Luxe, Port Macquarie

 Petite beef wellington w/ mushroom duxelle, truffled gravy and fries ($16)

Spiced pumpkin tartlet w/ caramelised onion, rocket and toasted sesame ($14)

Since I moved to Sydney, Luxe has changed owners. It is no longer full of ramshackle and old school charm. Rid of its mismatched chairs, old kitchen appliances and so, its warmth. The new Luxe, in my opinion, is quite plain. The menu, not so much, but it still pales in comparison to the old.

For what my father and I received for our money we were a bit disappointed. Dad's beef wellington was not the best: a small serving size accompanied by uninspiring American fries-styled chips, and a gravy lacking any truffle taste. My salad was sublime, perhaps the best side salad I have eaten. But again, the spiced pumpkin tartlet was a let-down. Although definitely spicy, the pastry seemed store-bought and was unpalatable and chewy.

The waitstaff at Luxe contain some familiar faces, one being our friendly waitress. The service is also efficient, with food coming not too early or not too late, making for the perfect catch-up over lunch.

Luxe still offers catering, beautiful sushi and vietnamese rolls, an array of gourmet salads and wonderful coffee and is worth a visit. This is two items off their new menu, I myself wish to test some others.

Luxe Cafe, Shop 17 Peachtree Walk Arcade, Hay St, Port Macquarie