I believe that you get what you pay for, mostly. Being cost conscious (ok, I admit it, I’m frugal, I could even be considered tight) even outside of our current GFC-scared environment, I’ve been forgoing cheap disappointments of meals for a while now in order to enjoy a more expensive and luxurious dining experience more often.
But what if those things aren’t mutually exclusive?
Merivale’s Winter Feasts promotion provides two or even three courses for only $35 at a range of Merivale restaurants. Good value, eh?
Salsiccia e broccoli
Roman pork sausages with sauteed broccoli, garlic and chilli
Fat slices of pork sausage wonderfully spiked with garlic and fennel sit atop a roughly mashed broccoli that its just a little too cooked for my taste. Chilli oil adds sparkle to the ample portion. Our other entree, garlic prawns, is four medium prawns drenched in lightly garliced and buttery sauce nestled in a sizzle pan. Unfortunately I had already eaten the soft and salted foccacia so I lacked a vehicle for the sauce.
San Pietro con limone e capperi
Pan fried Silver Dory with lemon and caper sauce
Fettuccine Alfredo
Homemade fettuccine with cream, parmesan and shaved ham
If that old adage “you eat with your eyes first” is true, then my fish main left me not only hungry, but disappointed. The sauce was slightly caramelised and brought out the flavour of the perfectly cooked fish, but there just wasn’t enough food for a main meal. Compared to the rich, creamy generosity of the fettuccine alfredo, the fish appeared anemic. Surely they could have included some vegetables or starch to even out the serving size of the three dishes available for each course.
Tiramisu
Profitterolo
Traditional profiterole with vanilla custard and chocolate sauce
The menu on the website was not the same as the menu on the night, and so I was at a loose end when it came to dessert. Despite the chocolate powder over the rim of the plate (pet hate, rage out), and the fact that I often find tiramisu ho-hum, this was a generous, creamy and gutsy portion. The profiteroles, filled with citrussy cream were a little soggy but still a satisfying end to the meal, but what is up with that retro plating style?
The atmosphere in Uccello was buzzing on a Tuesday night, the waitstaff were very nice, but I can’t help thinking that this meal would have been so much better if the price wasn’t quite so low.
Uccello
Level 4, 320 George Street, Sydney
Merivale Winter Feasts
2 courses for $35 or
3 courses for $45
each with a James Squire beer or a glass of wine. (I had a really lovely Shiraz from the Barossa).
10 Comments
i think i could’ve eaten both sets of dishes
and it’s rare to find a good tiramisu. the homemade fettucine sounds great.
Helen (grabyourfork)’s last blog post..Food festivals and markets: What’s on this weekend
I know what you mean lili, you wonder how good the food might have been if you paid full price and tried something else on the menu!
Howard’s last blog post..Sushi Rio, Chinatown Sydney
I love a lemon caper sauce. A regular in my household. That tiramisu looks devilishly good! Those prices are great, even here in Brisbane!
Julia @ Mélanger’s last blog post..{ Best Boulangerie et Pâtisserie in Paris }
Yes, I always wonder about special promotions/deals – I tried the winter feast at Lotus and didn’t particularly love it and I definitely think it would have been better choosing from the a-la-carte menu. The tiramisu here sounds lovely though, despite the choc powder!
Betty’s last blog post..Il Greco Greek Restaurant
I think if we hadn’t shared dishes I would’ve ended up incredibly full and you would’ve ended up incredibly unsatisfied. Very disparate servings in the entrees and mains.
That tiramisu is like “I am a lump of caek.”
That fish looks teeny! The chocolate on the rim is my pet peeve too, I hate it when they do that with icing sugar as well. I totally agree with you, I think I would be willing to pay $50 rather than $35 if I felt like I was getting something closer the quality that the restaurant would normally serve rather than a totally cheaped up version.
Steph’s last blog post..Blancharu, Elizabeth Bay
Who knew so many people hated the powdered plates (It bugs me too!) I love tiramisu though.
Powered by Tofu’s last blog post..In Season Cooking: Roasted Summer Vegetables
I went to Ucello’s recently to be be really honest I was not that impressed. I found that they doused everything in way too much olive oil or butter. Each course was literally swimming in one or the other or both.
Syrie’s last blog post..Sauteed Silver Beet with Chickpeas & Fried Bread
I heard similarly from my little sis who went there for the Winter Feasts menu with her friends. Small-ish courses and not anywhere near as much panache with the flavour and seasoning as we experienced the first time we went when it first opened. Sad, because oh-my-goodness some of the a la carte options are just divine.
Helen (grabyourfork): Yes, the portion sizes were small, and I am still waiting for that amazing mind-blowing tiramisu where is suddenly all makes sense.
Howard: Totally!
Julia @ Mélanger: Yeah, the prices were wonderful, I just wished for a little more to be delivered.
Betty: I think it is always a gamble, though next time I would probably do 2 courses and then order something from the real menu as well.
Felix: Yes, and yes, and yes.
Steph: Totally. I think it shows that I haven’t been back for another Winter Feasts attempt, too.
Powered by Tofu: Putting stuff on the rim on the plate is so tacky!
Syrie: Oh, both my seafood dishes were swimming in butter, I yearned for something to soak it up with. Did you do the winter feast or was this from the regular menu?
Shez: Yeah, it is pretty disappointing as now I don’t really want to go there for the a a la carte menu because of this very average experience. Not what was intended from this promotion, I’m sure.