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2010-01-17
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My sister was kind enough to confer upon me a coupon that acted as a buy one get one free to a set meal at Cova Pacific Place . I was under the impression that this Cova was recently (within the last year) renovated and was sporting a new look and perhaps a new chef, and was looking forward to trying out their new fare.Brought the missus for dinner on Sunday - reservations were made with no problem and everything started well. The renovations created an airy, spacious feel that I actually liked
Brought the missus for dinner on Sunday - reservations were made with no problem and everything started well. The renovations created an airy, spacious feel that I actually liked more than the old decor. Our set meals consisted of an appetizer, main course of differing prices and a dessert along with tea or coffee if desired. Cova's niche is that instead of an appetizer, you can gorge yourself on the buffet table. I was not terribly hungry that day, so I passed, but I think my dear girlfriend did not realize this until it was too late and missed out on the many slices of parma ham that laid enticingly on the table .
I was perplexed by the fact that the coupon was only good for the cheapest set meal ($288). The meals differ by the main course, with the more indulging courses costing either $338 or $588. I was fully ready to order these meals if the coupon compensated up to the same amount, but I was told that was not the case. I was rather miffed so I stuck to the cheaper course just to spite them.
For appetizers I ordered the prawn bisque while the missus ordered a rock prawn salad. This was the start of the inconsistency that plagued the meal. My prawn bisque was good - it had a great flavour and density. It was not overly creamy or pungent, which is sometimes the case with seafood bisques. The rock prawn salad on the other hand, was annoyingly mediocre. The presentation (a bowl laid on dried ice) created high expectations, which came crashing down after seeing the size of the prawns (itsy bitsy teeny weeny), the freshness of the vegetables, and the dressing of the salad. To say the least, the dish did not impress. Perhaps people best stick with the buffet
For the main course, we got the grilled turbot with julienne vegetables, and the linguine with giant scallops and pancetta. Except they were out of giant scallops so we had to settle for regular scallops. Despite the change in ingredients, the price stayed the same (what?). However, the linguine turned out to be a surprise. It was cooked perfectly al dente, and the bacon added a crunchiness to the texture as well as a zing to the taste. The scallops, though minute played its part beautifully.
For the turbot, it was a return to the theme of inconsistency. It looked beautiful, the skin looked perfectly crispy, and the sauce around it looked delicious. Then came the actual eating part. First of all, the dish was tepid, which is a death sentence to a dish before you even begin. The fish was overcooked (read mushy), and lacked any real taste. Perhaps they felt the fish was too delicate and did not want to upset the palate, but they ended up leaving the palate asleep. The vegetables were mediocre, but without any decent sauce to accompany them, rendered them even plainer. To put it plainly, this dish was bad.
For dessert, we ordered the Pistachio Gelato and the Peanut Feuillentine. The gelato was elegantly presented on dry ice, so I did not have high expectations, but it turned out rather tasty. It was strong in pistachio flavour, and perhaps just a tinge too sweet, but overall enjoyable. The Peanut Feuillentine cake was also great. I expected it to be very light, but it was rich in chocolate with a zing of nuts. I'm not too much of a sweet tooth, but the missus enjoyed both immensely. We skipped tea and coffee.
Overall, I probably would not return to Cova to try out their other meals. While $288 for a fancy Italian meal with a buffet seems to have great value. The inconsistency of their dishes here really scares me. At the very least, I will not be returning until they learn to keep their dishes properly heated. The service in general was solid, except that some were generally inexperienced, which showed in their responses to our requests. Recommended for people who want to gorge on a buffet and still have an entree afterward.
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