Meeting Mr. Hive

Last week, what seemed to start out as a disaster of a night , soon turned into an unexpected delight! Relying on technology to make a dinner reservation weeks in advance only to find out there must have been some technical glitch and our booking was non-existing, would not seem like a good start to the night. Instead however, it opened the door to a surprising night of fun ahead.

Aimlessly driving towards the city, we decided the Crown Complex was a safe bet as there are many options to choose from in case our first choices were booked out at late notice on the weekend. Entering from the Crown Metropol, we did not realise we had only a short walk ahead of us until reaching our dinner destination. The amusing, cropped faces towards the entrance of Mr. Hive Kitchen & Bar have caught my attention for quite some time now, so on this particular night we thought why not have a look at what they have to offer. Having a peek into the entrance of the restaurant, I was slightly unsure as it seemed quite empty for a Friday night, but the menu looked appetising so we thought we'd give it a try anyway. Can I just say that I am sure glad we did! If you are ever walking past, please don't let the entrance fool you... this place is huge! As we were escorted around the side of the bar to the main dining area, I was sure proved wrong with many tables full of happily chatting diners.

Starting the night with a cocktail, these flavoursome drinks hinted that we were in for a great night ahead! We started with some share plates - just to tease our appetite a little, choosing the Octopus, Chorizo & Blood Orange along with the Black and Blue Tuna. This tuna would have to be the tastiest dish I have had in quite some time. The combination of the fish's smooth texture along with the chunky vegetables to garnish made a perfect way to start our meal. With my annoying intolerance to cream, I need to be sure to ask if any of the dishes I ordered contained cream - and lucky I had this time. The chef was lovely enough to alter the dishes to suit my dietary requirements, so I was still able to enjoy my night of delicious tasting fish.

It was now time for the mains and we ordered the Grilled Swordfish and the Black Angus. By looking at the menu, I'm sure you can guess what drew my eyes towards the swordfish. Yes it was the garnishing of fennel, blood orange and..... olives (my weakness!). Having a taste of the beef, I must say it was cooked to perfection. Full of juicy goodness and a refreshing side salad to accompany it.  

Every dish we ordered was full of fresh flavours and we made sure we squeezed in every crum until our plates were left clean. Unfortunately this means we did not leave any room for dessert, but it didn't matter! Our ruined plans had resulted in experiencing a delicious meal and just when we thought it was all over... to our surprise our waiter was kind enough to ask us if we would like a tour of the kitchen. With an immediate, "yes please!" we were escorted through the many dining areas of this surprisingly large eatery and then through to the very neat and organised kitchen to see the chefs in action!

I would not have seen this amazing dining experience coming when we first found out that our original plans had fallen through, but the mysterious Mr. Hive proved to be full of surprises!