Pierre's

April 2022: Stelo at Pierre's is a hidden institution in the heart of Launceston. Unassuming from the street, the interior has been stunningly fitted out and remains up to date over the years. Long and narrow, they layout still allows you room to breath. Some staff are a little curt,. It most are super friendly. Meals were delicious, however the gnocchi was far from traditional, and were less like the little floury cushions of delight (as they should be) and more large fried chewy pieces of rolled flour. All other dishes were beautiful.

Everyone kept telling us when we moved to Launceston how great the food was, so far it’s been good but not quite up to the hype. Today that changed, 😂. This has been the nicest meal to date in Launceston. This lived up to the hype. Had a really enjoyable lunch. Great starters to share, especially the arancini balls. Really interesting pasta dish with sausage and squid. Worked really well. Separate kids menu. If it’s nice eat out the back in the courtyard.

Wasn’t quite sure where to eat, but able to walk in and glad I did. The food was great. I opted for the 4 course with paired wines. Little cauliflower bites to start, and then delicious scollops, with celeriac crips. The pasta with truffle was soft and silky and the lamb rich. Swapped the tiramisu for an affogatto to complete the meal. Definitely go back. Food was lovely and nothing over done. Just good flavours.

A hidden gem. The secret is out. These guys are serious about food. Other than the entrées, I would recommend sharing the mains so you get to try a few dishes on the menu. Noteworthy was the squid ink fettuccini which was superb. Actually, everything was. Couldn’t fault them. The staff was also really friendly, very attentive but not annoying. And they stay open till “late” which is excellent for travellers because most other places seem to close by 8.30pm the latest.

We arrived for our dinner reservation and were offered a lovely table in the rear courtyard. We ordered our drinks and were promptly brought food menus. The cocktail menu had a mix of unique and traditional. They were so delightfully garnished! Stelo has an a la carte option and a tasting menu (we dined on a Wednesday) - we opted for the a la carte (we wanted the oysters). The oysters were fresh and plump. The Kilpatrick had a delicate spicy kick. I’m glad we ordered a dozen! The flavours in our mains were all very well balanced: the crackling pork was perfect with the slaw, and the fish of the day (trevally) was a great size, perfectly cooked and paired well with the volluté. The side of broccolini was crunchy - not over cooked at all as you sometimes find in other places. My only regret is I didn’t have a big enough stomach to fit in dessert! Each course was excellent and the service was spot on. The waitperson looking after our table was friendly and informative without being over intrusive or pushy - we even left a tip! This is a restaurant that really goes above and beyond to ensure the customer has a great experience, and is a great place to visit for both everyday dining or a special occasion. You could also see and hear all the tables around us having a great time! I hope to return the next time I’m in Launny.