Address: 15 Glenferrie Rd
Malvern 3144 VIC
Phone: (03) 9500 0665
Food: European, Italian and Modern Australian
Average price: Entree: $15-$20, Mains: $25-$39, Dessert: $16
Set menu: 2 courses, $35
Complimentary: Bread with olive oil and balsamic. They also offer more should you want some.
The bread was cold but soft and a touch doughy but nice enough.
We ordered:
Entrees: Yarra Valley quail burger, tomato, caramelised onions, tomato & mustard sauce - $18
Mr.M: It's difficult to sell a gourmet burger for $18 at a restaurant considering most people will compare it to places like Grilld, where it's half the price and triple the size.
That aside, it was packed full of flavour and was pleasant to eat. Although I felt like the bun was too sweet for the burger contents for me, I would have preferred the bun to be just the foundation and not necessarily a flavour component.
Smoked beetroot salad with chicory, pumpkin custard, pine nuts, goats cheese - $18
Flavours were great but beetroot was a bit too acidic from the vinegar and smothered the other more subtle flavours, otherwise overall it was nice.
Main: Buckwheat pasta, black & white cabbage, potato & tallegio cheese - $26
Pasta was a touch underdone. I'm not sure why but for some reason the flavours didn't appeal to me, perhaps it just needed an extra dash of salt? Everything else was cooked well.
Seared Queensland king prawns wrapped in prosciutto, amaranth, organic carrots, squid ink & fennel - $35
Mr.M: Awesome presentation. Everything was cooked well. I'm not really a fan of prawns but every now and then I order a prawn dish to see if my taste has changed, unfortunately I am still not a prawn fan.
Dessert: Valrhona chocolate with hazelnuts, caramel cream & cherry sorbet - $16
Mr.M: I was surprised at first as I smelt coffee, and then tasted coffee, and whilst it went well I wasn't expecting it and I don't think it really added anything to the dish. The ice cream was nice as was the chocolate. Sorbet was also nice. Nice dish, but nothing really memorable.
Slow cooked quince, sweet brioche, sago custard, pear and ginger sorbet - $16
Quince was delicious, custard was yummy and subtle, but the ginger was a touch strong and tended to overpower the other flavours. Brioche was too crispy and more reminiscent of a crouton and wasn't needed but otherwise I enjoyed the dish.
Cost: $129 for two entrees, two mains and two desserts.
Service: Great. Very family style and personal. They told us their names and enquired as to whether we enjoyed each dish, held door open for us when we left, and never let out water get less than half full. Food came out at decent rate as well.
Atmosphere: Stark and well lit. The decor is mainly white with some colour given by the artwork and glasses. In terms of the atmosphere, there is something is lacking, perhaps the lighting was too bright but hubby felt it was akin to a fish and chip shop. The tables are very close together and you are hesitant to talk above a hush. When coffee machine is on it drowns out the whole room.
Parking: Decent. We went on Thursday night and there was some street parking still available.
Website: www.maris.com.au
Hours: Tue-Fri noon-3pm, Tue-Sat 6pm-10pm
Would I return: Yes. The service was great and most of the dishes were rather enjoyable.
Good to know that a decent restaurant like this exists in the area :)
ReplyDeleteI have eaten at Maris many times and love it, I am surprised by your constant put downs about the food here. I think you must not have been in the mood??? To start, the bread, which they make on premise is some of the best I have ever had. If I wanted a Grill'd burger, I'd go there. Quail, quail egg and hand made dough, doesn't even match. Would you go to Cutler & Co and rate your Chicken against KFC. Mentioning that you don't like prawns; either don't order it, or don't write about.
ReplyDeleteDessert: Was it so disappointing that it was only NICE, you obviously are eating in a different restaurant to me...
Your review would have to be the most useless one I have ever read.
Stick to reviewing Grill'd. :(
And I quote:
ReplyDeleteWould I return: Yes. The service was great and most of the dishes were rather enjoyable.
As I have said many times before when someone gets upset over MY personal opinion, it is a PERSONAL opinion, it has as much weight as you give it.
And last time I checked NICE means: –adjective, nic·er, nic·est.
1.
pleasing; agreeable; delightful:
which is what the dessert was to me.