Pier

Posted by Unknown in $70-$160, Australian Modern, Sydney: Rose Bay

2 comments

Pier the best seafood restaurant by 'Sydney Morning Herald' Good Food Guide 2010. When I saw this restaurant in the book, I though 'How good can it be? It's only a seafood'. But, last week when I went there and tried the food. I was wrong, it's really that good and I will come back again in the future to try other dishes.

 For the entree we ordered 'Gazpacho' and 'Seared scallop with white and black truffle'. The Cone of Kingfish Tartare was served as a complementary by the chef.

We get a white wine to go with the seafood dishes, it's Albert Mann - Riesling Grand Cru Schlossber 2007 (which I can't found it in Dan Murphy's)

I do recommend you to get my main course of Steamed Sea bass - 'textures of seasonal mushrooms' ($48.00, top left). The textures mushrooms consist of puree, jelly, foam, crumble and mushroom. The other 2 are Beef - soubise - caramelised veal sweetbreads($56.00, top right, order by FW) and Slow Roasted Lobster - white asparagus - pancake - kale - jus($95.00, bottom, order by EL).

Pre-desert, Kiwifruit sorbet with custard and petals. I'm not sure what the white powder is, maybe I should ask next time.

As I have challenge myself in the main course by ordering steamed sea bass, I though I should give it a go on the Lemon and Olive Oil Ice Cream - fig - custard and I was delighted. It was fresh and summery.

EL ordered Souffle - cream - peach syrup. It's the first time I tried souffle and now I understand what the means that souffle should be light.

We do end up spending around $160 for each person, but it's a money well spend as you can't get the experience else where (at least for now).

Pier

594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay

Sushi Tengoku

Posted by Unknown in $10-$30, Japanese, Sydney: Kensington

0 comments

If I were a food writer, I would put this place as a hidden gem restaurant. It's hidden in a small place between a laundry service and electronic shop in Kensington. It is a family run restaurant, though the only downfall about this place will be it's service. It could be slow at a time and you need to pre-order some of the dishes before hand.

But don't be fooled by it's appearance and review from other people in the net, the quality of the fish are very fresh and you can't get it in any sushi shop. I would dare to say that the sushi and sashimi are much better compare to 'Sake Restaurant & Bar' (this is my personal preference). If you see the price for each sushi or sashimi, it could be overwhelming for some people (i.e. $3.00 for a piece salmon nigiri, but see the picture below it will justify the price).

I could spend more time in writing about the food, but why wasting more time there's only 1 word to say about the food. Great! One advice before I close this post: If you want to come here, make a booking to avoid disappointment.

What we order:

Top (from left to right) - Salmon Maki, Ebi Tempura, Baked Scallop
Middle (from left to right) - Chawan Mushi, Mix Sashimi
Bottom (from left to right) - Salmon Nigiri, Salmon Aburi

Sushi Tengoku

121 Anzac Parade, Kensington

Rag & Famish Hotel

Posted by Unknown in $10-$30, Bar / Pub Style, Sydney: North Sydney

1 comments

If you work in North Sydney.You probably have the same question everyday "what's for lunch?" is it gonna be another chinese takeaway or a piece of bread from Subway?

Usually me and my friends will go to Mount Street food court to have some Malaysian food, Pho or kebab. But this time, we decided to go to Rag and have a pie with couple of beer.

This is my favorite food in Rag, Beef & Guinness Pie with mash and peas ($10.00). It's a good bargain for a pie with chunky beef and a good gravy (not your normal frozen pie).

The other thing that I like about this place is the atmosphere in the outside table area, it makes you feel relax and don't want to go back to the office after you finish your meal (which is bad, considering we still have another 3-4 hours in the office after lunch).

Other dish:

Calamari & Chips ($9.00)

Rag & Famish Hotel

199 Miller St, North Sydney

Sake Restaurant & Bar

Posted by Unknown in $30-$70, Japanese, Sydney: The Rocks

0 comments

When the first time I heard about this restaurant, I was tempted by it's sake selections. 50 different types of sake and couple of Japanese Beer which imported straight from Japan.

I decided to go to this restaurant with my friend AK and his wife WB. I should explain that AK is an expert in Japanese culture and alcohol among us. When we arrived in the restaurant we were greeted by "Irrashaimase" from the waiter/waitress with an english accents, which we founded it's very funny(no offense guys).

When you went through the entry door, you can see all of the sakes that they have which are stored in a special area and you were welcomed by the modern Japanese interior design.

Chilled 'Salmon Tartare with Chives, Wasabi & Soy' (AUD $15.00) was our starter, I remember the chillness of salmon and soy mix really well which I could say taste must better than a normal salmon sashimi and soy. By saying that I notice that the soy taste a bit richer than normal soy in a sushi takeaway shop.

'Butter-soy salmon grilled, crispy skinned New Zealand salmon with butter soy & lemon' (AUD $29.00). The salmon taste wonderful, I could taste the miso run through salmon meat. Though if you did not eat it with it's sauce the salmon taste so-so.

Sake Restaurant & Bar

Argyle Percinct,

12 Argyle Street, The Rocks

Pony Lounge & Dining

Posted by Unknown in $30-$70, Australian Modern, Sydney: The Rocks

2 comments

Welcome to appetitesydney first post.

I remembered that my best friends (AS and NH, I missed you guys) recommend this restaurant for it's reasonable price and great food. And I decided to give a go on my birthday dinner. It's a quite interesting restaurant because you can see the kitchen from where you're sitting(open kitchen style). By seeing the menu, I can tell that they change the menu based on the season since I can't found the recommended Crispy Skin Duck Pressed that was recommended by AS wasn't there and it was confirmed by the waitress that they just changed the menu to summer menu.

I decided to order 'Eye Fillet, heirloom tomato, baby radish and chilli, aged balsamic' (AUD $42.00). Though I have my doubt about balsamic vinegar as the sauce, but I was pleasantly surprise on how good the taste go with the meat. As for the meat it was cooked perfectly, I could not asked for a better medium rare, it was grilled to crisp on the outside and pink in  the inside and you could taste the smokiness from the wood fire grill.

These are what we order for the night:

Left - Crisp Kurabuta Port Shoulder, Sichuan Carrots, Choy Sum, Chilli Caramel (AUD $32.00)

Right - Tasmanian Salmon, Salad of Pickled Beetroot, Orange, Mint and Fetta (AUD $29.50)

Pony Lounge & Dining

Shops 14-15 The Rocks Centre,
Cnr Kendall Lane & Argyle Streets, The Rocks