Ayden Hillis
Whale Bone – Jammie Closest thing to a perfect restaurant experience we’ve personally had. Exceptional seafood, outstanding meats, huge portions, attentive service, and thoughtful pacing throughout the night. We started with a prosecco and a Pinot Grigio while waiting about seven minutes to be seated. The restaurant was completely full most of the night, but service never felt overwhelmed. First up were eight oysters, requested as small as possible, and they nailed the request. The oysters were incredibly fresh, but what elevated the experience were the accompaniments. The sauce options were unique, and after every oyster they provided a whiskey palate cleanser, which was an amazing touch and made the course feel very refined. Easily a 10/10. We specifically asked for the bone marrow and burrata salad to come after the oysters, and the timing was perfect. As soon as we finished the oysters, the next dishes arrived. The bone marrow was massive, easily one of the biggest we’ve ever had. The marrow itself was rich with a slight vinegar note that worked very well. Onion and pomegranate paired nicely, though we would have liked additional options like Dijon mustard. The bread could have been slightly softer. Still around a 9/10 overall. The burrata salad was fresh and well balanced, but we did not think the croutons were necessary since the dish already came with bread for spreading the burrata and salad onto. With both included, it became a little too bread heavy. A light balsamic drizzle would also improve the dish. One standout service moment came when staff offered complimentary Talisker 10 Year whisky shots for a nearby birthday celebration. Before offering them, the server asked whether we were driving, which we appreciated. The mains arrived after about twenty five minutes. The Wagyu flat iron steak was excellent. Properly seasoned, very savoury, and cooked exactly as requested with a great crust. The pork belly was the best dish of the night. Extremely tender, packed with flavour, and paired with coconut shrimp that worked surprisingly well. The mushrooms were excellent with a huge portion size. The fries were still good, but the weakest item only because everything else was so strong. The cheese could have been layered more evenly instead of concentrated on top. One small issue was that the steak, fries, and mushrooms arrived warm rather than hot, but the flavour quality made up for it. Service remained consistently attentive throughout the entire night. Water glasses were constantly refilled even though a jug was left at the table. The atmosphere leaned more casual than fine dining, which suited the experience very well. We skipped dessert only because the portions throughout the meal were huge. Looking around at other tables, the dessert portions also looked very generous for the price. Whale Bone delivered one of the best overall dining experiences we’ve had, especially in the first half of the meal where the execution, pacing, and attention to detail felt nearly perfect.
