UnknownEater

Reviews

Cafes, Modern Australian, Food Delivery, Serves Takeaway, Catering

Overall 6.8 6

6.3 Average

Food 6 Ambience 5 Service 7 Value 7

The name alone commands attention. Long before I ever entered this takeaway-cum-cafe, I was immediately attracted by the sheer silliness of the name. Looking in as I walked by the opened windows, I could see appealing food in brightly lit glass cases, the blackboard/menu that boasted reasonable prices and could smell appetizing aromas.

Once I finally I came in with a friend one night on a whim, I was generally pleased with my choice. One orders at the counter, à la carte, and sit in a fairly cramped space for your food to come out. Dishes are already more or less pre-made, so unless there's a crowd or you want something a bit more involved, food arrives relatively quickly.

The mostly Eastern Mediterranean dishes themselves are good, although they don't have the wow factor that you might expect from a place that indirectly markets itself as upbeat, healthy and a bit gourmet. Of the salads I have tried, I would probably recommend the tomato and eggplant as best. They also do daily specials, which usually include a burger of some sort and usually they tend to be the most "dynamic" of the offerings. Of the regular meat offerings, the 10 hour lamb is probably the tastiest.

It's not a place I come to regularly, in part because the food, while good, is not enough to really miss. But if I happen to be in the area and I don't want to go to the common Surry Hills collection of eateries, I pop in for a quick, relatively inexpensive bite from time to time.

Nov 24, 2011

Lebanon & Beyond, Randwick

Restaurants, Lebanese, BYO, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 8 119

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 6 Service 9 Value 9

I have been to this place a dozen or so times over the years and it gets good reviews for a reason: quite simply, they make damn fine food!

The Alison Street establishment isn't much on looks. The insides are pleasant enough, but it does have a slightly cramped, awkward feel about it. It's not the place to go to be wowed by the scenery, either: cars whiz by the Randwick thoroughfare.

But these shortcomings notwithstanding, everything else about Lebanon and Beyond is really first rate. The service is always good, and the owners friendly. The waitstaff is generally impeccable. I don't ever recall an impolite or ill-trained server. That is a mark of a restauranteur who knows his business.

And the food? Some of the best eastern Mediterranean fare I have eaten, great mezzes, chicken skewers that practically melt in your mouth, and sensational salads. I don't think I have tasted better tabouleh anywhere.

One of the reasons this is a favorite is that it caters to a number of tastes. Both vegetarian and vegan friends get as much out of it as meat-eaters such as myself. They also have outside tables for smokers. And late nights, if you sit outside, you can even have a traditional hookah smoke, if that's your pleasure.

Best of all, perhaps, is the price: this place is extremely reasonable. I have frankly paid a lot more for Lebanese cuisine not nearly as good. Taken in all, I think this place deserves its place on some of Sydney's best.

Nov 22, 2011

Zushi, Surry Hills

Restaurants, Japanese, Food Delivery, Licensed, Outdoor Dining

Overall 6.2 16

4.3 Below Average

Food 3 Ambience 6 Service 4 Value 4

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is not how to do a sushi restaurant. In almost every way, this place is a failure. That's a shame, because it has the potential to be good.

The place itself is attractive enough, if a bit cramped. Two floors is necessary for the rather small restaurant, and they do well with what they have. It is extremely noisy, I actually had to yell to my dinner mate to be heard but this is typical for Sydney.

But other than that, things are not what they ought to be. The service is slow, which is bad enough, but also rather incompetent. The waitresses, who were pleasant, managed not only to bring both of us the wrong dishes, but we had to insist that we had not ordered what they had brought. Perhaps, the noise of the place kept them from hearing our order. But they also managed to tally up our bill incorrectly. I had to point out to them exactly where they had gone wrong before they changed it.

And the sushi? Surprisingly mediocre. While the prices were not too much higher than average, the fish was stringy and clearly was not fresh. The rice, too, was a bit dry and chewy.

It's possible they were having an off night and that it's unfair to base my review on one go. But what I experienced at Zushi convinced me I don't want to have a second go.

Nov 19, 2011

Istanbul On King, Newtown

Restaurants, Turkish, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 6.5 10

7 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 6 Value 7

It's a bit unfair to review Istanbul, because inevitably my patronage of the place has always been in the same circumstances: something to put in my belly after having a night out on King Street. I have no idea what the place is like during normal business hours and so my review has to include this caveat.

But in terms of a late night nosh, this place is perfect. The fact that it can be wall to wall with patrons at one in the morning isn't simply because it is one of the few establishments open up late to service the carousing crowd, it also serves a damned fine kebab.

The food generally comes out fairly quickly, pop Turkish music videos and silly tv shows provide the ambience, and the crowd provides endless entertainment in their various degrees of inebriation.

And in spite these circumstances, the quality of the product seems actually fairly high when compared to other kebab joints. The vegetables look fresh and freshly cut. The meat does not have that sickly glaze you often see in other places, suggesting it's been on the rotisserie just a touch too long. The chips, too, while hot and a bit too salty, are surprisingly grease-free.

All this sounds like I am damning with faint praise. But in fact, given the wildly varying quality of kebabs in Sydney, Istanbul rates much higher than most. Now if I can only make it there while the sun is still shining.

Nov 17, 2011

Seoul Ria, Haymarket

Restaurants, Asian, Korean, Good For Groups, BYO

Overall 7.4 41

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 6 Service 9 Value 8

I've been coming to Seoul Ria since 2004 and have always found it to be one of my "reliables": very good food, excellent service and a reasonable price.

When you take the rickety elevator up to the second floor where Seoul Ria is actually located, the first thing that strikes you about the restaurant is its size: it will seat 300 easily and perhaps more. As a result, one almost never needs reservations unless you have a large party on a weekend night. The cavernous space is loud with the sound of animated diners and flat screen tvs showing Korean soap operas. Waitstaff rush to and fro with a kind of high-paced and slightly neurotic efficiency.

Even before one orders, the table is filled with Korean appetizers: beans, radishes, pickled vegetables and of course kim chee. Featured dishes are of course the bbqs: various versions of bulgogi, gui and galbi are on offer. Moreover, unlike many Korean establishments, they can either let you cook it fresh at your table or can barbecue it for you in their kitchens.

They also offer a number of excellent noodle dishes; consider the cold noodles offerings on a warm summer's night. And I am especially fond of their pancakes--the Haemul Pajeon (seafood) is my fave. Finally, the deep fried chicken in a spicy garlic orange sauce is not to be missed.

Food comes out quickly and fresh, and usually quickly consumed. It is also common to order more as the meal goes on--usually new grillables.

It is an excellent venue for a good sized party and generally adds to feelings of a party atmosphere. And when the bill comes, it almost always a pleasant surprise. You end up paying less than you thought you otherwise might.

By all means, try this place. And take a friend. Better yet, take many friends!

Nov 15, 2011

More Reviews...

Photos

View UnknownEater's photos (1)

Flag Photo(s)

Profile

Member since 2009

I'm Male

Apart from eating, I travel

You'll often catch me on the beach

I crave American hot dogs

I can't stop listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's 1956 session recordings

If I could have any job be an astronaut

My favourite cuisine is Provençal and Japanese

My favourite drink is Kir Royale

Last updated on 5th Jan 2011

Reviews

Sort by Review Rating Review Date

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next

Displaying: 1 - 10 of 54 reviews

Madam Char Char, Surry Hills

Cafes, Modern Australian, Food Delivery, Serves Takeaway, Catering

Overall 6.8 6

6.3 Average

Food 6 Ambience 5 Service 7 Value 7

Nov 24, 2011

Lebanon & Beyond, Randwick

Restaurants, Lebanese, BYO, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 8 119

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 6 Service 9 Value 9

Nov 22, 2011

Zushi, Surry Hills

Restaurants, Japanese, Food Delivery, Licensed, Outdoor Dining

Overall 6.2 16

4.3 Below Average

Food 3 Ambience 6 Service 4 Value 4

Nov 19, 2011

Istanbul On King, Newtown

Restaurants, Turkish, Serves Takeaway, Menulog Delivery and Pickup

Overall 6.5 10

7 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 6 Value 7

Nov 17, 2011

Seoul Ria, Haymarket

Restaurants, Asian, Korean, Good For Groups, BYO

Overall 7.4 41

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 6 Service 9 Value 8

Nov 15, 2011

Miro Tapas Bar, Sydney

Restaurants, Spanish, Has Bar, Licensed, Serves Dinner

Overall 6.8 99

7.3 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 9 Service 6 Value 6

Tapas in Sydney tend to be ubiquitous and what gets called tapas varies wildly. One of the most endearing things about Miro is that the chefs are clearly traditionalists in what they offer and how they offer it.

Inspired by the modernist Spanish artist, Joan Miro, the bright red interior set off by blacks and whites calls to mind Miro's paintings. Indeed, several lithographs of his work grace the walls. The mood and look of the place is sedate and generally quite pleasant. The low and heavily insulated ceilings makes it possible to speak quietly with your companions and not be drowned about by ambient noise so prevalent in Sydney eateries.

Service is polite and solicitous, but generally quite slow. Whether that is a problem with the wait staff or with the kitchen, I am not sure, but generally I have spent longer dining times here than I have at other tapas restaurants.

The tapas themselves are varied, although just a touch thin in choices. The chorizo dishes are first rate, as are the albondigas (meatballs). The asparagus dish is also excellent and the potatoes I've tasted are lovely. I have not tried the paella or parrillada, so I can't comment on them. The wines I have tried here are all good, they boast a fairly wide range of Spanish vintages.

Being in the Spanish quarter, however, the one downside to Miro is a pricey dining experience if you are not careful. While the tapas themselves might be on the high side of average, they charge fairly premium dollar for their wines. Just be prepared to walk away paying three digits for a meal for two.

These negatives notwithstanding, I actually recommend this place, particularly if you want a quiet, leisurely meal with a friend or lover. Olé.

Nov 13, 2011

Coco Cubano, Darlinghurst

Cafes

Overall 5.7 8

7.5 Recommended

Food 6 Ambience 9 Service 7 Value 8

The coffee and sweets offered here are reasonably good, but not spectacular. The drinks are similar, although rather expensive. The staff is generally made up of some of the friendliest in Oxford Street, although generally pretty slow. And the cafe itself has a fun, if rather self-consciously dilapidated charm to it.

So why the high ratings? Coco Cubano's draw has to be its ambience. It is quite possibly the best place in Sydney to sit and people watch in the evenings. Friends, strangers, and tourists all walk by. You can get into brilliant conversations with your bestie or with someone you've met five minutes ago. In an age of social networking and the constant glow of Iphones, it is comforting to know that simple socializing is not a lost practice and the life really is full of interesting people if you let yourself notice.

What a good place to come, have a coffee and see the world.

Nov 12, 2011

Noodii Thai Restaurant, Randwick

Restaurants, Cafes, Takeaways, Asian, Asian Fusion

Overall 6.5 3

6.3 Average

Food 7 Ambience 5 Service 6 Value 7

Like the first reviewer here, I am a fan of Chat Thai on Carrington Road, but an even bigger fan of their original place in Haymarket. As someone who likes The Spot and have been recently disappointed with Thairiffic and Chao Praya of late, I think this is potentially a big winner for the increasingly upmarket offerings in the neighborhood.

In general, this is a stripped down version of the traditional Chat Thai menu, although it does (as the name implies) offer a greater range of noodle and rice dishes.

We decided to try dishes we had tried and loved before, as a means of comparison. Interestingly enough, while we enjoyed our meals very much (we had two entrees and two mains), we agreed the tastes were actually somewhat different. The cashew nut chicken, for example, was generally fairly flavorful and well-prepared, but it had a distinctively different sauce and taste than to what we were used to. The basil chicken was also rather different, again, still quite good.

So my expectations here were both disappointed and fulfilled. On the one hand, I was expecting the distinctive flavours of Chat Thai and did not feel I got them. On the other, I had a very nice meal and at a reasonable price. If I am in The Spot desiring Thai, I probably would roll on into Noodii. But if I wanted Chat Thai, I think I would have to go somewhere else.

Nov 12, 2011

Stuffed Beaver, The, Bondi

Bars

Overall 7.5 10

7.5 Recommended

Drinks 7 Ambience 8 Service 7 Value 8

I've been wanting to try this place for a while, since as a native North American, I thought it'd be fun to see how well Sydney-siders could reproduce the sports bar feel and its flavours. Having remembered some "American" restaurants from years ago, like the sad offerings of the long gone Yippie Ki Yay in Surry Hills, I admit my hopes weren't too high.

It was for the most part pleasantly surprised. While not a completely successful recreation, it came pretty darned close. The bar in front might be any watering hole in Sydney, but when you go into the back dining area, things look more authentic: high backed booths, flat screen tvs playing sports, and of course the requisite catsup and mustard bottles on every table along with a napkin dispenser. Good touches, all.

The meal offerings themselves were a generally decent mix of American and Canadian fare. Poutine and frickles (deep fried dill pickles) were on the menu, a sure sign of the Beaver's essentially Canadian roots. But they also offered a Southern/Baja Californian favourite, fish tacos, and a couple of American beers.

My friend, although Aussie, had visited America and is something of an afficianado of these kinds of places. He ordered chicken wings and french fries (yes, they can be called that here), I ordered the frickles, one fish taco, and a "Celine Diog" hot dog.

The food was a quite good recreation of their North American inspiration. The frickles came with ranch dressing and, although a touch salty, were fat, filling and absolutely delicious. The fish taco was a much rougher approximation of what you might get in San Diego or Cabo San Lucas, but again really good in getting the taste, if not the precise flavours of Calimex cuisine. And the hot dog? While a Vienna sausage rather than an actual American frankfurter, it tasted closer to a "real" hot dog than anything I have had in Australia.

With sufficiently copious amounts of squeezed-on mustard and catsup, it was an actual taste of home. My friend's bbq wings were also visually appealing and delicious--sweet and sightly tangy and his french fries arrived beer battered and in the "proper" steak cut fashion. (BTW: I am rating the food, rather than the drinks as listed here, as a 7).

All these offerings, I might add, were fairly large servings. Admittedly, this meal was not cheap: $52 and that did not include any alcohol. My coke, too, was flat, a bit disappointing. But as my friend said, "Australian prices, American servings!" It's not a meal I would go for every day, but it's good to know if I have a "hankering" for a home taste and feel, I can come to the Stuffed Beaver.

Nov 12, 2011

Pieno, Surry Hills

Cafes, Italian, Serves Breakfast, Serves Lunch

Overall 7 3

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 8

I've been to Pieno a few times now and every time I've been, I have always been pleasantly surprised. Perhaps, that has to do with my expectations of these kinds of restaurants in the city. Normally cafes within spitting distance of the CBD tend to be slightly overpriced, understaffed and underwhelming.

This place has all the signs. Nice open space with lots of sophisticated urbanite wannabes filling up the outside tables on the weekends. Slick menu with Italian panini, as well as health conscious treats. A waitstaff with a bit too much of that "too cool for school" attitude. In short, it looks like it's going to be one of "those" cafes.

But looks can be deceiving. To begin, the space itself is off the street, in an enlarged courtyard. It is in fact quite pleasant to sit outside with trees and not anywhere near the road with cars belching exhaust fumes. The crowd is generally very well-behaved and if I may, rather handsome.

Moreover, the waiters and waitresses are pretty darned fast off the mark. Despite it always being crowded, they get to you in short order, food and coffee appear not long thereafter.

And the actual fare? The coffee is first rate, I normally have two during my meals. The food itself is a bit spare, but ample. I am particularly fond of the 12 egg white omelette, although the fruit loaves and pancakes are very nice as well. Perhaps, too, the value of this place comes when you get the bill: the prices here are quite reasonable.

Although I don't live in the area, I can think of few places that I enjoy going to more for a leisurely and pleasant Sunday brunch. A new fave.

Oct 27, 2011