Clove n Honey - Stones Corner

Caught up with some friends last weekend and we decided to check out Clove n Honey along Logan Road at Stones Corner. With the numerous amount of cafes nearby, I have to say that I didn't really notice it much but was happy to go and try out the food.

Recently the hospitality industry has been booming and it was lucky that we booked ahead for our table of six because the cafe was almost full by the time we got there. Menus were provided we were to order at the counter. The menu had a few classic dishes but it was the fusion options which really stood out for me such as roti, teriyaki and kaarage. 

Our drinks didn't take long to arrive. I had my usual skinny cappuccino and he had an iced chocolate. Without asking for mine to be extra strong, it was still very strong and quite bitter whilst not that creamy, at least it wasn't very acidic. Dr L's iced chocolate though was also quite rich but milky and had a nice sprinkle of chocolate powder on the top too. 

Shaking things up for the morning, Dr L had the Honey French Toast which comprised of banana bread dipped in custard, fresh whipped cream, fairy floss, fruits and nuts with lemon curd and maple syrup. It was very colourful and whimsical, grabbing the attention of everyone on our table. We were expecting a fairly fluffy kind of honey toast but it was quite dense but not overly rich. The dish itself had quite a lot of components and was thankfully quite fruity without being overly sugary. He liked it and it was a nice change from the norm.

Not feeling too adventurous, I opted to have my standard eggs on toast with a side of avococado. The toast was fresh and well toasted, the eggs were poached to result in a runny yolk but was a little overcooked. The portion of avocado was small, especially given the price of the side. It was however fairly tasty and ripe. Next time I'll definitely have to try the breakfast roti dishes.

Price Range: $20 - $30pp

Taste: 7/10

Value: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Environment: 7/10 

Phuc Deli Viet - South Brisbane

Friday night we ran a few errands with a friend which took a bit longer than expected and we ended up wandering around West End looking for a bite to eat at around 7.30pm which was a bit later than usual. With all our usual places completely booked out we decided to try Phuc Deli-Viet which was surprisingly empty despite everywhere else being packed.

We grabbed a seat inside and was provided with menus and water promptly.

Despite being a self proclaimed Vietnamese restaurant the menu was unforseeably diverse. Other than Vietnamese noodle and rice dishes, they also did other pan asian dishes like Pad Thai, Singapore Noodles, Hainan Chicken and Curry. 

Having eaten Pho every day for the last several weeks, Dr L opted for something different so he had the chicken curry. The curry came in a separate dish to the rice which was curiously served on a plate rather than a bowl. The portions were adequate and there was a bit more vegetables than there was chicken and it was quite sweet for a curry for him to have found it enjoyable.

Unlike him, I had the Pho. Rather than just containing rare beef, it also had slices of beef brisket which I enjoyed. The bowl wasn't too small and there was an ample amount of beef to go with the noodles which were fresh and soft. The let down for this dish was definitely the soup which was nowhere near as flavoursome as other places but it was sufficient in it's purpose. Given the other Vietnamese options nearby, I can't say that I would recommend this place.

 

Price Range: $15 - $25pp

Taste: 5/10

Value: 6/10

Service: 7/10

Environment: 7/10

Little Maru - Brisbane CBD

As a big fan of Maru, I've been eating there for years and have particularly enjoyed their Korean BBQ. It is often nice to see places you enjoy doing well and I was pleased to see they opened an express lunch restaurant along Adelaide Street opposite Queens Plaza so I decided to give them a try for lunch.

The shop was very small as you would expect and there were a few seats for indoor dining only. The menu was limited to a few rice bowls in medium and large size and some options with chips. Without knowing what was good, I settled with the signature bowl. Food was super fast and I was in and out within three minutes of entering. 

 Ordering the medium sized bowl, the portion wasn't overly generous, but the topping to rice ratio certainly was. I chose the signature bowl because it contained little bits of everything including fried chicken, spicy pork and bulgogi along with potato noodles and konjac noodles. Despite being doused in sauce, the fried chicken retained some crunch and was quite juicy, the pork was definitely spicy but a little dry and the beef was quite sweet but also a bit dry but very tender. I enjoyed the konjac noodles which were crunchy and creamy at the same time. Also worth a mention that they serve their rice bowls with black rice which is healthier than regular white rice with hardly any difference to texture. Would definitely recommend this place for a quick and satisfying meal.

Price Range: $10 - $20pp

Taste: 8/10

Value: 9/10

Service: 8.5/10

Environment: 8/10
 

Banneton Bakery - Woolloongabba

Had a very disappointing brunch at a famous southside cafe last weekend. To make ourselves feel better, we opted for a light snack from a well established local to make up for it. So off we went to grab some baked goods at Banneton Bakery in Woolloongabba.

Arriving at 11am many of their baked goods had already been sold out. Dr L's much loved Pain au Chocolat was long gone. Nevertheless, we still picked up some to go.

Getting a Cappuccino, this was moderately strong but the milk could have been creamier. In a way it was lucky that it wasn't too strong as I already had a few coffees that morning and it didn't result in caffeine shakes, but I've had better coffees elsewhere.

I also had a plain croissant. This was buttery, light and flakey. I really enjoyed the crispy golden layers and would not hesitate to come back again for some more bread and pastries.

Price Range: Under $10pp

Taste: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 7/10

Environment: 7/10
 

Mumo Tea - Brisbane CBD

Going back to the office on a more regular basis (two days a week) means reacquainting myself with the city and its openings and closures. After seeing one of my favourite coffee shops had closed down, I also noted the abundance of bubble tea places, especially along the Elizabeth St and Myer Centre block. Last week we decided to try out Mumo Tea, which had opened it's second branch only two streets away from its original on Adelaide St. 

Compared to some of the newer stores, the menu was somewhat unimaginative, covering milk teas, fruit teas and cheese foam. Despite the promotions it was running, the store was quite empty. Egg waffles were notably also sold out. 

He had the Oreo Brulee Milk Tea whilst I had the Grapefruit Green Tea. 

Being a moderately hot afternoon, I opted for little ice rather than no ice and mine was sufficiently chilled. With little sugar it was still a little sweeter than I had expected. The tea flavours weren't too strong and the grapefruit was a tad artificial. 

His Milk Tea was without ice and it came out fairly warm which was disappointing to both of us. The brulee was creamy though and the oreos had a decent crunch. He noted that standard sugar was also quite sweet compared to other places. Overall, it wasn't particularly a memorable experience for us and given the competition nearby, I don't think there would be much reason for us to come back anytime soon.

Price Range: Under $10pp

Taste: 5/10

Value: 5/10

Service: 7/10

Environment: 6/10 

La Cache a Vin - Spring Hill

End of February means that it's Dr L's birthday. Since the end of last year, we've had cravings for some good French food. Unfortunately, our favourite, La Cache a Vin had closed for an extended period over the holiday season and only reopened recently, making it just the right timing for his annual celebrations. Being only open on weekdays, we made a reservation to go on the day of his birthday, after work was over.

It was quite a hike to get up to Spring Hill and I was very glad that the air conditioning was strong. We had a seat near the back of the restaurant. The moody subterranean vibes were very cool and added to the ambiance.

 

We were provided the menu fairly quickly and we loved the free flowing sparkling which was provided complimentary. Options on the menu were very traditional and it was quite hard for us to decide what we wanted to order. 

Starting off with drinks, we had the Manhattan and Cosmopolitan. He liked the sweeter option with its fruity cranberry tones and sharp citrus bite from the lime. Having enjoyed several Manhattans now, the whiskey was smooth and smokey, providing for a drink that was definitely strong.

All of our food came very promptly, his entree was the Souffle a la Oignon et Gruyere. Decadent and rich in flavour but light and fluffy in texture, it was a warming and inviting way for him to start the meal. He enjoyed it so much that he mopped up all the cheese sauce with our complimentary bread and said this was the best course of the meal.

My choice of entree was without a doubt the Steak Tartare which was served with brioche. Seasoning wasn't as strong as other places and there was a notable lack of vinegar-y zing to the dish, but the beef was very fresh and there were a lot of textures to the dish which really made it stand out. The brioche that it came with was also toasted to a crisp, which was very enjoyable.

  

Not wanting to miss out on their selections of wine, we had two glasses of Shiraz to go with our mains. This was far more mellow and softer than our usual, which Dr L liked.

His choice of main was the Roti d'Agneau, a roasted lamb with lemon thyme gnocchi and caramelised fennel because loves lamb above all meats. It was cooked a light pink. Trying some myself, it was very lean and tender without the gamey taste that often accompanies lamb. The gnocchi was fairly soft and not as robust as others I've had and the fennel was also roasted quite well and soaked up a lot of the juices, making it a very delightful main.

My main was the Filet de Boeuf with home made french fries, green salad and pepper sauce. I had my fillet cooked rare and it was definitely rare with a deep red interior but a nice caramelised exterior. The meat was flavoursome and complemented the creamy pepper sauce quite well. Added chips enabled me to completely finish off the sauce and the greens were fresh and the dressing was well mixed through. This was without a doubt the highlight of my meal.

 

Rounding off with desserts, he had the Tarte Tatin whilst I had the Dacquoise a la Noisette et Mange Blanc. He liked the simplicity of he Tarte Tatin with warm soft apple and the contrast of light vanilla ice cream. My Dacquoise was more complex with a melody of textures and that highlighted the various nuts that comprised this dessert. Overall we had a fantastic time and can't wait to come back for another celebration. 

Price Range: $100 - $120pp

Taste: 8.5/10

Value: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Environment: 8/10

Cheeky Poke Bar - Brisbane CBD

Working close to the riverside precinct in the city, I walk past Ulster lane every day (that I go into the office) and can't help but be curious about what will eventually open so close to work. My question was answered a couple months ago when they announced the upcoming opening of Cheeky Poke Bar. For long time readers, you will have seen that I haven't really gotten onto the bandwagon much, and this is not because I don't enjoy the food, but rather more because the main stores are just out of my usual haunts. Having said that, I had a fairly pleasant delivery experience just recently so decided that I'd go down and check it out on opening day.

There is a menu at the front of the laneway where you can order online or at the counter. Strolling in, I decided to just place my order at the counter.

 

There were a few signature bowls preset and a few tacos which I had previously really enjoyed, but I can't really go past anything that is fully customisable, so I made my own bowl.

A bonus to ordering it at the counter is being able to watch as my food got made up.

Within five minutes, I was back at my desk with a wholesome bowl of poke.

Compared to my experience with their Greenslopes store, the bowl was definitely on the lighter side and not as substantial in content. Toppings were consistently fresh and delicious. My only feedback on this would be the fact that the portion of toppings was uneven in the sense that there was a great deal of cucumber but not too much lettuce or glass noodle. Having said that, there was an abundance of salmon which I really liked as well as tobiko. Am grateful that there is now an option close to work and will be getting some more whilst the warm weather lasts.

Price Range: $20 - $30pp

Taste: 7.5/10

Value: 7/10

Service: 8/10

Environment: 8/10