Number 8 - Melbourne - 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

My friend missed the al fresco phenomenon during the 90s and really wanted to sit outside and watch the fire up the towers at Crown casino - so we did it at Number 8.

Even though it is the middle of winter, it was warm enough.

The menu looks impressive and the food is expensive. $24 for entrees, $46 plus for mains and $20 for desserts.

But the food not so impressive.

We started with a shared platter of entrees which were ok but not great.  The calamari had lemon which tasted a bit artificial.

The whiting was fresh and well cooked but had no salt and was resting on some a black smudge of weirdness.

The barramundi was in a bed of heavily buttered sauce.

The desserts were not refined, the chocolate fondant was grainy and the pear with caramel sauce was too sweet.

The verdict - nothing special and over-priced.

The bigger verdict - full of cashed-up bogans.

Would not come back, but am planning to revive the al fresco way of life.



5/10

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