Hobart Guide are proud to support the local institution Shipwright’s Arms Hotel, and they have come to the party by offering a couple of special offers to keep you warm through the winter months!

If you’re looking for accommodation, then look no further than their great Ensuite Rooms. Including air conditioning, flat screen TV, private bathroom and shower, these rooms have everything you need at a great location. Continental breakfast is also included in the room fee.

You can check out more information on their website – Shipwright’s Arms Hotel

Usually priced at $150 per night, Shippies have offered Hobart Guide an exclusive Winter Special – until the end of August 2011, you can stay for just $100 per night! A 33% discount, and amazing value considering the quality and location of their rooms.

To book, simply call Shippies on 03 6223 5551 and make sure you quote the Hobart Guide Winter Special rate of $100 per night!

But that’s not all – Shippies’ bistro is one of Hobart’s great restaurants (read our review) and they are also offering 10% off the total bill (up to $40), available any time. Simply present the Hobart Guide coupon to enjoy Shippies hearty fare at a lower price!

We thank Shippies for their support and suggest you give them a try – we know you won’t be disappointed!

Garlic bread - $5.50

On arrival, it was clear the restaurant was of a bustling atmosphere, but it wasn’t the dining that was the sole cause. Sails has an outside deck with a view straight over the bay, and it is often used for restaurant dining, however in this case it was used for a function, so our only option was to eat indoors. Considering the brisk temperature it was not a problem at all.

A look through the menu showed plenty of options for both entrees and mains – all of which can be seen on their website. We went for the old favourite garlic bread to share as we waited for our mains, which in my case was another old favourite – steak and chips.

The garlic bread was done simply, but tastefully – four decent sized pieces was spot on for us to share without spoiling us for the main. The garlic flavour wasn’t too strong and the bread was delicious. What more is there to say about garlic bread – they did it well, and it filled the spot!

Scotch fillet steak with crunchy chips and salad and a mushroom & rosemary jus - $29.50

As we waited for mains, one thing that struck us was the number of people walking from the deck outside, through the restaurant to the bar. With the bar on the opposite side of the room to the deck, it led to a number of people just milling around between tables with their drinks, and it made us feel like we’re just sitting in the middle of a 21st to eat dinner. Not sure what the solution there is, but it definitely left us feeling a bit uncomfortable.

For main course I ordered the 300gm scotch fillet with chips and salad, served with a mushroom & rosemary jus. Being priced at $29.50 it’s reasonable to expect a good quality cut of meat but sadly it fell a bit short of the mark. While it was a well cooked medium rare, the steak was quite tough and took a lot of chewing. There was also a bit more gristle than I would usually like to find in a cut of meat that price. The rosemary jus was reasonable, with a number of mushrooms placed on top of the steak. The chips were very good, but it’s a bit of a shame to say they were more enjoyable than the steak.

It was far from the worst steak I’ve ever had, but considering the quality you can find at other restaurants for a $30 steak, this one missed the mark and was clearly overpriced.

The service was quite good with a number of waitresses all willing to take drinks orders and clear tables, so much so that we were in and out within an hour. My only wish is that the meal reached the same heights.

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Have you dined recently at Sails on the Waterfront? Let us know your experience by leaving a comment below!

Firstly, the sense of quality hits you straight away with the stunning glass doors that welcome you into the restaurant. We were quickly seated and sat down to appreciate the surrounds – it is not hard to see how the restaurant was awarded “Best Designed Restaurant in Tasmania” by the Master Builders Association. The main area is spacious and comfortable, and each table seemed to have their own feeling of privacy. There are also three private rooms which looked like an excellent way to dine with a big group, and it also helped to keep the noise down in the main dining room.

Mixed entree - pork dim sim, chicken spring roll and barbeque duck puff

First glance at the menu can be quite overwhelming. Like many Asian restaurants, there is no shortage of choice! Entree and soup, an extensive seafood selection, poultry, pork, beef, lamb, vegetarian, noodles, rice, dessert – wow! The wine list is no exception – at 40 pages long, if you can’t find something to tempt you here I’m not sure where you will! Me Wah takes great pride in its wine selection, and the fact that it was awarded “three glasses highly recommended status” in Australia’s Wine List awards in 2008.

The saviour was definitely the banquet menus – 3 set menus, ranging from $55 up to $120 per head. If you don’t like something on the menu, you are welcome to substitute a different dish of the same price. We decided to do this with the Bamboo Set Menu, with the assistance of the very helpful and polite waiters.

Chicken & sweet corn soup

First cab off the rank was the mixed entree, consisting of a chicken spring roll, a pork dim sim, and a barbeque duck puff. The highlight for me was the duck puff – the minced duck meat inside was delicious. The spring roll didn’t consist of just chicken – they also had mushrooms as well, so if mushrooms aren’t your thing just beware. Overall the entree was well done and a nice little introduction to what was to come.

Next up was another appetizer – a chicken and sweet corn soup. As it probably my favourite soup I was looking forward to this one, and I wasn’t disappointed. The broth was of a perfect thickness, and I’d have to say it was as good as any chicken and sweet corn soup I’ve had. It was also well sized considering what was to come – not too big, but there was enough to enjoy.

BBQ pork and baby lamb cutlet - it was too good not to tuck in!

Now it was time for the main dishes. Next up was a combination of two mains – the barbequed pork, which involved roasted sliced tenderloins, honeyed soya, maltose and a vegetable garnish, and it was served with a baby lamb cutlet, twice cooked with Japanese sake, garlic, mint, chilli and witlof. As an aside – every dish was introduced when it was served by one of the wait staff so you knew exactly what you were in for.

As you can probably tell by the photo of this dish (!) – this was my (and I think everyone’s!) favourite of the night. The pork was excellent – even eaten by my wife who doesn’t usually like pork! The honey soy sauce was delicious and the pork beautifully tender. The lamb cutlet was also top notch, but the combination of spices with the sake and the chilli may be too much for some. Not for me though – sensational. My only complaint would be the serving size – it was all gone in a flash! However, with 2 main courses and dessert still to come it was probably for the best.

Lemon chicken and fried rice

Next up we changed things up on the set menu and instead went with the lemon chicken – a simple dish of fried breast fillets with a lemon sauce. This was served with a little bowl of fried rice, with diced king prawns, chicken, Chinese broccoli stems and egg. While not quite as good as the previous dish, this was also very good. The chicken was lightly fried and quite tender, and complimented well by the rather strong lemon sauce. The strong lemon flavour might not be everyone’s cup of tea – but if that’s the case you’re probably not going to order lemon chicken … !

Even the fried rice was spot on. Fresh, tasty pieces of king prawn and chicken, and it also went well when tossed in with the left over lemon sauce. While fried rice might be quite a simple side dish, the freshness and real ingredients made it a delicious serving in its own right. Together, it was an excellent main and one I wouldn’t hesitate in ordering purely as a main at another time – even if tonight it was overshadowed by the previous course.

Cantonese beef and Singapore noodles

Our final main was another of our choices – Cantonese eye fillets, wok seared in oyster sauce with steamed broccoli. It came with a side serve of Singapore noodles, stir fried, with a mild fragrant curry spice, shredded bbq pork, bean sprouts, assorted peppers, eggs and rice vermicelli noodles. It’s probably an indication of the rest of the banquet that this was the let down of the menu for me. Although the dish was good, it wasn’t quite as enjoyable as the others. While the eye fillets were incredibly tender, the sauce was very sweet, and a bit too sweet for my liking.

As for the Singapore noodles, it really wasn’t for me. It was an especially salty dish, and while it was a good match for the sweetness of the sauce, I found it just too overpowering. However, with the enjoyment I got out of the other dishes, I didn’t feel like it was a great loss at all.

Banana fritter and ice-cream

Finally it was time for dessert – banana fritters, with banana syrup, cream and vanilla ice-cream. Maybe it was the sweetness of the last dish but the fritter wasn’t really what I felt like after my first bite. Although that is no reflection on the fritter – it sure disappeared in front of someone more banana-loving than I! The ice-cream and the banana syrup was delicious however and that was enough for me.

The meal ended with a round of coffees and the offering of some wines, before we wrapped up our 3 1/2 hour experience.

As far as the service for the night went – excellent is an understatement. The waiting staff were all well presented, knowledgeable, and nothing was a problem. Drink service was quick and unobtrusive, however one word of warning – our waiter was not scared to recommend the highest price beverages, so if you have any sort of budget it can be wise to ask for a check of the wine list!

If you haven’t guessed, I would highly recommend Me Wah for any occasion, but beware – once you start going, you might not be able to stop!

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Yearling Beef Schnitzel with Mushroom Cream and Emmenthal Cheese

The menu has been changed a little recently, but I was glad to see one of my favourites still on there – the Yearling Beef Schnitzel. The feature of the dish is the unique topping of Mushroom Cream and Emmenthal Cheese. If creamy, cheesy sauces are your thing, then this is one dish that will never disappoint. It’s a welcome change from the traditional schnitzel servings with a gravy, a mushroom sauce or parmigiana. It’s also priced quite reasonably at $25.50.

On this occasion I went with the side of Potato and Stir Fried Vegetables. The scalloped potato has just the right amount of creaminess and cheese on top and was perfectly cooked as always. The veggies are always nice and fresh as they are cooked just moments before your meal is served, with a sweet flavour that gives them their own unique taste.

I’ve had this offering a number of times, and the consistency is excellent – every serving is just as good as last time. This is definitely one of Shippies’ strengths – you can rest assured that you’re going to get the same quality every time you go back.

Crumbed Chicken Schnitzel Breast Parmigiana

The Chicken Parmigiana is a true favourite on the Shippies’ menu. I know many people who say the it is the best of it’s kind in Hobart, and tonight’s offering was no exception. The crumbed chicken breast is always of good quality and size, but the secret is the tomato topping, which is like a tomato salsa. Light and tasty, it combines beautifully with the melted cheese on top. Each piece just melts in your mouth. This meal will also set you back $25.50, which is not bad for the best parma in town!

On this occasion my wife also ordered the potato and vegetables, however those who like the traditional Parma and chips will never be disappointed with the steak fries, which are always fresh and cooked to perfection.

The one sore point which many people have with Shippies is the length of time it can take to receive your meal. As everything is freshly prepared, you will find your meals take longer than most other establishments, and they admit that themselves. If it’s really going to bother you, then Shippies might not be for you. But if you’re happy to wait with a couple of drinks, or a tasty entree, you’ll discover the reason so many people are prepared to put up with a longer wait – the food is worth it.

Although we passed on entree and dessert – barring a couple of coffees – we were never rushed at all to leave our table and made the most of the warmth as much as we could before we took on the elements for the drive home! Once again Shippies lived up to their excellent reputation with a sensational meal, and we will be sure to return again soon.

Parking wasn’t a problem being a Tuesday night, however you may be forced to park on a neighbouring street in the busier weekend times. As the bistro has such a great reputation, it is often fully booked so a reservation is highly recommended.

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Have you dined recently at Shippies? Let us know your experience by leaving a comment below!