Byzantine

Tucked away in Turnham Avenue Rosanna is an opportunity for a brilliant Greek feast - Byzantine.

AJ and I were visiting some friends in Melbourne and decided to check out what this Northern Suburb eatery had to offer. 

The venue is a large space so noise can be an issue, but in all honesty it is rare to find a Greek restaurant where noise isn't an issue - it is a celebratory cuisine that is bound to bring the banter and joy out diners.

Upon arrival we are greeted by a very friendly waitress who explains the menu options. There is the choice of a-la-carte or banquet. So as to give the kitchen the best test, we opt for the banquet but only for 3 (even though we had four diners) as Byzantine's banquet has a reputation for quite generous sizes.

The wine menu was impressive with a mix of Australian and imported varietals, beers, spirits, cocktails - something for everyone. We had already decided to take advantage of the BYO option which is always a good opportunity to pair a beautiful Shiraz with some flavour packed gyros. 

To commence the banquet a big plate of dips is set down on the table; eggplant, tsatziki and taramasalata. A big basket of pita is provided that is constantly refilled which sets us up for failure appetite wise for the rest of the meal. 

Next comes the saganaki which is tender yet crisp and a must have in any Greek feast. 

The seafood is the next on show; grilled prawns and a seafood saganaki (mussels, calamari, fish, scallops). The prawns are moist and capture the flame grilled flavour. The rich tomato broth makes every morsel of seafood in the saganaki a delight. 

To complete the mains a Greek salad and a meat platter is set own for our group to devour. Lamb cutlets, chicken, sausage - all very satisfying. 

At this stage of the meal you probably are looking to loosen your belt and head home. But then comes some light sweet relief: turkish delight, baklava, stewed fruits and a greek custard pastry. 

As you ponder on how much deliciousness has been consumed you wonder why you haven't been here earlier. The banquet really delivers and is quite reasonably priced. We spent nearly four hours at Byzantine immersed in conversation, great cuisine and felt right at home. Not a fine dining experience but definitely family friendly and great value for money. 

Roaring Grill

Dear Reader. 

I must confess - I've been terribly slack in updating TMP over the past weeks. But there definitely hasn't been a shortage of eating out.

So recently AJ and I ventured to a new Steakhouse in North Hobart; the Roaring Grill. 

Steak in a non-pub setting is something North Hobart probably lacks. However as you walk through the doors modern decor, quality glass/tableware and well presented menus signal a refined steak experience. 

We begin our meal with some grilled bread and wait for our mains meals. I decided on a 14 hour slow cooked beef short rib and AJ selected a small eye fillet. The menu has a range of sides but the Mac n Cheese, Chips and Onion Rings were our choices.

After a reasonable wait we are presented with two generous plates served with a tasty side salad in a Waldorf style. 

The eye fillet is cooked under what was requested (which I prefer) however AJ was tempted to ask that it return to the grill for a extra few minutes. My short rib was succulent. The fat was rendered perfectly, the meat flaked off the bone and was immersed in a rich seasoned sauce.

The sides were perfect; crunchy fries and onion rings and some creamy and buttery mac n cheese that rounded off the meal.

Service wise, it was clear that some staff are yet in training. However the venue staff are mostly interested in their craft and show genuine enthusiasm about the menu offerings.

The drinks list is extensive, the desserts also impressive. We didn't launch into this area of the menu but will be back to give the Roaring Grill some further testing.