Domaine

No, not a domain as in a park, but Domaine the restaurant on Victoria street in Hamilton. One of my favourite restaurants, which I unfortunately don't frequent as much as I'd like.

Fortunately, they are open on a thursday night, and despite the Fieldays, we could still get a table.

The eye fillet was pretty good, but the prosciutto and kikorangi rosti was a true winner. An excellent tasty meal, with room for brulee. 8/10.

Dinner and Drinks at House

When you're not eating and drinking at home - you could go to House (on Hood street).

House is one of my favourite haunts, as they seem to sell every fine ale there is, and have a brilliant chef. On the cards yesterday where a variety of ciders, and indeed a tasty main of Lamb rump, with bacon, beans and spuds - the perfect thing to soak up that alcohol. I'd give their effort last night a 9/10, which is consistent with my previous visits.

House on Hood, Hood Street, Hamilton - Jan 2011

Of course, Hamiltonians will probably remember the venue as the loaded hog - it's gone a long way upclass since then, and it's certainly a change from the buildings' first life, as a hotel:

Hood Street, 1939

Fetch Espresso Bar

I like a good coffee as much as the next guy - but dislike a bad coffee more than most.

Thankfully, there is a new coffee bar in town - Fetch espresso, which sits on the ground floor of the Ibis hotel next to Claudelands bridge. Finally, a decent spot to grab a long macciato, a proper one, stained with milk.

I've been here a few times this week - and certainly recommend this place.

Fetch Espresso Bar - Hamilton, New Zealand - April 2011

The Cyprus Tree

I pride myself on having been to most Hamilton restuarants, and being able to give a run down on what's hot, and what's not. Having said that, there are always a few places I haven't been before. Tonight's example, the Cyprus Tree in Hamilton East.

The last time I was here was when this building housed Zigilini's, which I remember well as I used to go there as a student as the laundromat was next door.

The Cyprus Tree, Hamilton East - 2011

The Cyprus Tree offers quite authentic Italian food, with great diversity in the menu items available. My choices, a garlic bread with pear and blue cheese (really good, but way too big), and, Bistecca - Scotch Fillet on a bed of mushroom and blue cheese risotto, rocket, and topped with caramelised onions.

The Cyprus Tree, Hamilton East - 2011

The risotto was to kill for (I'm pretty sure there was truffle oil in there), and the steak prepared exactly as I'd hoped for. 9/10 for that meal - I'll happily return many times to this restuarant.

Victoria Street Bistro

The Victoria Street Bistro (on Victoria Street) opened today - the old Maître d' and chef from 1ZB run the joint. What did I have? Beef Cheek - or is that cheeky beef?. The menu describe it is as "Slow Braised Beef Cheek with butter whipped potato mash, manuka smoked bacon, mushroom, a pickled pearl onion and jus" - and that is exactly what it is - tasy bacon and beef, on perfect mash (which, if I detect correctly, has truffle oil) and a perfect texture. Attention to detail was mostly there - even a rather snack-worthy valute - tomato and capsicum soup! Overall, very worthwhile 9/10.

Minsokchon Korean resturant

Should someone ask me what the ultimate cheap place to eat in Hamilton is, there can be only one answer - Minsokchon on Bryce Street. Three of us shared a share entree, had a main each, and an alcoholic drink each, for $60 all up!

Minsokchon - Bryce Street, Hamilton

The restuarant is what I assume to be a traditional Korean eating house / bar (based on movies like Old Boy), where both food and drink is cheap and plentiful. My meal consisted of: Dumplings followed by Korean BBQ style beef, with a nice Plum Wine to drink, and of course, all served with the usual 4 side dishes and rice.
In the sub-$15 mains category of restuarants, this is one of the best Hamilton has to offer - just be careful to look at the photos to ascertain exactly what you'll get to eat.

Minsokchon - Bryce Street, Hamilton

Overall, I'd give this place an 8/10 - excellent value for money, and great oriental cuisine (assuming you like non-kiwi-ised asian food).

In search of decent Fish and Chips

Fish and Chips are great, with one caveat - they must be made properly. Otherwise they are god-awful.

Over the last few months I've put up with a lot of the later - the problem is, the Seafood Bazaar in Rototuna was sold - to people who don't know how to prepare fish, nor chips!

I may have found a replacement - the Provincial Chip Co in the Cambridge Road shops in Hillcrest. (The premises used to contain Hillcrest Fish Supply, which wasn't bad either).

Sorry, no photos because the weather tonight is awful - a cyclone is rolling in - but the place is small and tidy, and very clean (easily the cleanest fish and chip shop I've EVER been in), and sells chips, a variety of fish, and a few gourmet-ish burgers and the like. I've only ever had the fish and chips here though.

My snapper was nicely crumbed, and the chips are real hunks of potato (none of this re-constituted rubbish), and everything was deep fried as you would expect, but most importantly, left to drip - you won't find grease on the paper or cardboard the chips came wrapped in.

Add some tomato sauce (or my preference, mayo), and you're set. If you're looking for a fish and chip shop in Hamilton, this place is worth the drive across town. 8/10.

Mexico Mi Das - Finally a mexican restuarant

I've been saying for years that Hamilton needs a decent Mexican restuarant. Panchos does not count (Old El Paso from the supermarket is better).

What I had in mind is either a restuarant proper like Flying Burrito Brothers or a takeway type joint like Mad Mex or Burp Burritos.

Mexico Mi Das is neither of those - but certainly a good addition to the Hamilton scene.

To get to Mexico Mi Das, follow this sign from either Hood Street or Victoria Street into the Marketplace. The restuarant is located in the premises that once contained Al Dente (between the Outbook and Cullens).

Mexico Mi Das Restuarant Sign, Hamilton

Mexico Mi Das Restuarant, Hamilton

The restuarant has a feeling of cognigitive dissonance. It seems as though it's proprietors have leased everything that was part of Al Dente, and spent very little over and above. The result is a restuarant with nice tables, and cardboard plates!

Now, don't get me wrong - this is not a restuarant that needs to compete with the likes of Palate, or even Jaipur Indian. The most expensive item on the menu is $12.50 - so price wise, you need to compare Mexico Mi Das to the other options in this price category, the likes of BurgerFuel, Kebab Selateen and Subway. In this context, Mexico Mi Das delivers.

The menu is basic, and the portion sizes modest, but the food is well prepared. I had a Grande Barbacoa Beef Enchilada served spicy (err, Hot Tamale). "Grande" here is nomenclanture for "main-sized", while "Puqueno" is snack sized. Puqueno is really only suitable for a light lunch. Make sure you order Grande for dinner, especially as Mexico Mi Das does not offer entrees, sides or desserts.

Mexico Mi Das does not appear to have a liquor license, not that that's a bad thing - hopefully this will come with time. They do offer a good selection of non-alcoholic beverages. Hopefully this will come with time.

It seems to me that Mexico Mi Das is a restuarant opened by entreprenuerial newbies - and I do like supporting an underdog. The menu could do with more diversity, and the serving sizes could be gotten more right, but, I see the potential here. I hope to return to Mexico Mi Das, and one day, find proper plates and a full menu, to be enjoyed with a tasty margarita or mojito. One can but hope...

Overall, I give the restuarant 6.5/10 - Cheap and Cheerful - good in the way that a Mexican restuarant not run by Mexicans can be...