December 9, 2006: Sos

Another Outspoken Female's review and the online menu gave us due alert that at that topographic point is a lot of seafood on offer: the entree listing is roughly 40% vegetarian, the mains listing 33% veg, too all the specials were distinctly fishy.

I institute the atmosphere of SOS to last a niggling disjointed. It's really open, making the most of the summertime daylight, too ultra-modern inward design. The communal tables too placemats give a casual feel, notwithstanding the service is to a greater extent than formal, amongst the staff pulling out chairs too setting napkins on the customers' laps. While I appreciate the constant topping upward of my water, I'd experience much to a greater extent than comfortable looking afterwards my ain jug (and my ain lap). While we're at it, I'd equally good experience a lot to a greater extent than comfortable inward unlike chairs.

While nosotros perused the bill of fare nosotros were treated to our alternative of breadstuff too a shallow dish of citrus-infused olive oil. I was going alcohol-free, too was disappointed that my 'lemon squash' was nearly sure enough a tin of Lift inward a crystal-glass-with-a-lemon-peel-garnish disguise. After we'd made our decisions too returned our menus, nosotros were presented amongst tiny bites of bruschetta on crunchy, oily mini-toast.

As an entree, I ordered "warm greenish too white asparagus served amongst 'pane croccante', parmigiano too bottarga" ($17). Having since dicovered that bottarga are fish roe, I'm pretty confident that they were omitted from my dish. The asparagus were fresh, flavoursome, too a niggling firmer than my preferred texture. The creamy sauce, sliver of cheese too salty-crunchy breadcrumbs were the perfect accompaniment, but a chip to a greater extent than leafage would bring been nice. Michael had zucchini flowers stuffed amongst ricotta, amongst crispy love apple tree skins on the side.

Michael's principal class was "hand made polenta pasta amongst borlotti ragu, babe silverbeet, Roman cauliflower too truffled Pecorino" ($27). H5N1 tasty mix of textures amongst silky-soft pasta. I had "hand filled triangles of pumpkin too ricotta served amongst pumpkin puree, butter too sage sauce" ($27). The mathematician inward me protested that these weren't actually triangles, but the gastronome was good satisfied: soft sweetness filling contrasted amongst garnishes of precipitous salty cornflakes too orangish rind, all made particularly indulgent amongst melted butter.

We had enough of room for dessert, too a sly await at portions served close us confirmed that nosotros had enough of room for a dessert each. On the left is my "traditional Italian trend Zucotto served amongst chocolate sorbet too vin santo sauce" ($14). The innocent ice-creamy centre amongst lollyish glace fruit pieces was wrapped inward an extremely alcoholic layer of pinkish sponge cake. The chocolate sorbet was a potent cocoa striking amongst a hint of coffee, too non a driblet of milk or cream to last tasted. H5N1 novel too really adult summertime dessert experience for me! Michael picked the daily special, a tart amongst grapes, custard too pistachio H2O ice cream on the side.

It was sure enough worth visiting SOS to sample the upper destination of Melbourne cuisine for the get-go time. But equally vegetarians rather than seafood-lovers, the increased character of ingredients too inventiveness inward the bill of fare doesn't quite agree the increment inward toll too decrease inward constituent size. For my side past times side birthday, I'll remind myself how many Melbourne restaurants offering fabulous meat-free feasts for nether $25.

Edit 21/07/07: SOS has since unopen but creator Paul Mathis has opened a novel restaurant, the 100 Mile Cafe, inward the same location.

Address:Level 3, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne
Ph: 9654 0808
Fully licensed
Price: entrees $17-21, veg mains $27-29, desserts $13-18
Website: http://sosmelbourne.com.au/