The Phoenix, Victoria

after waiting nearly 20 minutes for a table, was told we could share one with someone else as they didn't have any small ones, which turned out ok, table companions spent whole lunch on blackberries so hardly knew they were there.
pub is really nice, lots of wood and nice little touches everywhere, except in the toilets, which are a bit whiffy and claustraphobic.
food was a dissapoinment, took far too long for a lunchbreak, burger undercooked in the middle, burnt on the outside, limp lettuce, sweaty, half melted cheese and greasy chips they hadn't bothered peeling, partner trying to be healthy ordered seabass, with sides of spinach (drowned in cream) and seasonal vegetables (drowned in oil, should have said mediteranean vegetables- pepper, courgette, onion, didn't make sense), which came with fried fennel, sugary brown stuff, pesto swimming in olive oil, though fish was cooked well. should have left as soon as we heard the f'ing and blinding coming from the chef on the bar really.
waiter made up for a lot of the food shortfall, although didn't want to talk to us after we said we weren't going to tip
on the upside, cracking wine list and a small selection of tasty beers, sure they would have tasted much better without the oilslick on my tongue though
i'll just have a sandwich at my desk next time

12 Mar 2009 20:34