If only I didn’t have to go back to work I could have spent all afternoon sitting in the open and airy Glass House Café.
As we entered for lunch, smiles were thrown our way by several waiters on their way past with plates of food and we were greeted like long lost friends by the maître’d. Immediately shown our table, we were greeted by enthusiastic waiters, with plates of food in hand, he introduced himself and told us about the menu.
Three dishes were presented to us, one after the other, each dish chosen to complement the weather and time of day.
First up was chicken breast strips with rocket and pesto salad served with cherry tomatoes and a crisp parmesan basket. Instantly I was struck by how well presented the meal was. It would have been easy to lay the chicken on a bed of lettuce and drizzle pesto over it – certainly would have helped for busy periods and large groups – but instead time was spent making sure the dish looked stunning (and I checked, everyone in the restaurant who was eating this dish had it presented in the same manner – they weren’t playing it up for the review!).
The next dish to come out was a chicken risotto with spinach, mushrooms, semi-dried tomatoes, peas and just a hint of mint that gave it an intriguing and unique taste. The chicken was cooked excellently, a nice surprise as chicken in risotto generally ends up tough or over cooked. There was a lot going on in this risotto, all of it pleasing to the tastebuds and (again) the eye. The rice itself was also cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of texture that is so elusive in risottos.
The final dish was seared prawn tails with sautéed Asian vegetables and a sweet and spicy dressing. The combination of flavours in this dish was delicious, with the slight heat from chilli and an after taste of ginger really standing out. The vegetables on which the prawns were carefully laid were cooked through with a decent crunch, and really complimented the flavours in which they were sautéed.
The staff couldn’t do enough to accommodate us and found that magic balance of checking on our progress without crowding us or treading on the conversation.
The Glass House Café has a decent menu and enough staff to get through busy periods without making patrons wait long for their meals. In the heart of the city, it is an excellent location for grabbing a bite on the run, a quick meal or hanging around and soaking in the atmosphere.
Prices for sit down meals range from: Breakfast $3 – $17.90 and Lunch $13.50 – $18.90.
For more information or to make a booking at The Glass House Café click here
