Tuesday, 20 October 2009
I have a small confession to make (yes another!). I'm a sucker for a good deal but aren't we all? More often than not, these good deals turn out to be something fabulous, made even more fabulous because it was such good value. Other times this fab deal doesn't quite turn out as well as you've hoped but really, it's not worth complaining right?
I've always been aware of Little Snail, the French restaurant located in Pyrmont that's practically opposite the NSW Maritime Museum. I didn't know so much about the food but I did hear lots of things about its budget-friendly menu. Indeed $32 per person for a three course lunch sounded fantastic on paper but is it worth anything if the food was so-so?
My problem was the fact that this has always been regarded as a 'French' restaurant but I fear that the only truly Gallic thing about Little Snail were in fact the snails or escargots that The Captain had for an entrée.
Admittedly the snails, that were marinated in wine, herbs and stock were utterly good and the potent garlic butter was pure heaven and demanded to be mopped up with bread and subsequently licked clean. I love double garlic action so I recommend you to do the mopping with garlic bread - breath be damned!
My entree certainly wasn't in the running for any beauty contests but the tastebuds were pleased all the same. A Carpaccio of Fruitwood Smoked Salmon wrapped around mixed leaves with lemon caviar aioli and vinaigrette dressing had me polishing this off in quick time and wanting more.
The mains were a bit of a ho-hum 'meat-and-two-veg' kind of meal. The Captain's Slow Roasted Lamb arrived with a port-wine demi glaze but no ratatouille as was stated on the menu. This has been replaced by plain old green beans and it was unfortunate as the ratatouille probably could've lifted this dish. Silly me for not noticing it until it was to late. That said, the lamb was tender but the mash needed about a pounds worth of butter to be sublime.
I ordered the veal tenderloin with piquant cream sauce of smoked bacon, shallots, sun-ripened tomatoes and served with glazed potatoes and another helping of those blasted green beans. Potatoes weren't so glazed but was more of a croquette of mash potato. The thin slices of veal were a tad overcooked and the sauce was pleasant enough but The Captain couldn't help but joke about the whole cafeteria vibe.
Desserts were a Kahlua Infused Chocolate Mousse and a (rather clumsily presented) Crème Caramel. And both arrived with a good squirt of that cheap, nasty whipped cream that I despise and I couldn't help but think a crème caramel served with whipped cream? Surely not?! The crème caramel lacked a lightness and smoothness in texture and the syrup was tooth-achingly sweet, while the chocolate mousse erred on the sweet side without any detection of kahlua. As a plus at least it tasted like they used good quality chocolate. But honestly, I tasted better homemade ones...and none of them were served with Cool W-hip (snicker). Forgive my moody tirade, but cheap, nasty cream that squirts out of a canister does not belong in a restaurant and only any dessert. In fact, the words cream and squirt shouldn't *ahem* even be in the same sentence.
While essentially the lunch left me a bit cold, I've learnt to just shrug it off as, well, it was cheap. Perhaps their proper dinner menu would've shown a little more than the pedestrian, quasi-French vibe that we felt at lunch today? The 80s piano lounge interior with its plastic-fantastic, green palm trees certainly didn't help.
The lesson is don't expect too much and it'd probably be a good value and enjoyable lunch and it has to be mentioned that service was great. I guess my bottom line is would I have preferred to pay more than double for authentic French fare that would've made me groan and giggle in utter pleasure (and without a can of Cool Whip in sight). My answer is a resounding yes. But that's just me.
The $32 3-course lunch special is available every day (no further discounts are allowed so no-no to the Gold Entertainment Card)
The Little Snail
50 Murray Street
Pyrmont NSW
02 9212 7512
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7 Coffee Breaks:
Oh....I'm also a bargain hunter, much to the chagrin of my husband but I succeed...and benefit :-)
I felt the same as you when I dined at Little Snail, the menu was hardly French, besides the snails (which were delicious). But it wasn't amazing, and I felt like we were sitting in a hotel lobby, did you feel that too?! Lol. We had the entertainment card, so can't really complain about the deal either.
We have snails back at home in Nigeria but they look different (large, dark-coloured shells) and are served different...not in their shells! I love them stewed and friend in peppery tomato sauce - on rice, with fried plantains! Heaven!
Oh well we live & learn. I've never been there but heard that it used to be a great place when it was located in Broadway. Totally agree with you on cream-in-a-can.
Ah, I remember this place. The Little Snail remains the excursion location of choice for French classes of all years at my high school. In fact, I did French for a year just so I could go to Le Petit Escargot for a 3 course lunch and pay only $20. But sh! you didn't hear it from me!
aww, what a pity this bargain lunch doesn't stack up! i must watch you eat snails one day... i'm terrible at pulling them out of their shells -can't do it without squirming! although once they're in my mouth its a different story... mmmmm...
I'm a French student and we're going to the petit snail tomorrow . . . it sad to hear that its not that good a place, but im not ordering the same things as you so you never know!
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