Phil and Jo's Cafe

Rating: 1

We ate lunch here in October 2021.

Steak and mushroom gourmet pie
Cheese and pineapple toasted sandwich
Banana cake

Options for good dining in the Plaza are limited. So far, the best we’ve found is Shamiana, and that’s not saying much. Phil and Jo’s was very popular, in fact many of the cabinet options were all gone by 1 o’clock when we arrived. Unfortunately, this didn’t prove to be an indicator that the food was good.

The pie was served in a large ramekin, with no pastry and a potato top. We assume this is what made it ‘gourmet’. While the flavour of the innards were good, and the mushrooms were distinct, it had been way overcooked causing the potato edges to be rock hard and the bottom of the filling to burn. The steak was really gristly and unpredictable. Phil, Jo, if you’re going to buy steak that bad just cut your losses and get mince instead.

The toastie was cooked alright, but the amount of crushed pineapple they used was barely detectable. Also, they obviously hadn’t wiped the sandwich press as we had a big blurt of relish from another dish cooked onto our sandwich which was unwelcome. The banana cake was pre-cut and plated in the cabinet, and was down to the last piece. It was bone dry on the outside, although the inside which hadn’t been exposed to air was okay. It had a thick layer of chocolate icing on the top which contained too much cocoa. Interestingly, it also had a layer of buttercream through the centre. As the outsides were so dry, any extra source of moisture was greatly appreciated. Had the cake not been so dry, this extra buttercream probably wouldn’t have brought much to the experience.