Swallow Bar - Maylands

This is a great place to come for drinks if there's only 2 or three people, but not the right place for bigger groups. The atmosphere was great and the service... read more This is a great place to come for drinks if there's only 2 or three people, but not the right place for bigger groups. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly but I felt the food was over priced . There aren't many (if any) other options for drinks in this area so it's a good thing the swallow is open in Maylands!

I discovered this small bar while doing a little trainspotting on Friday morning (and not the type of trainspotting that the movie, and the book, refers to I wa... read more I discovered this small bar while doing a little trainspotting on Friday morning (and not the type of trainspotting that the movie, and the book, refers to I was actually doing some real trainspotting). Anyway, noting that as well as your typical suburban pub on one side of the tracks, there was this place on the other. Actually, it is more of a wine/cocktail bar than a beer bar, though they do have some decent beers on tap. The interior décor is also really nice, particularly the old train seats that they have in the front room. We even found a nice fireside lounge out the back. Certainly worth checking out.

We dropped by Swallow Bar to try their new Sunday brunch menu. Deliciously called 'The Elizabeth David ' $18.00), their omelette was piping hot when it arrived... read more We dropped by Swallow Bar to try their new Sunday brunch menu. Deliciously called 'The Elizabeth David ' $18.00), their omelette was piping hot when it arrived in front of us, folded with Gruyère cheese and sweet onions. There were two homely slices of fresh bread on the side drizzled with olive oil and a crunchy lettuce salad. It was a disarmingly basic dish and yet it was so much more as we dove into it. The omelette was melt in your mouth good. The cheese inside had melted to create a gooey but decadent dish and I can easily say I don 't think I 've ever had an omelette better. We also shared the Pancakes Amandine $18.00). Described as a little stack of pancakes with almond filling, strawberry and maple these looked pretty as a picture when they were placed down in front of us. I 'm not going to lie... finding great pancakes isn 't easy. They 're usually not fluffy enough, often overly sweet and so laden with toppings that the actual favour is disguised. I wasn 't sure how Swallow Bar 's offering would pan out especially when I saw the generous lug of maple syrup surrounding them and tumbling of fruit on top. But the taste test was definitely what counted, and so we both dived in with gusto. The pancakes were so soft inside, and while there was sweetness in the toppings, the almond filling had a lovely savouriness that countered each bite. I just loved how different this was to other pancake dishes I 've tried and can say this was the dish of the day for both of us! What great cooking and a gorgeous little hole in the wall offering for Maylands.

A charming spot in downtown Maylands. The interior is cool with booths up cycled from old train carriages. I would recommend booking as there is not very much s... read more A charming spot in downtown Maylands. The interior is cool with booths up cycled from old train carriages. I would recommend booking as there is not very much seating inside. As we didn't book we had to sit outside which was pleasant enough. We went for brunch and there was a cafe style menu. I ordered a flatbread with mushrooms and cheese came out in a cute basket in a very European style. The service was a bit of a let down. We had to ask twice for coffees and when the waitress arrived she took the coffee order but failed to take the empty plates with her. Would give it another try if I was in the area.

Stepping into this quaint small bar in Maylands was like being transported to a charming bar in Paris, very European in style and brimming with warmth and energ... read more Stepping into this quaint small bar in Maylands was like being transported to a charming bar in Paris, very European in style and brimming with warmth and energy. Swallow Bar in Maylands had been on my list for a while and I wish I had visited sooner. Situated in the middle of the Maylands cafe hub on Whatley Cres this small bar is definitely small and with a buzz in the air I was glad we were able to secure a table without a booking on this busy Thursday night. The bar has a lovely front room with train carriage booths, covered (and heated) courtyard out the back, live Jazz and Blues music on Thursday and Sunday nights and a fab weekend brunch. Seated and with a great bottle of Castlefeder Mont Mès Pinot Grigio cracked we made our menu choices. The menu is simple but full of luxe produce with a comfort food vibe. First up we had the mushroom, fontina and thyme croquettes, always something I love to order and these were some of the best I 've had. They didn 't come with any type of sauce but didn 't need one, the the inside was soft, gooey and cheesy, super tasty and covered with a thin, crisp, golden outer layer. We also ordered the chicken and pedro ximinez pâté with garlic rubbed sourdough toasts. The toasts were a great accompaniment to the creamy, rich and full flavoured pâté. As far as pâté 's goes this was also up there and a nice, generous serve. The next delicious plate to land on our table was the battered tiger prawn mini brioche bun with Marie Rose sauce and butter lettuce. A piled high mini burger, glistening with crunchy lettuce and that brioche shine, I was wishing we had ordered two and I didn 't have to share. Although small it was easy to cut in half for sharing purposes and boy was it good. The prawn was succulent and juicy and was the star in this simple but well executed burger. YUM. Our final savoury dish of the night was the spice roasted cauliflower with toasted almonds and lemon yoghurt. The humble cauliflower has definitely been brought to life in recent years and appears on more and more restaurant menus and for good reason. This versatile vegetable has great flavour, especially when roasted and paired with Mediterranean or Middle Eastern flavours. This dish was fresh and light, with the crunch of the almonds, the buttery, nuttiness of the cauliflower and the lemon yoghurt rounding out a well balanced dish. I was full but had spotted a dessert on the menu earlier that I was just going to have to make room for, the beignet. Beignet are French doughnuts, covered in cinnamon sugar and served with blueberries and cream and are a must despite the 15 minute wait. I find that most desserts that state a wait on the menu are always good and these didn 't disappoint. Soft, fluffy and a bit doughy in the middle with a crunchy, sugary outside these were delicious with a dollop of cream and went really well with our glass of Pertaringa Muscat. Some bits of the doughnuts were ever so slightly under cooked but it didn 't detract from the overall taste and a great dessert to share when you don 't want anything too rich and filling. Such a great experience at Swallow Bar and I hope I can get back there soon, with the warm and friendly service, great vibe, delicious food and fabulous drinks, this place is truly a gem in the small bar scene. This is a perfect date night venue, charming and intimate, but make a booking so you don 't miss out, it fills up fast. If you live in the area, go and support your friendly neighbourhood bar and if you don 't, well, go and see what you 're missing out on.