St. Albi Bar & Eatery — Restaurant in Hobart

We were recommended to try St Albi by a lovely man named James at Karwosh in Derwent Park (shout out to him for the suggestion!). He mentioned that the restaurant was a bit pricey but assured us it would be worth it, and he was absolutely right!

We called to make a reservation on a Sunday night, and the person who answered the phone was super friendly, which was a good sign. When we arrived, we found St Albi nestled in an inconspicuous lot in a quiet part of the city. There were a few diners at around 5:30 PM, but it quickly started to fill up during our dinner.

I kicked things off with a Bloody Mary and a plate of freshly shucked Tasmanian oysters. The Bloody Mary was well-seasoned and flavorful, even though it wasn't spicy, making it a perfect accompaniment to the silky, soft oysters.

For the main course, I had the Thai beef salad, and let me tell you, it was the best beef salad I've ever had! The beef was hot, the salad was warm, and everything was incredibly fresh and well-seasoned. The sweet soy dressing was a delightful touch. Unlike most cold beef salads, this warm version was a pleasant surprise and a decent portion size.

My partner opted for the double beef and bacon burger with fat chips. The burger was perfectly sized, full of flavor, with a nicely toasted bun and a thick, juicy patty. We also couldn't resist ordering a side of duck fat potatoes, which were amazing—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, though we wished there were a few more!

The establishment itself has a warm industrial look and is aesthetically pleasing. I also noticed an upstairs area that would be perfect for events.

Overall, I highly recommend visiting St Albi if...

Very spacious and retro-industrial look is on point. The heating was a much welcome accompaniment; I even had to remove my coat half way through our meal. We were seated promptly and left for an appropriate amount of time to catch up with our dear friends. Drinks orders were taken and we were supplied with the specials of the day and the food menu. We ordered: ENTREE Seafood Chowder Lemon Pepper Squid Three Cheese Arancini MAINS Braised Beef & Bacon Pie with creamy mash, mushy peas & traditional gravy Slow Cooked Lamb Shank with blistered cherry tomatoes, spiced carrot puree, carrot chips & sauteed silverbeet Beef and Bacon Burger with albi mac sauce, american cheese, lettuce, sliced onions, dill pickles, fat chips & house ranch Signature Eye Fillet BAKER, 250gm eye fillet pocketed with shadows of blue cheese and duck fat potatoes and sauteed broccoli. Overall the holistic experience was above par. Great ambience, comfortable seating, extensive drinks menu, but not overdone with too many options. Prices were a little more than I expected, but it was quality food and service The only drawbacks - 2 1 - Seats were too close together, to the point where I could hear our neighbours conversations clearer than at our table 2- no acoustic buffering at all, so no good to anyone with hearing difficiencies or tinnitus.

We'd go again, but for more of a special occasion opposed to my...

Went the for lunch on 17FEB. Good tasty food and plenty of it. 3 people three dishes. Stuffed chicken breast, the double beef burger and the Beef and Bacon pie and a side of Duck fat potatoes.

The pie was terrific. Nice pastry, chock full of filling to the point it was almost a little dry. But hey, less gravy, more beef and bacon so win-win!

My son said his burger was amazing and the first time he couldnt eat one.

The stuffed chicken was apparently a touch dry, so I tried it and it was fine. At the end of the day its breast and its never truly moist. The fetta and sun-dried tomato stuffing was lovely as was the house slaw.

The duck fat spuds were goods. You can't beat potatoes cooked in animal fat. The flavour is always amazing and spuds in veve oil don't even come close. Might be healthier, but duck fat every time😀

Now to the negatives. I love the industrial/brutalist ambience, but it's ruined by the chairs. The thin hard backrests were the most uncomfortable chairs I have ever sat in. Couldn't lean back for any length of time without pain. It felt like trying to lean against a horizontal broom stick. And the time between entree and main course was somewhat long at a time the restaurant was maybe 25% full when we walked in. The wait between courses was made interminable by the chairs.

Overall we had a very good lunch, but I wish that the chairs were more...