Three, One, Two, Melbourne

This was quite an interesting dining experience. Some good news, and some bad to report however. And in Melbourne, where the competition is tough, this was perhaps a disappointment.


The decor is confused, and the menu is diverse. They have a fabulous website, but it too just adds confusion to the restaurant's overall image. It seems like lots of people have had input into the creation of Three, One, Two but there is no reliable theme. The modern light fixtures and grey wall don't work with the traditional landscapes on the wall and the bread bowls on the tables. But then, that's just my opinion.


For entree we had the roast rabbit with cracked wheat pilaf, pistachio and dates, and also the smoked ocean trout with cucumber, mussels and dill. The trout was cut fairly thickly and tasted more like a confit, but it was pleasant. The rabbit was the stand-out dish of the evening however. We absolutely loved it!


For main course we had the pheasant cooked three ways with a supplement of WA truffles as recommended by the waiter, as well as the suckling pig with a sweet and sour glaze and onions. The pork was lovely and presented well with a gorgeous crackling crust. The pheasant was nice too, but nothing special. The truffles were a great disappointment and added nothing to the dish. They were not fragrant and did not meet expectations.

For dessert we also had a mixed bag. We ordered the apple confit with burnt butter ice cream and salted caramel, as well as the poached rhubarb with rhubarb jelly, vanilla custard and ginger beer sorbet. The apple dessert was lovely and the flavours worked well. The rhubarb dessert however, was presented in a bowl that reminded me of a pet bowl and it all looked a little thrown together. The taste combination was also unimpressive.


For an 8.00 pm reservation we were disappointed that we did not receive our entrees until 9.30 pm. By then we were beyond hungry and the restaurant did not appear that busy to justify having us wait so long. Lucky for me, I had great dinner company.

The overall experience left me wanting however, and in Melbourne, there are many more good dining experiences to be had.



Three, One, Two is at 312 Drummond Street, Carlton. Ph. 03 9347 3312. http://www.threeonetwo.com.au/.

the Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel, Melbourne

A great meal. Truly superb. But the service was ordinary which was very disappointing. I had been wanting to go for dinner here for so long, and it's a shame it didn't quite meet my expectations.



The food is typical French. We ate chilled white asparagus with coddled egg and vinaigrette. It was sublime. The chicken liver and foie gras terrine with onion jam was also delicious. For main course we had twice cooked quail with tajine spices and the saddle of rabbit with a rich jus. Everything was to die for.



Our cheese and desert were also wonderful. We ordered five cheese, but at first only received a plate with three. When the error was corrected, we were served four french cheeses and one local cheese. They were great. The chocolate fondant was great too, though not as divine as that at Restaurant Balzac in Sydney.

Service was slow and inconsistent. We waited a long time to be offered drinks other than water, and would definitely have ordered a second bottle of wine, given the opportunity, however it was impossible to catch the eye of the wait staff. That, and the cleanliness of the ladies bathroom made the experience a disappointment.

The Brasserie by Phillipe Mouchel is Riverside at Crown, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank. Ph. 03 9292 7808. Reservations highly recommended.