Round Bird Can't Fly

Round Bird Can't Fly
170 Main Street
Lilydale
Yarra Ranges
Victoria 3140
Australia

https://roundbird.com.au/

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon (AUD $26 / SGD $24.30)

Wholesome, Hearty Comfort Dishes With Seasonal Ingredients

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 7
Spent about AUD $30 / SGD $28 per person.


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Established in September 2014 by husband-and-wife team Laura Webb-James and Evan James, both from culinary fine-dining backgrounds, Round Bird Can't Fly is their first foray together. A homely, welcoming cafe that serves hearty, wholesome dishes made with locally sourced ingredients from the Yarra Ranges, coupled with quality service standards befitting a restaurant. Besides having an attention-grabbing cute name, Round Bird Can't Fly has been quietly impressing folks who come by, gaining a fairly popular reputation and good reviews.

Ambience at Round Bird Can't Fly resembles a comfortable home. Step in, and you're greeted by well stocked shelves lined with fresh local produce. Ample natural sunlight and warm decorative bulbs illuminate the place. There's indoor and outdoor seating, comprising modern, comfortable metal and wooden furniture, although the tables are small in comparision to the large plates they use, so it ends up crowded with dishes. They offer a private room for events. The open kitchen means some lingering cooking odour hangs in the air.

Service at Round Bird Can't Fly is good, befitting restaurant standards. Staff greet guests politely, and seat them quickly. They display good product knowledge, offering insights into the local ingredients used, and circle around to accord each customer personalised attention when it's their turn to order. I note that cleaning up is done quickly when diners leave. Because dishes are made to order, there is usually a short wait of about 15 minutes or so. Staff also happily engage with diners, and check for feedback on the meal.

Food at Round Bird Can't Fly is Modern Australian cuisine, taking iconic international dishes and giving them a local spin. With their background in fine-dining restaurants, the owners have crafted an inventive and delicious menu; dishes are wholesome and bold in flavour, with the freshness of the ingredients shining. Portions are large and hearty, so we chose to share. Prices are typical of most cafes, which means good value for money for the high quality you get. Budget about AUD $30 / SGD $28 per person.


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Round Bird Can't Fly Signage

Round Bird Can't Fly Exterior

Round Bird Can't Fly Interior

Produce Display & Lounge

Private Room

Lego Head

The Paella, Chicken, Chorizo, Prawn, Octopus (AUD $23 / SGD $21.50) is given a local spin through the use of fresh, sustainably sourced, locally farmed produce. Served with lemon wedges and a large slice of crisp toasted sourdough bread that has delicate bready sour flavour, this dish features a base of sticky chewy paella rice in tomato sauce, succulent octopus chunks, bouncy deshelled prawns / shrimp, and snappy chorizo pork sausage. The only let-down here is the stringy boiled chicken, which was dry and chewy. With bright juicy flavours of earthy sweet savoury salty meaty, this hearty plate is so appetizing and fulfilling.

Paella, Chicken, Chorizo, Prawn, Octopus (AUD $23 / SGD $21.50)

Paella, Chicken, Chorizo, Prawn, Octopus

Paella, Chicken, Chorizo, Prawn, Octopus

The Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus (AUD $24 / SGD $22.50) features locally sourced, sous vide then roasted pork belly, cut thickly, with a tender succulent texture. Plated over creamy smooth mashed potatoes infused with grainy mustard seeds, tender juicy caramelised red apple slices, bouncy chewy chorizo pork sausage, micro-greens, and edible flowers. Drizzled with a rich roast apple jus gravy, the layered and complex flavours of meaty savoury salty fruity sweet earthy herbal are distinct yet complementary. Rich and intense, the pork belly feels decadent, yet the other ingredients alleviate the fatty notes on your palate. Yum.

Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus (AUD $24 / SGD $22.50)

Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus

Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus

Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus

The Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon (AUD $26 / SGD $24.30) is a beautiful and healthy plate. The star is the medium sized chunks of hand made pumpkin gnocchi dumplings, which are crisp outside and chewy soft inside, with a delicate earthy sweet flavour. The juicy pickled zucchini strips burst with a bright tangy sour vegetal sweet flavour, while the tender flaky fillets of house smoked salmon fish have an appetizing salty savoury sweet smoky flavour. The unique sage and walnut pesto has a grainy rough texture, with deep vegetal herbal bitter sweet nutty flavour. Completed with goat cheese and micro-greens, this is an enticing, addictive dish that is also rather filling. Couldn't stop reaching for more, completely love this. Highly recommended!

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon (AUD $26 / SGD $24.30)

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon

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