Jason King
AmyHuangAustrian Club: established, friendly and down to earth
June 27th 2008 09:21
Once again, I am on the hunt for authentic 'German' cuisine and my sister specifically looked this one up for me. Her exact words were: "I am taking you to this really nice German restaurant and I know you'll love it because it's not touristy! They all actually speak German to each other!"
So, excited and anticipating a chance to practice my German, she packed me in her car and off we went into the backstreets of Frenches Forest, a suburb in Sydney's Northern Beaches.
I was feeling a little confused when we got out of the car. The sign on the door said "Australian Club Sydney" so I questioned: "You do know that Austria is not Germany?"
However, I was not disappointed. Austrian cuisine is actually quite similar to the southern Germany (Bavarian) cuisine and one look at the place I instantly knew this was a 'local' hangout. It's a cultural club with a small restaurant attached to its side. Wooden home-style decor and the familiar sound of chatters in German put a smile on my face. We sat down, was greeted warmly by Elizabeth, our hostess and given the menu. There wasn't any sausages insight, and I knew I was in the right place.
It's authentic Austrian. They have schnitzels and roasts, not sausages like the Germans.
I ordered a pork roast with potato dumplings, one of my favourite dish in Germany. The potato dumplings are made out of flour dough mixed with potato mash and herbs and have this smooth yet chewy texture to them. The roast was tender with crackles still attached and I could not help but to risk indigestion and finished it all.
Beers are great too. My favourite Erdinger Weiss was on the menu and Johann, Elizabeth's husband acknowledged that I must have been to Germany otherwise I wouldn't even order the Erdinger. Impressed with my conversation skills, he came over to the table and promise to look me up whenever he is in Coffs Harbour (and apparently that is going to be in November with his brother!)
Very reasonably priced and excellent service and food. Don't let first impressions fool you. It's a very German/Austrian thing - they'll probably be a little slow in acknowledging you when you walk in but the host and hostess are actually really friendly people. Just be friendly to them first! Remember what goes around comes around!
The Austrian Club Restaurant
20 Gratten Cres,
Frenchs Forest NSW
Phone: (02) 9452 3304
So, excited and anticipating a chance to practice my German, she packed me in her car and off we went into the backstreets of Frenches Forest, a suburb in Sydney's Northern Beaches.
I was feeling a little confused when we got out of the car. The sign on the door said "Australian Club Sydney" so I questioned: "You do know that Austria is not Germany?"
Restaurant Interior
However, I was not disappointed. Austrian cuisine is actually quite similar to the southern Germany (Bavarian) cuisine and one look at the place I instantly knew this was a 'local' hangout. It's a cultural club with a small restaurant attached to its side. Wooden home-style decor and the familiar sound of chatters in German put a smile on my face. We sat down, was greeted warmly by Elizabeth, our hostess and given the menu. There wasn't any sausages insight, and I knew I was in the right place.
Roast pork and potato dumplings
It's authentic Austrian. They have schnitzels and roasts, not sausages like the Germans.
I ordered a pork roast with potato dumplings, one of my favourite dish in Germany. The potato dumplings are made out of flour dough mixed with potato mash and herbs and have this smooth yet chewy texture to them. The roast was tender with crackles still attached and I could not help but to risk indigestion and finished it all.
Beers are great too. My favourite Erdinger Weiss was on the menu and Johann, Elizabeth's husband acknowledged that I must have been to Germany otherwise I wouldn't even order the Erdinger. Impressed with my conversation skills, he came over to the table and promise to look me up whenever he is in Coffs Harbour (and apparently that is going to be in November with his brother!)
Beer!
Very reasonably priced and excellent service and food. Don't let first impressions fool you. It's a very German/Austrian thing - they'll probably be a little slow in acknowledging you when you walk in but the host and hostess are actually really friendly people. Just be friendly to them first! Remember what goes around comes around!
The Austrian Club Restaurant
20 Gratten Cres,
Frenchs Forest NSW
Phone: (02) 9452 3304
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