BAAH LAH! Dining — Restaurant in Victoria

I had pretty high expectations for this place given the raving reviews but unfortunately it fell short for me.

Came on a weekday night and they were not super busy and the ambience was lovely. We went with the feed me menu (which give you a small bite of quite a few dishes, great for exploring) and unfortunately I found it slightly lacklustre. The cured fish was fresh, but overpowered by the strong soy sauce flavour coming from fish eggs? The potato tart was oddly bland but with a weird béchamel taste. An unexpected bite to say the least. The fried cauliflower in baos were slightly underseasoned inside as well. The fried eggplant was lovely. Shaved wagyu was outstanding, and credit where it’s due, cooked perfectly and lovely and tangy.

When the mains came, it was the seared snapper with pumpkin fried rice and tofu. Tofu was relatively standard, snapper was okay but the pumpkin fried rice was quite mushy and again bland. I was quite disappointed because it smelt great when it came out.

The saving hero for the night was the duck, which was beautifully tender, the skin fat lovely rendered down and the glaze was bold and well seasoned. The Asian greens were cooked to a standard that matched the duck breast as well.

The fried ice cream was good with the rhubarb jam aside, and the second dessert was something that I didn’t quite catch the name of. And that unfortunately brings me onto the next point:

The lady with glasses at the front was lovely. She was chatty, polite and respectful which I appreciate. The other waitress with the bright red nails were, not just on one occasion, felt like she did not want to serve us. When she presented the cauliflower, she dropped the lid of the steaming basket in such a careless manner that it tipped the sauce all over the plate. No biggie. The next few dishes she had pointed at food with her finger so closely i felt as if she was about to touch it. Again, no biggie, some people are just a bit more emotive with their hands.

When the dessert came out, she said the name of the first dish, and then half way through saying the second dish “… ice cream”, she had such a big sigh and pause that I felt like she genuinely did not want us there. I was appalled and I didn’t even want to raise an issue because this was genuinely disappointing and sad to see in a restaurant. It left such a sour taste in our mouth that I don’t think I’ll be coming back ever again.

For the same price point, I felt that I was treated better and had better experience and food in other places along this strip. I don’t mean to belittle this establishment, but I am rating on my experience and I hope they (and the waitress) was having a bad night, but it was not worthy of the 4.9 star rating they have...

BAAH LAH!!! Well, that's the mantra in my head tonight, in the most spectacular way. We had the 8 course menu, with the Tastes of Geelong Mid Winter festival dining experience. Husband and I enjoy degustation menus; we booked for this treat @$125, with matching gins from Anther Distilery. Would this even work? Well............ Nowhere other than Geelong would you ever get this pairing at this price and be blown away at every morsel. I could go into the detail still dancing on my palate as to the juniper berries in the first taste of the gin coupled with that glorious dressed fish ceviche, and the crunch/joy of the wontons; still crying over the duck with the pretty pancakes, and the love sprinkled over every dish that Brian Anderson creates. Let alone that apple dessert with the matching apple gin (all out of words, does a Homer Simpson). Service is knowledgeable and delightful. This "humble" place is spectacular in so many ways. Want to impress anyone who loves food, produce, joy of great flavours? Impress them here. Or go on the sly yourself and tell no-one. A magnificent night. (True review, from a local diner and Husband, who enjoy the great food from Geelong and regional suppliers... the Loam and Basils Farm and other exquisite nose to tail great food experiences (like our new favourite now, Baah Lah, that we get here close to home. We appreciate it....

Baah Lah Geelong West is a culinary gem that exceeded all expectations. From the moment we stepped in, the ambiance was inviting and the service friendly and attentive.

We enjoyed four small plates and shared a main. The Duck Skewers mad my tastebuds dance! They are something not to share! 😉 The Seared Kingfish was another highlight, beautifully seared to bring out its natural flavors, complemented by a delicate sauce that balanced acidity and richness flawlessly.

The Pork Loin was a revelation. Cooked to juicy tenderness, each slice melted in the mouth, showcasing the chef's mastery of flavors and techniques. The side of Coconut Rice was a revelation in itself, with fragrant coconut undertones that elevated the entire dining experience.

To finish, the Crème Caramel dessert was an absolute dream. Silky smooth with a rich caramel glaze, it was the perfect sweet ending to a memorable meal.

The attention to detail in every dish was evident, from the fresh ingredients to the artistic presentation. Baah Lah Geelong West not only delivers on taste but also on the overall dining experience. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to indulge in exceptional food in a cozy and...