Table Forty Three - Lunch
• By Tuan Nguyen
The work crew headed over to Table Forty Three at the Mantra Pandanus Hotel for a birthday lunch last Friday, the boss indicating that the food and ambiance was good. Works for me seeing as it was a 50m walk. I'm sure getting lazy in my late twenties – turning 28 soon! A quick look around reveals a very modern and classy interior, but the lunch menu is still thankfully priced at a level us plebs can afford. There's a $15 express section with the usual fare and also a European inspired section "for those with a little more time" ($15-$30).
Our group was the first to arrive and we quickly got our orders taken by the staff. Even though there were orders from both sections of the lunch menu, all the dishes arrived at the same time. Personally, I would have been quite content chowing down first whilst the others looked on in pure hunger. But that's just me ;) My "open beef burger" was quite nice. The pattie was very tender and flavorful and the onion relish was a beauty with its hint of nacho sauce flavour. It could have been more generous with the chips, which were a little limp I might add, but overall not bad for $15. I'm still trying to figure out where the "open" part comes from, I guess you have to open wide to eat it...
Heather: The saganaki (big hunk o' fired greek cheese) was delicious, although the ratio of cheese to accompaniments (roasted red pepper, crusty sourdough bread) was way out. Too much cheese and not enough of anything else...I never thought I'd utter the phrase 'too much cheese', but there you have it! Still, proportions aside, everything was tasty and well prepared. I had to ask for my drinks order rather than being offered, but the wine list looked pretty decent once it came, although I decided to opt for the soft stuff in the end, so can not confirm.
Emma: I agree with Heather though I would have liked some apple, pear or other fruit to balance out the very salty cheese. The roasted capsicum was a nice sweet balance however there wasn't much of it. I felt very bloated and a tad sick after lunch - I feel much better since I ate an apple to break up all that cheese! It could have been a brilliant dish if they got the quantities right. I LOVE cheese but I have to admit, staring at a big wedge of it on your plate is more off putting than I anticipated!
Corey on his parmigiana: Top three chicken parmigiana in Darwin. Overall very impressed with the lunch offering at Table Forty Three. A little bit of class, decent-ish prices and table service equals a hidden gem.