Member Review by Mullsy

I've been to The Mill for dinner around five times now and I was happy to learn last night that I'll be going there again for a friend's birthday in a few of weeks. This got me thinking, what makes this place one that I enjoy going back to again and again?

Firstly, I have never been disappointed with any of the dishes I've eaten; the quality is excellent, the service is always impeccable and the bill at the end of the night is far less than you'd expect, given the first two points mentioned.

There are many positives to gush over, however I will try to stick to the highlights of a typical dining experience.

To begin, a good quality sour-dough bread is offered with a heady and flavoursome parmesan oil. Not only is there a choice of entrees, there is also an extensive 'small bites' menu which greatly appeals. There is something about sharing dishes and the experience with others that makes you enjoy the meal more. The pan fried Saganaki and grilled Chorizo with sherry vinegar are must haves.

I vow, with each visit, that I will try something new, but it is extremely hard to go past the duck confit salad with kipflers, bacon, rocket & poached egg or the risotto with crunchy fried sage leaves and 20-year old balsamic drizzled around the plate... the second best risotto I've ever eaten (the first was a squid ink risotto overlooking the beach in Positano on Italy's Amalfi Coast, which will be hard to beat).

Other choices include a couple of fish options, several pasta options and one of each of the usual land mammals; free-range chook, roasted lamb loin and a generous sized rib-eye. With the mains averaging around the $25 mark (the steak being the most expensive, if you can call it that, at $32) and sides aren't generally required, however you cannot go past some this-has-really-got-to-be-bad-for-you creamed mash. Yum! I will gladly add another 45 minutes to my gym session the next day.

The wine list is comprehensive and caters for all budgets.

Desserts, like the former courses, are exceptional. Generally we find ourselves ordering several items to share: the panna cotta with the best 'wobble' I've witnessed in such a dessert is light and served with a simple strawberry compote, warm chocolate brownies with choc-malt ice cream and a refreshing trio of sorbets; raspberry & Grand Marnier, blackberry & Pernod and strawberry & Tuaca (an Italian liqueur flavored with vanilla and citrus) - the best flavour by far! If there's still some room, the cheeseboard is excellent value for what you get... and there are some poor value-for-money cheese boards (Rockpool Bar and Grill comes to mind) out there.

Last but not least is the service. There is one (Irish?) girl in particular that makes you want to go back. It's her knowledge; ask how a certain dish comes and she will her deconstruct the dish - how it's made and presented so that it empowers the diner to make a more informed decision of what they want to eat. There have been times I have felt disappointed because the dish I thought I was ordering was completely different to what I ended up with - not here. And it's also the little things, like when we initially asked what Tuaca was, she came back with a small glass of the liqueur for us to share.

Her passion for what she does, combined with her attentiveness bring all the elements of this place together and provide an more than enjoyable night out.

Damn... there are still 13 sleeps to go until we dine there again.