THE CHELSEA

AFTER A GOOD MEETING AT SUBSTATION 4 A FEW OF US GATHERED AT THE CHELSEA (THE BARRACKS PRECINCT - PADDINGTON).  I'D RECOMMEND THIS PLACE FOR MEETINGS, THE SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE ARE GREAT - AS IS THE PARKING.

MY GOOD FRIEND ORDERED THIS ICED COFFEE AND I WAS KEEN TO HEAR HIS REVIEW!

THE I.C. WAS THE "MILK, ICECREAM, COFFEE" VERSION - THIS ONE TOPPED BY SWEET COCOA.  MY REVIEWER WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT IT WAS FAR TOO SWEET FOR HIS TASTES.  WE SUMMISED IT MUST HAVE HAD A SUGAR SYRUP ADDED TO THE MIX.

THE COFFEE WAS STRONG AND THE ICE CREAM CREAMY BUT THE SWEETNESS DID OVERWHELM THE CONCOCTION.

Rating - 6.5

LURE PADDINGTON

WE WENT ALONG TO LURE AT PADDINGTON ONE GORGEOUS SUNNY SUNDAY.

THE COURIER MAIL HAD RECENTLY REVIEWED THIS RESTAURANT AND CLAIMED IT TO HAVE "THE BEST CHIPS IN BRISBANE".

I GUESS THEN GOING TO TRY BREAKFAST WAS AN UNRELATED INVESTIGATION BUT NEVERTHELESS WE WENT - AND WERE VERY IMPRESSED BY THE AMAZING FOOD ON OFFER. ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE WAS SUPER FRIENDLY AND VERY FAST.

ALAS ALACK THE ICED COFFEE DID NOT FOLLOW SUIT.

ICE! ! BY NOW DEAR READER - YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK ABOUT THIS ADDITION.

BUT WORSE THAN THAT ! ! FRIGGIN' WHIPPED CREAM FROM A CAN ! W.T.F ?

THEN THERE WAS THE TASTE - ARTIFICIAL! SO BIZARRE THAT WE ENQUIRED AS TO HOW THEY MADE THIS BEAST.

REAL COFFEE, MILK, ICE, WHIPPED CREAM A N D . . . . VANILLA ESSENCE! AHA - COULD THAT BE THE CULPRIT? IT CERTAINLY WAS THE UNDOING OF BLACKSTAR COFFEE (SEE PREVIOUS REVIEW)

THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE WAS BLAND AND BOGAN. A COMPLETE CONTRAST TO THE BREAKFAST EXPERIENCE BEFORE US.

RATING 4