Il Locale, Ramsey St, Haberfield

Il Locale, Ramsey St, Haberfield
Sunday 26 February, 2006

My favourite pizza place in Haberfield has always been Napoli in Bocca. I did a pizza making class there early last year and loved the experience. But, tonight I was exposed to some of the best, if not the best Italian food in Sydney.

Tonight was a surprise dinner for a friend - she had no idea we would be there and her reactions and expressions were priceless. First, she seemed to acknowledge our presence then ignore us completely. It was both hilarious and insulting at the same time. Once reality set in there were laughs all round & the constant reminder that we will never let her forget what happened.

Il Locale serve northern italian food - pastas, pizzas, meat, fish etc. The menu is far more extensive than I imagined. We all decided to share a selection of pizzas and the rocket & parmesan salad. It was hard to decide the pizzas but we settled on the:

Pazza - hot salami, gorgonzola, anchovie and chilli;
Napoli - anchovie and olive;
Etna - sausage, peas and mushrooms; and
Parmignana - eggplant, parmesan and proscuitto.

Without a doubt, my selection (Pazza) was the best - the cheese with salami and chilli was perfect and the anchovie was hard to detect (just the way I like it). I was eating with a tough crowd, serious foodies and one from an Italian background. Their comments sum up the experience, "Simple, yet true to form Northern Italian food", "Beautiful and flavoursome" and "The best pizza in Sydney".

The service is average - one minute they are attentive, helpful and on top of things, the next they are forgetful (we had to ask for more water three times) and distracted. Il Locale is BYO which makes it a reasonably priced place to visit.

The interior is large and spacious with beautiful wooden chairs and tables. The tables however are too small - why don't restaurants get this? If you can't fit a main meal, bread plate and a few glasses on your place setting - the table is too small. There's nothing worse that having to turn away food because there is no more room on the table.....

Il Locale - 94A Ramsay Street Haberfield - (02) 9797 8966

Bathers Pavillion, The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach

Bathers Pavillion, The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach
Sunday 26 February, 2006

Today was a special occasion - my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. As one of their favourite restaurants is Bathers in Balmoral it seemed appropriate that we celebrate there. An intimate and important group of guests were invited and we were seated in the private dining area at the far end of the restaurant.

The temperature today was steamy & the restaurant just didn't have a good air flow - well, at least not enough to reach our room. That said, we had a fantastic long lunch - the food was outstanding, the service good and the company was excellent.

I've had some hits and misses at Bathers previously but today the food really delivered. I enjoyed the Goat cheese cappelletto (similiar to ravioli) with witlof. olives, parmesan, asparagus and anchovy butter for entree. There were three large cappelletto's on the plate and they melted in your mouth. Several of the other guests ordered the Sélection de fruit de mer with scampi, prawn, kingfish, tuna, scallop and eel with the other popular dish being the Sweet corn soup with sautéed yabby tails, baby leeks and basil oil. The presentation was very good and everyone devoured their meals.

We had a good break between entrees and mains and I can't write this without acknowledging there were some areas the service could have improved e.g. asking twice for a napkin, refill of water and the length of time between the meals etc - these little things might seem insignificant but they contribute to the overall experience.

The wine was excellent, in particular the red from Freychinet in Tasmania. One of our waiters was from Tasmania so this generated an animated discussion about Tasmanian wine. The decor in Bathers embodies a beach theme however the painting above our table by Fran Allen was quite striking. It was a series of forks in random order painted across the canvas.

The mains arrived with great fanfare as several dishes required the sauce poured at the table. I was very impressed with the Murray cod with crab, tomato
lentil, celery ragoût, champagne and chervil sauce. The cod had a beautiful crisp outer layer and the champagne & chervil sauce was a lovely accompaniment. Some of the other dishes ordered were the Barramundi wrapped in pancetta with Asian oxtail ravioli & celeriac purée; Loin and rump of lamb shank pithivier with small vegetable & tarragon sauce; and the Assiette of farmed Macleay Valley rabbit potée of rabbit and vegetables & liquorice sauce. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals.

With another significant break between courses many guests decided to order dessert and tea/ coffee. Whilst I declined (I am eating out again tonight...I know) the desserts did look very appealing - largely fruit based with raspberry, apricot and peach standing out along with creme fraiche and ice cream.

The general consensus was that the food was outstanding but the service did not match the experience.

Bathers Pavillion - 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach - (02) 9969 5050

http://www.batherspavilion.com.au/

Restaurant Sojourn, Darling St, Balmain

Restaurant Sojourn, Darling St, Balmain
Saturday 25 February, 2006

Opening earlier this month, Restaurant Sojourn is the latest offering from a former Banc chef. Banc must go down in history as producing the most competent, self starters. Sojourn is located in East Balmain - continue driving all the way down Darling St towards the ferry wharf and it is directly opposite the Commercial Hotel. Interestingly, sojourn is an old English word meaning 'to dwell for a time in a place'.

Sojourn is housed in a beautiful terrace - the wooden panels on the exterior and the sandstone interior have a great warmth. The staff are very friendly and welcoming and we were given a table right at the front. Within minutes we were provided with a warm sourdough roll - the table already had a small dish of salt and another of soft butter (thank you).

The menu is concise with a approx. 8 offerings for entree and main and approx. 5 offerings for dessert. The prices are set with entrees $18 each and mains $28 each. It was really hard to decide as every dish sounded fabulous.

Once we ordered we were provided with a complimentary starter. Roast carrot soup with honey cream and walnuts served in a minature tea cup. It was sensational and the perfect size - anymore would have been too rich.

For entree I chose the chicken terrine with split pea vinaigrette and chicken liver pate - it was delicately presented on a rectangle plate and tasted delicious. My theatre buddy ordered the sauteed ricotta gnocchi with asparagus, dried tomatoes and parmesan wafer. Even though they have only been opened for a few weeks this has fast become one of their signature dishes.

It was around this time that we noticed the restaurant had become very warm. There was air-conditioning on when we arrived, but we could no longer feel it. Each time new diners arrived and the front door opened we were treated to a refreshing cool wind and wished our table was out on the pavement. When we asked our waiter, he was embaressed to share with us that the couple seated under the air-conditioning vent has complained it was too cold, so the air had been turned off. This meant the rest of the diners had to sweat it out.

For main I ordered the assiette of pork which was served in a unique way - tender pork peices accompanied by shredded pork served on blood pudding. It was really good but there was just a little too much blood pudding for my liking. My theatre buddy ordered the stuffed veal shank with white polenta, tarragon and mushrooms. We also ordered sauteed broccoli with almonds and beurre noisette. Everything was beautiful.

After such a satisfying meal we decided to skip dessert - it was uncomfortably warm by this point so we asked for the bill. I thought the prices were very reasonable considering the quality.

The downside? There is limited parking in Balmain and most, if not all the street parking has a two hour limit.

Restaurant Sojourn - 79 Darling St, Balmain - (02)9555 9764

Harbour View Hotel, Cumberland St, The Rocks

Harbour View Hotel, Lower Fort St, The Rocks
Thursday 23 February, 2006

This pub is located so close to the Harbour Bridge that you can see the elated expressions of the bridge climbers as they make their descent. There is a public bar on entry level however take my advice and climb the three flights of stairs to the top floor cocktail bar - a small, open space that offers surprising views.

Tonight, our group of 15 started with pre-dinner drinks in the Cocktail bar. The wine list had some lovely offerings with a few wines by the glass. After reading the cocktail list I decided to try the French Martini - I can highly recommend this - it was so drinkable and very refreshing. The only downside to this location was the sound of the trains going back & forth over the bridge.

We moved into the restaurant and ordered a variety of starters - Light sourdough with roasted olives & extra virgin olive oil and Garlic & herb bread. The bread was beautifully fresh and it didn't take long for the table to polish everything off.

I was pleasantly surprised by the dinner menu and thrilled with my selections - Blue swimmer crab cakes with asparagus, sauce remoulade & baby herb salad garnish for entree and Grilled swordfish with pippis, silver beet, smoked paprika aioli & red capsicum sauce. My colleagues ordered most of the other main meal offerings and there were no complaints only praise - the one dish that received the best comments was the Country fish pie with white fish fillets, prawns & buttered mushrooms gently poached in a white sauce, topped with mash potatoes & garnished with caramelized tomato. The dish is on my radar for my next visit.

The staff were courteous and on top of the drinks orders (a hard task with any large group). Our animated, lively conversations did drive some other diners away but fortunately we were seated around the corner from the main part of the dining room. This is a great destination for groups - start with pre-dinner drinks in the cocktail bar and then move inside for dinner.

Interestingly, this hotel is also owned by the group that transformed the Exchange Hotel in Balmain.

Harbour View Hotel - 18 Lower Fort St, The Rocks - (02) 9252 4111

http://www.harbourview.com.au/

Curry Cremorne, Spofforth St, Cremorne

Curry Cremorne, Spofforth St, Cremorne
Tuesday 21 February, 2006

This might sound strange but I'm not that familiar with my local takeaway offerings. I much prefer going to restaurants as opposed to ordering takeaway from them. Tonight, I decided to check out the options in Cremorne.

The caption on their takeaway menu, "Dishes are cooked followed by the order", should have been warning enough but my hunger got the better of me. Curry Cremorne have all the usual Indian dishes, lamb korma, chicken tikka, tandoori chicken, beef rogon josh and mixed dahl.

There was a reasonable crowd inside and it only took about 5 minutes for my order to be taken. For $9.90 I order butter chicken with a side of basmati rice. To my surprise the butter chicken was served on a bed of rice. I would have preferred the side of rice to be just that, a side.

Arriving home, the food was luke warm and needed a minute in the microwave. The butter chicken was OK, but it was far too heavy on the tomato and not heavy enough on the tumeric or chilli.

I've heard Sydney's best butter chicken is at Darbar on Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe. So, I tossed the takeaway menu in the bin and made a reservation at Darbar for next week.

Curry Cremorne - 87 Spofforth St, Cremorne - (02) 99083003

http://www.currycremorne.com.au/

Bistro Marlo, Wentworth St, Manly

Bistro Marlo, Wentworth St, Manly
Sunday 19 February, 2006

Manly is an intriguing place. We were sitting in Bistro Marlo which spills out onto Wentworth St - at least two blocks back from Manly Beach and at least 3 blocks in from Manly Pier - every second person that walked past was in a bikini, sarong, board shorts etc. If you are fully clothed you are over dressed. Feeling decidedly out of place and clearly not locals (well, two of us) we did the next best thing - people watch.

Chef Mark Armstrong, from the highly awarded but now departed Armstrong's in North Sydney has created a small but inviting space with Parisian charm. They offer an all day breakfast (love that) and their lunch menu is a mix of lighter meals, salads, pastas and full meals e.g. steak, fish and a decent specials board.

On such warm day with temperatures climbing into the 30's, the thought of a heavy meal was out of the question - so we all selected something from the lighter meals and specials board. I chose the steak sandwich with cafe de paris and my old school buddies selected the gorgonzola & parmesan souffle and spatchcock salad.

Fortunately we had a lot of catching up to do because the meals took a while to arrive at the table. This was surprising considering there were only about 5 tables occupied. However, when the food did arrive it looked sensational. The steak sandwich was delicious, tender meat and beautifully roasted vegetables on turkish bread. The spatchcock salad looked amazing on a huge bed of salad comprised of lettuce and whole artichokes with a creamy sauce but the spatchcock was tiny in comparison. The disappointment was the cheese souffle - it looked good but didn't live up to the goats cheese or gruyere souffles that we have experienced elsewhere.

The service was lax, we had to call them over if we needed something and it all just seemed too hard - I know it was hot and we were near the beach but that doesn't mean service has to seem like a chore.

After some discussion we caved and decided to splurge on dessert - 2 x belgian chocolate mousse and 1 x creme caramel with toffee on the top. Absolutely decadent and we really didn't need them but when you get three old school buddies together for a long lunch - these things are going to happen....

The decor is brown, brown wooden tables, small uncomfortable brown wooden chairs unless you are seated outside on the cube seats, a large mirror, chalk boards that display the specials and dinner menu and a small bar area with a decent display of wine.

I'd like to come back for dinner sometime and try more of the french fare on offer.

Bistro Marlo - Shop B, 11-21 Wentworth St, Manly - (02)99760800

Glass, Hilton Hotel, George St, Sydney

Glass, Hilton Hotel, George St, Sydney
Thursday 16 February, 2006

Walking into the recently refurbished Hilton Hotel it's easy to see where the restaurant's name came from. All you can see is glass. It's minimalist, not flashy and Glass brassiere is located on level 2 - just take the escalator from the foyer.

You enter the restaurant through two large glass doors and it's hard not to be impressed by the size or the view straight through the restaurant out to the Queen Victoria building - which looks spectacular lit up at night.

There were four staff waiting at the front desk on my arrival and they all recited 'welcome' in unison. A little taken aback by such an enthusiastic response I was led to my table and received a little history along the way - the restaurant has been open for 8 months and designer Tony Chi is responsible for the amazing interior.

I sat down and was looking directly over to the bread bar - they bake all their own bread on site. It smelt divine and I was promptly delivered a basket of fresh bread with soft butter (thank you) to indulge in while I waited.

I read through the menu and was delighted with the variety and fabulous offerings e.g twice baked gruyere cheese souffle with red wine poached pear & witlof salad; Fig tart, red onion jam, blue cheese and lemon dressing; and Rare roasted venison, beetroot relish and mushroom pie. I was salivating.

My dining companion arrived and after looking over the menu stated that a main meal would be more than enough. Great.....here we are at a fabulous restaurant with beautiful, fresh, quality food and....well, I digress.

I absolutely loved the Rare roasted venison, beetroot relish and mushroom pie. The venison was tender and the beetroot relish was the perfect accompaniment. Sure, it's at the upper end of the scale at $37 however it was delicious. I asked the staff to recommend a wine by the glass and was thrilled with the shiraz they produced from the impressive wine list.

The staff were over attentive but with the lack of service I have been experiencing lately - this approach was a welcome surprise. This restaurant was completely wasted on my dining companion however I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitey return.

Glass - L2, 488 George St, Sydney - (02) 92856068

http://www.glassbrasserie.com.au/

Young Alfred, Ground Floor, Customs House, Circular Quay

Young Alfred, Ground Floor, Customs House, Circular Quay
Tuesday 14 February, 2006

I called Young Alfred last Thursday to make a lunch reservation for today. I was politely informed that they don't take lunch reservations until the week of the reservation. So, this meant that I had to call back yesterday to make the reservation for today. What is it with Sydney restaurants and reservations?

Forget Valentines Day......today was lunch with some girlfriends. I suggested this location after dining here a week or two ago. Not because the food was sensational but primarily due to its location.

Today's experience was all about waiting - waiting for our order to be taken, waiting for our food and waiting for our bill. It is staggering to me that a city restaurant that caters to business people is unaware or oblivious to time constraints. How many reminders are required to constitute a GET MOVING?

As we watched food being delivered to the tables around us, we had a chance to suss out the extra menu offerings. Usually, it's strictly pizza with a very small selection of pastas but today the menu had extended to include steak, chicken, risotto etc.

The food was good - I enjoyed the '10' pizza with salami, olives, roasted capsicum & semi dried tomato pesto. My Valentines Day buddies chose the Gnocchi with fresh tomato chilli and peccorino and the Sirloin on a bed of mash potato. We all shared a bowl of mixed leaves. For lunch it's significantly less than the restaurant upstairs (Cafe Sydney) however it's not cheap either. The pizzas average $19 each.

Today's experience was average - but I'll keep it in mind.

Young Alfred - Ground Floor, Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay - (02) 9251 5192

http://www.youngalfred.com.au/

Opera Bar, Lower Concourse, Sydney Opera House

Opera Bar, Lower Concourse, Sydney Opera House
Monday 13 February, 2006

I know I've said this before but I really am a creature of habit. You'd think with all the places I've visited I'd be keen to try different meals particularly at those locations I return to semi regularly.

Tonight my STC buddies and I were off to see 'Doubt' at the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre. With a 6.30pm start we needed a quick bite before the show. Without hesitation we all agreed to meet at the Opera Bar.

As ridiculous as it sounds I didn't even have to look at the menu or share with my STC buddies what I was having - they already knew - beer battered flathead fillets & chips with tartare sauce. Even funnier is that they've been converted too.

For the location alone Opera Bar commands a crowd. Tonight, Monday night, it was absolutely packed - every table was full, the crowd had spilt out onto the upper concourse and there wasn't even live music playing - what gives?

There's always an interesting mix of people at Opera Bar - tourists, theatre-goers, locals, nearby office workers etc - the service is touch & go, you have to queue at the bar to order your meal & you can't book - very few pro's in my book but I keep going back...


Opera Bar - Lower Concourse, Sydney Opera House - (02) 9247 1666

http://www.operabar.com.au/htmlfiles/

Trans restaurant, Military Road, Mosman

Trans restaurant, Military Road, Mosman
Saturday 11 February, 2006

This visit did not get off to a good start. I had called over a week ago and left a message with my reservation details. Usually, they call back the next day and confirm the reservation. By Thursday I hadn't heard anything so I called them. They didn't have my booking listed for Saturday but when I asked them to double check they found it but hadn't transferred it to a table booking. Unfortunately they could only fit us in at 6.30pm.

When we arrived they stated that the table was booked again at 8pm. Great. There were only three tables occupied at this time but it took ages for our order to be taken. You'd think they'd be all over us considering our table was double booked.

We kicked off with the vietnamese pancake and side salad (one of my favourite dishes) and the boneless stuffed chicken wing with minced pork, mushroom, vermicelli & seasoning - delicious. You could easily eat one to yourself.

For mains we selected the Crispy boneless duck served with Gai Choy and other daily vegetables and the Curry prawns spicy curry prawns with coriander - cooked with coconut milk. With a small pot of steamed rice to accompany the dishes we were in business.

A hint with the curry prawns - once you eat all of the prawns etc inside the coconut, you can scoop out of the fresh coconut and mix it into the curry sauce - this makes the dish last longer and ensures all the flavours are captured.

Tonight, the food was great but I was not overly impressed with the service. By the time we left Trans was packed. I think I'll try takeaway next time.

Trans restaurant - 523 Military Road, Mosman - (02)99699275

http://www.transrestaurant.com.au

Ravioli Lasagne Kitchen, Military Rd, Mosman

Ravioli Lasagne Kitchen, Military Rd, Mosman
Friday 10 February, 2006

Here's the dilemma. I had invited friends over for dinner but didn't allow myself enough time to cook. Rather than suggest we re-locate to a local restaurant I decided to try the Ravioli Lasagne Kitchen.

This place is a godsend, especially tonight. They have a commercial kitchen on site and prepare a variety of Italian meals that you can take home and heat up yourself. The choice is more extensive than I imagined - mushroom ravioli, three cheese ravioli, beef lasagne, vegetable lasagne, eggplant parmignana, rich red neapolitan sauce - the list goes on.

Everything is prepared fresh daily on the premises. They don't freeze any of their food and are very open with their ingredients down to the type of wheat used in the pasta.

I felt like something comforting and hearty, so selected a medium sized beef lasagne. Everything looked delicious and the lovely owner grated parmesan over the top before putting the lid on and carefully explaining the precise oven temperature required to cook this dish to perfection.

I was able to heat this up at home and serve it to my guests with some crusty bread and side salad - too easy! The lasagne was beautiful - definitely one of the better take home options I have tried.

Ravioli Lasagne Kitchen - Shop 4/ 192 Military Rd, Mosman - (02) 99696100

Cinque, King St, Newtown

Cinque, King St, Newtown
Wednesday 8 February, 2006

Cinque is located is the hub of Newtown surrounded by DENDY, Fish records and the IGA. There's plenty to look at here, not to mention the people watching.

We needed a quick bite before the movies. By-passing the main meal options I was pleasantly surprised to learn they offer an all day breakfast. Toast for dinner? Absolutely....

Our waitress was really pleasant & happy to share a laugh. For the bargain price of $5 we ordered turkish bread with a sensational side of ricotta, honey & cinnamon & for $4.50 banana bread with a side of strawberry jam. Great combination & my movie buddy and I devoured them.

We couldn't help but admire the hamburgers that were delivered to the table next to us. Sharing some banter with our table neighbours about the food they were impressed you could still order off the breakfast menu.

We all agreed that toast for breakfast was by far the most satisfying option. I guarantee we will be back next week...

Cinque - Shop 1a, 261 King St, Newtown - (02) 95193077

Iku Wholefoods, MetCentre, Wynyard

Iku Wholefoods, MetCentre, Wynyard
Monday 6 February, 2006

Iku Wholefoods embraces the macrobiotic food movement. Their aim is to provide delicious wholefood, imbued with the energy of love and respect. Wow! All this over lunch?

I've eaten there several times - it's mainly a takeaway joint located at the top of the MetCentre ramp leading down to Wynyard. However, ignore the queue on the ramp and grab a seat inside - there are 6 or so stools where you can eat in peace.

Being a creature of habit I've ordered the same thing each time - chickpea casserole with pumpkin and biodynamic brown rice. The servings are large and it's very reasonable - Approx. $7. They do offer a wide range of options - soups, casseroles, burgers (tofu, that is), curries, noodles, lasagnes and salad rolls, but I haven't made it there yet. The rolls/ wraps look sensational and they also sell organic juices (try the Parkers organic in Blood orange - I'm addicted).

I'll be back to try the other lunch offerings....once I move on from the chickpea casserole.

Iku Wholefoods - MetCentre, Wynyard
http://www.iku.com.au/

Danks St Depot, Danks St, Waterloo

Danks St Depot, Danks St, Waterloo
Saturday 4 February, 2006

I have been wanting to try dinner at Danks St for ages. It's a regular haunt for breakfast/ brunch but I've never made it for dinner....until tonight.

It was a challenge to park because of a function at the Hillsong Church diagonally across the road. This is a downside for Danks St and it's a good thing they don't open on Sundays when the church crowd peaks.

We entered and stood in the middle of the restaurant. There's no front desk as such, more a gathering area by the stairs. No-one was around so we started walking down towards the bar to see if we could get any assistance there. Once greeted we were given the pick of the tables - they weren't busy at all.

The ambiance at night is completely different - the lights are dim and there are tea lights on each table. The wall feature behind the tables looked great - the lighting enhances it.

We ordered garlic bread to start - it's not on the menu but ask for it anyway - it's sensational. Unfortunately, we had to send it back tonight (this has never happened before). It arrived to the table only partly cooked through with only a tiny amount of the buttery sauce we have come to expect.

The dinner menu is driven by seasonal produce but you need a dictionary to decipher it. I didn't understand a lot of the menu but I did like the fact that entrees, mains & desserts were on the one menu. This meant we could determine if we were going to order entree & main or main & dessert.

I ordered the Duck and carrot pie, with young ginger and my soon-to-be work buddy ordered the Poached Line caught Blue Eye Cod with borlotti beans, calvelo nero and skordalia.

The restaurant was very warm despite the cool winds outside. The main meals were delicious and were beautifully presented with the freshest ingredients. For dessert we ordered the Lemon & mint ice water granita and Fresh summer berries with creme de framboise and clotted cream. The perfect finish.

Danks St Depot - 2 Danks St, Waterloo - (02) 9698 2201

http://www.danksstreetdepot.com.au/

Cooks Larder, Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon

Cooks Larder, Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon
Saturday 4 February, 2006

I have been keen to visit this place for many months. Avalon is not somewhere I would think of visiting for a meal but after today's experienced there's definitely a reason to return.

As soon as I drive across The Spit I feel as though I am on holidays. By the time I reach Avalon I could have flown to Brisbane. It feels like a million miles away and things are definitely more relaxed. The Cooks Larder is located in the heart of Avalon - a village atmosphere with boutique shops and beauticians. It is situated between a Subway and a children's hairdresser. Upstairs are some apartments that look like they have been designed & decorated by the contestants from The Block.

I was expecting the Cooks Larder to be larger but it's a compact space with an impressive deli section, kitchen with 'cooking school' mirror hanging above and cafe. The cafe tables and chairs spill out onto the sidewalk. It's inviting and I'm thrilled to learn they serve Allpress coffee - skim flat white please.....

Today I was lunching with some old Uni buddies who I haven't seen for 8 years. Within minutes it was like time hadn't passed and we'd only seen each other yesterday. Deciding what to order was difficult as everything sounded appealing. There's menu offerings and blackboard specials. We decided to start with some sour dough with Cook's Larder chef's blend olive oil and caramelised balsamic vinegar (all the bread is supplied from the Sonoma Bakery) - delicious.

For lunch we ordered:

- Pumpkin & feta puff tart with salad;
- Lamb chops with chick peas; and
- Soba noodles with fresh ginger & prawns.

All the meals were beautiful. Even though there was a steady stream of guests we weren't hurried and sat for a while before ordering more coffee & tea and these sensational mini chocolate muffins.

The staff are welcoming and happy to chat although they are all busy. It's relaxed and I've now found a reason to return to Avalon.

Cooks Larder - 21 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon - (02) 99734370

http://www.thecookslarder.com.au/

Young Alfred, Ground floor, Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay

Young Alfred, Ground floor, Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay
Friday 3 February, 2006

I had walked past this place yesterday on my way into Customs House. It spills outside onto the verandah and then down onto the sidewalk with a small separate section. I had been keen to try the pizzas at Young Alfred and was particularly interested in the dramas that had unfolded over their previous venture, Arthur's Pizza.

Young Alfred's owner/ Manager, Bosko Vujovic, is the former owner of Arthur's Pizza in Paddington. Arthur's Pizza still exists along Oxford St, but loyal followers will inform you that the new owners know nothing about pizza. There were lots of reports about Vujovic trying to retain the name Arthur's Pizza for his new venture, however it was not to be. Hence, Young Alfred was born.

The service is very average - it's largely travellers, so things can take a while. Menus and drinks took sometime to arrive and then we had to attract their attention to place our order. There were six pizzas on the menu, with one curiously titled 'Surprise'. The staff will not ruin the surprise, so order at your own risk.

The pizzas are definitely the draw card. We asked how large they were & whether people order a pizza for themselves or to share. Our waitress answered with a vague response that didn't address our question. So, we decided to share a pizza and salad. For the pizza we chose Ping Pong - vongole, bacon, chilli and salsa verde ($18)and for the salad - Rocket & parmesan ($8.50).

The salad arrived almost immediately with two side plates. It was a large plate of green leaves and had about three pieces of shaved parmesan on top. Without asking our waitress cracked pepper all over it. This certainly wasn't my idea of a rocket & parmesan salad.

We had almost polished off the salad by the time the pizza made it the table. It was medium sized and cut into four pieces. I'm sure most people could eat one pizza themselves. Our pizza was nice but there was definitely no chilli in it. One vongole hadn't opened so we discarded it. Surely, the kitchen would have noticed this before sending it out.

Whilst I wasn't overly impressed I am returning next week with another group to give it another chance.

Young Alfred - Ground floor, Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay - (02) 92515192

http://www.youngalfred.com.au/

Cafe Sydney, L5 Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay

Cafe Sydney, L5 Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay
Thursday 2 February, 2006

Cafe Sydney has one of the best views of Sydney Harbour. Uninterrupted views - that is. The large open space is inviting with the names of international cities in large lettering e.g. Stockholm, Paris, London etc all over the walls. As you step out of the lift you are met, not greeted, by front desk staff who always appear flat out, taking calls, leading guests to tables etc - it's all a little chaotic and not a great first impression.

We were shown to our table on the verandah - it was a spectacular day & the temperature was climbing into the mid 30's with high humidity. Our waiter dripped sweat onto us as he took our drink orders. The table across from us were all using fans - what a good idea! We weren't offered them.

Menus were handed out and specials were discussed but the staff really need to work on their customer service skills - it's a little haphazard and inconsistent. On such a hot day, we were all feeling a little dehydrated and were drinking water like fish. There's plenty of staff wandering around but they just don't seem to be focused on the guests - when a glass is empty you refill it, when all guests have finished their meals you clear the plates away etc.

The food however, is fantastic - for entree I enjoyed the chilled gazpacho with tuna avocado and pepper salad (the perfect entree on an uncomfortably warm day) and for main I devoured the tandoori roasted blue eye cod with eggplant, mustard, baby spinach, choko chutney and raita. My dining companions all enjoyed their entrees;

- Tian of hot smoked kingfish, avocado, tarama, preserved lemon and avruga caviar;
- Quail "Saltimbocca" with pancetta, sage, buffalo mozzarella and lemon butter; and
- Prawns served chilled in the shell with mayonnaise and lemon.

For mains the decisions were hard but there were absolutely no complaints from the:

- Barramundi fillet with baba ganoush, pomegranate molasses, beetroot and mint salad x2; and
- Spring lamb with sourdough, pecorino and basil crust, crushed kipfler potatoes, baby green vegetables and sauce vierge.

As our mains were being delivered we asked if we could have some fans (we really shouldn't have to ask). If it hadn't been such a hot day, we may have indulged in dessert.

With such an amazing location and great food - it's a shame that service is not taken seriously.

Cafe Sydney - L5 Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay - (02) 92518683

http://www.cafesydney.com/Cafesydney_Home.cfm

Mrs Top restaurant, Military Rd, Neutral Bay

Mrs Top restaurant, Military Rd, Neutral Bay
Wednesday 1 February, 2006

This restaurant had a loyal following in Marrickville for over 20 years before moving to Neutral Bay in 2004. Why move? There's speculation over the lease arrangement and the owners need to move on etc.

Marrickville's loss is Neutral Bay's gain as far as I'm concerned. The name intrigued me - who is Mrs Top? As I discovered, Mrs Top was derived from the nickname of the mother of the original owners who briefly ran the restaurant in the late 1970s.

I also learnt that loyal followers from the Marrickville days are dropping off citing the loss of former owners, Vanessa & Anatol Slabaspyckyj, who were the life & soul of Mrs Top. There are some great stories of Vanessa's front of house skills and the wonderful way she took bookings - many 12 months in advance. To compliment this, there were stories of Anatol's french cooking with an eastern european twist.

Tonight was my first visit to Mrs Top. I had never heard of it until a few weeks ago. Located on a busy strip along Military Road, it is surrounded by restaurants and take away places. There are plenty of options here.

Upon entry you realise how small the place is. No more than 12 tables occupy this small space. We were greeted and provided with a complimentary glass of sherry - delicious. A plate of olives and thick, crusty bread followed - who needs dinner?

We ordered a main meal each - I chose one of their signature dishes, Coq au vin (Chicken, red wine, mushrooms) and my dinner buddy selected the perch in a thick white sauce. A plate of vegetables was placed in the middle of the table to share. I really enjoyed the Coq au vin - the chicken was tender, not dry and the thick sauce of chicken stock & red wine was just right. When the waiter cleared my plate he mentioned that the reason the chicken was red was because it had been marinated in red wine, not because it hadn't been cooked through - OK.... but why tell me that after I've eaten.

We decided to indulge in dessert and this is where the 'wow' factor appeared. We ordered the chocolate pudding and an apple crepe to share. Oh my god....the chocolate pudding was so indulgent but soooo good, probably too much to eat alone unless you are a chocoholic. The apple crepe was sensational, sliced apples amongst a thin crepe sprinkled in sugar.

This is real comfort food with large servings at reasonable prices - all entrees are $15, mains are $25 and desserts are $8.

I'll be returning.

Mrs Top restaurant - 242 Military Rd, Neutral Bay - (02) 99091969

Bayswiss, Cnr George & Margaret Sts, Sydney

Bayswiss, George & Margaret Sts, Sydney
Wednesday 1 February, 2006

I love browsing through the homewares on display at Bayswiss. Even though it's sale time at the moment I was surprised at how few bargains were available. I can't say I would think of Bayswiss as a lunch destination or even a coffee spot, especially with the amount of cafes in the city. But, today I caved.

The MetCentre store is divided in parts - product and food. The product spills from the main store into another store just outside. The food is on display within the main store behind a massive counter where you can view the food offerings. There's a wide variety of bread rolls, salads, pastas and curries.

It's survival of the fittest as there is no order to how the staff serve you. Staff just wander down the counter and ask 'can I help anyone?' The first person that steps up and calls out their order wins. I selected the thai chicken rissole with salad. The rissole was placed on a plate and shoved into a microwave. I paid and just stood around waiting for the microwave to finish. Surely, it would have been more efficient to give me a table number and bring it to the table rather than wait around for several minutes at the counter blocking other patrons from ordering. I moved back a little, eyes firmly on the microwave. After several minutes it finished but no-one raced over to retrieve my lunch. I waited, then waited and finally someone, not the person that took my order, took my lunch & placed the salad in a side dish. I stepped up in anticipation.

Plate in hand, the next challenge was to find a table for two. The seating arrangements at Bayswiss are largely big share tables. We found some seats and started to eat. My thai chicken rissole was luke warm but still edible (the prospect of taking it back to be re-heated didn't appeal to me). For the life of me I couldn't taste any chicken, just potato. Anyway, it was pleasant enough and the salad was a nice accompaniment. For $7.50 I wouldn't order it again.
Later on I tried one of their mango surprises (kind of like a mango smoothie but more icy). It was sensational & I would return for this reason alone.

Bayswiss - George & Margaret Sts, Sydney - (02) 92474040

http://www.bayswiss.com.au/index.php