“Kitchen! More chips please!” shouted the man serving us. At 12 o’clock, its crowd was busier than ever. A new eatery has sprung up in the quieter end of Northbridge near my former workplace. From the outside it just looks sensational. Its monotone interior of black and white is very modern and inviting. More importantly, the prices are quite affordable for the gourmet salads and roasts that looked rather healthy. For between $12-14 you could get a meat of the bain-marie with 2 sides which includes a variety of salad and chips!
But can the food sitting under the scorching food lamp maintain delicious as the restaurant serves crowds of different times? That was what my ex-colleagues and I were about to find out.
The chicken schnitzel ($12.50) topped with gravy came with a side of chips and steamed vegetables. For me the chicken was just yummy. It was still crunchy and its batter was more than just flour. It had various herbs which made it a tantalizing bite. The chips were pedestrian and for most parts could do with an extra pinch of salt. As for the steamed vegetables, the cauliflower florets and carrots were cooked spot on but the broccoli flowers were very mushy. To the extent that my friends felt that it was squirting out buttery fluid.
We also had another one called the Peri Peri Nice Chicken.
The chicken here was a little below par compared to the schnitzel. I suspect that the chicken was a little over-roasted and having it sit under the heat lamp for so long only meant that it was still cooking while waiting to be eaten. The sides we choice were similar to the one we had with the schnitzel.
The pulled beef with chips and Greek salad.
This one had decent consistency, not melt in your mouth but still soft and tender. But for me, one of the beauties of pull pork is how the meat absorbs all the lovely juices and marinade that it is cooked in. This one here could do definitely with more flavor.
Looking at the food on the bain-marie. It was all a little bit of a hit and a miss. I loved the schnitzel but desired less of the Peri-Peri Chicken. As for the pulled beef, that would probably fit better on the $9.50 roll option done with philly cheese, salt n’ pepper. We also ordered a crispy pork belly which was actually pretty damn good. But then, why would I eat here again if it is like any other take away? That is because it is not like any other take-away. 
As my friends and I were dissatisfied with the options on the bain-marie, we decided to call something else to share. This time around, we ordered a $17 open-steak sandwich from the kitchen. Here it was simple. You get a delicious and hearty slab of scotch fillet cooked to medium with crispy bacon. Definitely one of the crispiest in town. Caramelised onions and barbecue sauce finished the sandwich with a bang. Chips came out warmer as the lunch crowd had dispersed and we were one the last groups left. From this humble sandwich, we all agreed that things are better when made fresh from the kitchen, not things cooked prior and left out to dry. With a range of burgers and food cooked fresh to order like the steak sandwich, chicken parmi and salmon, the premium paid over the typical lunch fare is definitely worth the extra buck!
For this reason alone, if you work in Northbridge but find crossing over to the city too much of a hassle, drop by The Cutting Board Eat House to try their food! But beware, Jus Burgers is just around the corner. I have not found many burgers that can beat Jus Burgers.
WenY
