Vanidol’s

"Plated up (not good) take away," is the first thing that springs to mind. While the staff were pleasant, the food was disappointing. In Hobart one often hears of Vanidol’s as being a quality restaurant. While the prices may reflect this, the dining experience was a let down. The lack of ambience is immediately obvious. The Besser brick walls, the stark white paint and the unimaginative and cliché decor. The tables are crammed in and the menus were dog-eared and grimy. Beginning with spring rolls as entree for just under $16, we expected more. The three vegetarian rolls were served with a boring salad leaf and some grated carrot. The dipping sauce, I would bet my life on was pulled straight from the shelf at the local supermarket, and certainly not the premium brand. The rolls had an odd aftertaste as if made on the same preparation surface as seafood. Mains: Pad Thai was glutinous, dry and seemed pre-prepared. The house chicken while looking colourful, had a commercial sauce taste and really lacked any excitement or marrying of flavour that I would have hoped for. Both courses left an odd film on the palate that was only but a reminder of nothing special. Overall, very disappointed in what seems an over-rated, noisy Hobart restaurant.  11/05/2012