Astino

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  5     

I came to this restaurant to catch up with a Korean friend. The restaurant is spacious and clean, and the service seemed quite professional. We ordered a meat dish (the name escapes me) and cold buckwheat noodle soup which is a particular favourite of Koreans (eaten during the summer). The food was pretty expensive and neither dish was particularly thrilling.

However, some of the other dishes I noticed on other tables looked better than what we ordered so I would come back to try them. I also think this restaurant suits social gatherings with a larger group of friends where you can try out multiple dishes. On top of that, it's a pleasant, clean and newish establishment.

Mar 11, 2012

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  1      Service  2      Value  4     

After meeting my friends outside in the cold, we went inside. There was no one in the front part of the restaurant so we walked out into what was essentially the rear garage. After my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I noticed several hungry Korean men huddled around each table.

The barbeque embedded in each table was lit and the aroma of all sorts of unusual cuts of meats were being cooked filled the cold night air. There wasn't a lot of talking going on as Koreans take eating (especially meat eating) very seriously, there is no talking until you're finished!

My friend Jin placed the order and thus my education in eating blood and guts Korean style began, we're talking intestine, heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, aorta...you name it and it was there, all served up with garlic laced Kimchi and a range of accompaniments and condiments. I ate everything placed before me partly to avoid causing offence but partly also because it was quite tasty (although clearly unhygienic).

The food was shockingly in your face, vegetarians who even glimpsed the scene would have either passed out or died on the spot (adding to the meat supply perhaps). There were no vegetables served. I don’t even think they knew of vegetables.

Service was barely ok and I was with my Korean friends. I hate to think what it would have been like without them.

I stress, however, that since I came here (2010), Hanabi has changed hands which I am led to believe has improved matters no end. Nevertheless the memories of hard core Bulgogi from that night, still linger on.

Mar 10, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  6     

I have been to Abhi’s three times over the years and it’s a pleasant place to eat. We’re a little disappointed that we’re not to be eligible for the banquet because it’s a minimum of 4 people and we’re usually 3. But so it goes.

Anyway to the curries: The Patiala goat curry is my favourite – it is really tasty. Being on the bone, the amount of meat is restricted but the presence of the bones also makes the sauce nice and rich...it’s a trade off, but a good one. The seafood Moili is also smooth, mild and mellow. Quite yummy.

The Chicken Makhni is OK. I note that it could be improved by making it with charred pieces of tandoori chicken (with the run off juices from the tandoori chicken), turned into the butter, tomato and Fenugreek leaf gravy. The butter chicken on offer doesn’t quite reach the heights of ecstasy because in truth it’s a kitchen compromise. The Kadhai paneer is nice and tasty. I would however, prefer the chunks of paneer to be chunkier and I like them pan fried in ghee or oil before they are chucked into the curry sauce. Tasty all the same.

The breads, rice and sides are all good. The Rose Kulfi is delicious. Notwithstanding my quibbles, I like this restaurant. The service (upstairs and downstairs) is friendly and professional which creates a nice atmosphere. It’s not particularly cheap but the quality and quantity of the food is there. This is one of Sydney’s best Indian restaurants.

Feb 12, 2012

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

Old décor, strange “entertainment” (Kamahlesque singer??), non-Indian waiters/ waitresses combined with daggy clichéd Indian food make for an odd dining experience.

Feb 05, 2012

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

I came here with a friend and found this popular place to have a friendly enough atmosphere (we were at the counter facing the chefs). However, when clearing the table of two empty dishes, the male waiter wiped the underside of his hand twice on some of my sushi. He should take more care.

The regular sushi and sashimi plate was a good base to work with. Unagi (eel) rolls were delicious and I thought the Kara Age (battered fried chicken) was also good. Age Dashi (Tofu) was OK. Alas the tempura rolls (prawn) were very ordinary.

For a sushi bar, my friend and I found this place to be pricey - the bill per head came to $40. Unfortunately I would say the service was ordinary and the overall experience, expensive.

Jan 20, 2012

6 Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  5     

I came to this restaurant to catch up with a Korean friend. The restaurant is spacious and clean, and the service seemed quite professional. We ordered a meat dish (the name escapes me) and cold buckwheat noodle soup which is a particular favourite of Koreans (eaten during the summer). The food was pretty expensive and neither dish was particularly thrilling.

However, some of the other dishes I noticed on other tables looked better than what we ordered so I would come back to try them. I also think this restaurant suits social gatherings with a larger group of friends where you can try out multiple dishes. On top of that, it's a pleasant, clean and newish establishment.

Mar 11, 2012

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  1      Service  2      Value  4     

After meeting my friends outside in the cold, we went inside. There was no one in the front part of the restaurant so we walked out into what was essentially the rear garage. After my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I noticed several hungry Korean men huddled around each table.

The barbeque embedded in each table was lit and the aroma of all sorts of unusual cuts of meats were being cooked filled the cold night air. There wasn't a lot of talking going on as Koreans take eating (especially meat eating) very seriously, there is no talking until you're finished!

My friend Jin placed the order and thus my education in eating blood and guts Korean style began, we're talking intestine, heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, aorta...you name it and it was there, all served up with garlic laced Kimchi and a range of accompaniments and condiments. I ate everything placed before me partly to avoid causing offence but partly also because it was quite tasty (although clearly unhygienic).

The food was shockingly in your face, vegetarians who even glimpsed the scene would have either passed out or died on the spot (adding to the meat supply perhaps). There were no vegetables served. I don’t even think they knew of vegetables.

Service was barely ok and I was with my Korean friends. I hate to think what it would have been like without them.

I stress, however, that since I came here (2010), Hanabi has changed hands which I am led to believe has improved matters no end. Nevertheless the memories of hard core Bulgogi from that night, still linger on.

Mar 10, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  6     

I have been to Abhi’s three times over the years and it’s a pleasant place to eat. We’re a little disappointed that we’re not to be eligible for the banquet because it’s a minimum of 4 people and we’re usually 3. But so it goes.

Anyway to the curries: The Patiala goat curry is my favourite – it is really tasty. Being on the bone, the amount of meat is restricted but the presence of the bones also makes the sauce nice and rich...it’s a trade off, but a good one. The seafood Moili is also smooth, mild and mellow. Quite yummy.

The Chicken Makhni is OK. I note that it could be improved by making it with charred pieces of tandoori chicken (with the run off juices from the tandoori chicken), turned into the butter, tomato and Fenugreek leaf gravy. The butter chicken on offer doesn’t quite reach the heights of ecstasy because in truth it’s a kitchen compromise. The Kadhai paneer is nice and tasty. I would however, prefer the chunks of paneer to be chunkier and I like them pan fried in ghee or oil before they are chucked into the curry sauce. Tasty all the same.

The breads, rice and sides are all good. The Rose Kulfi is delicious. Notwithstanding my quibbles, I like this restaurant. The service (upstairs and downstairs) is friendly and professional which creates a nice atmosphere. It’s not particularly cheap but the quality and quantity of the food is there. This is one of Sydney’s best Indian restaurants.

Feb 12, 2012

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

Old décor, strange “entertainment” (Kamahlesque singer??), non-Indian waiters/ waitresses combined with daggy clichéd Indian food make for an odd dining experience.

Feb 05, 2012

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

I came here with a friend and found this popular place to have a friendly enough atmosphere (we were at the counter facing the chefs). However, when clearing the table of two empty dishes, the male waiter wiped the underside of his hand twice on some of my sushi. He should take more care.

The regular sushi and sashimi plate was a good base to work with. Unagi (eel) rolls were delicious and I thought the Kara Age (battered fried chicken) was also good. Age Dashi (Tofu) was OK. Alas the tempura rolls (prawn) were very ordinary.

For a sushi bar, my friend and I found this place to be pricey - the bill per head came to $40. Unfortunately I would say the service was ordinary and the overall experience, expensive.

Jan 20, 2012

5 Average

Drinks  3      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  5     

I came to the Kit and Kaboodle for an end of semester/uni course party. The venue itself was stylish enough but sadly of course the Kings Cross area is essentially full of drunkards and (some) perverts. In terms of value for money for hiring this venue for formal or social events, there are issues. The standard 2 or 3 drinks per person arrangement is marred by patrons only being able to trade in their “free drinks” tickets for a limited range of drinks like Carlton Draught, Victoria Bitter or cheapie whisky like Ballantine (yucky blended stuff).

I’d have much rather traded in all three of the drinks tickets for one good drink and once I’d have started, I would have kicked on with more drinks from the bar. Alas, that was not permitted. So I drank water. I’m probably better for it because this place effectively encouraged me not to drink at all. As for the nibblies, they were nothing to write home about.

Dec 07, 2011

6 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  6     

Ok, but not as good as Pho Pasteur in Bankstown. The $11.50 cost of a special pho with all the trimmings (tendon, guts etc) was more expensive than Bankstown. Yet the pho at the Bankstown shop was 25% bigger again and costs a dollar less. Also, the chilli (slices) on offer at Parramatta are not as hot as the searingly hot chilli available at Bankstown.

Aug 05, 2011

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  9     

I come here from time to time of a lunchtime for the specials. It's nice food and very good value. It's better than many other Thai places in the inner west. I've tried the green, red and yellow curries and they were all nice.

Jun 26, 2011

4.8 Average

Food  4      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

I like most people eat here because it is cheapish, plus it's good for when one is in a hurry. However, the food on offer here really is very ordinary. The red curry I had the other day featured a pile of half cooked defrosted frozen vegetables (the imported type) on a bed of never ending shredded carrot. Still, the restaurant is clean and staff are friendly.

Jun 25, 2011

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  7     

On entry, one is struck by the Kermit-the-frog green paint job. What were they thinking?

As the previous reviewer noted, the food bears much resemblance to Harris Street. On the two occasions I have come here, I have walked away satisfied. The char kway teow is consistently good (I like the fried bits of lard although I guess it probably doesn’t have the Heart Foundation’s ‘tick of approval’). The Nasi Lemak is a good base to work with, you can add smaller side dishes which work in well with it.

As was noted by others, the Roti Canai is a frozen product heated up for the table and sadly it’s horrible. I think that if they set aside a few hours each week (say Friday and Saturday nights) where they offered freshly made roti, people would be clamouring to come.

Anyway, stick to the good dishes and you’ll be Ok. The service is efficient, it’s clean and it has a relaxed atmosphere. The regular crowd also confirms one’s impression that it’s reasonable value.

Jun 25, 2011