‘Another’ new restaurant in Canberra
For several years Canberra had a Belgium Beer Cafe which was a good place to go for a drink on a Sunday afternoon and then one day it was gone; not sure why as it was always full of people but some months ago, in its place was a new restaurant called Otis Dining Hall..which certainly is not a hall in the true sense of the word but a fabulous restaurant.(source: http://www.thisisotis.com.au)
I booked a table (for me and my friend Jane) one Saturday evening in June.
When I dine out if I see a dish with cheese in it, I always ask can the cheese be removed as I do not eat cheese containing animal rennet and this time was no different as the dish I liked the look of was the pumpkin ravioli dish. I wasn’t sure if there would be a shaving of parmesan so I asked the [very] young waiter if this could be done and he immediately told me it couldn’t. I was surprised as the cheese was not inside the ravioli nor part of the dish, so I asked him if he was sure and he said he was and that cheese on a dish could not be removed. I was rather [very] frustrated and asked him if he could ask the chef (who actually makes the meal!!) which he reluctantly did…and surprise surprise the chef said ‘yes’ the dish could be made without the shaving of cheese. grr!!
So after this ordeal, I did order the pumpkin ravioli with sage burnt butter, a hen’s egg and amaretto…and it was definitely worth it – absolutely delicious..
Jane, who apologied to me first (because I am completely vegetarian and and lover of all animals) ordered the salted wallaby tartare with pickled vine leaf, macadamia nut floss and burnt onions. The wallaby is a small Aussie animal and I think just a smaller version of the kangaroo and I really didn’t think it was an animal we ate, but I guess all animals can be eaten. Jane said it was good but next time would probably order seafood [her favourite].
It was at this time I asked for an ice bucket for our wine as it hadn’t arrived with our bottle, well I asked twice really [again to our young and inexperienced waiter] and in the end Jane had to insist on one…it was a little frustrating but not the biggest issue in the world…
For main course I ordered the forest mushroom gnocchi with pickled chestnut mushrooms, pine nuts and taleggio cheese (I asked for the cheese to be removed and funnily enough this time it was ok). So delicious!!Jane ordered the Otis pepper steak with silk-wood brandy jus and a side of french fries – it was funny though as that was exactly what it was…steak on a plate with nothing else…I suppose I think there could be some greens somewhere on the plate – but no!!I ate the fries as Jane is not a big eater of chips!! (lucky me). No dessert for either of us as we were very full but this is what we can expect…(source: http://www.agfg.com.au)
Other friends of mine have eaten at this restaurant and actually asked me about the service; like me they found it wanting – maybe it’s because it’s new and the staff are young but the food is definitely worth a return visit.
sileas said:
Hmm sounds like the service could be definitely improved. But I guess the food apologizes for that little flaw 😉
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Sophie said:
The least we can say is that it’s an honest review. The cheese removal matter sounds ridiculous, it’s obvious that the waiter had no clue about the options, and was probably reluctant to ask the chef about it, but I even found that attitude really too laid-back for a waiter, he clearly seemed to have no intention doing his job properly. I found you very polite about that, haha! Service aside (whichi I would have hated, personally), the dishes looked interesting. And the wallaby! How unusual (for our part of the world).
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steveo said:
They should’ve given each of you a take home dessert for training their waiter! 😎
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Little Miss Traveller said:
I could just eat those chips now!! Jane’s steak looked delicious but a bit lonely – it was surprising not to be served with vegetables, mushrooms or onion rings. Hope the inexperienced young waiter learnt from his mistakes.
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JohnRH said:
Unfortunate about the service. I’d postpone a return any time soon. There are too many good restaurants around. Such is the food and beverage biz.
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Amy said:
The atmosphere looks nice and the beautiful presentation of these dishes! But the service is one of the elements for the success. Enjoy reading the review, as always. 🙂
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Marta said:
So fancy! And that waiter who said the cheese on top could not be removed… was he by any chance Chinese? Because I’ve had similar situations in China before, haha.
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Gary Lum said:
Looks like a fabulous place Sue. I’ve eaten the wallaby tartare at Sage, it would be nice to try it again. I would have thought in this day and age, keeping cheese off a dish would be easy. It’s a good thing you were persistent.
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Lignum Draco said:
Lateral thinking is not something for the young and inexperienced, probably more obsessed with just trying to get the orders in. I’m glad you stood your ground and went to the actual chef. It does sound like the service is a bit green. Maybe give it a few months.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
I was very cross I must say and it’s made me not want to go back even though the food was very good.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
I agree. I agree!!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks Marion I hope he did too. Yes but strange with no additions to the plate and not cheap either.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
I agree John. I won’t be going back any time soon.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you Amy. Yes not somewhere I will return soon.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Ha ha. Good one Marta but surprisingly not Chinese.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi thanks Gary. I know it’s not that hard to remove food from ‘atop’ a dish. It’s not like I was asking for the ravioli to be opened and the cheese taken out. Give this restaurant a while and go and try their Wallaby.
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Gary Lum said:
I will. Hopefully next month.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Exactly. Don’t go yet. More friends had similar service. Grr!!!!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Make sure you do a post please as would love to hear what you ate and what the service was like.
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vinneve said:
Nicely presented!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you Vinneve
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Gary Lum said:
I went to OTIS last week Sue http://yumlum.co/2tLJ3j4
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi Gary. I have written comments twice on your post but they keep disappearing. It was a great post and glad you had a great time. I loved the sound of that pasta dish too. I have had this trouble posting on your blog many times. And tried to comment on your State of Origin post too. Same issues. So know I am reading them but comments disappearing once I post them to you.
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Gary Lum said:
That is very weird Sue. I don’t know why that is. I will try to find some answers in a WordPress forum.
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Gary Lum said:
Hi there Sue, I’ve discovered the problem but not how to fix it. At least knowing your comments were in my spam folder means I need to check it more often. The bizarre thing is that I’ve previously approved your comments before and my settings automatically approve people I’ve approved manually before.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks again Gary. It’s weird isn’t it.
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Gary Lum said:
It is, especially since you’ve commented so many times. Why would WordPress pick your comments for spam so randomly. I’ve gone into the back end again and removed all the black listed words, not that you used any. They were all swear and curse words plus names for various drugs that people seem gullible enough to buy on the internet!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Good on you Gary cause I do love your posts and like yo comment too.
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