The Atlantic - Ocean to Plate with a game to play

The Atlantic at Crown, the latest addition to Crown's monstrosity, has been in the works for a number of months but as we were told by one of the visiting managers, it was only a couple of weeks ago that it officially open. While the place looked beautiful, I do question whether it has been all smooth sailing (excuse the pun).

Even though I may call Crown a monstroscity, I am however rather curious to find out if what the Atlantic prides itself on, "a team who hand selects an unrivalled selection of wild and sustainable fish, unique oyster varieties and pristine shellfish", truly justifies the price and the hoohar surrounding its arrival. I do give it the benefit of the doubt since the intention to be sustainable is there, right?

Conclusion, overated. Quality, decent but for the price and teamed with inexperienced staff makes this over priced dining experience quite laughable. Seriously. Watching my brother get taken on a tour of the restaurant unintentionally, taking away the place setting when we were still waiting on one, placing the napkin on all laps but mine, watching bimbos juggle plates, even with all this, the piece of resistance was the game we played or rather I played. Counting the number of times dishes went back and forth from table to table, an unintentional game of musical dishes perhaps?!

This of course has nothing to do with chef Donovan Cooke. The menu is crafted with great thought and does cater for all. Those with acquired taste to cashed up bogans who not surprising will alway pick the seafood platter (at $85 per person and requiring no skill at all to cook..hmmm...). The unfortunate thing however was we had to send a plate back for it was undercooked.

On a better note, desserts were of a fine selection. Much to choose from, I wanted them all! But if given a choice, I could probably do without them, as my heart still belongs to Dai Noi.

This is a place to be seen and possibly the "green" intention is there (though I am not fully convinced). Sadly these two factors just doesn't cut it in my books. Billy Kwong can you please come to Melbourne... pretty please.