Salted Vue 4th July 2008

RoseEllen's choice
Present: Neil, RoseEllen, Michael, Gerry, Alex, Ken, Irene, Andrew, Alex

Overall Rating: 4.8* Total Cost per person: $58.00

Ratings scale: Excellent; Very Good; Good; Not so Good; Poor; Abysmal

Greeting and Seating: did not provide table on verandah as arranged when booked. Expressed disappointment at table provided inside. Wait staff reacted by providing a ridiculously overlarge and cramped table on the verandah. After asking for the manager and some manoeuvring the table was rearranged and eventually we were accommodated. Manager was very helpful and accommodating.
Table Presentation: Nothing special - verandah table open wood with place mats.
Settling in - drinks breads etc.: very good eventually.
Menu selection, variety price etc.: Set menu. 3 courses at $34.50. Selection of about six items per course.
Specials presentation: none
Wine selection, variety and price: Average for this type of restaurant.
Drinks Service: Excellent
Food Service: Excellent
Ambiance: Very good but a lot of noise coming for The Esplanade. Cars, Motor Bikes, bungy rides etc. spoiled ambiance of an almost waterfront location.
Music: Piped music on the verandah far too loud for a restaurant - even given that there was a lot of noise to get over. choice of music also very annoying and several guests commented that it got on their nerves. Eventually asked for it to be turned down.

Food choices
Entree: Three cauliflower soups rated 4.5; Two Thai beef rated 4; Asian pork rated 5; Wild mushrooms rated 4; Fish Cakes rated 4. All reported as excellent.
Main course: Two steaks rated 4; A Coconut chicken rated 4; Pork cutlet rated 4; Atlantic Salmon rated 5; 3 lamb dishes rated 4.
Sweets: Two chocolate tarts rated 5; Four Chocolate eclairs rated 4; A Merangue rated 4 and a lemongrass panacotta rated 4.5.
Drinks:
Summary: Overall great food and great value. Adequate wine list and great value for money. Not the place for a quiet night out. The Managers attention smoothed out the initial hiccups. We all agreed thought that we probably would not go there again because of the noise.