It has been a lengthy discussion for weeks if not months for a date that all of us could go to Elmar’s together. Despite all the clashes of schedules, we managed a time slot last Saturday. Upon our arrival, we were happy to see a crowded lot filling both the outdoor and indoor dining area. However, it was quite a turn off when we were asked to sit in the bar area because we did not make a reservation when just a few days ago I was told that I did not need to make one. The boastful waitress who insisted that Elmar’s is the busiest restaurant in the area did not help make us comfortable too. Nevertheless, after complaining about the little comfort the bar area had, we were given proper seats! Phewh!!
Elmar’s
The 7 of us decided to order a few dishes to share as we wanted to enjoy the different things Elmar’s had to offer. Looking through the menu, one thing was clear about the Germans. They loved their pork! Luckily enough I do not have any problems with that except on one occasion where a tour organiser hilariously thought I was a Muslim. I am tanned OK? ahaha.
Too get the best of the German’s we had to try their specialties of course. To start our meal, we ordered a few starters:
Elmar’s Cheesy garlic toast @ $8.90 for 3 pieces were a bit on the pricey side but served our tummies well! It was yummy and delicious in every bite! However, I thought that the bread was a little dry and could be more moist in the middle. But after having the garlic bread at Ikea, I decided otherwise and felt that the one at Elmar’s was more edible for sure >.<!!
Our next appetizer was probably the highlight compared to the rest :P! The potato skin despite being the least eaten part of a potato was cooked to perfection! Golden, crisp and lightly salted, I cannot be more pleased! In fact, everyone was just as pleased!
(This picture was from TheMemoir)
As for our mains, we ordered the following:
Elmar’s Bratwurst Plat @ $36.90! A trio of Elmar’s Bratwurst - Grillbratwurst, Cheese Kransky and Coarse Bratwurst, on a bed of Potato Mash and Sauerkraut, with Crisp Garden Salad with a side of Mustard! The sausages were delish and I thought that the middle Cheese Kransky one was really good. Little bits of melted cheese tucked in it made these tiny morsels of food really pleasant and a tad nostalgic considering cheese sausages were one of my brekkie foods when I was a kid back home! And to be honest, I really dislike the Sauerkraut! I think I have a lot of adapting to do! Lastly, considering the price we have paid for 3 short sausages, I felt pretty ripped off for sure. The value was somewhere but definitely not in the food. The mash itself, oh god, it has definitely been made better at home before, if not many times!!
Nevertheless, the side of Fried Potatoes with Onion & Bacon (Bratkartoffeln) @ $9.90 did not disappoint!
Although onions and bacons were absent in the picture, it was still quite ok. Not too salty but a good accompaniment compared to the Sauerkraut! lolx!
Even though we had a decent start to the meal, it was not until the Rolled Pork Belly @ $33.90 was served that I was finally satisfied! Even YiHeng though it was delicious!
Tender Pork Belly, Rolled with Honey Mustard Glaze and Elmar’s Kangaroo and Emu Chorizo, Served atop Fried Garlic Zucchini with Rosemary Potato, Beer Mustard Sauce and Homemade Red Onion Confit! While every thing on the plate was almost flawless, I felt that the sauce somehow dragged the entire dish down. The defect was not major, but it just felt lacking. Oh, and do not be worried about the kangaroo and emu chorizo as it turned out odourless with a peppery taste!
Elmar’s Specialty the Pork Shank (Schweinehaxe) @ $42.90 was meant to be the killa but turned out otherwise or hmm perhaps it did kill… our jaws.
Nothing needs to be explained here I would suppose? :P! Pickled cabbage, with the onion and bacon potatoes. Hmmm ok and the much publicised German specialty, the pork knuckle. It is a slow cooked and roasted pickled pork shank encased in a crunchy crackling. To our dismay, everything about this dish did not satisfy. Did the hype kill the dish? Perhaps so! The meet was tasteless, cracking was barely crispy and oh @.@! The crackling took ages to chew and nobody actually liked it! Fortunately, the side of mustard did add the much needed flavour missing from the meat! I came home with a sore throat and aching wisdom tooth after having this =(! 5 days after and my tooth still aches now as I type this out ahhh!!!!
Surprisingly, sharing all the food made us quite full even though we did not order a main each! While everyone decided to go to the Margaret River Chocolate factory, the little darling and I decided to end our meal here with a dessert. Below is the dessert we ordered, the Crème Brulee @ $15.
Definitely not recommended. The custard was rough, the layer of sugar was slightly thin but sufficed because the custard was no more than a centimetre thick. Could have been smoother but otherwise..! By the end of the dessert, I would have honestly preferred to do without it! $$ waster!!
Putting our cutleries down, we looked at each other and from our expressions, it was rather clear how we felt about our meal at Elmar’s. I cannot say we certainty that the food served at Elmar’s is truly German or pseudo-German. But what I can say is that Elmar’s is definitely not a restaurant where money is well spent. Despite sharing our meals, those who chose to had dessert or beer paid something closer towards $30 which is quite pricey for the standard of food we were getting. If it was good, perhaps a 50 dollars would have been worth it. But not this time around. One thing we have learnt well though, that is do not get your hopes up high just because the radio plays a restaurant’s commercial too often!
WenY
