Food Review - Mez Mediterranean

As per our usual weekly outing, we again used the EB as a guide and high-tailed it to Mez Mediterranean in Northbridge. And let me say, what a different experience this was. The staff were friendly and very helpful and the meals were not only delicious but came in huge portions.

Jane, Mei and I went together and met up with Scott, Sujay and Nesha. I had already decided that I was going to have the lamb kleftiko so for once, I didn't even really look at the menu. Next to arrive was Su and finally Matt. After we had all ordered, our waitress came back to let us know that since there were quite a few of us, we'd have around a 30 minute wait, so would we like to order some starters?

I ordered us a serving of garlic pita and chunky chips, while Su took the opportunity to change her order. Unlike at Julio's where a serve of garlic bread was a miserable 2 slices of bread, we got more than enough garlic pita for the table and a huge portion of chips. Both were excellent (despite the pita dripping in oil - but well worth the calories as it was warm, garlicky, salty and just yum).

All our meals came out around the same time, except for Sujay who had ordered a vegetarian moussaka. It took an extra 7 minutes or so but they came and apologised for the delay, saying they had mixed up the order. We were all very impressed that they had come out to let us know that they had made a mistake. Then the proprietor offered Sujay a free drink for keeping him waiting; again we were very impressed.

While all of us all enjoyed our food (my lamb was tender and oh-so succulent), very few managed to actually finish our meals, due to the more-than-generous portion and us pigging out on the starters earlier on (not to self: do not have entrees the next time we go). Jane once again had prawns and this time, she had at least 10 on her plate, for considerably cheaper than what they had charged at Julio's. I tried one and I can say that they were cooked to perfection.

When the time came to pay our bill, I presented the staff with my EB card, whereupon they are supposed to scratch off their corresponding number. however, we were told that they wouldn't scratch the number off, so that we could get another free meal the next time we go. Now that's service!

Would I go again? Hell yes! The food was awesome and the service also very good. Okay, so now I know not to order too much, but on the whole, I prefer places where you leave feeling like they really fed you, rather than leaving a restaurant feeling hungry.

Food Review: Julio's

Last week a group of us dine at Julio's in West Perth. We dine out weekly and given that our current copy of The Entertainment Book (EB) is going to expire come end of June, we've been trying out places listed in there. Last week, we had a few options and finally decided to try Julio's as the menu looked very good. Butm, as the old adage goes, looks can be deceiving.

I will not go into minute details, as I have already written a review for the EB website. Unfortunately, while the EB accepted my rating for Julio's, they did not choose to include my review itself. I noticed later that the only review they did include, also had the most favourable ratings to go with it. Makes you wonder, does it not?

Anyway, Jane (who is the friend in question in my review) said I should blog about my experience and since I had also sent her a copy of my review, I've attached it here.


Food - 3
Service - 4
Atmosphere - 6
Review - "I rather liked the atmosphere of Julio's; the dark wood floor along with white walls and framed pictures gave it a bit of a French feel. However, the food was sadly lacking.

I had the grilled mushrooms for entree and while it was very tasty, it was nothing amazing and it was easily something I could also have done at home. I (and a friend) had ordered the fettucine with Morton Bay bugs for my main but was told that they were out of bugs and would be substituting it with prawns.

My friend had ordered the prawns as an entree and said she'd like to change the entree to the calamari. However, she was still brought prawns as her entree as the waitress had mixed up the order (we were later again brought the wrong meals). Our pasta was over-cooked and very bland. And we got 4 prawns each with our pasta. I thought this a very pitiful attempt, considering the prices charged.

No one came by asking if we would like fresh pepper or if the meals were okay. When we left, no one (despite me catching their eye) thanked us for coming. I would definitely not go back and neither would I recommend this to anyone. "

It was a shame really. The place had great potential; I really liked the way it had been set up and as I said, the menu looked wonderful. They just need better staff, certainly a better chef and they need to not penny-pinch with their ingredients (Morton Bay bugs aren't exactly cheap and if your dish reflects this price, you can't really expect that 4 measly prawns - that weren't exactly cooked to perfection either - be a sufficient substitute).

To reiterate, NEVER going back there again, and I highly discourage anyone else from doing so.

Caturday once more

I just came across this link earlier on today. Its a clip from 'news' show A Current Affair. I saw 'news', because the topics they discuss are sometimes debatable as to being truly newsworthy. Anyway, in this particular episode, they talked about cats being put under curfew, that is not being allowed to wander about out of the house.

Some people were of the opinion that cats should be locked up and there were some who obviously though it was cruel and unnatural. Here's the thing, by using the term "locked up", they don't give a very clear picture as to whether cats are to remain in the house, or have to be put in specific enclosures. If it is the latter, then yes I agree that its not at all fair on the cats. but if it is the former, then I don't really see the problem with it.

Cats that have never been out will not really know what they're missing. Yes, if a cat has been used to roaming outside, it will absolutely hate being cooped up indoors all the time. But if like mine, they have grown up strictly as indoor cats, they will not mind at all.

I understand that cats left to run free might go and kill wild birds and small animals. But that's what they do; they're predators. What I don't understand is that people will make such a big issue out of cats killing a small amount of wildlife every year and yet utterly condone the inhumane conditions of animals bred for farming or for their skin (leather). I won't say that I wholeheartedly support cats killing little animals and birds, I would rather they do not. But I know not everyone has the luxury of being able to keep their pets indoors.

I could never let my kitties out of the house. Not so much because of what they might do, but because of what might happen to them. Plus they sleep on my bed and walk all over my pillows and there's no way I'm going to have the outside tracked in all over my face, thank you very much.