Greenwood Fish Bistro looks and smells like a fish shop inside, with fresh seafood such as oysters and fish on display. The exhibit was interesting, but the stench was really pretty extraordinary, so we opted to dine alfresco on Greenwood Avenue.
The simple bistro is a little removed from the other eateries in the area, making for a subdued ambiance—which was disturbed only by our location almost atop a rubbish bin with an exposed ash tray. Our server appeared knowledgeable and proactive, giving helpful descriptions and menu recommendations.
We started with the scallop and salmon belly terrine, which was more like pieces of seared fish. The salmon was subtle in taste and texture, but the scallops seemed a little fishy; unusual for the normally neutral tasting shellfish. The calamari poppers were delicious: The batter was light and the calamari virtually vanished when placed on the tongue.
We were pleasantly surprised when the wait staff came to check on our progress after our starters, and asked when we wanted our main courses served. Both mains were well cooked and delicious. The grilled king prawns with fillet mignon came without the requisite bacon, but the steak itself was a huge thick piece cooked to perfection. Similarly, the prawns were fresh and tasty. The dory St Pierre style came grilled with foie gras that was extremely close to being overcooked, but the combination managed to be light and flavorsome, and our request for mash instead of potato wedges was happily acceded to.
When we got to dessert, we were disappointed to hear that the menu was limited to two items. We were advised that the chef was the creator of the warm Valrhona chocolate cake, which we immediately ordered. While not dry, the inside of the cake could have been a bit runnier and more chocolately as it was a little bitter. It arrived on a bed of candy floss, which somewhat made up for the defect.
Stuffed, we ordered a taxi, and our waiter helpfully stood in the street for us to flag it down. With service that is impressive and attentive, and food that is fairly well cooked, it’s a shame that the unbearable smell of this bistro will limit the number of diners to the few alfresco tables in front of the store.
