UMPH isn't sure if Cygnet's presumably eponymous Red Velvet Lounge ever actually featured such an item of furniture. Once upon a time there was a red vinyl lounge, just inside the front doors on the left, but a velvet one ...? It doesn't really matter, though, because the UMPHs are long-time fans and, like many Hobartians, really felt its absence while it was being rebuilt after last November's fire.
However, they didn't rush there the minute it reopened. It's not that they didn't want to, mind you; they had been thinking about it for a few weeks but knew that it'd be as busy as right from the get-go. Let's face it, it was always well patronised before the fire forced its eight month hiatus, so it was bound to be a huge hit once it reopened.
So, what did they think? They were certainly correct on the first count: even at 2:00 o'clock on a mild-ish Saturday afternoon it was full of lunch-time diners. Then there was a barely perceptible break between their departure and the arrival of the afternoon coffee and cake set.
The decor was a pleasant surprise, too. Fresh and bright and new but it still felt like the RVL of old.
But what of the food? The UMPHs chose to share four of the five smaller-plate offerings - seared beef tongue with beets, capers and horseradish cream; poached egg, truffled mayo and hot-smoked salmon; fish cakes with turnip remoulade and saffron mayo; and scallops, sea urchin roe tarama, roasted olives and sourdough crumbs. It wasn't that the fifth small plate - pork, chicken and bacon terrine with chutney and sourdough - didn't appeal; it was just that the UMPHs didn't want to look like total gluttons!
Each meal was a delight - tasty, well cooked and quite reasonably sized, given they were marketed up-front as being smaller-plates. That they may have been but they were more than adequate for relaxed grazing for two. The only complaint, if there was anything negative to say at all, was that the scallops arrived a bit cold.
UMPH chose a Two Bud Spur pinot noir while Mrs UMPH went for the Tinderbox version of the same varietal. And then they swapped, each having decided they preferred the other's choice. Then, just to confirm their decisions, they both had another one.
Rounding off the day was some genuinely pleasant service. Those who know UMPH will understand that he's not given to smiling, given his unfortunate resemblance to a certain annoying Ipana toothpaste mascot of the late 70s, but even he couldn't help but reciprocate the waitress' happy countenance.
U M P H.
(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).
However, they didn't rush there the minute it reopened. It's not that they didn't want to, mind you; they had been thinking about it for a few weeks but knew that it'd be as busy as right from the get-go. Let's face it, it was always well patronised before the fire forced its eight month hiatus, so it was bound to be a huge hit once it reopened.
So, what did they think? They were certainly correct on the first count: even at 2:00 o'clock on a mild-ish Saturday afternoon it was full of lunch-time diners. Then there was a barely perceptible break between their departure and the arrival of the afternoon coffee and cake set.
The decor was a pleasant surprise, too. Fresh and bright and new but it still felt like the RVL of old.
But what of the food? The UMPHs chose to share four of the five smaller-plate offerings - seared beef tongue with beets, capers and horseradish cream; poached egg, truffled mayo and hot-smoked salmon; fish cakes with turnip remoulade and saffron mayo; and scallops, sea urchin roe tarama, roasted olives and sourdough crumbs. It wasn't that the fifth small plate - pork, chicken and bacon terrine with chutney and sourdough - didn't appeal; it was just that the UMPHs didn't want to look like total gluttons!
Each meal was a delight - tasty, well cooked and quite reasonably sized, given they were marketed up-front as being smaller-plates. That they may have been but they were more than adequate for relaxed grazing for two. The only complaint, if there was anything negative to say at all, was that the scallops arrived a bit cold.
UMPH chose a Two Bud Spur pinot noir while Mrs UMPH went for the Tinderbox version of the same varietal. And then they swapped, each having decided they preferred the other's choice. Then, just to confirm their decisions, they both had another one.
Rounding off the day was some genuinely pleasant service. Those who know UMPH will understand that he's not given to smiling, given his unfortunate resemblance to a certain annoying Ipana toothpaste mascot of the late 70s, but even he couldn't help but reciprocate the waitress' happy countenance.
U M P H.
(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).
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