Workshop Brothers, Glen Waverley

Workshop Brothers is a new addition to the ever changing dining scenery on Kingsway, Glen Waverley. This strip has been very fluid over the last few years and the competition is fierce. It is not uncommon to visit Glen Waverley after a month to find the landscape changed (again). Most restaurants on the strip serves Asian food so Workshop Brothers is not deviating too much by offering Asian Fusion.

The restaurant has made some changes to the layout of the restaurant previously occupied by Spicy Fish and somehow made it feel tight and cramped. We were seated at a table on high bar stools which we unfortunately found to be very uncomfortable - perhaps an indication we need more padding on the bottom!

Entree was scallops on betel leaf ($6 per serve) which were delicious. The scallops were drizzled with a sweet sour tamarind sauce and finely chopped red onions. It was a good combination but all gone in two mouthfuls. This is my first time tasting betel leave and found it hard to chew and has a raw taste. I am not sure why the addiction of betel leaves and chalk!

Jungle curry beef cheeks ($30) was served next. This dish came with a caution of three 'hot's with exclamation marks on the menu. It may well have needed some skulls and crosses too because it sure was spicy!

We very nearly get to taste the true flavours of this dish because the first time it landed on the table, the meat was not heated through and was below room temperature. We could not also taste any spiciness as warned in the menu. Being a little puzzled whether or not the chef had meant to serve the dish as is, so we decided to clarify.

Luckily, the server was most polite and replaced the dish, no questions asked.  This is one of the competitive edge that this restaurant has over many of the others on the strip - great customer service. He even asked us if we would like more rice to go with the replacement dish. Talk about putting the customer first! Both the replacement dish and the extra rice was on the house.


We also ordered the sticky lamb ribs ($24) in sticky star anise and chilli infused soy sauce. This was sweet and savoury and the meat was so tender. There was not much sauce but the ribs were moist enough. Lamb ribs have got to be my favorite cut of meat at the moment!

Both dishes came with loads of fresh herbs and were comfort foods but with a new fresh clean edge to them. But what we were really impressed with was the service here!