Rockpool at The Rocks - last night

To celebrate selling and finally packing up the family home of 20 years and the office of 12 years and moving to a new apartment in The Rocks, we decided to reward ourselves with a lovely meal and of course, a very Dirty Martini.  So we walked to the ShangriLa Hotel (literally 200 yards), headed for the 32nd Floor, sat right at the window's edge and sipped an excellent Belvedere Vodka Dirty Martini.    The view from there is amazing, and of course we could see our apartment right beside the bridge.  It's the 'V' shaped building, and our apartment is the top floor one on the far right with the huge round balcony. If you look carefully you can even see our outdoor furniture and the blue glass table top!

We then walked to Rockpool.  And what a fascinating walk through little laneways and shortcuts. Loving The Rocks.

Arrived at the restaurant with no booking at 6.30 pm on a Wednesday, then escorted to a lovely table with the proviso that we leave by 8.30 pm.  No problem.  This restaurant just celebrated 23 years - pretty amazing.  And amazing that we have been coming here since it opened!  Owned by Neil Perry, the Head Chef is Phil Wood, and he is doing a great job with his Chinese influenced menu.  The food has been likened to 'Chinese Fine Dining'.  I'm not a great fan of fine dining, but this is not as annoyingly 'up itself' as others.

We were immediately offered water, then our wine order taken (Reschke Bos 2004), then a superb loaf of home made Spelt and Honey Bread with home made Butter, conveniently cut into quarters and served warm.  Too tempting.

 

There was a choice of a First Course, Second Course, Main Course, Dessert  ($100 pp for two, $135 pp for three, $155 pp for four), so having been advised that the serves were not too big, decided on the first, second and main.

We were then given the complimentary Canape - Queensland Spanner Crab, Toast, Tabasco Mayonnaise, Peach Leaf Jelly.  Served in a shot glass, it was amazing.  The Toast was a crisp wafer half way through.  Bit too much of the creamy Tabasco Mayonnaise at the bottom though.

For my first course I chose the Chirashi Zushi of Tuna, Kingfish, Bonito, Prawn and Squid.  Very different, but fresh and light.

After much thought, Hal ordered the Blue Swimmer Crab and Corn Congee, Almond Tofu, Star Anise Scented Peanuts, Fried Bread and Chilli Oil.  The Congee part worried him and nearly stopped him from ordering the dish, but it was a really lovely surprise and the stand out dish of the night for him.

We had a lovely waiter with a small speech impediment, so I somehow ended up with two Main course dishes.  I guess it was because we were finding it difficult to make a decision.   Fine with me.  And also a nice surprise.  I ended up with the Quail filled with Eight Treasures, Risotto, Quail Tea Egg and Daikon Remoulade.  The risotto was rich, the Quail amazing, the remoulade lovely.

Hal ordered the Tiger Prawn on Toast, Pickled Carrots, Bok Choy and Tomato Bread Sauce.  He loved it.

I then had the Chinese Roast Pigeon, Smoked Eggplant, Black Mushroom and Cucumber Pickle,  Black Bean Sauce.  The Pigeon was almost lost on the black plate, but it was crisp and tasty  and the Eggplant really smokey.

Hal ordered the Whiting Grilled over Rushes, Squid, Iceberg Lettuce, Pearl Balls and Red Date Infusion.  It looked amazing, and tasted amazing too.  We couldn't figure out what the slices of 'black' were - they were Korean Black Garlic slow cooked for hours.

The mains came with a small complimentary salad, with the best dressing ever.

 This food is why you come to a restaurant.  You just wouldn't cook like this at home!

We, well Hal, had to have the Date Tart - which is the original since 1984.  And I believe we had it in 1984.  It was to die for.  The dates were so fresh, and the texture of the tart just unbelievable.  Just forgot to take a photo of the finished dish, but found this photo of it being prepared on the web!

 We both ended up having a sticky wine - me a Hunter Valley Botrytis and Hal a more fortified one.  They gave me a choice of two and insisted Hal have a small glass of the one I rejected!  As we didn't want coffee, our waiter presented us with a box of Petit Fours to take home.  Very sweet.  He also cheekily suggested we should take his photo.

Lovely meal.  Not cheap, so not somewhere you would come to terribly often. But the food was amazing, the service excellent and the fine dining not stuck up at all.

9/10

Sake Restaurant, The Rocks

Have been to Sake three times in the last couple of weeks, and never seem to get around to giving it a mention.   This would have to be my favourite restaurant at the moment.  And with our new apartment, it's literally a five minute walk away!  Shame it's a bit difficult to get into.

Amazing dining room, extraordinary food, great sake - what more could you want.  We have to stop ourselves from going back all the time in case we get sick of it!

Serving very contemporary Japanese cuisine, Executive Chef Shaun Presland (was at Ivy Teppanyaki)

 and his Head Chef Adam Lane (David Thompson's Nahm and Nobu in London) are to be applauded.  They have been awarded a Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Chef's Hat each year since they opened in 2009.

My favourite dishes of all are:

Kingfish Japaneno - Hiramasa Kingfish, Yuzu Soy, Thin Jalapeno Slices & Coriander.

Steamed Prawn Dumplings - Chinese inspired Shumai with Spicy Ponzu.   Amazingly delicious.  In fact we ordered a second serve!

Butterfish Lettuce Cups - Grilled Miso Marinated Butterfish in Lettuce Cups.

Popcorn Shrimp - Prawn Tempura Pieces Tossed with Creamy Spicy Sauce.  Sounds rich, but the dash of lime makes it so light.

White-Soy Snapper - Thin slices of Sashimi Snapper Topped with Sesame Seeds, Chives, Yuzu Juice & White Soy Dressing.

Also recommend Tonkatsu Cups - Panko Fried Pork Belly & Spring Onion Bites, served in Lettuce Cups with Mustard Miso & Japanese Barbeque Sauce.

But basically you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

Just make sure you don't book the 'sunken tables' - extremely difficult to get into and out of, particularly if you are wearing something short!

Obviously that didn't dampen our appetite, because the dessert tasting selection was completely over the top, but fabulous.  And finished off with an Expresso Martini - as you do!

Can't recommend this restaurant highly enough.  Excellent service, excellent food, excellent surroundings and buzz.
10/10

Friday Lunch at Neild Avenue

 Been wanting to try this restaurant for ages, so spur of the moment and in the area, decided to give it a go.  Very busy even for a late lunch, so we were offered a seat at the bar.  Fine with us, keep our eye on the busy bar staff.   I must admit that after a short time it was a bit uncomfortable balancing on these wobbly backless stools. But I  do like the decor - especially for such a huge warehouse space (200 seats) that used to be a tyre factory.

We've been to one of Maurice's Terzini's restaurants three weeks in a row, something we told him when he approached us.  He was literally speeding!  His Head Chef, Robert Marchetti and he are definitely on a roll.

Really don't like the  Kirrily Johnson's uniforms at all.  Very daggy.  And Maurice looks likes he's slept in his.

I can't say I'm a fan of Mediterranean food, but - knowing these guys...!

The service was very efficient.  We were offered water, wine and given the most delicious barbequed flat bread I have ever tasted. 

We then shared the Cauliflower Fritters with Chilli, Parsley, Garlic on Cumin and Yoghurt Sauce.  Really light and lovely flavours - bit like popcorn Cauliflower.   Forgot to get a photo of this dish though.

I had to try a Kebab from the Coal Spit.  The barbeque smell was amazing, and the flash of fire from the kitchen was irresistible.  These are described as "all hand-minced kebabs, served with Afghan flat bread, Cracked Wheat and Bell Pepper Paste, Grilled Green Chilli, Sumac Onion Salad and Hung Yoghurt".   So I ordered the Minced Veal, Lamb, Chilli Spices Kebab.  Very nice - not too much.

Hal couldn't resist the Half Free Range Crispy Duck, Aylesbury Cross Pekin Dutton Park, Young, NSW, marinated in Roasted All Spice, Cinnamon, Star Anise.

It was delicious - tender and juicy with a very crisp skin. I'm just not a big fan of Star Anise, and it really stood out for me.  But Hal just loved the dish.

We had to have the Fries, of course.  But they were a little disappointing - overfried -  and lost their heat too quickly.

We also ordered the Any Village Salad, Pearl Onions, Sun Dried Olives, Tomato, Cucumber, Fennel, Green Peppers, Barrel-aged Feta, Dried Oregano and Fresh Dill.  But someone forgot the Pearl Onions, which was the main reason I ordered this.  And the Feta was pretty full on.

Nice lunch.  Don't think I would rush back.
7.5/10
 

restaurants three weeks in a row, something we told him when he approached us at the bar.  He was running at a great speed!!!

Saturday lunch at Icebergs

This really is our favourite restaurant.  Even on a rainy grey day in Sydney's supposed Summer!

Having just found out that a rental we had our hopes pinned on had gone, we needed a good very Dirty Martini in the lovely cocktail lounge.

We were then shown to our favourite table by the window with a banquette.  Sitting there watching the huge swell and all the surfers was just amazing.  It really is a lovely dining room.

We just had to start with the crispy fried Gamberetti with the best Aioli ever, eaten whole of course.

We then shared the Ravioli al Marchigiano - Ravioli Filled with a Five Hour Ragu of Pork & Veal in a Burnt Butter & Sage Sauce, Finished with Black Truffle Pecorino.  Amazing.

Hal had the Risotto, Coral Trout, Oregano, Tomato - which he thought was perfect.

I had what I believe was Hoki in a Sorrel, Parsley, Lemon Butter Sauce.  It was very hard to understand the Italian waiter, and initially the fish sounded like Hakapau, but it was a New Zealand fish and one of several on the list of variety specials for the day and I suspect it was Hoki.  I wanted something not too firm.  The fish was perfectly cooked and just what I felt like, and the small side salad was sooo tasty and sharp.  The sauce was served on the side so you could add as much or as little as you wanted.

We had to have their very special French Fries.  Impossible to ignore,

and the Peas, Basil, Lemon, Fetta Salad.  I love this salad, and again, impossible not to order.

All washed down (so to speak) with a delicious red - Parker Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007.

Hal being Hal (especially if the word meringue is included) had to order the Saffron Meringue, Lemon Curd, Sheep’s Yoghurt, Chianti Poached Strawberries, Gelato.  Looked and tasted fabulous and very light.  The meringue was incredible and filled with the Lemon Curd.  We didn't eat the rose petals though.  The poached Strawberries were very unusual, but lovely.

Again - another fabulous lunch.  Still my favourite restaurant in Sydney.  Highly Recommended.
10/10