Artie and Mai - restaurant review

As Mr Pickings had a day free of clients and employees, I decided to shout him a quick lunch out.  I had read good things about this fairly new cafe cum bar in Albion village, which is not far from Chez Pickings, the old ancestral.  It is in a historic row of shops that has somehow survived the demolitions (and mysterious fires) that have been going on for decades around this area.  I really like the look of the cafe's interior. I love the bare pendant bulbs hanging from the pressed metal ceiling, and the exposed brick walls that show through the plaster.  I even like the bare concrete floors though it does make the whole place somewhat noisy with even just a few customers, as the sound bounces off the walls and floor.

Mr Pickings chose a vibrant passionfruit fizz to start, and I had a beetroot breakdown.  (No really, that's the name of the drink.:)  I didn't have a breakdown).  My drink was very earthy and fresh, and I could feel it doing me good.  There are other combos of juices - next time I want the orange, ginger and carrot - plus smoothies and milkshakes, teas, coffees, the usual suspects.  This place is licensed so you can drop in for an after-work/pre-dinner drink too.

passionfruit fizz $7

beetroot breakdown $7 

I absolutely love these jars!  They were really nice to hold, and you got a hefty drink for your money.
I chose beetroot again for my lunch - a beetroot and apple rosti with smoked salmon, caperberries and horse radish which came in a quenelle-like mound on the plate.  I have to say that even for a beetroot lover, this was a wee bit too much beetroot.  The apple was not detectable, and the beetroot was a little under-cooked for my liking.  I had actually forgotten that it was not a beetroot and potato rosti, so I was expecting more of a potato twist to it.  But it was very tasty and fresh, the baby rocket delicious, caperberries - oh my I love them!- and the horse radish a lovely creamy tang along with generous smoked salmon.  A really enjoyable repast.

beetroot and apple rosti $16

Mr Pickings loves burgers so he chose the chicken burger with rustic chips and paprika aioli (I snuck a chip or 3).  There was a large piece of chicken breast which had been coated in spices, along with tomato and lettuce.  The chips were really fat and delicious, with skin still on.  Mr Pickings was a fan!

Artie & Mai chicken burger $16 

I want to go back to try the sauteed mushrooms with poached egg and pecorino, and I am going to persuade Mr Pickings to go to dinner one night so we can try the pea arancini, the barramundi croquettes, the scallops, the popcorn chicken - stop, I am drooling!
Atmosphere was great, the waitress lovely, and the food came out promptly.  All in all, a lovely little mid-week getaway.
The daytime menu goes from 7am to 3pm; the evening menu then starts with share plates and pizza. There is also a special lunchtime menu Mon to Thurs 12-2 pm with $12 meals.

funky interior

vibrant red exterior