Although the earthy colours of dark brown and deep reds of ElbowRoom made the 40 degree late afternoon even hotter – especially with only ceiling fans to keep the patrons cool – the interior of the restaurant/bar is truly beautiful. With half the restaurant full as well as the outdoor diners, the noise level was very pleasant and the low volume of soft easy going music wasn’t at all distracting.
The young staff were friendly and helpful but prone to forgetting to take empty glasses or bottles away. The same happened when we had finished our meals. Our meals were a good 50 minute wait, during which we contemplated leaving. We asked and were told another three minute wait.
I ordered the soy marinated salmon fillet with mashed sweet potato and bok choy ($26.50). The unesseccarily big bowl plate made the meal appear even smaller than it was. The sweet potato mash was mashed with no other flavour or seasoning from what I could taste and the two salmon fillets were served atop of the mash and petty amount of bok choy. The soy marinade of the salmon was salty and strong in flavour, complimenting the salmon very nicely with oregano flakes and other lightly tangy spice or herbs on top. The actual salmon itself had not been soaked in the marinade, and needed to be dipped in the small amount of marinade to have full flavour. The leftover marinade in the bowl had two teensy bits of mushrooms which I didn’t quite understand the appearance of, maybe an amount of marinade is pre-prepared. The salmon fillets were succulent, soft and tasted fresh – the flakes of the fillet could be easily separated with a fork. Crispy skin was left on the bottom of the fillets.
Each diner at the table received meals quite too small for their price, and the red meat eater of the table was not happy with his ordinary, hard steak – a complaint I’ve read much the same of other reviewers. Regardless, I enjoyed my meal and would order the same again. ElbowRoom is gluten free friendly and coeliac friendly. As you may know, food may be gluten free but not suitable for coeliacs. A meal may be ordered gluten free, or gluten free and coeliac. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much eating confidence at a restaurant!
