Verve Cafe

Sorry I've been slack but I'm saving to go overseas soon and so my eating out has to be curtailed.  I did however make an exception last Tuesday night to eat dinner at the Verve Cafe and participate in their trivia night.

I really like the Verve Cafe... think my love started back when I first discovered it. It had the coolest stencils on the toilet wall, or otherwise you had to walk up this rickety staircase to go to the official loos.  I like being afforded a different view of Brisbane.  I also liked the way Verve is small with a cozy and cool vibe.

Anyway, I have digressed... back to the food.

Verve earns points for having more than the usual 1 vegetarian main meal option- and not all of them include eggplant!!

There are multiple vegetarian pasta dishes, and pizzas to choose from.

I usually go for the pumpkin pizza which is yum, however on Tuesday night I went for the artichoke heart risotto.

Now if you have read my previous posts you would know that I haven't been all that lucky with my risottos- so I was hoping that this one would end my bad streak.

Unfortunately no.

The rice was not cooked.  Yep that's right- Not cooked- it was crunchy.  I ended up sending it back- something I hate to do having worked in a kitchen myself.  They sent me back another one- rice was still very, very al dente, AND it had a different sauce (I had originally chosen a cream sauce, and the second attempt had a tomato based sauce).

No offer to have the meal taken off the bill- or for a complimentary drink- or anything to help save such a sour experience.

I have also noticed that Verve never (rarely??) puts on vegetarian specials, and their beautiful sounding vegetable soups are all made on meat stock.

These days though I am starting to wonder if my liking of Verve is just due to nostalgia, they don't even have the cool stencils on the walls. 

Think I will need to search for a new funky place to drink and eat in the city,  and I'm definitely not ordering risotto for while.


Score- 3 out of 5 artichokes

Bistrot Bistro

I went tonight to the Bistrot Bistro on Logan road in Woolloongabba.

Woolloongabba has become a bit of a restaurant haven there in the old Moreton Rubber building.  It's a nice looking restaurant helped by the interesting features of the old building.

Trouble was the food.

I had a Chestnut and Mushroom risotto as a main.  This was the only vegetarian option (which I can be forgiving as it is a small limited menu of 5 mains). 

To start the presentation was dreadful.  All my meat and fish eating friends got delicate, beautiful looking (and tasting from what I've heard) food.  Whereas my risotto was sloped on a plate/bowl with no garnish or anything looking like yellow slop.

The presentation I could have forgiven except to my disappointment the risotto was inedible.  The rice was cooked well, but all I could taste was Parmesan cheese.  Very overpowering Parmesan cheese.

I would definitely not go back until they changed there menu.


It is strange that ever since I have started this blog I have been to two 'bistros' and had two inedible risottos.  Here's hoping my next review is not cursed!


Score - 2 Cheeses out of 5

Atomica

Went to Atomica on Boundary St, West End, again yesterday morning.

Atomica is one of my favourite places to meet friends and family on a weekend for breakfast.  It has something for everyone.

Some of the reasons Atomica is a hit are~

• They make really yummy soy flat whites (and other coffees)
• It has airconditioning
• There is often a table big enough of a group (although sometimes you have to wait)
• The staff are nice and efficient
• The food comes out quickly
• They use organic milk
• And free ranged eggs
• They have a unusual and diverse menu
• They have vegan options
• And options for gluten free bread

Everyone has a different reason for liking Atomica.

Also, and probably most importantly, the food is always great.

I personally can recommend their:

• Massive vegetarian big breakfast
• Tomato and avocado on toast
• great specials such as goats cheese and mushroom scrambled eggs
• I even like the simple toasted turkish with raspberry jam

Nothing better than a yum breakfast, and then maybe a wander up to Avid Reader for a quick little peruse- It's a great way to start the weekend!

Score: 4 Eggs out of 5

James St Bistro

Last night I went for dinner to James Street Bistro; on James st, in the Valley.
It is a nice relaxed place, with great atmosphere and service.
I think they reached their best when they used to make a nice vegetarian pappardelle and a nice vegetarian pizza.

Both were sadly lacking of the menu last night.

Yesterday the vegetarian options were a entree/light meal goats cheese tart, or a main meal of mushroom risotto, or Margarita pizza.

I went with the mushroom risotto.

It was disappointing-not entirely sure what was so wrong with it but i think it had been over cooked- the rice was all mushy and the mushroom taste was way too heavy like it had been stewing for a long time.
I have eaten many a risotto and many a mushroom in my time, and this was one of the worst i have eaten.

All up- I like the restaurant, but to only have 2 vegetarian main meals (a cheese and tomato pizza or inedible risotto) is not enough and therefore not a good thing.


Score- 2 Mushrooms out of 5