Machine Laundry Cafe / 12 Salamanca Square Battery Point TAS 7004 / Ph: 03 6224 9922 / $$ /12 Salamanca Square Hobart, Tasmania | Ph: 03 6224 9922 | $$ | Visit the site
A good concept will go a long way, especially if it’s executed well. And consistent. It’s hard to be consistent. Especially in restaurants, where you are a people business, dependent on people every second of the day. So if it’s been firing well, for some time, it’s hard not to become complacent. Machine Laundry Café fires.
Complacency is a killer. Going to sleep at the wheel. And here’s a red hot alert to all you great, long term cafés in the world. Please, don’t ever become complacent.
“My friends and I swished along to Machine on a Wednesday morning. Brunch. And that’s what Machine does. Really well. It’s a biggish menu, but we didn’t dither as long as usual.”
Machine Laundry Café has been slyly serving up great food for quite some time at the back of Salamanca Square. Along with a laundry. Of course. And normally the service is great, friendly with a smile, they’ll fit you in if they can, and food comes out promptly. And the food’s good.
Caramelised onion fritters
My friends from Adelaide, Josh (and beautiful lady, Helen), were swished along to Machine on a Wednesday morning. Brunch. And that’s what Machine does. Really well. It’s a biggish menu, but we didn’t dither as long as usual. I couldn’t go past the Fat Boy, $17.5 – a ‘roti bread wrap with grilled chicken, bacon, tomato, iceberg lettuce and spicy peanut sauce’.
One word. Sublime! OMG. It was mouth drool. Is that even a thing now? Anyway, it is in my book. The roti was fresh, and the combination, perfect. Josh had the Parmesan, Caramelised Onion and Spinach Pancakes, served with a tomato oil pickle, and Helen? Helen loves a sanga, so it was a done deal. The Slow Roasted Lamb Sanga with garlic aioli, beetroot hummus and dressed rocket, both $16.
A big fat boy
Glad the rocket was dressed. But, I prefer it naked myself. They use the Pigeon Whole Bread, which is seriously always on the money, and long may they reign in bread heaven. And the food, as always, was terrific. The service, this time. Great. But I have heard whispers that it’s not always the case.
And that’s the issue here: as a member of some terrific food groups, I am always interested in hearing what others are experiencing, and more often than not, I’m getting the impression that service is not always on the money with almost every damn outlet in this town.
And we’re loyal. As Hobartians, and citizens of the world, we’ll support a good place with our wallets and our crowds. But it’s hard to be consistently supportive when it’s not reciprocal. So to all you waiters out there: when you’re on duty? Do your best! Support the hand that feeds you, and remember – that’s your pay check, and so are the customers.
We know you are not Michelin!!! There are no Michelin starred restaurants in Australia, by the way, and that will be a discussion later, but we do expect a bit of friendly, and a bit of civility. And if you can’t give that – which is your job, then go! Do something else. I would love to swear here, but small children might eventually read this.
So for us? That day? The sun shone, the food was damn good, and the service and surroundings? On the money. Machine? Keep the wheels turning and we’ll keep turning up. It’s that simple.
