Joe's Restaurant

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Situated at Monash University's Clayton campus, adds a touch of class to the hustle and speed of student life. Although the meals aren't as cheap as a bucket of chips and there is a high possibility of running into that lecturer you don't like, it does take away from the fact you've got exams coming up or you just want to impress someone.

The restaurant itself is quiet large. There is also an outdoor area but it's not recommended on a cold day. All the staff are friendly however, they do seem to be a little distant towards you. I got the feeling that by asking about a certain meal or for dessert, you're taking a bite out of them. Another off-putting element is that it can get quiet noisy in Joe's, so if you're looking for a quiet study place with a decent meal, this is not for you. After being seated, the wait staff usually bring a bottle of water to the table, this generally happens however, on this particular day, my table missed out on water.

The meals are simple and the menu does change seasonally. Starters and side dishes always remain the same. For starters you can indulge in soup for $7.50 or a caesar salad for $16 (with smoked chicken breast and extra $1.50) – these starters are a reasonable size and unless you were actually starving, I'd say they were as good as any main meal. The side dishes consist of chips, salad or bread.

There are 4 sections to the main dishes. It lists three pastas, three risottos and three pizzas to choose from, as well as favourite dishes such as salt and pepper squid - $18, Moroccan lamb - $18, beef lasagne - $15.50, chicken parma - $18 and veal scaloppine - $21. There is also an extensive list of wines and other non alcoholic drinks, including coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

There is dessert available, however no prices are given. Another nice touch to the menu is that some meals have GF (gluten free) or V (vegetarian) symbols, allowing those who are gluten free or vegetarian the ability to choose their own meal without asking for special consideration.

On this particular day, I sampled the veal scaloppine with a side serve of bread and a glass of Coke. Normally I would have considered bread to be more of a starter dish, however it came with the meal and no plates were given for the bread. Two thin slices of veal were served on a bead of mashed potato and green beans with an onion and wholegrain mustard sauce. It had a very rich and inviting smell. The mash was smooth and soaked up the veal juices nicely. The only let down was the veal slices had not been cooked properly. One slice I had was a bit overdone, while the other was running a little too raw. That aside, the dish was full of flavour and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Joe's prides itself on using fair trade coffee and you are able to get takeaway coffee and food from the front counter. Pop in and take a look. The autumn menu is available outside the restaurant or online. For more information click here or call (03) 990 53590.

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