It was a dark and stormy winter’s night when I ventured to Watson to sample its latest restaurant offering. Joey’s Kitchen replaced neighbourhood favourite Carlo’s, which closed earlier in the year. The premises underwent substantial refurbishment for the transformation into Joey’s, which focuses on pan-Mediterranean cuisine from Maltese to Moroccan.
We were welcomed into a warm and brightly-lit room decorated with evocative paintings and warm hues. Owned and operated by Maltese-Australian Joey and his wife Louiza, Joey’s was a dream for the couple after working in the food and hospitality industry for many years. It’s obvious that the restaurant is a labour of love, reflecting their affection for travel and passion for Mediterranean cuisine.
Joey’s, like any true local eatery, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with cuisine that ranges from cafe fare with a Mediterranean twist, such as baked eggs on the breakfast menu to home made tortellini and aged black angus scotch fillet cooked to perfection, with burgers and fish and chips in between. The focus is to create a relaxed neighbourhood venue for family dining without compromising on quality of food.
We start with the Aubergine Tower with roasted truss tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil and aged balsamic ($16). The aubergine is tender, and the buffalo mozzarella is authentic and fresh. Each bite has a sweetness from the balsamic, but a depth of flavour from the roasted tomatoes. The Sliced 3 Acorn Spanish jamon with sun dried tomatoes, basil olive oil and grissini ($14.50) made for a delightfully simple antipasto plate with Spanish flair.
Mains come next with the Goats Cheese House Made Tortellini with king prawns, pine nuts, rum soaked raisins topped with burnt butter ($24) stealing the show. Each bite of the delicate home made pasta oozing with rich goats cheese and gleaming with butter was pure indulgence for the palate (and, let’s be honest, the waistline too). The House Aged Black Angus Scotch Fillet with sauteed Jerusalem artichoke and sage ($34) continued our indulgence, the juicy and tender scotch fillet and the Jerusalem artichokes making for an unusual but deliciously crispy and buttery accompaniment. The Moroccan Spiced Chicken Breast with warm eggplant and tomato salsa ($26) showed off the kitchen’s diversity with moist and succulent chicken breast surrounded by a hearty salsa. We also enjoyed a side of crispy sauteed peas, green beans, pancetta and asparagus with sage butter ($9.50) which is a divine way to make sure you get your greens.
The desserts we sampled were luscious and distinct- a wintry Free Form Rhubarb and Blackberry Pie served with warm vanilla anglaise ($14.50) and Zeppole – zesty Italian doughnuts in a strawberry compote ($14.50) capped off a delightful meal.
Joey’s is a cosy neighbourhood eatery that goes beyond the usual fare with its Mediterranean inspired menu, quality ingredients and decent prices in a relaxed setting. Open Tuesday to Sunday and offering breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8am till late, it’s sure to become a favourite with inner-north residents and Canberrans alike.
Photography by Chris Whitfield
