May 2008 - Sydney Table

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Sydney Table - May 2008

Totoya: Japanese grills and beers

May 31st 2008 01:29

Totoya in Neutral Bay has been one of my favourite Japanese restaurants for a very long time. It is one of those places that focus more on their food than the ambiance and the decor, which suits me just fine. The place is always busy even on a weekday night.

Understandably, there are mixed feelings about this place. Some people find it great while others pick on the cleanliness and the service of the staff. It's true. This place is not spot clean. The tables may be a little sticky and the floors may not be marble white, but I've never ever felt the quality of the food had been compromised in anyway. The staff don't always speak great English, which can become difficult when ordering special requests such as enquiries about gluten free products as well as catering for any allergies the customers may have. However they are by no means rude. Some of them are a little bit intimidated and shy about their English and may repeat over and over again, but they are as helpful as possible in their own Japanese way.

The food. I agree sushi is not the strongest point about this restaurant, more famous for their skewer grills and their wonderful draught beer. The hot pot is a great choice too on a cold night and the highlight is the noodles - udon - they seem to make their own and the texture is not too soft with a slight chewyness to it. A wonderful combination to the hot pot soup.

A down to earth restaurant offering authentic flavours. Not for those who value service and ambiance above all else though.

Totoya Japanese Restaurant
Shop 13, 166-174 Military Rd
Neutral Bay
02 9908 7045

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Sushi for appearances (LINK)

May 28th 2008 21:13

There has been much talk about Sushi Tei, a recent addition to Sydney's moving sushi scene that has great decor, excellent international reputation without matching quality of food to deliver.

Sorry. Am I being too blunt?

Yes, this place may look like an upper market sushi train, and sure they do have great branches overseas with great reviews, but don't expect anything more than its appearances in the Sydney branch. The display all looks fancy and worth a million dollars but the food is pretty average; not to mention for the quality of food it offers, it's way over priced.

And because of the hype, this place is always too crowded, and the inexperienced staff obviously cannot handle the pressure. The service is often too slow and unresponsive to customer request, than your average small Japaneses cafe on the street corner. Perhaps it was my bad luck to arrive on a day when the staff are not feeling the most friendly, but I can hardly call it customer service.

However, I guess it's still better than the standard, overly franchised Sushi Trains. I guess.

Sushi Tei
1 Chifley Square
Cnr of Elizabeth St and Hunter St
Sydney
02 92327288
www.sushitei.com

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Harbour Kitchen and Bar: Park Hyatt (LINK)

May 26th 2008 11:13

I don't mean to be posh. I've been to Harbour Kitchen and Bar about three times now and I have only paid for two of those dining experiences. This ultimate waterfront / harbour side dining is one of those most sought after locations right at the foot of the harbour bridge looking over to the opera house. Who can say no?

There is however, a slight snobbishness about this place. My first visit with a work function, and it was just perfect. It was for lunch and the day was beautiful, which made this dining experience more stunning. The decor is specifically built for a waterfront venue with glass walls looking over to the harbour making the whole place bright and happy. I ordered a pork belly dish, which I have just noticed is no longer on the menu - which was just mouth watering and melts in your mouth type of dish. The servings as just as any five star restaurant would be - small but enough. The duck, (which is still on the menu) is also succulent and juicy.

Dessert is also great here. And no where else matches the romance factor at night here. My third time (the visit I actually paid for) was for the Sugar Hit event as part of the Sydney Good Food Month and the offering was really really rich and sweet, but deliciously relaxing. However, as some of my friends didn't feel like dessert and ordered their cheapest beer on the menu, I noticed the tightened lips appear on the face of our waiter. Obviously no one has spent less than $10 here and they weren't too impressed.

I value customer service. So this really dented my impression of the place. The food is great, but without equally great and down-to-earth staff, I'd give it one less thumb.

Harbour Kitchen & Bar
Park Hyatt Sydney
7 Hickson Road
The Rocks
02 9256 1661

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Emma's on Liberty Lebanese Restaurant

May 19th 2008 04:59

Normally a side street, off the main strip location is a penalty to cafes and restaurants without the exposure to walk in traffic. Not at Emma's. The place is so popular you can't just 'walk in' - best to book at least a week in advance.

(Image Source: www.bestrestaurants.com.au)

The place is warm and cozy. Some may even complain there is too little room to spread out and have a comfortable meal. However, what's wrong with a little bit of communal eating if the food is that great?

Emma's on Liberty is a tiny little restaurant in Enmore that serves Lebanese cuisine. I am not a Lebanese expert myself however I can see that the menu does take in some modern Australian influence compared to places in Bankstown or Punchbowl for instance. However, the taste is great, and I am not going to complain.

One disappointment is that the service can be a little scattered and often on a busy night, you are given two hours to enjoy your meal and they will ask you to vacate your tables for the next set of bookings. It does sound rude, but they will usually tell you this over the phone at the time you call up to book to have you prepared.

If you are visiting, make sure to order Lady's Fingers and their Moorish Chicken. If you could see me now, I am drooling at the thoughts. Desserts are good too. I am all for a good baklava however the table next to us ordered stuffed dates and their faces tell me that's what I should order at my next visit.

Read Sydney Morning Herald's review here: Emma's on Liberty (June, 2006)

Emma's on Liberty
59 Liberty St
Enmore NSW
(02) 9550 3458

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Tetsuyas: The Ultimate Gourmet?

May 14th 2008 04:57

It's been years and Tetsuya's in Sydney is still topping the restaurant scene as the ultimate restaurant to go to...

(Image Source: www.tetsuyas.com)

Tetsuya is well known for his cuisine. His style is Japanese and French fusion with a very high emphasis on high class. And the prices show it too. A ten course degustation menu at $195 per person on normal days. Expect to pay double or triple on days like Valentine's Day.

Sure. His cuisine may be great. I hear that the ocean trout is fresh and tender while his desserts sweet but not over powering. I ponder on this: even so, is the price tag really necessary?

(Image Source: www.tetsuyas.com)

I have yet been to Tetsuya's, so you can say I am either ignorant of his talents or simply just jealous of those who can afford such cuisines, but I just can't seem to justify the urge to pay $195 just to fill my stomach with food.

The restaurant is in the centre of a beautifully decorated Japanese style garden. Even though I haven't eaten there, I have walked past the location numerous times. Yes, there is the class and yes, there is the luxury feel of the whole ambiance. Reservations I hear, are taken six months in advance. I am surprised how many people are still waiting to taste this sensation at the same time surprised at how many people can afford such meals, despite what we have been hearing about inflation and the cost of living and the struggling families in the news.

Sorry - this is meant to be a food blog.

So. Back to Tetsuya's. Has anyone been with a story to tell? I am intrigued to find out.

Tetsuya's Restaurant
529 Kent Street,
SYDNEY NSW 2000
www.tetsuyas.com

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Kicking up a dumpling storm in Sydney: Din Tai Fung

May 9th 2008 01:21

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the advertisement inside my mum's daily chinese newspaper. I can't read the newspaper, but when I see the logo of my favourite restaurant we visited when we were in Taiwan last year, I recognised it instantly.

Din Tai Fung, originally from Taiwan with a small scale cafe style dumpling restaurant in the back streets of Taipei, have since expanded into an international sensation since its first opening in 1958.

The New York Times delivered a praising review in 1993: Top-Notch Tables; Taipei, Taiwan

What is it about Din Tai Fung that makes it so unique? I mean - everywhere you go you get dumplings right?

What Din Tai Fung is delivering, are dumplings that are crafted individually. I mean, crafted. Visiting the main store in Taipei was an eye opener. Each dumpling is made with such dedication and extreme discipline. Each sheet of pastry is the same size and thickness; each roll of filling are weighed and controlled; and the quality carefully controlled.

You can even have a peek into the kitchen to see these dumpling artists at work.

This means when we get our dishes on the table, they are made to perfection.

Beautifully crafted dumplings are trade mark of Din Tai Fung

When I was in Taipei, I waited for an hour and a bit to have a taste of these dumplings. This shows how popular the dumplings really are. (And how much I am willing to wait for good food) Thankfully, the Sydney branch, as it has only recently opened, is not so busy yet so it's the perfect time for you to visit to get a taste of great dumplings.

Highly recommended are dumplings with seafood flavours. I personally think these are even better than the original ones they serve in Taipei - naturally, we have better seafood in Australia.

Besides dumplings, there are also other delicious dishes such as fried noodles and pancakes and brilliant desserts on offer.

Din Tai Fung is ready to stir up a dumpling storm in Sydney.

Din Tai Fung Sydney
Shop 11. 04 Level 1
World Square Shopping Centre
644 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9264 6010

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Redoak Boutique Cafe

May 4th 2008 16:03

I was first introduced to Red Oak by the recruitment group at work. Isn't it nice how they hire you and teach you how to party by inviting you to all these "induction" days held in a microbrewery? I personally reckon they are just looking for an excuse for themselves to drink on the expense of the company

(image source: RedOak.com.au)

Anyway. We were treated to a beer tasting experience where we were served five smaller serving beers each with matching finger food to taste. Apparently each food item has the flavour and ingredients that means to enhance the flavour of the beer.

And yes - they do have beer of all sorts. I distinctively remember the Oatmeal Stout which almost had a coffee taste to it, although it did remind me of Guinness a little and I don't really like thick and heavy beers. There are also beers with fruit flavours (it seems to be trendy to have fruity beers these days!) such as cheery, raspberry and blackberry. My heart still steers towards the Hefeweisen of course, the German style 'yeast-wheat' beer that I so love. In fact, I think my first time in Red Oak was the first time I ever found a Hefeweissen in Australia that wasn't imported, and I was impressed.

At the door, the various awards Red Oak has won for their beers show how much the owner is proud of his achievements.

On my second visit recently, I decided to have a meal as well, as the attached restaurant was always full and serving some fine food that seem to make people smile. Usually I am a budget eater, but the menu looked too delicious to ignore so I decided to go all out and have a 2 course meal.

Entree was Seared Queensland Half Shell Scallops. Hmmmm I like scallops, this one was tender and juicy but slightly on the small servings side at $18, and I would have to admit is not the BEST ever scallops I've ever tasted. Nevertheless, I wasn't going to complain.

For mains, I ordered Lamb and Oatmeal Stout Sausages. I have a thing for snags and this one looked interesting. I was also considering the Pan seared Kangaroo Striploin however out of the five times I had kangaroo (style ranging from fillets to shreds of the meat on a pizza) I only ever had one good experience with this tough game meat, so I decided to play it safe. The sausages were great, although it did come with the stout, which I didn't extremely fancy but it did compliment the taste of the sausages quite well. (Probably why it is served complimentary with the dish)

By the end of my meal I was too full for dessert, but never hurt to look - Espresso Creme Brulee, Ale Chocolate Pudding all sounds too good. I'll make sure the next time I visit I have the main / dessert combination of the 2 course instead.

Even if you don't fancy having a bite, a drink at the bar is always a welcoming experience. The bar tenders are really friendly and knows all about what to tell you should you want to know about their beers.

Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe
201 Clarence Street
Sydney NSW
(02) 9262 3303
www.redoak.com.au

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Go to Alice's for a slice of Malaysia

May 2nd 2008 05:36

I have been pestered by my colleagues to try out Alice's. It's been a whole six months and today, we finally made some time to pop over.

After hearing a lot about this place, I wasn't too sure what to expect. You know when sometimes you overestimate something when you hear it too much and it turns out not what you wanted?

Alice's is a small little restaurant on an insignificant side street in the suburb of Thornleigh. The place is small, and often guests are packed in as much as they can to accommodate the demand of those still waiting their turn for a table. On the window, the owners proudly displays excerpt from the Good Food Guide 2008 where the introduction of the restaurant is splashed across two whole pages, as well as a clipping from the Sydney Morning Herald when the restaurant was reviewed in 2007 (Click here to read the review).

I vividly remember my experience of Malaysia cuisine while travelling in Penang and loved its aromatic spices and herbs that they add to each of their dishes. My favourite Hainanese Chicken Rice is featured on the menu here are Alice's and it didn't take me long to decide. However looking at surrounding tables, from those who ordered Lasi Lemak, Laksa noodles, Char Kwe Teow and Haar Mee, each and every dish looked just like the ones I tried in Penant and each looked just as authentic and delicious.

Alas, my rice came, and I was in love at first 'bite'. The tender steamed chicken was flavoured enough and at just the right saltiness. The rice, spiced with herbs was the perfect accompaniment to the juicy meat.

After my meal (which was satisfying and exactly enough for lunch in size) I ordered a Chendol, a Malaysian jelly in coconut cream, syrup and red bean drink. A little bit too much on the sweet side however a somewhat good finish after a meal, especially you've ordered a chili based dish that has left your mouth and throat tingle with sensation.

makan @ Alice's
262-264 Pennant Hills Road
(Entry via Bellevue St)
Thornleigh NSW
(02) 9484 8288
www.aliceskuih.com.au

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July 2008

3 Posts

June 2008