Saturday, October 13, 2012

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.


Friday, October 12, 2012

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).


Sunday, September 23, 2012

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.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

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.


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

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.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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.




Sunday, August 19, 2012

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.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

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.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

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.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

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.

Monday, July 2, 2012

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. 



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

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!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Review : Glass Brasserie

Glass Brasserie
Level 2,
488 George Street,
Sydney

Tel: (02) 9265-6068


Mon-Sun 6pm - late


So after our fabulous breakfast at Glass Brasserie, we decide to return for dinner and then a night at the Hilton
We have been needing a little time out - what with our current rental being up for sale and the endless open homes. Yep, time for a little relaxation.


We arrive at the Hilton and settle into our room at around 3.30pm. It is a cold, wet, miserable Sydney day and the first thing we notice is how cold our room is.   
A quick check of the air-con tells us the room should be a pleasant 22 degrees - not so, the room is freezing. 
We try to up the ante on the air-con, but it seems stuck at 22 degrees - a quick call to reception is no help, they offer blankets - come on this is the Hilton - we don't want blankets!  So we shiver for the next hour or so. 
Another call to reception results in an engineer coming to our room - he can't seem to sort out the problem either.
We head down to dinner hoping the air-con situation will be sorted by the time we return.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Review : Bar Mattino - Sunday Roast

96 Abercrombie Street
Chippendale

Ph: 9699 1442
e: barmattino@aol.com

Mon - Fri: 07:00 - 17:00

Sun: 08:00 - 16:00

It is no secret how much we love Bar Mattino - it is our favourite cafe, hands down.

Regulars for breakfast, we have only popped in for the Sunday Roast on a couple of occasions.
Recently we stopped by for the Roast Lamb & the Roast Chicken (both massive and equally spectacular) - but today we are here for the king of roasts, that's right The Mighty Roast Beef!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Review : the corner house

281 Bondi Rd
Bondi

02 80206698
info@thecornerhouse.com.au
Facebook
Twitter

Tues-Sat 5pm - midnight
Sun 5pm - 10pm

After our fabulous lunch at Panama House, it just stood to reason that we needed to visit its (big) sister restaurant - the corner house.
So thanks (again) to Nat from Folke & boys from the corner house - we are heading out this Wednesday evening to do just that.

The corner house is situated just down the road from Panama House, in a space formerly occupied by Castile Pizza.

We are seated in the front section of the restaurant overlooking Bondi Rd, we snuggle into our corner bench, enveloped by the warmth of the room.

Now, prior to our visit we had read Simon Thomsen's review, with all it's talk of hip, young things & music loud enough to rival a rock concert - well not tonight.
Tonight, it is blissfully quiet & relaxing - sure there is the odd 'hip, young thing', but there are also families enjoying a night out. Tonight it has the feel of an up market 'local' - somewhere for family & friends to come together and enjoy great food and wine. 

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Review : Hilton Breakfast (Glass Brasserie)

Hilton Sydney
Glass Brasserie
Level 2,
488 George Street,
Sydney

Tel: (02) 9265-6068

monday - friday 6am - 10am

saturday - sunday 7am - 11am


As anyone familiar with our blog knows, breakfast is one of our favourite meals. So when Lorna O'Neill (many thanks Lorna!), from Hilton Sydney invited us to sample Executive Chef Carl Middleton's new breakfast menu - well, it was hard for us to say no.
Carl's resume is very impressive. Coming to the Hilton fresh from his stint as Group Executive Chef, Lilianfels Spa & Resort, he headed the kitchen at Darley's where he achieved a Good Food Guide Chef's Hat back in 2011.
Middleton's new role at Hilton Sydney, also sees him taking responsibility for hotel dining, Zeta Bar, Marble Bar, Caffe Cino, in-room dining and events.
Prior to Lilianfels, Middleton served as Executive Chef at the Four Seasons in Sydney where he oversaw all hotel dining as well as the hotel’s restaurant, Kable’s. Middleton has also worked as Senior Sous Chef at Quay.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Review : Mad Spuds Cafe

479 Crown Street
Surry Hills

Ph: 02 9698 8108
E:info@madspuds.com.au
Facebook


Mon closed
Tues-Sat 8am-6pm
Sun 9am-6pm

We are a bit perplexed as to how a cafe going by the name of "Mad Spuds", has escaped our attention for so long.
Buggles and I are long-term lovers of the humble spud - and are constanly on the search for inspired potato offerings.

So finally having heard about Mad Spuds (thanks to them following us on twitter), we quickly decide a visit is in order - and soon.

According to the cafe website, Mad Spuds sources their organic potatoes from Robertson, NSW. The potatoes are grown in rich red volcanic soil, and watered from natural springs and are an excellent source of fibre, low in fat and the skin is rich in vitamins and minerals - you don't need to convince us!!


So this Saturday morning as we awake with a craving for a spuddy breakfast, we make our way to Mad Spuds Cafe.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Review : Panama House

251 Bondi Road
Bondi

Ph: 93650839
Facebook

7 days 7am til late


My old stomping ground of Bondi is not an area we visit nearly as often as we should. The dining landscape has changed dramatically and it really is a suburb we need to be paying a lot more attention to.

Panama House is one of newer establishments to hit the Bondi Road strip and what a welcome addition it is.

Brought to us by the chaps behind 'shop & wine bar' and 'the corner house' - Panama House endeavours to take us on a culinary journey through Central & South America with a stopover in Mexico, on our way to good ol' Southern USA.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Review : The Union

Union Lane
(opposite Union Road Car Park)
Penrith

02 4721 4501

Wed-Sat 5pm - late

We have been wanting to visit Ross Dobson's relatively new eatery The Union for a while now - so after a visit with our very cute new nephew, we decide to do just that.

We manage to score a table for the first sitting at 5.30pm.





Armed with our GPS we manage to find the restaurant relatively easily. Accessed via a carpark, you climb the stairs & enter a warm and inviting room - sort of Penrith via Newtown. 

Once seated, we order some drinks and check out the blackboard menu. The menu is extensive & choosing is difficult. It is also very reasonably priced, with the most expensive dish around the $19.50 mark.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Review : Rockpool

107 George Street

The Rocks

612 9252 1888


enquire@rockpool.com.au
reservations@rockpool.com

Lunch Friday & Saturday
Dinner Tuesday to Saturday


It has been many, many years since we last dined at Rockpool. It was certainly before it’s ‘renovation’ and long before we started this blog. We have visited both Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple many times, yet we have never made it back to Rockpool.


We both still talk about the highlights of that meal. For me it was the ‘Best ever bacon and egg sandwich’; individual components of that dish escape me now, but the flavour and its impact on my emerging palate will never be forgotten. I long to sample that dish again.


For Buggles the highlight was the Passionfruit Souffle, finished at the table with a generous pour of a lush, passionfruit sauce, or was it an anglaise? She can't remember... she just recalls it as one her best dining experiences.


It was this first visit to Rockpool, along with an earlier visit to MG Garage (it was the fanciness of the mini table cloth carpet sweeper that had us agog on that occasion!) that set us on this fine dining adventure…..and we haven’t looked back since.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Review: Ms G's

155 Victoria Street
Potts Point

8313 1000

Lunch

Friday 12pm - 3pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm


Dinner
Monday to Saturday 5pm – 11pm

During the holidays we like to pretend that we are ladies of leisure and have established the 'ladies who lunch' group with Squeak's big sis and her two lovely daughters, H & A. Past visits have seen us frequent Quay, Bistro Moncur, Manu at L'Etoile and District Dining.  Impressed with our 'taste' of the place at the recent 'March Into Merivale's 'Milkbar Memories', we decide to head in to Ms G's to sample the regular menu.

We, once again, are impressed by the decor - eclectic, cool and raw. Seated at the back with views towards the city we peruse the drinks menu.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Review: Bread and Circus

21 Fountain Street
Alexandra

9698 2939
info@breadandcircus.com.au

Open 7 days
7am - 4pm

These April hols have seen Buggles & Squeak eating out a lot, and this morning finds us waking up with a craving for a fresh, unfussy and delicious breakfast. Glancing over the daily online menu promises that Bread & Circus is the place to fulfill these needs. Our last failed atempt at visiting Bread & Circus had to be aborted due to the crazy hordes that meant we could not get a table, but this Monday morn we feel confident we can snare one.

Upon entry we pass by the enticing smell of coffee emanating from Don Campos
which is located at the front of the building, and enter the open space that is Bread & Circus. It's industrial feel is right up our alley and the space is light and bright which is enhanced by the fact that it opens up on two sides to the outdoors. Currently you get to enjoy the view of a construction site but that's okay by us.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Review : Kitchen by Mike

85 Dunning Ave
Rosebery

02-9045 0910
https://www.facebook.com/kitchenbymike

Breakfast & Lunch 7 days

This Saturday finds us paying a return visit to what is becoming a favourite dining destination of ours (and everyone else's it would seem), the uber fantastic Kitchen by Mike.

As we did last time, we have also forgotten our camera so apologies in advance for the photo quality.

As everyone is no doubt aware, Kitchen by Mike adjoins the Koskela design showroom in beautiful, downtown Rosebery.

We are huge fans of Rosebery's industrial vibe & we love that this light industrial feel has worked its way into the design of  Kitchen by Mike.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Review: Alley Break Cafe

Shop 2

4-6 The Kingsway
Cronulla

(02) 9527 6119



Daily 6am - 4pm

It is a gorgeous Tuesday morning after a lovely sleep and leisurely read in bed. The sun is shining the breeze is brisk and Squeak and I decide a trip to Cronulla's Alley Break Cafe for lunch is on the agenda.
We have read that chef Darren de Boer spent time working at Danks Street Depot and upon reading the menu we can certainly see the influence in some of the dishes. What a shame the caramelised garlic bread with butter and parsley was not on the menu today!!!


Alley Break Cafe has a great position and, if you sit at one of the outside tables especially, you get a great view of the beach. Due to the nip in the air we opt for an inside table on this occasion though.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Review: Wildfire

Ground Level

Overseas Passenger Terminal
Circular Quay West

info@wildfiresydney.com
ph: 02 8273 1222

Sun - Thurs: 12pm - 11pm
Fri: 12pm - 12am
Sat: 6pm - 12am

Wildfire is a restaurant we have been umming and ahhing about trying out for some time. Given some bad experiences of eating out in the Circular Quay precinct we just weren't sure if it would all lead to disappointment and a case of a restaurant that over promised and under delivered. Given our recent fabulous dinner at Mad Cow (another place that claims to really know their meat) we figure we should give it a go.


It is Sunday lunch on the harbour and unfortunately the sky is grey but on arrival we are seated with quite a fantastic view of the Opera House. Wildfire has quite an impressive room and seems very popular with larger groups with a number of families gathering.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Review : Double Roasters

199 Victoria Rd,
Marrickville

info@doubleroasters.com
ph. 02 9572 7711

7 days 6am-3pm

For a while now we have been passing by a cafe called Double Roasters, intrigued by its exterior we have often said "we must pop in". Today is the day we do.

We actually live only about 5 minutes away from Double Roasters, so have no idea why it has taken us this long to visit. Well, we did make an attempt a few weeks ago, but the cafe was packed and we weren't up to waiting for a table.

So up at the crack of dawn, we are sure this early hour will reward us with a table at this very popular Marrickville cafe.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Review : Chiswick

65 Ocean Street

Woollahra


02 8388 8688
info@chiswickrestaurant.com.au


Lunch and Dinner
Tuesday-Sunday





Tonight finds us dining with The Hamiltons. We love dining with food loving, like minded folk, and The Hamiltons are one such couple.

The four of us have been looking forward to this dinner at Matt Moran's newbie Chiswick for a while now, and from the moment we step into Chiswick Gardens, we know we are not going to be disappointed.


The beautifully manicured lawns give way to a large, contemporary space which is already starting to fill quickly, when we arrive at 7pm

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Review : Milkbar Memories - March 17 2012, Ms G's (March into Merivale)

155 Victoria Street,

Potts Point

8313 1000


Lunch
Friday 12pm - 3pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm


Dinner
Monday to Sunday 5pm – 11pm
Bar opens until late

So the time has come to attend event 3 of 'our' March into Merivale season - Milkbar Memories. Today we make a return visit to Ms G's, where just two weeks ago we hit an all time sugar high at the 'Charlie & the Chocolate Factory' lunch.





Sunday, March 11, 2012

Review : Mad Cow - CLOSED

Level 1, Ivy 330 George Street
Sydney

02 9240 3000

Lunch Mon-Fri 12-3pm
Dinner Mon- Sat 6-10.30pm


Ever since visiting Mad Cow for the American Diner Degustation and really enjoying the quality of the food and flavours, we have been very keen on a return visit to sample their regular menu.

This Saturday evening finds us doing just that, heading to Mad Cow for what we are sure is going to be a night of great eating.

We arrive at 7pm just as the restaurant is starting to fill. We once again manage to score one of the roomy booths (love it when restaurants think about customer comfort over squeezing in as many people as possible), and immediately check out the cocktail list.


Monday, March 5, 2012

Review : Chimmichurri Bar and Grill - CLOSED

23 Ward Avenue
Darlinghurst


9331 1992
eat@chimmichurri.com.au


Dinner: Mon - Sun 6pm - Late
Lunch: Fri - Sun 12 - 2.30pm




After our very sugar laden lunch of the previous day, we have a real craving for meat…..and lots of it.
Having recently spied the menu at Chimmichurri Bar and Grill, we know it will more than fit the bill.


With the rain recently departed, we hop in the car and make our way to the Cross.
Unusually, we have no trouble finding a parking spot & make our way to Chimmichurri, which sits proudly at the ground level of Engelen Moore’s award winning building, Altair.



The restaurant is large with ample seating. The décor captures the ‘South American' vibe perfectly; with lots of timber & wrought iron, it is classic with modern touches.
The restaurant is headed by Jose Santos, former head chef at Wildfire.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Review: Charlie & the Chocolate Factory - March 3, 2012 Ms G's (March into Merivale)

155 Victoria Street,
Potts Point

8313 1000

Lunch

Friday 12pm - 3pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm


Dinner
Monday to Sunday 5pm – 11pm

Bar opens until late


Charlie & the Chocolate Factory - what an evocative title for an event! Straight away we are envisaging all sorts of 'Heston-esque' delights and surprises. We're expecting playful; we're expecting a 'world of imagination!'

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Review : American Diner Degustation - February 21, 2012 Mad Cow (March into Merivale)

Level 1, Ivy
330 George Street
Sydney


9240 3000


Lunch: Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm
Dinner: Mon-Sat 6pm-10.30pm


Maybe it is just me, but when I read American Diner I think: Fried Chicken, Foot Long & Beans, Onion Rings, Burgers, Corned Beef Brisket, Cheese Steak, Mac n Cheese, Coleslaw.....you get the picture. 


It needs to be stated that Buggles and Squeak love these American Diner classics.


So when we saw that Mad Cow were hosting an American Diner Degustation as part of March into Merivale, well we couldn't contain our excitement!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Review : Cara&Co Restaurant

Shop 4001 Level 4

Westfield Sydney
188 Pitt Street
Sydney
+61 2 9226 9988
restaurant-syd@caraandco.com


Cara&Co restaurant has been on the Buggles and Squeak radar for a while now, so when our planned Australia Day lunch to Spice Temple did not eventuate, we figured this was as good a time as any to pop in to Cara&Co for a visit.



Upon entering the Cara&Co Concept Store we are immediately dazzled by its beauty & the amazing array of clothes, handbags, sunglasses (theo etc) and niche fragrances (think M.Micallef, G.Nejman).

Cara&Co aim to cater for all the senses, so as we make our way to the restaurant we certainly hope our sense of ‘taste’ will be well and truly engaged.
The restaurant flows on beautifully from the store, it is both warm & inviting and sleek & modern all at the same time. The tables are well spaced & generous.