served with Chips & Dipping Sauces
Asparagus with Palm Sugar, Ginger and Coriander Caramel
Bistro at The Portsea Hotel
3746 Point Nepean Road
Portsea, Victoria 3944
Phone: (03) 5984 2213
Web: http://www.portseahotel.com.au/home
Best thing about working for HOLIDAYS at Rec-line is the privilege of sightseeing and eating at interesting and wonderful places. The weekend just, we headed down to Mornington Peninsula, South of Melbourne for Chill and Relax time. The Friday we reached Tootgarook, I decided to drop by the infamous Old Dame 'The Portsea Hotel' to check out if we are able to have our dinner that night. That is when I found out that it is so popular, you have to book at least 3 days in advance. Friday and Saturdays are normally booked out for weddings and receptions, so we had only the Sunday for Lunch. Having to be back in Melbourne by 4pm. I didn't say no. :)
It was a cold day but we were put in the veranda with the sea view of bobbing boats on the horizon. Good thing is that in Australia, people like to eat outside so they actually have Bistro Blinds- Ginormous Plastic sheets to cover the veranda without feeling the chill with the gas heaters on. Mind you, we are in the middle of summer but for somewhat reasons, it felt like a winter's day. Then again, we are in Melbourne- the city of 4 seasons in one day.
The Bistro is very pretty with Old style Interior but contemporary furnishings. It was packful of people loitering lazily, finishing their brunch and atmosphere is calm and friendly. Food was on the higher end in prices even when its only a bistro and there is no table waiting service. Hence we had to pick ourselves up to queue at the register and pay first before getting our meals.
There were 10 of us for lunch. We shared 2 serves of Wedges,$13.50 and 2 serves of Garlic and Herb bread,$7 which were moderately priced for starters. Servings can be shared by 3 people as it was quite huge. Both of them came after 10 minutes of ordering which was fantastic. This is probably the first time I get served almost immediately and they tasted good- not too salty or too hot to put in your mouth. Wedges were perfect!
3 people shared The Fisherman’s Catch, $115 min.2 people and could be shared by 3 seafood Obsessed people or 5 not so obsessed seafood lovers. It was fresh and huge but not sweet enough. Probably they boiled them too long and the sweetness disappeared?
At first glance you did not even think it was Vegetable Lasagna, $21.50. I do not really know what it tasted like but the presentation was pretty and the clients ate all of it.
2 clients had the Sunday Summer special menu of Fish and Chips, 28.50 which can't go wrong unless you have it at some dodgy corner shop with bad recycled oil and unprofessional staff.*grin*
And finally, I had the Roasted Duckling,$33.50. The thigh part was a little too dry for me but the breast was beautifully cooked and tender and FATLESS!!! I cannot really taste any of the ginger or the coriander- Perhaps, as an Asian I used these herbs so obsessively that I need heaps of it to taste it. The asparagus though was sensational and the chats(tiny potatoes) were beautiful. Overall I enjoyed my meal, even though interrupted with continuous assisting of the clients and moving the bus to a different carparks as most of the parking are of 1 hour only.
When we finished our meal, it was 1.30pm, the sun was out so we went outside and took pictures around the lovely compound. It was summer once again!
UPSIDE
1) Beautiful atmosphere and views (Fantastic for getaways/surprises)
2) Good sized servings
3) Clean and spacious
4) Reasonable priced Kid's menu
DOWNSIDE
1) Bad parking, have to come earlier to get parking and mostly 1 hour parking.
2) Quite expensive for Bistro
3) No table waiting
4) Drinks to be ordered separately
Rate:
Price- medium to high
Food- 3.5/5
Service- 4/5
Ambiance- Romantic, Historical and a great place to hang out to have a relaxing time grazing your food.
*Suitable for 1-300 people, Open for functions and events, but book early.
*Good for family/children
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