Pure South Dining
Southgate Precinct, 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank
03 9699 4600
Modern Australian, Seafood
$$$$$
Food
- St Helens ‘Lease 65’ Oysters
- Robbins Island Wagyu Pastrami
- Handline-caught Cured Kingfish
- King Island Grass-fed Beef Cheek
- Pan Roast Huon Salmon
- Anvers Soft Chocolate Pave
- Pyengana Dairy Cream Creme Brulee
The Good
The good
It was a pleasant start with the Wagyu Pastrami and Cured Kingfish. The cold cut was sliced extremely thin and was predictably soft and tender. While the protein could’ve been more juicy, the meat was well seasoned and carried great flavour. The King fish was exceptionally fresh. Without so much as a hint of fishyness, the slight dashi sauce offered up a hint of savoury taste.
The St Helen Oysters didn’t disappoint either. The freshness was undeniable, and carried with it a creamy and flavoursome sensation without being overwhelmingly fishy.
The Mediocre
The Beef Cheek was passable, though rather unspectacular. The protein was beautifully succulent and juicy, though it definitely needed more spices seasoning to complement the beef flavour. Perhaps a red wine jus would’ve been a better accompaniment to the beef. Served alongside was the rather odd carrot puree, which was sweet and mushy, and we felt that the dish was definitely lacking in texture and crunch.
The Pan Roasted Salmon was remarkably average. Underneath the crispy skin, the inner was unfortunately cooked all the way through and made for some tougher bits than expected. The fish, like the beef, was also lacking in seasoning. Though this was more apparent on this fish as it didn’t have the necessary fattier bits to provide flavour.
We concluded the meal with a Creme Brûlée. The caramelised outer broke with a satisfying crunch, making way for a soft and rather sweet inner. The strong egg flavour was apparent throughout, though the custard was much too sweet and a tad funnier than expected.
The Bad
The Chocolate Pavee definitely missed the mark. The incredibly rich and thick, mousse-like pavee was overwhelmingly sweet. The accompanying vanilla cream did little to ease the sweetness, though the almond crumbs did offer up a nice crunch. All in all, a very unbalanced dessert that was just “too much”.
It’s evident that coffees are petty much an afterthought for this eatery, as both the Long Black and Cappuccino were equally sour and disgusting – offering no help to the sweet desserts.
The Verdict
Situated on the prime Southbank waterfront, Pure South charges premium prices for the view, and markedly averaged food.
While the ingredients were undeniably of high quality and incredibly fresh, the execution left much to be desired and definitely doesn’t warrant the price tag.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Perhaps, but only if I weren’t paying though.