The new spice is right
Soaking up the last rays of a recent sunny afternoon while enjoying a few quiet beers in the garden at the Salty Dog, it was hard to believe it was late March. Queensland visitors had just arrived to join us on a muchanticipated trip to Flinders Island and we were thrilled that Hobart weather was so glorious for them. However, while we enjoyed the warmth, our northern friends shivered and asked for extra jackets. We finally took pity on them and headed to North Hobart for a warming curry at the recently opened Bite Me.
We tumbled in the door to a busy dining room that’s a mix of larger tables and cosy booth-style tables created by some simple screening.
A larger group is finishing up while tables of four and two are just settling in. Large laminated menus arrive promptly and a hush falls over our group as we take our time reading the extensive line-up. And then flip to the other side for more – there’s certainly plenty to choose from! Consensus reached, Tiger beers and a Frogmore Creek riesling are on the table and it looks like the Queenslanders have stopped shivering.
Satay chicken with housemade peanut sauce ($6.90) is the first dish to arrive – fat chunks of chargrilled chicken are tender and the turmeric-tinged satay sauce is so good we eat the leftovers with a spoon.
There’s a variety of bao buns on offer and we’re pretty happy with our choice of massaman beef ($9.90). The classic, slightly sweet Thai curry is enveloped in a soft steamed bun that makes eating with your hands a must-do. There’s enough curry in the bun to feel generous without spilling everywhere – well played!
Crispy fried calamari ($7.50) is served in chunky fingers rather than rings and comes with a tangy jalapeno mayo. The calamari is tender and the dipping mayo delicious, although it’s not a traditionally Asian dish that I’m aware of.
A crispy eggplant salad ($14.90) is less successful, though it could be tweaked fairly easily.
We clear the decks in anticipation of our mains – a selection of items from Malaysia, Thailand and China. Bite Me’s signature curry ($19.90) is a must-order. Large chunks of chicken in a creamy, coconutty curry that has a generous hit of chilli (a bit too much for my non-chilli-loving husband but just right for the rest of us).
I also like the sound of the beef brisket clay pot with fermented bean curd ($22.90) and will be ordering that on our next visit.
Rice and noodle dishes span the southeast Asian region with influences from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. We’re torn between classic nasi goreng ($14.90-$17.90) and char kway teow ($14.90). We opt for the Malaysian hawker dish of char kway teow and, while I wouldn’t have minded a little more char on the noodles, the flavours were delicious, the noodles satisfyingly thick and slick.
Earmarked for next time is the kimchi fried rice with deep-fried pork belly ($15.90). Garlic and black pepper beef ($17.90) is another popular selection (narrowly edging out cashew chicken) and it delivers – deep peppery flavour that one of my fellow diners describes as “intense”.
The beef is tender and studded with crisp chunks of capsicum. Every dish is delivered piping hot and the ingredients are wonderfully fresh.
Roti is usually a wonderful accompaniment to curries – perfect for wiping up sauce, but this roti is crisp like a cracker – OK for dipping, but not for wiping.
Bite Me is a great addition to the city end of the North Hobart restaurant strip and there are plenty of items that I’d like to try on another visit. It’s good value and the extensive menu means there’s sure to be something to suit everyone if you’re dining in a group. The friendly and attentive staff made the experience a good one and our Queensland visitors even forgot about being cold. I’m calling that a successful evening all round.