little white truths

It's one of the more expensive mains but, again, it's totally worth it - I've had it a few times and love it to bits. The seafood is great quality and the sauce is light but still nicely flavoured, and the veggies are cooked just right.

While this dish has been taken from the menu, you can still order it (and I do) but you'll just get prawns and not the other seafood. It's still great with just prawns though!


This is what my husband the pork-belly fiend ordered: it's twice-cooked, crispy pork belly, stir fried with chili jam, onion, green beans, bean shoots and kaffir lime leaves ($22).

He loved this, and he's had a lot of good pork belly in his time so he's hard to please in that department. I personally can't stand even the sight of pork belly, but I did try the sauce and it was lovely. Nicely flavoured but not too heavy, and a good match for something as rich as the pork belly.


My parents ordered this and I'm glad they did because I'd been wanting to try it but had always opted for something more substantial. It's the spicy green papaya salad with green beans, roasted peanuts, garlic, caramelised palm sugar, lime juice and fish sauce ($14.90).

I of course tried some and I really liked it - it's a richer and more complex dish than it looks and I think my parents were glad they were sharing this and the chicken (below), rather than eating this alone. While it is as fresh and crisp as it looks, there's quite a bit going on so it makes a better share plate than it does an individual dish I reckon.


Ah, the chicken dish that my parents also shared. It's the roasted macadamia and cashew nuts, stir fried with chicken breast fillets, chilli jam and vegetables ($19.90). It's a really wonderful dish - particularly for the price - and it's one I come back to again and again.

Ten points to Ayatana for continuing to make this with chicken breast, as opposed to chicken thigh. I can't tell you how many places have started using chicken thighs in their dishes: I bloody hate that stuff because it's all fat and no meat. Which is of course why restaurants use it: it's cheaper.

I recommend this one. It's hearty but still light enough that you won't feel stuffed after eating it, just nicely full. My parents loved it too, and it's one of the few chicken dishes that Mex likes because there's enough going on to satisfy his preference for richer, heavier foods.


Atmosphere & service

The service is consistently impeccable here: efficient and friendly without being in your face, and always professional. I generally tip more at Ayatana than I do anywhere else, because they do such a good job and nothing is too much trouble.

The atmosphere is great too: it's a small, classy restaurant that does indeed feel like a wine bar, but it's not so fancy that it's a turn off. I feel relaxed every time I go in there, which is what you want after a long day.

Verdict

I won't re-hash what I said in my earlier Ayatana review because I'm guessing you get the picture that we really love this place since we keep going back there and I've taken the time to give them a second good write up.

Eat here. 'Nuff said.

Details

97 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181

+ 61 3 9533 8813
info@ayatana.com.au

Lunch: Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm only; group bookings for more than seven people required

Dinner: Monday to Sunday, 5pm until late (gotta love a joint that's open on Mondays)