The Emerald Epsom — Restaurant in Albert-Eden

Was excited to see this new, much needed, up market venue. Arrange lunch with my hubby venue gorgeous but food a let down!

The art deco tropical deep green decor is tastefully gorgeous! I didn’t like the red fridge lamps over the dining they didn’t fit the theme and almost detracted but that’s me.

Friendly bar man greeted us and offered quick table service big tick!

Unfortunately it was the food that was the let down. I ordered the crumbed prawns and it was a bowl full 3/4 of shredded lettuce with very little flavour. A a mix of hot large crumbed prawns with cold prawns in an island sauce on top of the lettuce. It was two dishes in one - neither here nor there. My husband’s risotto was far tastier but green peas always reminds me of English pub food and I think a plain creamy risotto would be better suited with the chorizo.

The other let down was the way the staff and manager were dressed. Being a Friday, the clientele were let’s say “well-to -do” couples and professional groups but the waitress although pretty and polite was dressed like she belonged in Irish bar had a risqué top with her pants past her hips showing far more than needed leaving all the men gawking. There was no staff shirt or apron so hard to know who was staff and who was patron. A real oversight.

I couldn’t find a way to book a table and the phone wasn’t answered and website lacked information.

Will definitely be back for drinks and enjoy the...

We walked in, and the energy was weird, but the decor was nice, and the menu had looked interesting online. We ordered the ceviche, prawns, risotto and the scallops to share.

The best - the ceviche, which was quite tasty and beautifully presented, but the overpowering flavours were the seaweed salad and the wasabi mayo.

Next best, the risotto - something your Nana might have made but add fried sage and pomegranate seeds. It was nice enough.

Then we get into the weeds - the prawns were not what we expected with three fried prawns on top of a weird layered salad of lettuce, cucumber and then cold prawns in thousand Island dressing with underripe and unpleasant avocado. It was strange and once again perhaps more at home on Nana's table.

Last, the scallops which were the most expensive item and the least flavourful. The scallops themselves were beautiful, although simple. But the accompanying cooked vegetables had limited flavour and were a chore to get through.

The main concept seems to be what Nana and Granddad liked reimagined, but it is landing more in the realm of weird nursing home culinary experiments. The ceviche was the only dish not straight out of a classic Edmond's cookbook.

The cocktails were alright.

For $150ish, really...

The place is gorgeous but the food is just not there, soon as we stepped in a woman who was busy already didn’t have any enthusiasm greeting us and for a moment I questioned if we were in the right place. The food looks gorgeous and it’s the main reason we came, to try it out with the prettiness of the venue, I left disappointed I’d spent $70 on food I feel I could have made better at home. I ordered the pork for starters and scallops for main. I found the pork lacked flavour and the yellow sauce had a mustard-like taste that didn’t interest me very much, the scallops didn’t have any sauce (or it wasn’t something I could taste) and I was left with 3 amongst a bed of salad leaves and roasted vegetables with just as minimal flavour. I’m really disappointed it didn’t live up to my expectations but like I said the venue is beautiful I just wish the food...