You’ll never mind your date being a shade late for dinner if you arrange to meet in the casual yet classy surrounds of the Sofitel Lounge . After five on Wednesdays the martini trolley makes its rounds. Your Belvedere Pure Vodka Martini ($12) comes on a silver tray, deconstructed into component parts, with a well-dressed, softly spoken member of staff on hand to shake or stir. Great price for a martini by Sydney standards, particularly with such a nice vodka too.



On Monday nights you can enjoy a bargain priced Flight of Wine ($16) matched with well-ripened Hunter cheeses; in fact there is currently a different worthwhile special every weeknight.



Accompany your beverage with some snacks from the bar food menu. I’m told it’s best to order food as you arrive, as they sometimes get quite busy. Bar food options include crunchy Duck Spring Rolls ($8).



We also had skewered Lamb Kofta ($8) with spices and minted yoghurt.



Our final snack was mild Chorizo ($8) with tomato and olive salsa.

If you work in the area, check out their new ‘So Quick’ Lunch ($18) which includes your choice of soup, crunchy French baguette, savoury wrap or sandwich with a dessert item from the ‘Afternoon Tea at the Wentworth’ menu (I can recommend the cheesecake wholeheartedly - if you want to see why, go back HERE). Lunch can be a dine-in affair, or packaged to take back to the office.

Sofitel Lounge
Lobby, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 61-101 Phillip Street, Sydney
Ph: (02) 9228 9188 www.sofitelsydney.com.au

The chef calls this one 'Christmas in July'. It's a wreath of baby spinach, pumpkin, walnuts, Spanish onion and Manchego salad around a delightful Feather and Bone duck breast. Under the duck is a smear of parsnip puree, on top of it is a sour cherry sauce cooked in the duck's juices. It was a bright, and lovely winter dish which satisfied my craving for a salad quite nicely.

On a night when my S.O. has a show, we often need a speedy meal. I was won over by a very nice looking jar of Fifya Garlic Prawns at our local SupaIGA. They looked tasty and they were already peeled (bar the tails). We added some vibrant, acidic tomatoes and a bit of grated cheese, cooked it all in the oil the prawns were in, and it was a ten minute meal. I would buy the product again in a heartbeat, it would also be a great addition to an antipasto type meal.

Duck around the corner from the busy Darling Harbour to a quiet boat-bound oasis with spiffy wooden deck frontage, a quaint white lighthouse (built in 1874), the bobbing masts of a replica tall ship and a relaxing waterside panoramic city view. Who knew?



The menu contains the sort of food this marvellous environment demands – Beer Battered Fish and Chips ($19.50).



The crunchy Hoki fillets are shown off well in a batter made from Blue Tongue lager, and served up generously with good hand-cut chips and a great house-made tartare.



Local residents can also duck round for a spot of breakfast, Eggs Your Way with Crispy Bacon on Caramelised Onion Toast ($13.50) and a D’Oro Latte ($3.50) will help get the day under way.



Alternatively you could unwind with a well priced, approachable Marlborough Park Riesling ($5.50/glass, $23.50/bottle) and a plate of Seared Scallops with crisp Prosciutto ($21.50) set off by a celeriac and fennel salad.

Children are treated as valued guests in this venue; $12.50 buys them a choice of meals with juice or a soft drink, consumed while they babble excitedly about the surroundings. (Heck, I babbled excitedly about them too). I’m told the baked goods, products of a local baker, are also a highlight.

Yots Café and Bar
2 Murray Street, Pyrmont
Ph: (02) 9211 5144

Finally Sydney’s Mexican community has produced a restaurant worth writing about! Embark on a fabulous journey to a subterranean Mexican cellar; listen to funky flamenco; look at Mexican pulp fiction on faux adobe walls and most importantly eat tasty, authentic dishes.



To drink there’s excellent frozen Hibiscus Margaritas ($15), a selection of Mexican beers (which you can even enjoy the Mexican way - with an inch of very aggressive lime juice in the bottom of the glass, we tried, can't say I enjoyed) or bright, easy-drinking Sangria ($5/glass, $13/500ml jug). I quite liked their Sangria - the red wine they chose had a strawberry note, and it felt like the kind you could drink for hours (not too many tannins, not too thick or chunky). Strawberry Margaritas ($15) are also excellent, more acidic than the Hibiscus one pictured.



Don’t come here looking for Tex-Mex, sour cream or burritos; but if you like cheese, the Queso Fundido ($12) is an excellent start with pockets of chorizo, mushrooms and chilli folded through a bowl of melted cheese, eaten with pico di gallo on a stack of cloth-wrapped tortillas. We ate this dish in Las Vegas as well, and fell in love. I actually enjoyed this version more! And aren't the hand made imported Mexican plates beautiful? Great presentation.



Equally good is a warm bowl of Sopa Azteca ($12), a spicy tomato soup poured over crunchy tortilla strips at the table. 



Mains include flambé Camarones a la Diabla ($25), king prawns marinated in chipotle and tequila. They might look fairly simple, but there is a rich, roundness to the spicing that keeps me coming back for more.



More unusual is the Puerco en Salsa Verde ($22), or pork blade cooked with cactus in a tomatillo chilli salsa. Cactus is quite an unsual taste, this dish was difficult in some ways, as it tasted quite unfamiliar.



Heat seekers must try the superb Chipotle Salsa ($2) – a side of Crema ($2) is wise. Probably the best chipotle sauce I have ever tasted. It's serious heat, but somehow none of the rich layered smokiness of the chipotle is lost. Crema is more like thickened cream, and it is a nice relief from the heat.



I really liked all the colour in the restaurant, it sort of had a Mexican set feel. The tortillas came wrapped in cloth, and it was also used as decor on the poles.



The Flan ($8) is a sweet, texturally perfect, creamy, vanilla-infused mound of joy. Enough said.

Daily Happy Hours (5.30pm-6.30pm) and ten buck Margaritas on Mondays and Tuesdays too? Be still my beating heart. I will definitely return for a drinking night, very, very soon. They also do brunch!

Agave Restaurante Mexicano
2/410 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Ph: (02) 9326 9072

Hmmmm maybe I should have taken a process photo. The cheese (we love our new microplane, it revolutionizes grating and I cannot imagine why we didn't change over sooner) and parsley hide lovely home made pork and veal mince meatballs. We had them on gnocchi for something different. The chef made 54 and froze a few batches for other meals. We've been having a real Italian couple of weeks with both reviews and home cooking.

I've been craving zucchini fritters for ages now, so one evening we had a really simple dinner of  Zucchini and Corn Fritters with Melanda Ham, Salsa and Sour Cream which was so filling we only managed to eat two each. The ham is quite lovely, but not as big in flavour as the Vic's Meat's ham we had recently, that said, with the Vic's Meats ham you need to be up for buying 8kg, this one from Feather and Bone can be bought in half kilo pieces. We've even saved the skin and fat for another soup... mmmmm.

I have given up completely in buying large tomatoes, and as a result have been much happier in terms of flavour. It's exciting to have raw tomatoes again, felt like a blast of summer in amongst all this cold weather.

If you’re looking for a low-stress, affordable first date option, I recommend this quirky space. For the bargain price of $25 you get something good to eat, a drink to settle the nerves and a show to entertain you if your date isn’t quite up to par. Nothing quite reveals the character of a person like their response to fringe theatre.



Pay at box office, then wander this quaint, friendly pub gathering supplies. The deal includes a chicken, vegetable or bean curd (tofu) laksa and a local tap beer. If you prefer more exotic beer, use your coupon to receive $2.10 off a beer of your choice. Redeem the second voucher at the small kitchen, then wait in the adjoining fresh air dining room (slightly sullied by nearby smokers). It’s a back to basics laksa, but the basics are good. Both the chicken and the tofu proved to be satisfying steaming bowls of nicely flavoured soup, with enough heat to make your lips tingle.



Round out any corners with an even better platter of Roti Canai ($12), the three nicely cooked roti breads came presented with a small bowl of sweet Malay coconut curry for dipping, and a fresh little salad. Affordable food, fun, fringe and a fermented beverage!



The play I saw was called Miriam and the Monkfish. You can read my review in the City Hub (July 2009) - not my usual genre of reviewing but it was fun to do anyway!

Old Fitzroy
Corner Cathedral Street & Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo
Ph: (1300) 438 849

We have been using the 'MasterChef' egg technique for our poached eggs since seeing them do it, and they look so much tidier! All you do is oil up some cling wrap, and put it over a cup, then drop your egg in, tying it up in a knot tightly with no air left in there. Poach as normal, and you get a very neat poached egg. This morning we had ours on muffins with ham and tomatoes dressed in caramelised balsamic vinegar topped with a variety of fresh herbs.

I first noticed this store on a wintery evening when all the surrounding restaurants were empty - Fishmongers  was full. It’s a casual and pleasant space to eat with solid, rustic wooden furniture and hip sea-themed iron work decorating the walls. I thought to myself, they must do really great fish and chips.



Now I can report back that they do, but it’s their briny Oysters ($2/each) freshly shucked and gleaming with liquor that I’d return for. They came from the Manning River on the day I dined. You can see them with the shells placed back on top (which shows they shuck to order) in the bottom left hand corner. 

I’d also go back for the Barbecued Baby Octopus ($6) – it’s got a smoky Aussie barbeque flavour, unmatched in my experience. The sauces you can see in the top left hand corner are all made in house too.



Surprisingly satisfying are the Tempura Vegies ($9.50) – imagine a box full of diverse and interesting vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms and corn on the cob, with a little turmeric to enhance the flavour and some sea salt to make them sing!



Check out their specials for interesting grilled options that change daily, like Tandoori Dory ($15) served with lemon and hand-cut skin on Sebago chips. All the fine print is good too - eco-friendly Australian-made cardboard serving boxes and no endangered species on the menu as a company policy.



Winter warming bowls of creamy, dill-rich Seafood Chowder ($14) also available.

Fishmongers
42 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
Ph: (02) 9365 2205

As a slow food fan, many fast food and chain stores make me shudder. However this, the twenty-fourth restaurant for Grill’d and Sydney’s first store, is an exception. What I can report back on is a bustling Saturday lunch crowd of locals jostling for healthier, tasty, affordable food that’s served quickly by earnest youngsters.



Funky space too – it’s red, vibrant and splattered with quirky cartoons promising “no neon lights... no drive thru... no goddamn colonel and no clowns.” Now since I’m not a nutritionist, I’ll leave their claim “Grill’d burgers - up to 78% less saturated fat than McDonalds and Hungry Jacks” for someone more qualified to debunk. In my view the burgers look and taste better than offertings from either competitor.



The Hot Mama ($11.90) sang with hot harissa, tangy dill pickles and lean, flavoursome beef on a traditional bun moistened with tzatziki.



Herbed Chips ($4.90) also rate.



The Caesar’s Palace ($11.90) layers smoky bacon with moist chicken pieces well marked by the grill, springy baby cos leaves, parmesan and a free range egg.



I always like to take a peek inside, so I usually get a knife and cut my burger in half. This one looked great to me; especially the springy lettuce! No soggy buns here! Everything seems to be in the right proportion too. Look - if I had to come up with a critique, it’s probably that it all gets a little juicy; so grab an extra serviette at the counter.



The 'fine print' is also good. Buns are sugar free, preservative free and baked daily. All burgers are available bun-free if that's your stick; gluten free (for an extra $1.50); or with vegan patties (and a range of other toppings) if you don't want to eat meat. Heck you can have 'em kid sized too. If you do take a meaty option, the preservative free beef is lean, and they say it's ninety-five percent fat free. Not a bad place to drop by for a burger.

Grill’d
57 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest
Ph: (02) 9436 0699

We’ve got this friend who is a foodie - she grew up in Adelaide with the bounty of Central Market at her doorstep – so when we're choosing a place to meet up, we agonize over restaurants that will meet her exacting (and excellent) food and wine standards. A return visit to Osvaldo Polletti (see my last trip HERE) was an easy win; she gushed over the excellent house-made focaccia too.



The Antipasto Misti ($17/head) stood out again, this time with Bacala ($17) or flour dusted salt cod.



Next dish to hit the table in was the crispest gloriously unadulterated zucchini flowers;



rapidly followed by vibrant red baby capsicums stuffed with borlotti beans and cotechino modena. This dish was simple, sweet and showed off the baby capsicums beautifully. I would have picked them up had I seen them in a green grocer too.



The pleasure of a tight menu is that we managed to sample all of the pastas between us. I thought my briny bowl of Tagliatelle with plump Boston Bay Mussels, Garlic and Chilli ($17/$23) was the winner; but both the Rotolo of Silverbeet and Ricotta with Sage Butter and Pecorino ($17/$23) and the heaped plate of Spaghetti with Meatballs, Eggplant and Salted Ricotta ($17/$23) earned fans. No photos of the other dishes I am afraid, they were hungry!



They make what is easily Sydney’s best Affogato al Biscerin ($14) by eschewing Frangelico for what we called ‘Mummy’s Special Chocolate Sauce’.



Bicerin di Gianduiotto is really a divine Italian chocolate liqueur. Our delicate 2006 Sicilian Tasca D’Almerita Regaleali Bianco ($54) blend of Inzolia, Grecanico and Catarratto also scored points.

I told you I was already planning to return here in my last review, and I suspect I will always feel eager to return. Just thinking about it makes me wonder, what's on Franco's menu today?

Osvaldo Polletti
148 Norton Street, Leichhardt
Ph: (02) 9560 4525

With the chef away for the weekend, I had to fend for myself. We had a dinner party the night before he left and I saved a tub of excess creamy mashed potato for my brunch. Mixing it into a scone dough with some Chaubier, Parmesan Reggiano and Mozzarella, I baked a batch of cheesy scones. While they were in the oven I used the grill pan to get some char onto some gorgeous baby asparagus spears. My brunch of Cheese and Potato Scones with Char-Grilled Asparagus was lovely.

Making waves (rather than ripples) in a great niche on Sydney’s picturesque harbour, across the park from Star City and a mere stone’s throw from Darling Harbour, is the newest addition to the Ripples group - Ripples Sydney Wharf.



Fantastic plastic chairs in ripe raspberry and vivid orange make this al fresco boardwalk location a fun and airy place to eat brunch.



A bread board of Crusty French Epi with Olive Tapenade and Pesto Butter ($7) was nicely presented. Epi is a French style bread made from a joined set of rolls that together look a bit like a wheat stalk.



On the particular day I dined, the weather was overcast so my dining companion sensibly chose a warming bowl of Onion and Cider Soup with Gruyere Toasts ($14).



But for me it was Head Chef Richard Park’s Yamba Prawn Tart ($19) which, on a bed of creamed leek and excellent short crust pasty, was a work of art - French bistro art rather than fussy fine dining art at that!



The simple yet classy plating continued with a serve of Char-grilled Asparagus, Warm Potato & Herb de Provence with a Soft Egg ($17).



The cool breeze – there are heaters, but take a jacket – made the nicely cooked bream in the Fish and Chips with Home-made Tartare Sauce ($24) taste even better.



My heart was won by the cusp of winter gorgeousness of his Leatherwood Honey and Goats’ Curd Parfait with Poached Quince and Fairy Floss ($13). Such a lovely way to end the meal, and hands down one of the best desserts I have had at this price point.

Owner Grant Adronicus (of Andronicus Coffee fame) has chosen a lovely coffee in Karmee; it’ll suffice until their imminent liquor license as the BYO option of $8 per bottle corkage feels pricey.



The space is designed by well known architect Sydney Koh, and I think he's done a great job to make it fit with the surrounding buildings which include Google and Fairfax. All up - a really enjoyable lunch spot that I would be keen to return to.

Ripples Sydney Wharf
Between Wharfs 9 & 10, 56 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Ph: (02) 9571 1999

  
We haven't been out to a degustation for a while, and my email has been overflowing with various wine dinners, it seems the new way to gain interest in your restaurant. When I saw one for the South West of France at Becasse, my ears pricked. I have always wanted to dine at Becasse, and the South West of France as a wine region interests me because I have drank very few wines from this area.

These dinners are a regular occurrence at Becasse. They're not a huge money-spinners for the restaurant - rather the aim is more to introduce new patrons to the cooking and the space. By Sydney standards, I think it's very good value to get seven courses with seven matched French wines for $110 per person at a restaurant that boasts two hats, cooked by the SMH's 2009 Chef of the Year.

Having not set foot in the restaurant before, I was interested in the decor. An arrangement of death lilies on the front desk added to the funereal ambience of high ceilings, vertical drapes and muted greys. The long room is made larger by a nicely beveled mirror. Circles are repeated in the art works which include metal, wooden and painted pieces all with a similar theme. It's hushed tones and stiff upper lips here; you’ll find yourself speaking at a whisper without even knowing why. The circular LED bling chandeliers lighten the atmosphere and Justin North’s Rosemary and Garlic Bread presented with crème fraîche is equally light (and makes you want more than just one slice). 



While not all courses blow the mind, the plating is uniformly brilliant across all dishes (with the possible exception of this dish which seemed to be an extra dish to the advertised six course degustation). The canapé (left) is a black olive pastry with liquorice créme fraiche. While there was a sweet note in the cream, it wasn't really discernible as liquorice.

On the right is an amuse bouche of duck liver parfait which is actually an excellent match with the wine, a Floc de Gascogne Labouc which I enjoyed despite the paint-stripper nose. My wine tasting abilities aren't excellent, but I got lemon, a sherbet like sweetness and a bit of kerosene. The fortified wine was made from three grapes, the only one I recognised (our waiter had a thick French accent) was Colombard. The golden enoki and duck parfait went well with the wine because the sauce had a lemony edge as well.



Next up is a 2006 Chateau Laulerie, 'Comtesse de Segur', Montravel which is a Sémillon(50%) and Sauvignon Blanc (50%) blend that I enjoyed, particularly for the restrained oak. It's served with a Toulouse style pork terrine with scallops, crackling and parsnips. I liked the presentation a lot, the individual elements were all very well cooked, particularly the crunchy, salty crackling. The scallop got a bit lost with all the other flavours, and as such felt a little unnecessary. My dining companion hated the cabbage covering the brown roast meat of the terrine. Personally I didn't mind it - it kind of broke up the intensity of flavour a bit.



Our next dish looked very pretty and autumnal - I likened it to autumn leaves falling on the plate. It was a Fricassee of rabbit and crayfish with Jerusalem artichoke puree, cardamom jus. Sadly I found the cardamon hard to find. The bunny was cooked three ways. I loved the breast, enjoyed the loin and was okay with the more intense brown bits scattered over the plate. My dining companion liked those bits the best.

To me this restaurant is characterised by restraint, which is a little sad if like me, you're after unusual flavours. I was looking forward to both the liquorice in the first dish and the cardamon in this one, and both felt very muted.  Accent made the wine hard to get much about. It's a 2007 Domaine Berthoumieu, Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec which is a combination of three varieties including Petit Marsang. I didn't think this match was particularly good, and I wasn't sure what the crayfish were doing in the dish.



My least favourite dish of the night was this Cocoa tart fine of beetroot and cured venison, Swede gratin and tart berry jus. Perhaps by not liking swede, I was predisposed to dislike this dish. The tart was excellent in this dish, the swede looked great but had that awful element of sweaty socks that always makes me hate it, the deer was chewy. I also hated the wine upon the first sip. It was a 2005 Elian Da Ros, Cotes de Marmandais made from 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. When I had a second sip, I decided it had been served too cold so I warmed it with my hands to room temperature (about 21C) and it gained a whole lot of sweetness and I thus enjoyed it a lot more. It still had a relentless acidity (common across all the wines in this degustation) which I objected to.



One of the real highlights of the meal was the lamb shoulder slow cooked in an Earl Grey tea salt crust with an intensely good field mushroom puree, balanced by the acidity of smoked cherry tomatoes and trickled with a tea infused lamb jus. North nailed this dish. It looked beautiful on the plate too, and the tea flavour was very present. It was served with a 2004 Chateau la Coustarelle, Cahors which is 90% Malbec, and thus a bit big for me, but it was a good match.



I was also in raptures over the aromatic poached red quince with orange curd, caramel candied oranges and cubes of spice cake. The ginger is delicate, the orange curd is gorgeous, the cake is springy and tasty, the acidity of the sorbet refreshes the palate and you're ready for the next spoon full then the next, and the next... Wine of the night went to the 2006 Domaine Rotier Renaissance, Gaillac served with it. The grape (name escaped me) is native to the South West of France, there's no botritys, a hint of honey and a lively acidity.



Pop a salted toffee caramel petit four into your mouth and wait for the instant the salt penetrates your taste-buds - it’ll make you forgive any of the meal's more muted moments. It's on the left; there's also a chocolate and Grand Marnier truffles, almond and vanilla chew, prune and Armagnac financier. I only remember the taste of the caramel, oh and my dining companion's comment about the almond and vanilla chew - "expensive sesame snap". We had it with a 1976 Francis Darroze Bas-Armagnac which I hated, way too big for me.

The restaurant is highly staffed, though I found the pacing of our degustation a little slow, especially considering the restaurant was not full. At one point our wine had to be refilled because the dish took too long, at another point our waiter had to motor to get the wine on the table by the skin of his teeth before the dish landed. Not every dish was a winner for me, though nor would I expect them all to be because of that crucial matter of individual preference.

There's certainly a lot to recommend this restaurant, and if you like restraint, they're very good at not letting any one flavour dominate. It's top end but not too challenging, so you could take just about anyone, even vegetarians as they have a vegetarian (and indeed vegan) degustation that a vegetarian friend recommends quite whole-heartedly. The regional wine dinners are exceptionally good value, and you can find out about them by joining their mailing list.

Becasse
204 Clarence Street, Sydney
Ph: (02) 9283 3440

Ah I had such a weird week, capped off by a totally off the wall Friday, so this morning I needed the breakfast of champions to even out the lumps. Luckily on Thursday night two rather excellent things had happened. Firstly we went to a free Tequila tasting at Amato's across the road. They were tasting the Patron range (very expensive, but awesome) and we tried a Patron au Cafe which was to die for. We were very naughty and spent our fun money this weekend on a bottle. Real expresso and tequila! It was strong and intense, so what happened later in the evening was even more wonderful...

After the tasting we headed up to Osvaldo Polletti for a repeat visit with one of Craig's work mates. (Another truly wonderful meal, I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough.) We tried another amazing liqueur at the restaurant - Bicerin di Gianduiotto - which is an Italian chocolate hazelnut liqueur. We liked it so much we were fondling the bottle and calling it 'Mummy's Special Chocolate Sauce'. The owner Franco was so amused by our strange antics he gave us the half-full bottle to take home.

So this morning (with a nod to Thomas Keller's Illy Expresso Martinis at Bouchon in Las Vegas) I give you our breakfast Choc-Hazelnut Expresso Martinis. Take one shot of freshly made expresso (we are currently favouring Allpress), one shot of Bicerin di Gianduiotto and two shots of Patron au Cafe and shake over ice. Garnish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I have had two so far and feel very happy with myself.



To eat we had an organic bacon and organic egg crepe with dill and cheese. I know, I know, I should give the Feather and Bone plugs a rest, but this crepe with organic Melanda Park Bacon and Organic Ways eggs (see that bright orange yolk peeking through) set off with parmesan reggiano and dill was really the bomb. Truly a breakfast of champions.

This was actually my first attempt at piping potato. I didn't have a piping bag, so I used a zip lock bag with the corner cut off. Not ideal, but it still looked pretty groovy, especially sprinkled with smoked paprika.

Under the potato layer is a lamb shank mix that the chef cooked a week or so ago and froze in sachets for future use. We tried it as pies with pastry, but this was actually a much nicer way to eat it. We will probably make another Moussaka with one of the other sachets. It was made from eight very large lamb shanks that I picked up from the mobile butcher at the Orange Grove Markets. The mix was made to be deliberately mild so it could go in any direction without dominating. The meat is very tender from the slow cooking method used.

I am looking forward to making this again because I clearly need more piping practice!

 

At the rate that they’re springing up all over Sydney, I think I’m eventually going to hate slate veneer tiles, but that’s something to look forward to. For now here’s another venue made to feel more substantial and vaguely authentic through their use; the silver metal lights are funky too.



Dine at the sushi train, al carte or choose a set menu for perhaps the best value ‘degustation’ in Sydney. Dinner Course B ($25.50/head) includes ten courses. Ginger fans will appreciate the wasabi and pickled ginger being in containers table side.



Not every course is a winner but the Seaweed Salad ($6.50) is vividly green and tasty.



Fresh Oysters are large but lack liquor.



Edamame (boiled green soybeans) are not quite as salty as I like them, but compelling anyway.



Harumaki or Japanese Spring Rolls are pleasant if not particularly memorable.



The Hiya Yakko ($5.00) or soft tofu with soy sauce is fairly bland.



Tempura Prawn ($5/2 pieces) are crisp and enjoyable.



A Sushi and Sashimi Combination ($20) is fresh and well presented, if Westernised with crumbed chicken, avocado and mayonnaise nigiri sushi. 



Teppanyaki Beef Tenderloin ($18.50) is tender, though not bursting with flavour; and presented in a cast iron sizzling platter on a wooden base.



Miso Soup ($1.50) is a bit below par.



Orange Segments are nicely cut, and a fitting end to the meal. The restaurant is unlicensed and service flags from a clear language barrier, however dishes come from the kitchen with lightening speed. It’s not the best Japanese in Sydney, but the price is right, and it’s handy if you like shopping at Pyrmont’s SupaIGA just down the road, like I do.

Wasabi
125 Harris Street, Pyrmont
Ph: (02) 9571 5252

Here are the slices of last night's awesome Rhubarb & Caramelised Apple Bread and Butter Pudding which you can see by going here: http://missdissent.livejournal.com/251691.html

I left the remainder whole in the fridge last night, then sliced it up this morning. You can see the layers of rhubarb and apple quite clearly in this shot. I handed the slices to the chef who dipped them in a wash of beaten egg and milk, and then laid them gently in a fry pan slick with melted butter. In a separate pan, he fried some bacon from Feather and Bone (lovely bacon, really to my taste, can't wait to eat more).



Here is the resulting French Toast with Bacon - maple syrup was not needed because of the sweetness of the pudding. This was a scathingly brilliant plan, if I do say so myself. Plus it is environmentally friendly in terms of using up all the pudding - waste of course is also bad for the environment.