1 July 2007

Lookout Cafe - Red Hill - Mini review

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For those who have not heard, the new cafe has finally opened (6-8 weeks ago) at the Red Hill lookout. Named – appropriately – The LookOut Bar & Cafe.

Open Wednesday to Sunday at the moment – Planning 7 Days once the weather warms up. Throwing caution to the wind, SWMBOB and I walked up for lunch on Friday. Parking is not a problem given the size of the area! Having taken over the ground floor, with views predominantly to the north – over south Canberra and the lake, the situation is great on a clear day. Tables are available outside and in. I can see it as a great place for evening drinks in summer – maybe for the fireworks too!

At present, there are 2 menus: one available until around 5 pm and another predominantly after 5 (although they will serve from it earlier on request). Closing time around 8pm. There is also a drinks menu.

We started with a Kia Royal – $7.50 each. There was also a selection of spirits – $5.50, as well as wine by the glass (reasonable selection), beers, cider and soft drinks. Over all, the alcohol was cheaper than I have come to expect. Food- a selection of pies (on the specials board) salads, toasted croissants, open face sandwiches, breakfast staples etc. The “evening” menu consists of finger food – meat balls, spring rolls, chicken wings and dipping sauces and so on.There are no pretensions to restaurant status, more a Tapas approach to go with the drinks. Upstairs is being refurbished, and will presumably be let as a restaurant (again….)

You order at the counter, but food is brought to the table. Presentation is simple but good, and the food fresh. Salads clean and crisp, smoked salmon delicious and the bread tasty. Coffee was excellent.

I was surprised to see many tables taken at lunch, which I think bodes well for the future and perhaps some consistency.

Overall, we were quite impressed. A good spot for lunch or an evening drink and nibbles. Worth a look.

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colourful sydney racing identity said :

wow – two newbies posting negative comments about a business reviving a thread that has not been posted on for almost two years I call shenanigans.

You read my mind.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

wow – two newbies posting negative comments about a business reviving a thread that has not been posted on for almost two years I call shenanigans.

But if you start a new thread, there’s a load of responses that the subject was covered previously and include the link. My guess is the newbie look for other reviews and found this one.

colourful sydney racing identity4:08 pm 17 May 10

wow – two newbies posting negative comments about a business reviving a thread that has not been posted on for almost two years I call shenanigans.

i would say the food wasn’t that bad but the service was aweful. i had to wait far too long and didn’t get treated how any person should be treated. a little equal customer service would be nice and some manners, no matter what you look like what you wear or what colour or race you are.

a brown aussie2:30 pm 17 May 10

maybe you got surved by someone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

colourful sydney racing identity2:07 pm 17 May 10

a brown aussie said :

I was disgusted at the owner and staff members that were working on the 16/5/10. As I entered the cafe I noticed it was busy, but not excessively so. I stood with a friend of mine, waiting to get a table for two. As we stood there, the cashiers continued to serve people lined up behind us, who were paying for their meals. He did not once look at us. We waited patiently for 10 minutes whilst he kept calling people from behind us forward to pay. I can not belive how disgusting this ‘service’ was. Once he had finished serving all the customers, he went on to make coffee, continuing to ignore us. We waited 15 minutes all up and still got no attention. After this time I became fed up and walked away. I do not look like someone off the street, I was a paying customer and he did not look at me once to ask what i was after. I was apalled at the staff members manners and services. I have to wonder whether my ethnicity was a problem for them.

And you call yourself ‘a brown aussie’ sure you are not trying to sling some mud.

I have only had positive experieinces there even at a dinner party with some *gasp* ethnic looking people.

a brown aussie1:13 pm 17 May 10

I was disgusted at the owner and staff members that were working on the 16/5/10. As I entered the cafe I noticed it was busy, but not excessively so. I stood with a friend of mine, waiting to get a table for two. As we stood there, the cashiers continued to serve people lined up behind us, who were paying for their meals. He did not once look at us. We waited patiently for 10 minutes whilst he kept calling people from behind us forward to pay. I can not belive how disgusting this ‘service’ was. Once he had finished serving all the customers, he went on to make coffee, continuing to ignore us. We waited 15 minutes all up and still got no attention. After this time I became fed up and walked away. I do not look like someone off the street, I was a paying customer and he did not look at me once to ask what i was after. I was apalled at the staff members manners and services. I have to wonder whether my ethnicity was a problem for them.

And their seafood chowder is fantastic, best I’ve tasted! That was just over a year ago though, so don’t know if they still do it…

poached eggs,.. fresh organic eggs slid into barely simmering water with a bit of white wine vinegar (i find bubbles tend to break up even the freshest egg whites). trial an error for how long you leave them in although i go for about 5-6 mins and get a consistently good result. Firm egg whites and the yolk is only just starting to set on the very outside.

…I still get a certain glow on the inside making restaraunt grade eggs benny and espresso …

OK – Group BREAKFAST at Danman’s place this Saturday – who’s in? 😀

Woody Mann-Caruso12:27 pm 03 Jul 07

Any tips for the perfect poached egg, Danman?

Shab – this is true – but I still get a certain glow on the inside making restaraunt grade eggs benny and espresso for a fraction of the cost – then I can sit on my deck overlooking the whole of gunghalin valley (views clear to civic on a good day) read the paper drink, eat and send MMS’s of what I am eating to jealous benedict loving friends who pay $18 a serve.

Meconium – 🙂 may your liquor stay clear.
BigDave – Sorry to hear your hamster has died 🙁
Mr Shap – Eggs Benedict mmmm, Newspaper..mmmm, Mrs Shap …mmmm um I mean hmmm? “…and let some other poor schmoe do it for me these days…” kinda like sex IMHO 😀

You can’t talk shit about anybody Big Dave, your rapping is wack son

http://www.myspace.com/bigdaveemcee

I’m sure, like me, you’ve banged out enough eggs benny for two lifetimes Danman. ‘Sides, I’d rather sit reading the paper and chatting to Mrs Shab and let some other poor schmoe do it for me these days.

meh eggs benedict – make it at home 😛

BTW – the new owners are the guys who used to own the wine bar/wood-fired pizza joint at the Yarralumla shops. I liked their food there, and I’m happy to see them back in the trade. I went there a couple of weeks back for breakfast, and had some distinctly above-average eggs Benedict, and a tops cup of coffee. I’d recommend it.

Geeze Dave – trolling much?

Don’t worry. Those “pretentious arseholes” will be hidden away at the top of Red Hill, so as not to offend your delicate sensibilities. Now hop along to Dickson Maccas and feel at home with the other bogans.

Ahh great…just what we need. Another place for Canberra’s bunch of pretentious arseholes to be seen in.

Yimmvie?

(don’t worry, I know what YMMV means… I just couldn’t find SWMBOB on urbandictionary, but SWMBO is there)

Sure – SWMBO if YOU prefer – I always used SWMBOB ( I find “swimbob” more palatable to pronounce than “swimbo” – YMMV)

Yeah I’ve only seen it as SWMBO too, it’s common in the armed forces because of the plethora of acronyms and abbreviations used in defence to represent organisations and people (eg “The CDF said the other day…”)

Woody Mann-Caruso10:31 am 02 Jul 07

It’s usually SWMBO, without the last B. Made famous in recent times by Rumpole of the Bailey, who referred to wife Hilda as She Who Must Be Obeyed. This, in turn, was a reference to She by H Rider Haggard.

SWMBOB*……. She Who Must Be OBeyed 🙂

As for opening times – hmmm – I THINK around 11am BUT not sure – will report back …..

Breakfast or brunch would be great up there, what time do they open?

And who/what is SMWBOB? Google gave me this…

http://www.mariomonsters.com/archives/media_viewer.php?id=3171

We popped up there today for a coffee, having last been a year or so ago.

The new owners seem to have done a good job of it. They’ve made good use of the small space, and it was warm and friendly.

We ordered some sandwiches and coffee. The food was prompt and well done. The coffee was a little hot, but otherwise fine. No complaints about the service.

I’d be interested in seeing what it’s like as a bar at night. I imagine the view is great, but it’s a little out of the way. We’ll check it out some time soon, I guess.

Overall, a good development for the inner south.

I’m not at all surprised that it was busy at lunch. The cafes on Red Hill have always been popular during the week.

Last time I was up there (couple of months ago), I was quite surprised to see the incredible crowd at around 7:30 in the morning. Are they still doing early morning breakfasts? It would make good sense to. I don’t think I’m the only one who appreciates watching the sun and mist rise over Canberra while eating breakfast.

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