Thursday, January 12, 2012

Le Petit Bistro



Restaurant. Le Petit Bistro

Address. Ramsgate

Greeting. Pleasant

Ambience. South Coast laid back

Décor. French Bistro style Small tables with tableclothes

Menu. Small lunch and breakfast with specials. We eat the open gammon sandwich for breakfast
Food quality. Excellent.

Coffee. Lavazza.
Origin
Espresso machine. Unknown
Grinder. Unknown
Cappuccino
Size. 160 ml
Heat. Hot. .......too hot
Extraction. Well extracted
Milk
Swirl/Decant decant
Temperature. Too hot
Consistency. Thin
Biscotti. None

Bean rating


Thursday, February 17, 2011

Mastrantonio Rosebank Mall

Restaurant Mastrantonio ( Now Mastro )

http://www.mastrantonio.com

Address ; The Mall Rosebank

Greeting; Friendly greeting by staff.

Ambience; One of the older coffee establishments in Rosebank with a busy passing trade..

Décor; Corporate Italian with recognizable décor

Menu ; Impressive with large variety of cakes

Food quality; Can't comment, I had fridge cheese cake which was disappointing, not fresh.

Coffee; Gabbiano

Origin; Unknown

Espresso machine Gaggio

http://www.gaggia.com/index_en.html

Grinder; Unknown

Cappuccino;

Size We didn’t ask for a small size but the large size was just the start of the bad news Heat We had asked for the coffee not to be too hot and yet we got scalding hot !I suppose in an attempt to appease us we were served a small jug of cold milk as well ! When I asked for a smaller cup at the correct temperature the waiter was quite willing to help but only when I pointed out the size cup I wanted on top of the Espresso machine did he realise that they in fact had the size I wanted !

Extraction; No body and lacked flavour

Milk;

Swirl/Decant ; Decanted cold foam from large jug and scalding hot milk from another !

Temperature; Really bad

Biscotti;None

A place I would give a wide berth until they got the milk under control .

PJ

Bean rating ( Maximum 5 Beans )

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Munch



Restaurant: Munch (13:30 )

http://www.munchcafe.co.za/

Address: Garden Shop Cnr Jan Smuts Avenue and Bolton Road, Parktown North

Greeting: Very friendly greeting by staff even with a full house for lunch.

Ambience: A favourite with young families with children as they have free reign in the playing area while the older folk enjoy the quiet garden.

Décor: White and blue clean and cool

Menu: Small always fresh and frequently changed

Food: quality Fresh and well presented .Try the Chicken and Halloumi salad or Baked Potato and Salmon

Coffee: Tasa D'Ora La Regina dei Caffe

http://www.tazzadorocoffeeshop.com/

Origin: South American Blend

Espresso machine: Nuova Simonelli

http://www.nuovasimonelliusa.com/

Grinder: Unknown

Cappuccino

Size: We didn’t have to ask for the right size cup as the 160ml size is standard for

Munch. Bravo !

Heat: Just perfect

Extraction: Full bodied and great aroma

Milk

Swirl/Decant: Swirl and pour !

Temperature: Good

Consistency: Good

Biscotti: Yes made by the owners

A quiet and pleasant place to pass away the day .

Bean Rating :(Maximum 5 Beans)

(PJ)

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Doppio Zero

Restaurant: Doppio Zero (8:00 Sunday morning)

http://www.doppio.co.za/

Address: The Zone Rosebank

Greeting: Very quiet Sunday morning so we settled in by our selves

Ambience : Spanish music in background with few customers as we are early Sunday visitors . Best option was outside in warm morning sun.

Décor: Austere but modern

Menu: Large and impressive

Food quality: One of the best small breakfasts in Johannesburg

Coffee: Danesi http://www.danesi-caffe.com

Origin: Central and South American Blend

Espresso machine: Unknown

Grinder: Unknown

Cappuccino

Size: Had to ask for their “ Petite “ 150ml size . The usual size is 200-250 ml (Too large !)

Heat: Just perfect

Extraction: Full bodied and great aroma

Milk:

Swirl/Decant: Decanted foam from large jug !

Temperature: Good

Consistency: Good

Biscotti: Small rich biscuit ...tasty


Bean Rating:(Maximum 5 Beans)

All in all a good experience

PJ

Tasha's Melrose Arch

Restaurant : Tasha's Melrose Arch ( Friday 12:00 am )

http://www.tashas.co.za/

Address: Melrose Arch

Greeting: Very friendly greeting by owner notwithstanding the pressure of the lunchtime rush

Ambience : The wonderful noisy clammer of the mainly 20 -30 something s enjoying the start of another weekend.

Décor: All Tasha's have a theme and Melrose has the spoons !

Menu: Large and impressive

Food quality: This branch is no different to all other Tasha's restaurants and the food is fresh different and tasty. I had the Salmon Tatare which was a treat and very popular if the number of plates that kept passing my table was anything to go by.

Coffee: Danesi

Origin: Central and South American Blend

Espresso machine: Unknown

Grinder: Unknown

Cappuccino:

Size: Would be good if all restaurants asked what size you wanted and don't presume you wanted a great bowl. Got the right size when I asked . How about asking whether the customer wants Fat free, 2% or Full cream milk as well?

Heat: Just perfect

Extraction:Full bodied and great aroma

Milk:

Swirl/Decant:Unknown

Temperature: Good

Consistency: Good

Biscotti: None


Happy days good food,coffee and friends.


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Tasha's Rosebank


Restaurant: Tasha's Rosebank

Address: The Zone Rosebank

Greeting:Warm and inviting by staff and owners

Ambience : Restfully elegant with tasteful light background music

Décor: Modern New York wonderful bar and beautiful wood

Menu: Satisfying diversity to appease any palate.

Food: What Tasha's is known for.

Coffee: Lavazza Aroma (40% Robusta 60 % Arabica )

Origin: Blend of any of 50 countries

Espresso machine: Mazzocco

Grinder: Mazzocco

Cappuccino

Size: Had to ask for their “ Petite “ 150ml size . The usual size is 200-250 ml (Too large !)

Heat: On the cool side which is contrary to what I usually find.

Extraction: Under-extracted with loss of the body

Milk

Swirl/Decant: Decanted foam from large jug

Temperature: Good

Consistency: Good

Biscotti:None