Docklands Bar & Grill

This place was as typical as a hotel restaurant could get!! Classy, good service, and dishes with high quality ingredients. But it is lacking in atmosphere, something that I think is never possible to have in a hotel dining establishment.

The bar is truly stunningly designed, and had a pretty big crowd on a Saturday evening, although I suspect most of the patrons were guests at the hotel and not locals. It is somewhat of a trek to get to this place from anywhere, but if one is looking for a quiet quality dinner or a relaxing drink, this is the place.

I had the roast cod for dinner, and my girlfriend had the fish pie. The were both really good; the cod was well cooked and was quite a generous portion, but the sauce tasted like Bovril/Marmite which kinda ruined the taste. However, after the first taste it was better. I suspect that the chef used some kind of salty sauce, sort of a westernized miso paste, but miso would have been a much better, and safer, choice.

My partner’s fish pie was better than the cod, and if I ever go back I would probably order that. It comes in a nice ceramic pot, and was full of flavour and fish. The only downside was that it was so small…. it looked more like a side dish than a main course, and I’m sure I could have finished two or three of them!!

I’m not quite decided if I will go back again. Certainly not worth traveling very far for. But they do serve good quality seafood. Price wise its cheaper than seafood restaurants downtown, but still quite pricey.

Popped in here for a drink recently and the atmosphere mixed with the beverages proved a pleasing one, if a little on the pricey side.
The bar is very contemporary in design, sitting along side the Crowne Plaza, so I can appreciate the need to ensure the look and feel fit with the associated hotel. I was served promptly by helpful bar staff - they were down to earth and didn’t think it strange when I asked which of their beers had the lower alchohol content - they quickly provided the answer and didn’t look at me as though I’d lost my marbles.
I felt relaxed and would have stayed longer, but my train was calling. Perhaps I’ll give the grill a try next time, the aroma which lingered a while just to one side of the bar area smelled very good. Hmmmm…yes I think I’ll be back.