Review: Blancharu by Yomo

Shop 1
21 Elizabeth Bay Road

Elizabeth Bay, 2011

P: 02-9360 3555

Lunch Mon- Sat 12-2 pm
Dinner Mon- Sat 6- 10pm


Haru Inukai has left the building, preferring to concentrate his efforts on a ramen outlet at Sussex Centre Food Court. 
Masahiko Yomoda has taken over the reins - hence, we have Blancharu by Yomo.

Tonight we are embarking on a 5 course tasting menu and are looking forward to the Japanese/French fusion.

Review: Pony Lounge and Dining

19-25 Grosevenor Street

Neutral Bay

Mon - Sat
12pm - 3pm
5:30pm - late

Sun
8:30am - late

p. 02 9904 3422




Many years ago Squeak had tried and enjoyed Pony at The Rocks, but for some reason we had never been together. We decide to make an appearance on the 'other' side of the bridge and see what Pony in Neutral Bay has to offer a couple of rumbling tummies this lazy Sunday.

Review: Old Town in Newtown

503 King Street

Newtown

Tues - Thurs & Sun: 5pm - 11pm
Fri - Sat: 9am - 11pm

02 9557 4339


It is a cold and wintry night in what had been a cold and wintry week. There is just something about this kind of weather that just screams for Italian comfort food, so we decide to make the long trek back to the old stomping ground and give the Old Town in Newtown a go.

The Old Town is on King Street, but down towards the New Theatre and Pastizzi Cafe end. The place is pretty empty when we arrive but some tables start to fill as the evening progresses. The Old Town calls itself a cafe as opposed to a restaurant and the interior does feel more like that. Some homey touches suit the style of food though.

Review: Vicinity Dining

90-96 Bourke Rd 

(cnr Collins St)

Alexandria 2015

Mon 7am - 10pm

Tue  7am -10pm

Wed 7am - late

Thu 7am - late

Fri   7am - late

Sat  8am - late

Sun 8am - 8pm

Ph: 9002 1333


Vicinity Dining is another of our 'new' locals and Buggles and I have dined here on many occasions. 
We have been here for breakfast (if you are over the queues at The Grounds, this is a great alternative) dinner, and today, another lunch.

The restaurant is quite large, with separate bar and dining areas. The fit out is modern industrial, which suits the space and the location.

Review: Movida Sydney

50 Holt Street,

(cnr Gladstone St),
Surry Hills, 2010

Ph: 89647642

Mon-Fri 12pm - late
Sat 2pm - late
Sun closed

Buggles and I have been wanting to dine at Movida for quite some time now - today however, my visit is sans Buggles, she has been replaced by a few work buddies.

The restaurant is large & airy, with lovely high ceilings - the tables are large & spacious and should easily accommodate the many share plates we plan to order.

Once seated, with drinks ordered, we set about trying to choose a selection of dishes from the rather extensive menu - our waiter assures us that he will not allow us to over order (something that could happen easily, with the wide variety of dishes on offer).

Review: Mary's - Newtown

6 Mary Street

Newtown, 2042

Mon-Fri 4pm to Midnight

Saturday Noon to Midnight 

Sunday Noon to 10pm

It's no secret, we love burgers. 

Let's face it, sometimes nothing hits the spot like an uncluttered burger. I personally have never been a fan of the 'gourmet' burger - messy and piled high with every ingredient known to man. 

When it comes to burgers, simplicity is key.

The Mary's Cheeseburger comes it at around the same size as a McDonalds Cheeseburger, so with a price tag of $14 (including a small serve of fries) - well, you have to hope this burger cuts the mustard!

The patty is a combination of brisket, chuck and rump - however, as the patty also approximates a Maccas cheeseburger patty in thickness, you never really get to savour the flavour. It needs to be slightly thicker to allow this combination of beef cuts to really shine through. 

Don't get me wrong, the burger isn't remotely dry, it is quite moist and delicious - I just want more meatiness. The bun is sweet and yielding, there is a smattering of pickles and some lovely oozing cheese. The fries are crisp and not too oily - perfect really.

Washed down with a couple of schooners of Young Henry's and we are done!

Next time it has to be the Fried Chicken with a side of mash and gravy....

Squeak

Review: Kitchen by Mike - Breakfast

85 Dunning Avenue

Rosebery 2018

Monday – Friday / 7am – 4pm
Saturday & Sunday / 8am – 4pm

Breakfast until 11.30
Lunch 12 pm-3 pm

Coffee and sweets all day until 4 pm
p: 9045 0910


So today we took the 2 minute stroll to partake of yet another breakfast at our local Kitchen by Mike.

The breakfast menu is relatively small, and today we are both in a Hollandaise kind of mood, so Buggles opts for the Eggs Royale served with smoked salmon and I go for the Eggs Benedict which generally comes with prosciutto, though I swap it for bacon.

Buggles and Squeak : missing in action

......finally settled, a return is imminent!

Kingfish from a recent visit to Cara and Co - yes it was as good as it looks!

Review: Crown Street Assembly - (now Bishop Sessa)

527 Crown Street
Surry Hills

8065 7223

Lunch & Dinner
7 Days

So, it is a quiet Wednesday evening and Buggles and I are in the mood for a bit of a cheeky mid weeker.

Unable to decide on a location we aim the Mazda in the general direction of Surry Hills & decide to take it from there.

Not far up from the Cleveland Street end of Crown, we spot Crown Street Assembly and decide to give it a try.

The room is not large, but on this quiet Wednesday evening they have plenty of room for us.

Review: Claude's (Bar)

10 Oxford Street, 
Woollahra 

Ph: 9331 2325

Bar: Tues to Sat 6-11pm, Sat & Sun 12-3pm
Restaurant: Wed to Sat 6.30-11pm


So how long has it been? How long have we wanted to dine at Claude's - the answer is, a very long time. 

Truth be told, I'm so ancient I could have visited when Damien and Josephine Pignolet were in their first flush of greatness. 
It has only taken 31 years, but we are finally making the visit.

Sure, much has changed in that time - we completely missed the Tim Pak Poy years and current owner and Executive Chef Chui Lee Luk has been successfully running the restaurant since 2004 - but better late than never I say!

So for our first visit we have decided on a leisurely Saturday lunch in the downstairs bar section (we shall save the upstairs fine diner for another time).

Review: Tetsuya's

529 Kent Street
Sydney

9267 2900
info@tetsuyas.com

Lunch:  
Saturday from 12 noon
Dinner: 
Tuesday - Friday 
from 6pm
Saturday from 6:30pm


Celebrating 12 years together has to call for somewhere a bit special.  Ahhhh.. Tetsuya's. 
Long have I viewed it as an unattainable destination. Squeak's food idiosyncrasies have simply made it so - especially the seafood ones. However to the credit of most of Sydney's amazing restaurants who have modified degustation menus to cater for such quirks, as well as Squeak's more adventurous food spirit - we have finally eaten our way across Sydney and straight to the door of... Tetsuya's.

I will admit to feeling a little worried that we may feel let down. The downgrading of their status in the GFG from 3 to 2 hats a few years ago has made me wonder if we will feel just a little underwhelmed by the famed restaurant. As we navigate our way through CBD traffic and roadworks we enter the oasis that is Tetsuya's. From the first greeting at the entry we feel like we are in safe hands. The greeting is warm with no hint of pretension whatsoever, and the room we are led to is elegant and looks out onto the peaceful Japanese style garden.

Review: St Jude

728 Bourke Street
Redfern

Ph: 93103523

7am - late afternoon daily

After our recent amazing experience at Reuben Hills, the hunt was on for yet another cafe to tickle our taste buds.

We had passed by St Jude on a few occasions, however today, we decide to stop.
It is relatively early (around 8), so the cafe is pretty empty and we score a table very easily.

The menu, while not huge, offers some interesting choices and today Buggles decides on the Sweet Corn and Pumpkin Fritters served with a soft poached egg, avocado cream, hollandaise, shaved zucchini and baby spinach salad.

Review: Alio

5 Baptist Street, 

Surry Hills

02 8394 9368

alioptyltd@iprimus.com.au

Dinner 

Mon - Sat from 6pm

When Buggles and I started 'dating' 12 long years ago, Alio was our go to restaurant. We loved kicking back with a Mojito and enjoying their take on modern Italian cuisine.

Over the years our tastes have broadened and Alio seemed to get left behind.

Then late last year we attended an Italian Feast cooking class headed by Ashley Hughes and the memories came flooding back. 

So at long last, we are returning.

Review: Reuben Hills

61 Albion Street
Surry Hills

7days
7am - 4pm

Having been on our hit list for a good long while, we are finally heading to Reuben Hills for an early Sunday breakfast.

We arrive at around 8.15 and there is already a steady stream of customers taking their seats. 
The room is quite narrow & long, with a somewhat warehousey feel to it. 

The menu is available all day and there are some really interesting choices.

Review: The Bar at the End of the Wharf

Pier 4

Hickson Rd

Walsh Bay

Monday to Friday
Coffee and cake 10am - 3pm                        
Lunch 12pm - 3pm
Bar menu 5pm - late 

Saturdays
Lunch 12pm - 3pm
Bar menu 5pm - late 

So tonight as part of our STC subscription we are off to see 'The Splinter', so rather than dine at our usual spot Cafe Sopra, we decide to give the relatively newly opened 'Bar at the End of the Wharf' a go.

'The Bar' fills the space formerly occupied by The Wharf restaurant and after the very lengthy walk down the pier, we are happy to settle into our seats and admire the best view of the harbour, Sydney has to offer.

Review: Sixpenny

83 Percival Rd

Stanmore

T. 9572 6666

e. info@sixpenny.com.au

Wed-Sat

Dinner from 6pm

Sat-Sun

Lunch from 12pm

I am having a 'Tom Cruise' moment right now - you know, one of those fist pump, jump on Oprah's couch kind of moments. 

This moment has come about courtesy of Sixpenny and the stupendous lunch we experienced there recently.

Let me take you back to that day and how it all began...

We have been wanting to dine at Sixpenny for positively ages - I was tweeting the boys on a semi regular basis asking when they were going to open, were they taking bookings yet, etc. etc. 

When they finally did open, we never seemed to get our act together and actually book, and then before long, the rave reviews started & securing a table became a little more tricky.

...So this day started off as most Saturdays have for the last 4 months - up at the crack of dawn to get the house ready for inspection.

Then with inspection number 112 over, we fire up the Mazda & make the very short trip to Sixpenny.

Review: Catalina

Lyne Park
Rose Bay


t. 93710555
e. reservations@catalinarosebay.com.au


Mon-Sat Lunch/Dinner 
Noon - Midnight
Sun Lunch only
Noon-10pm


We awake to a glorious winter's day; the sun is shining, the birds are singing and we are on holiday - it really doesn't get much better than this....well, yes it does, if you throw in lunch by the water!


With this in mind, we bundle ourselves into the trusty Mazda & make our way to Catalina.


Parking sorted (in a 12 hour zone, no less), we make our way inside. The restaurant is spacious, bright & inviting & complements it's glorious harbourside location.

Review: Blacksheep

256 King Street
Newtown




Mon - Sat: 12pm - midnight
Sun: 10am - 10pm


8033 3455




Blacksheep is a relatively recent addition to King St, taking over where Funky Bar ended. Newtown can be an interesting place to eat. For a long time it has seemed that the food had to be secondary to the company. Now with the recent openings of places like Bloodwood, Hartsyard and Spencer Guthrie we can happily start to enjoy both. Blacksheep isn't attempting to be a fine diner; it kind of wedges in nicely between casual cafe and restaurant and offers a variety of share plates - which works well for us prior to a spontaneous Dendy visit.

Review: 4fourteen

414 Bourke Street
(enter via 72a 
Fitzroy St)
Surry Hills


Lunch
Tues-Sat: from 12pm
Sun: 12pm - 6pm
Dinner
Tues-Sat: from 6pm


93315399

restaurant@4fourteen.com.au

Buggles & Squeak have been long time devotees of all things Colin Fassnidge (right back to Le Grande Bouffe days!) so when news of the opening of 4fourteen filtered through to us we were counting down the days until opening. We manage to snaffle a lunchtime reservation and one beautiful Friday we make our way to Surry Hills - excited to sample the new fare.

4fourteen is quite a large space and it is decked out in a very urban, but warm, way with lots of exposed brick, beams and timber with a large open kitchen. 

Review : Hartsyard

33 Enmore Road

Newtown

8068 1473

e: hello@hartsyard.com.au

Mon-Tues : Closed

Wed-Sun : 5.30pm till late

I know, I know we are very late in coming to the table on this one - seems every blogger & reviewer has been here before us & pretty much said it all.

So why you may ask, are we even bothering with this blog entry?  Because the food at Hartsyard is so good & we want to shout it from the rooftops, that's why.

Truth be told, we have had our table booked for a couple of weeks - as soon as we looked at the menu and read 'fried chicken' and 'poutine' we were in.

So we arrive on this ultra cold Saturday evening to a restaurant that is warm  and very inviting

The room has been designed by Ashley Couch and what a great job she has done. We love the industrial aesthetic & have stolen a few ideas for our new apartment!