Launceston Restaurants

[drron]

I decided to see if Stillwater has gone back to it's roots seeing Covid has decimated the Chinese tourist market.It has with a lot of the spicy and chinese menu items gone and things like miso,ponzu and yuzu now on the menu.The building certainly is impressive.
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Once again I had a beer.A local Launceston craft beer.The Hut.I liked it.
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I had the Cape Grim beef tartare, whipped cod roe, capers, shallot + herbs for an entree.It was very nice.
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And for mains Tasmanian wallaby topside, eggplant, warrigal greens + tomato kasundi.It was good but a bit tougher than other wallaby dishes I have had.
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So it certainly has got back on track but I enjoyed my meal at Alida more.friendly service,cheaper and food just as good plus many more dishes that would suit mrsdrron.
One interesting bit was as a single diner they left a couple of magazines on the table for me to read.One had a report on a cruise on the Eco-Abrolhos.How did they know?

 

[JackMiles]

@JackMiles a little late but here is the current Jailhouse grill premium red wine list.Pricesup a lot.
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But to my review.No reds for me I had one of the Boag's stable of beers as you do when in Launceston.
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I wanted to try a few of their dishes so I had 3 entrees.First the pickled octopus.A bit chewy but OK.
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Then a scallop and bacon skewer.The scallops were good but don't need the bacon.
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Then their little serve of pork ribs.They were really nice.
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Will go back when mrsdrron comes down.

Thanks Dr. Yes, prices now look much more like you'd see anywhere else.

 

[drron]

I had my first dinner this time at one of our favourites -Kosaten
Salmon sashimi,Miso marinated eggplant,tempura oysters and scallop sashimi.
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I went back last week and had edamame,kingfish sashimi with chilli lime dressing,tempura soft shell crab,chicken karaage and volcano sushi.All dishes were really good.
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[drron]

On Sunday night I went to a Punjabi restaurant which advertises itself as the best Indian restaurant in Launceston.They had an interesting beer list,not large but craft beers though they do have Moo brew which is a large craft beer place.I had the Kicksnare xpa brewed in Launceston.I really liked it and it went well with the food.
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First a complementary starter.
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I then ordered 3 dishes so I would have enough left over for a couple of lunches.
The dishes -goat curry,hot Goan mixed vegies in a coconut sauce,lamb in a spinach curry along with garlic naan and coughin rice.
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The first pic has the Goan veggies in the foreground which was really flavourful.The second pic has the goat curry on the left and the spinach curry on the right.
I have had a few goat curries over the year and this was amongst the best.The spinach curry was excellent.I will go again.

Tomorrow night I have booked dinner at another Punjabi restaurant which advertises itself as the best Punjabi restaurant in Tasmania.Will be interesting.

 

[drron]

I've also dined at Rupert and Hound at Seaport.A mid level restaurant with reasonable food,prices and service.this time was Little Rivers IPA from nearby Scottsdale.
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I had the crumbed local arrowhead squid then crumbed scallops.Safe choices and nice.
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[drron]

Tonight it was back to the Punjab.Well the Spice lounge seaport.
The beer list wasn't as good as Pickled Evenings.The only craft beers were Little Rivers Gold Ale or a Moo Brew.I went with little River as I like their offerings.
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I started with an entree of stuffed mushrooms which were nice.
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Again I had 3 mains.First Veggie Madras.It's taste was basically the same as the Goan vegetables but very mild as against the really spicy Goan veggies.It is the dish in the foreground.
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The other dish in that picture is Bombay Beef.They didn't have a goat curry.This was a beef and potato curry.Verry mild but a very good dish.

The third dish was a very similiar dish to one I had at Pickled Evenings.Lamb with spinach.a nice dish but I preferred the one I had on Sunday.
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Plus garlic naan and coughin rice.

So comparing the 2.The food isn't too different.The real difference is the food at Pickled Evenings is spicier.So if you like spicy then that is for you.If spice isn't your thing the Spice lounge is for you.I liked both but probably will go back to Pickled Evenings and try a couple more of their beers.

 

[drron]

Friday night and looking at the Events page of the Launceston tourist information I noted that the Hazelbrae hazelnut farm put on a dinner on Fridays only.Decided to give it a try.Googled it and rang the phone number on the google page.Now this place is about 25 KM out of Launceston in the Hagley distict.Needed Google Maps to find it as their signs are in their driveway a little off the road.

Place was deserted when I arrived.The restaurant was in the old shearing shed.Not needed for that purpose as now a hazelnut orchard.
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Go inside and find I have no reservation.Turns out this is not rare as the restaurant was leased by a catering business in Launceston who terminated their lease due to Covid but left their mobile phone on the google page and refuse to changeit.Fortunately eating by myself they could fit me in and set up an extra table.
It is a set menu and a set time of 1830 for 1900.The menu.
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You get a complimentary pre dinner drink.I chose this.
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Now the food.
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The food was beautiful.Satay sauce made with hazelnuts certainly quite different to the usual peanuts but nice.
The lamb was tender,moist and tasty.The chocolate dessert was very good with the whisky jelly going perfectly with the chocolate.
I had the paired drinks but a half serve as needing to drive back to Launceston.The Iron Pot Bay Primis was very nice.They obviously liked me as the last 2 drinks were a full serve.
Everyone is served at the same time- just 14 other guests - so finished at 2115.I think it was worth it.Meal cost is $70 plus the drinks.

 

[drron]

Today it was Timbre at the Velo winery a few Kms out of Launceston at Legana.the menus hadn't really excited us but quite a few good reports so decided to give it a go for lunch.The menu has a $55 and $75 set courses but also A la carte.I decided on the $75 course to try a few of the dishes.
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The restaurant and view.
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Now it is a winery restaurant so i had a beer.Another craft beer from Beaconsfield.Pretty good.
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And the first dish -celeriac, 'njuda.Just a little spicy.
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[drron]

Waygu crudo,salted plum,yolk.Very good.
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Wood oven grilled cheese aka cheese on toast but very nice cheese.
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lamb,curd,baby carrot.nice lamb.
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Chicken,almond,salsa verde.Really good.Lovely chicken.
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tomato salad.Heirloom varieties and nice radish.
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potatoes,miso butter.
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pork belly,katsu butter.
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miso caramel mousse,honeycomb.Delicious.They use the local meru miso which I love using.
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I really enjoyed it.So I went back to the car and rang mrsdrron.After that walked back in and booked for the 2 of us when she comes down.
I was going to do a walk after lunch but I was in no condition to do so.So back to the hotel for a nanny nap and then an evening walk.

 

[jakeseven7]

Velo is fantastic glad you finally made it there!

 

[drron]

Tonight I walked over to the Silo Hotel and had dinner at Grain.
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So I had the waygu tartare.Excellent.
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And the gnocchi with lamb with a side of potatoes.
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Nice but a little on the salty side.Service was excellent.
Washed down with the Shambles brewert,hobart's American IPA.But they bought it out in the glass.

 

[drron]

A cheap option.Malayicious.Seems to have a good following by the Malay population of Launceston.cheap,quick service and OK food.Haven't needed a reservation though there is a bar type table for those of us dinibg alone.It is just a short walk from the hotel.
First night I had a Nasi Lemak
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The second night was Nonya duck with Perakan sauce + chips.
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It is also on the Amex shop small list.

 

[drron]

Friday this week and lunch at Elaia.A favourite of mine.Wild tempura mushrooms with garlic aioli and chicken souvlaki in a bowl.
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The mushrooms were fantastic.

 

[drron]

Saturday and back to Timbre with mrsdrron.We ordered from the A la carte menu.The dishes were a lot larger than the set menus so we both ended up very full and didn't have room for desserts.
First we each had the waygu crudo.
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Then shared dishes.first lamb on parsnip mash.
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And chicken with almonds.This was the pick of the mains.Moist,tender,tasty chicken.
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Plus a side of potatoes with miso butter.
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All washed down with the Velo Sav blanc.
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[drron]

On the first Sunday with mrsdrron in town we had lunch at Alida with RooFlyer.
First the Sunday lunch Menu.Slightly different to the dinner menu.
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Mrsdrron had a main course and dessert.For mains she had the slow cooked pork which she really liked.
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Dessert was the brulee which again hit the mark.
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The fellows had exactly the same entree and mains.Mussels in a Thai curry broth.Then the fish..
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I also had the pannacotta which was very nice.
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[drron]

Monday night and we went to the Jailhouse grill.This night service was sub par and food overcooked.
Mrsdrron and I first shared some cremated oysters kilpatrick.
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Mrsdrron had the ribs that I had had previously but they had obviously had recooked them and a little charred.I went for the Thai beef salad.Certainly different and at least the meat was tender.
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The inconsistent service means we are unlikely to return.

 

[drron]

Tuesday night and off to Geronimo.Menu now is share plates either small or large.We went for the 5 small plates.first waygu beef tataki.Excellent.
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Marinated fried cauliflower.doesn't look great but magnificent taste.
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Octopus.a bit chewy.
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We also had beef cheek ravioli-used to be our favourite dish but disappointing this time plus prawn and chicken dumplings.Forgot pictures of these 2.
But we had desserts.Mrsdrron lime and coconut parfait.
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I had the fennel creme caramel.both very nice.
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[drron]

Wednesday night at Rupert and Hound at the Seaport.
The menu.
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Note the vegetarian menu where you can add meat to each dish!.
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A sav blanc.
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As we often do shared a dozen oysters kilpatrick.
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Mrsdrron likes her crumbed scallops.
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And I had the premium fish and chips.kingfish tonight.Done properly.
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[drron]

Thursday and back to Kosaten.Good with 2 people as it enables a greater selection.A different Sav Blanc to wash it all down.
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Tempura oysters and salmon sahimi -a plate each.
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Then soft shell crab and marinated lamb cutlets.
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Miso marinated eggplant and chicken karaage.
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[drron]

Friday night and we went to Elaia which becomes a Greek restaurant at night but no where near the best we have tried.The octopus was chewy.
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Not too sure we can blame the restaurant itself as it has been the same everywhere in Tasmania.i am assuming it is the local octopus so i am avoiding it from now on.
The mushrooms are fine but have some chilli in the batter which is not put on the menu.
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Mrsdrron had the garlic prawns with spaghetti -OK.
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I had the moussaka.again OK.
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And sides of a Greek salad and Greek lemon potatoes -no where near as good as Greeks would present.
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So not going to rush back.A better place for lunch.