(Fancy some wallaby?!)
There really is no definitive “Tasmanian” cuisine. We were told that the best restaurant for all around food in Hobart was Ball and Chain on Salamanca Street. When we arrived, there was already a 30 minute wait. The dining rooms were jammed packed so we took a seat by the bar. Angela and I stared wide-eyed at the chef in the kitchen cranking out 2 inch thick steaks oozing with juice. At that point, I noticed the numerous awards the restaurant had gotten throughout the years, like Best Steak in Hobart, Best Restaurant for Game, etc…
So at first, I was going to get venison sausage, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity for some of the best steak in Australia. Considering how much steak costs elsewhere, I have to admit it was quite cheap. I ordered the Porterhouse (with sauce) and it came out to less than $20. Angela decided on the wallaby. If you order an entree there, you get the option for a $6 unlimited salad bar. In Australia, an entree is a smaller portion compared to a main.
(Angela is terrible, I know…)
I was so excited when we got our food. My steak at first was a bit disappointing. As the night wore on, the scale tipped from a 6/10 to a 8/10 in terms of how much I enjoyed the steak. It was cooked perfectly (I ordered medium) and the plum/ginger sauce added a nice sweet tang. Angela’s wallaby was… interesting. It came as a sausage, but I felt that the meat was a bit gritty, chewy, and too separated unlike the traditional sausage.
The best part, of course, was dessert. Heavily overpriced, but quite worth it, is their raspberry cheesecake. They give you a decent portion for a slice and garnish it in this creamy sauce with chocolate and strawberries. I mean, it comes with a spoon and a fork (that’s when you know it’s some serious cheesecake)! At $12.95 a pop, Angela and I had to share.
Overall, I was extremely satisfied with Ball and Chain. It’s a place that locals rave about. So if you’re ever in Hobart, be sure to check this place out!
You should also check out:
- Day 4 in Switzerland | Montreux, Confiserie Zurcher
- Day 3 in Switzerland | Davos, Sheraton Davos Hotel Walduus
- Day 2 in Switzerland | Zurich, Café Weggen & Henrici Coffee
- Day 1 in Switzerland | Genève, Cafe du Soleil
- Mt. Tammany ( w/ Banana-brownie bread & Turkey burgers!)
