Jason King
AmyHuangJah Bar - Insanely Brilliant Spanish Tapas - Manly
February 1st 2010 10:32
I had close to one of the best Sundays ever yesterday. Nice sleep in, swim at the beach while a carnival of hotbods paraded around, home for a shower and relax. Then I played tennis on a 45degree court with my fab friend and neighbor, Karin, and while she had an oil slick of suntan cream sweat off her and pool at her feet I turned into a red beacon that made planes redirect and attempt landings on our tennis court.
After being so burnt and bloody exhausted we came home and showered at our respecitve places and met up on Karin's balcony for a nice drop of white or two and were joined by Karin's friend Christine, who had to run off on the way to dinner so she could be a birthing partner due to her friend's water breaking
It was all happening yesterday believe me.
But it ended up being Karin and myself and I had wanted to visit the new Jah Bar in Manly for quite a while now. Just before Christmas the Sydney Morning Herald listed it as one of the best tapas bars in the whole of Sydney. It has since had numerous write ups and not one of them negative. Karin had been before and had been raving about it, so off we went.
It is located in an old restaurant opposite the post office in Manly, near Eggplant Cafe. It is also away from the beach front and hidden from the tourist traps and the patrons and staff are very attractive, friendly, knowledgable and funky - a lot of them are also Spanish so the authenticity was great and one of the wait staff even explained how the mushrooms were cooked to satisfy our curiosity. I did get a crush on the white/red headed guy (massive spunk lol) When we arrived at 5.45pm the place was pretty empty and the Sunday night band, Ziggy and Wild Drums, was setting up. But half an hour later the place was packed.
We were seated out the back in a beautiful area that is covered and received a light breeze, much to the relief of mine and Karin's sunburn. There were hanging candles all around and the place was buzzing. We were there for two things, Sangria and YUMMY food and we got it all in abundance. It was probably the best Sangria I have ever drank and the place has immediately become my Sunday arvo hang.
Along with the Sangria we decided we would have a two course meal of different dishes. We started with three dishes. The first, one of Karin's faves from last visit was an Olive and rosemary flat bread w/ roast garlic and lemon. The flat bread come out lightly cooked with olives and rosemary over it and a half roasted complete garlic - you have to spoon out a clove or two and as it is so soft you spread it over the bread and then squeeze some fresh lemon on it. It was INSANELY delish and perfect with the Sangria. Next we had Karin's other fave from the menu - Assorted mushrooms sauteed with garlic and finished w/ vinagre de jerez. This was simply divine. It is garlic and mushrooms cooked in a sherry vinegar and a few herbs - it is TO DIE FOR!!!
We also had one I chose as I just love cheese - this was a 3 month aged manchego sheep cheese and while not as standout and amazing as the first two was definately a subtle, required, palate cleansing cheese that melted with the sangria. It had what looked and tasted like a honey, garlic butter on the plate with it and the piece of bread with cheese and honey butter was mouth watering.
We then enjoyed a break from eating, chatted incessantly and drained our first large jug of Sangria while listening to a great Spanish band who played more mainstream music with a Spanish influence - you should hear Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watch Tower" from these guys - very cool cover! A couple of people got up and danced and some kids ran around having heaps of fun and devouring one of the restaurants fine pizzas.
Then came our second round of food and we were already quite full but managed to get stuck into their Croquetas of the week, which were a sweet corn in bechamel sauce - and these were heavenly - they tasted like uber cool gourmet chico rolls and I wanted a second helping. But instead we had the Basque style calamari with saffron aioli & lime. Basque style is a region spanning between Spain and France and actually predates Spanish and French cooking. A lot of the Basque meals are very rustic and history has it that due to limited stoves - most of the older dishes were cooked in a dutch oven buried in coals in the ground. I am pretty sure I did not see them dig out our calamari from the ground but OMG - it was yummy. I heaps preferred the thin legs of the calamari but the calamari loops were probably the tenderest I have tried, but those little legs go all crispy
That was it for the eating but we stayed another hour and a half listening to the band and gas-bagging while downing more yummy sangria. This is one of those rare restaurants that oozes atmosphere and appeal and you want to be there for the fact of being there.
I intend to keep visiting so I can eat my way through the whole menu and have a table named for me and I think you should give it a shot - you won't be disappointed.
You can find out more by visiting their website HERE where you can see some fine pics of the place, suss out the entire menu and sign up for a newsletter.
They are at Shop 7, 9-15 Central Ave Manly, NSW
for all booking and enquiries:-
ph: 02 9977 4449
email: info@jahbar.com.au
I recommend making a booking as opposed to turning up and there is NO BYO - but the Sangria is worth it. $27- for a large jug that lasted us at least an hour and half between us.
All photos by Jason King - I hope that it was OK but I borrowed the logo from the Jah Bar site for this article.
After being so burnt and bloody exhausted we came home and showered at our respecitve places and met up on Karin's balcony for a nice drop of white or two and were joined by Karin's friend Christine, who had to run off on the way to dinner so she could be a birthing partner due to her friend's water breaking
It was all happening yesterday believe me.
But it ended up being Karin and myself and I had wanted to visit the new Jah Bar in Manly for quite a while now. Just before Christmas the Sydney Morning Herald listed it as one of the best tapas bars in the whole of Sydney. It has since had numerous write ups and not one of them negative. Karin had been before and had been raving about it, so off we went.
It is located in an old restaurant opposite the post office in Manly, near Eggplant Cafe. It is also away from the beach front and hidden from the tourist traps and the patrons and staff are very attractive, friendly, knowledgable and funky - a lot of them are also Spanish so the authenticity was great and one of the wait staff even explained how the mushrooms were cooked to satisfy our curiosity. I did get a crush on the white/red headed guy (massive spunk lol)
When we arrived at 5.45pm the place was pretty empty and the Sunday night band, Ziggy and Wild Drums, was setting up. But half an hour later the place was packed. 
We were seated out the back in a beautiful area that is covered and received a light breeze, much to the relief of mine and Karin's sunburn. There were hanging candles all around and the place was buzzing. We were there for two things, Sangria and YUMMY food and we got it all in abundance. It was probably the best Sangria I have ever drank and the place has immediately become my Sunday arvo hang.
Along with the Sangria we decided we would have a two course meal of different dishes. We started with three dishes. The first, one of Karin's faves from last visit was an Olive and rosemary flat bread w/ roast garlic and lemon. The flat bread come out lightly cooked with olives and rosemary over it and a half roasted complete garlic - you have to spoon out a clove or two and as it is so soft you spread it over the bread and then squeeze some fresh lemon on it. It was INSANELY delish and perfect with the Sangria. Next we had Karin's other fave from the menu - Assorted mushrooms sauteed with garlic and finished w/ vinagre de jerez. This was simply divine. It is garlic and mushrooms cooked in a sherry vinegar and a few herbs - it is TO DIE FOR!!!
We also had one I chose as I just love cheese - this was a 3 month aged manchego sheep cheese and while not as standout and amazing as the first two was definately a subtle, required, palate cleansing cheese that melted with the sangria. It had what looked and tasted like a honey, garlic butter on the plate with it and the piece of bread with cheese and honey butter was mouth watering.
We then enjoyed a break from eating, chatted incessantly and drained our first large jug of Sangria while listening to a great Spanish band who played more mainstream music with a Spanish influence - you should hear Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watch Tower" from these guys - very cool cover! A couple of people got up and danced and some kids ran around having heaps of fun and devouring one of the restaurants fine pizzas.
Then came our second round of food and we were already quite full but managed to get stuck into their Croquetas of the week, which were a sweet corn in bechamel sauce - and these were heavenly - they tasted like uber cool gourmet chico rolls and I wanted a second helping. But instead we had the Basque style calamari with saffron aioli & lime. Basque style is a region spanning between Spain and France and actually predates Spanish and French cooking. A lot of the Basque meals are very rustic and history has it that due to limited stoves - most of the older dishes were cooked in a dutch oven buried in coals in the ground. I am pretty sure I did not see them dig out our calamari from the ground but OMG - it was yummy. I heaps preferred the thin legs of the calamari but the calamari loops were probably the tenderest I have tried, but those little legs go all crispy
That was it for the eating but we stayed another hour and a half listening to the band and gas-bagging while downing more yummy sangria. This is one of those rare restaurants that oozes atmosphere and appeal and you want to be there for the fact of being there.
I intend to keep visiting so I can eat my way through the whole menu and have a table named for me and I think you should give it a shot - you won't be disappointed.
You can find out more by visiting their website HERE where you can see some fine pics of the place, suss out the entire menu and sign up for a newsletter.
They are at Shop 7, 9-15 Central Ave Manly, NSW
for all booking and enquiries:-
ph: 02 9977 4449
email: info@jahbar.com.au
I recommend making a booking as opposed to turning up and there is NO BYO - but the Sangria is worth it. $27- for a large jug that lasted us at least an hour and half between us.
All photos by Jason King - I hope that it was OK but I borrowed the logo from the Jah Bar site for this article.
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Can't wait!
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Helen - you will like it - others to suss out when in Sydney depending on where you are:
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Sam - total mmmmmmmmmmmm
Have a great day ladies and gents!
Comment by Helen Randell
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Cheers,
Helen
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
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