Rave Ov, Mona Vale Road, St Ives

Rave Ov, Mona Vale Road, St Ives
Thursday 19 October, 2006

It's been almost 12 months since I dined at Rave Ov, but tonight was a special occasion - a celebration.

Rave Ov is a great, local restaurant. They offer indoor and outdoor dining in a small setting of local shops opposite Hassell Park on Mona Vale Road. The parking is OK during the week but it can be a challenge. You drive in and there is minimal parking directly in front of the building. If you can't find a park here you can drive around the rear of the building to more parking - there is poor lighting here so it's not desirable.

We had requested a table outside tonight as it was a little warm. Menus were provided and it is double sided - the first page offers salads/ sides and breads and the second offers entrees and mains - many available as an either an entree or main size.

It didn't take me that long to decide - zucchini flowers for entree and cinnamon infused duck breast for main. My dinner buddies ordered the mezze plate to share, oysters kilpatrick and oysters mornay for entrees and zucchini flowers, risotto and grain fed beef. Rave Ov is also BYO so you can bring along a few bottles from your cellar.

The staff are friendly however a little slow on the uptake - tonight the restaurant was a little less than half full and we struggled to attract service several times.

My zucchini flowers were lovely - several large pieces stuffed with a mixture of ricotta and gorgonzola - lightly fried. They are very good and served with a spicy, hot sauce to provide some bite. My duck was excellent - several large pieces arranged with cinnamon sticks and served broccolini. The duck meat was tender and the skin was crispy and it was served with a plum sauce.

The meals served at Rave Ov won't leave you hungary.

Rave Ov - Shop 1/351 Mona Vale Road, St Ives - (02) 9953 7577