scallops and pork belly dish go by that looked fabulous. Sigh. My kid got a small plate of ribs, which he pretty much hogged (pardon the pun) and we got some fries for the table. We were full at this point, after a total of 6 plates. I wish there was a 3.5 star option, but since there is not, I am giving this restaurant 3 stars. It has a lot potential, but it just isn't quite there yet. read more

I found this restaurant by this APP! This is a good to have dinner^U^ delicious food and friendly service! read more

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Very very disappointing service and food. Food was cold. They delivered the wrong meal as well. Not to mention the hostess was rude. She did not come over once to check if the food was okay. Had to ask for black pepper for our eggs. Over priced and very disappointing. read more

I went there last night with a friend, intending to spend my $25 gift certificate. Well, I enjoyed myself so much that I ended up spending about 50 bucks more. Firstly, the service was exceptional. My friend has a lot of dietary restrictions (gluten, dairy, meat, sugar, etc) and was worried there would not be much she could eat. Although we didn't find anything on the menu, the servers made a point of bringing the cook right TO OUR TABLE to inquire from her what she can and cannot eat, and she ended up getting a salmon dish that fit all her restrictions. All of the servers were so incredibly nice, I can only imagine they must be very selective of who they hire. Secondly, I was blown away by the food. I ordered the tuna takaki- as a sushi-lover I was hoping for some raw fish, and I was not disappointed. It was chewy on the outside and soft and refreshing on the inside, and the mustard and ponzu sauce on the size were deliciously salty. I loved it so much that I had to ask for a second order. I then had some kind of strawberry parfait for dessert, which, I mean, I may have been a bit drunk by that point, but it was lovely and fluffy and light. Another thing that stood out for me was the design and ambiance. The soft lighting, candles and light-coloured wood counters and tables make for a very relaxing atmosphere. There are interesting artworks on each wall, except for the right hand side where the entire surface of the wall is covered in shelves with interesting-looking trinkets, clocks, teapots and other things I can't remember. I was intrigued as soon as I walked in. Think I found my new favourite place, I wish you guys lots of success. read more

One of my favourite spots in all of Ottawa! Local, quaint vibe. Excellent food - especially the appetizers. There isn't one appetizer I haven't tried. Great ambiance and restaurant set up with open bar/kitchen. Always feel very welcome when I go. read more

Looks like Erling's has made the jump from upstart to bona fide food institution. Great service, drinks, not too noisy, and cool open concept kitchen. Might want to make a reservation. read more

A new addition to the Glebe and probably one of the hippest spots in the neighbourhood. The basic format is small plates and two per person will usually suffice. It's an open kitchen, so you get to see and hear all of the activity behind the counter. This does make it loud, with sizzles and banging pots and plates, but it's all part of the atmosphere. The wait staff is excellent and great at advising how best to mix and match small plates for the best overall meal. We started with the Bresaola, a beef version of prosciutto served with arugula, pickled onions, parmesan, capers, truffle oil and olive oil. The overall taste sensation is absolutely mouth watering and surprisingly original. I loved it. Pickled and roasted beets served with panko-crusted goat cheese, arugula and roasted walnut vinaigrette was also amazing. The scallops and the duck confit were both very good, but not dissimilar from what you'd find elsewhere. The one disappointment for me was the roasted cauliflower with raisins, lemon, chill flakes and pine nuts where it seemed to me that the fairly crunchy florets didn't have time to absorb any of the other flavours. Erling's also has a late night menu for Friday and Saturday serving a variety of plates from 10:30 pm to 1:30 am. The icing on the cake for me is that they make one of the best espressos in town. You'd best make a reservation for a weekend visit, but we were able to walk in on a weekday. read more

I was a really big fan of this restaurant the first time I went last summer, however I was not as impressed when I came back this summer. I get the feeling that they might have changed owners during that time. The first time, the food and service was excellent, but the second time the service was excellent and the food was lacking. The plates were all extremely small and had obscure menu items (and I am not a picky eater). The atmosphere is lovely though! read more

After a lifetime of Toronto and Ottawa restaurants I have never had a waiter who disappointed our party of 4 like like those at Earling's Variety. We disclosed a food allergy and it was initially explained that the kitchen was too busy for us, even though at the time of reservation the allergy was explained. For the cost, the service was far below any standard we have enjoyed across both major cities. read more

I've been here a few times and it really has its pros and cons. Pros: decor, atmosphere, service, food. All of these are five stars. Cons: value for your money. The pricing is a bit shocking when you see the portion sizes. I saw another reviewer call it a tapas bar. Well, depending on your appetite, you have to buy quite a few plates for two people to have a full meal and most plates I've order haven't really been as sharable as I think they could be. I think if the prices were 10-15% cheaper, this would be a five star rating. I will definitely go back but only when I want a special tasty treat of a meal - perhaps a meal before a big night out. read more

Excellent food, excellent server. A beautiful night out (a rare treat) that did not disappoint. Lovely casual environment with top quality food. Loved it, will definately return. read more

Erling's is my local and my favourite place to visit. The room is beautiful, the staff are vibrant and welcoming, and the food is always on point. Moreover, everyone here (whether in the kitchen or in the front) will bend over backwards to meet your needs; it's never a hassle and you're never treated differently because of a dietary restriction or preference. 10/10, can't recommend enough. read more

By far one of my new favourite spots in ottawa! Where the "in house" made food is actually mind blowing! Great vibe amazing service and some of the best food I've had in a long time. You will not be disappointed by the charcuterie board!!! Everything we had for dinner was simply amazing! read more

Went there for dinner before the redblacks game and was thoroughly impressed. The menu isn't overloaded and the sharing plates were fantastic. We had the pasta, cheese plate, mushrooms and tuna and all were fantastic. The waitress was very accommodating and made a drink that wasn't on the menu and the owner came by several times to make sure we were satisfied with everything. Highly recommend for a great meal in a relaxed atmosphere. read more

Second time I went there on my own either before or after my hair appt as it's right around the corner from Studio B (another great business/super creative "studioburbanhair.com"). First time I met the owner's mum Terry who was gracious and super helpful during the lunch time period. Last evening I walked in w/out a reservation and sat at the bar. Fun to watch Chef and others during food prep, folks are friendly and they smile. This time met Liam, the owner, and was impressed with the wine selections and asked for a recommendation for a good Pinot Noir. Was pleasantly surprised with a smooth and balanced glass produced by an Ontario family winery "stannersvineyard.ca" from Prince Edward County. (Aside note, my paternal grandparents lived there and it's a special place.) The food was tasty and just the right amount. From the grazing section of the menu, I selected a dozen oysters of a variety new to me, "Conway Pearls", from PEI. Having lived in the Bay Area and in San Francisco for most of my adult life I normally prefer West Coast varietals, favourites from BC, however, again pleasantly surprised with size, taste and texture. Also came with a delightfully unique spicy pineapple coulis/sauce. However, having recently moved home eating local is important to me. My second selection came from the "Eat Your Veggies" section. Sweet potatoes puree topped with mushrooms and sliced scallions. Yummy, nutritious warm veggie food is always something that I'm searching out here in Ottawa. Bottom line is I like that this resto has a warm atmosphere, funky art, is a little off the beaten path and has diverse and creative menu. It also reminds me of some of my favourite restos in San Francisco (L'ardoise Bistro, BluStem Brasserie, Canella Bistro, Nopa, Tartine Manufactory and Zuni Café). Definitely a treat and highly recommend it. Here's their website: http://www.erlingsvariety.com/ read more

Was surprised at how much I enjoyed this place. It is a place you will want to go with a significant other or some friends u don't mind sharing food with. I say this because everything is small plates that come out at different times so you will want to share to simply try all the various flavours and so that one person isn't stuck watching everyone else eat. To start the charcuterie board was delicious. We tried the Dutch Gouda with the duck it came with a cranberry jam , pickled quell eggs (which had a sweet taste), and some croutons. The next thing to arrive was a cauliflower gratin with crab that's was absolutely comfort food very rich but heavenly. The following was a salad which was odd but a nice change of pace as it contained heirloom carrots, avocado and arugula but had a spicy curry type of kick (maybe hot mustard ?) to it, personally I think it should of had some kind of sweetness to it to balance the heat (mangos possibly?). But the mussels with chorizo sausage in a tomato broth and cilantro. This dish was my favourite as it was much different then any other seafood dish I have ever had but was a nice change of pace. As we were not yet done that dish the scallops showed up which kind of was a clash of tastes but wasn't terrible. The pork belly and scallops were both cooked to perfection but the tomato jam was to sweet personally for me to have paired with the scallops but was decent with the pork. The squash purée that came with it was a good pairing though. As far as the atmosphere goes I was pleasantly surprised. The kitchen is wide open to the restaurant without the kitchen staff ruining your meal , was a very high class hipster vibe going on. As there is various hand crafted paintings along the walls where you are seated. The one wall is simply filled with boxes of knock knacks so u have a lot to look at without feeling that there is to much going on. I would highly recommend and will personally be going back to try again for sure. read more

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I had lunch with girlfriends at Erling's Variety this week. We asked the server to recommend dishes and everything he brought was absolutely amazing - especially the warm kale salad and the scallops. Great wine, lovely atmosphere in a cute spot tucked right off Bank Street in the Glebe - we would definitely go back. read more

What a beautiful place! Love the big windows, open kitchen with circular pot rack, and the lit up giant shelf at one end. The food is good too. My wife got the gnocchi which was very rich and tasty. The mushrooms were particularly good. I got the bison carpaccio which was served with some crispy things which were great for scooping up the meat, leaves, and sauces. But I feel they missed an opportunity for some stronger bits of flavor to contrast with the meat. We got the fries served with aioli and house ketchup. Their house ketchup tasted a bit like plum sauce and was a bit too sweet for fries. The aioli was good. The fries were fresh and thicker than we expected. read more

I couldn't say much more than this: Go. Amazing food, incredible service, great mixed drinks.....just go. read more

Brunch was mediocre. Soggy waffles. Hollandaise sauce was greasy and unseasoned. Curdled vinaigrette. Distracted service.

Plates vary in portion size quite a bit. Beef plate was excellent, great flavours. However, similarly priced ($12-14) prawn dish was nothing more than two prawns and one ravioli on two sauces - rather difficult to share one ravioli. Deconstructed strawberry shortcake was again too small to share-- maybe one whole strawberry and a few torn pieces of angel food cake! Not great value for money. read more