kito2008

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  1     

What a disappointment. After years of being tempted of friends rave about the Malaya, and hear about when it used to be near/on Broadway and how was it good there. I was expecting something special. Dink donk. No cigars here folks. The over sized impersonal space on King Street Wharf does no deserve the rave rants or reviews. A terrible let down. Is the food edible? Yes. Is it good Malaysian? No!

Noisy crowded space with a badly organised menu with slightly aloof staff. I was open to eat whatever, as my companions had been before. We ordered roti canai (or what they think is roti canai, not light and fluffy rendition here folks), failed to get the dipping sauce. When we asked for the dipping sauce, he said we didn't order it, and you can eat it without.

Don't argue, just get the sauce and roti canai always has a dipping sauce. Few improvements from there. Salt and pepper cauliflower was nicely fried but lacking zing and anything to make it less dry, szechuan eggplant suffered from a similar fate, while dried chili's were present the zing wasn't, the eggplant was nicely cooked but certainly not what was expected.

Nothing to write home again yet and I've already spent $30, oh the lychee cocktail was delicious in the interim. A fish wrapped in a banana leaf provided an interesting diversion from the dodgy oversized impersonal tables and poor service, a kind of spicy fish cake. So the anticipated Kapitan king prawn came to the plate. So sad. Fried king prawns in a bland coconut cream sauce, which turned unappealingly soggy the longer they sat in it.

We didn't opt for dessert, and at $55 for three people including one cocktail, who would? Go to a certain unfussy Malaysian on Goulburn St for much better food for a third of the price.

Jun 19, 2009

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Oh what a night! I recently booked a large group for a special occasion at Ottoman, knowing their reputation well from Canberra days, we were looking forward to the experience down at Walsh Bay.

From the time we set foot into the restaurant to the time we left several hours later, we experienced some of the best food, wine and service that Sydney has to offer. The outcome, we can’t wait to come again and try out the rest of their menu!

The specially designed degustation provided us with a delightful array of entrée seafood samples, some Turkish staples, and the heavier main alternate selection. Stuffed zucchini flowers were a highlight as was the prawn concoction that had everyone eyeing off the last one. Thinly sliced sashimi kingfish, and stuffed eggplant, ample pide bread and the grilled spatchcock and waygu were enjoyed by all.

We never felt ‘shoved’ in the corner or ignored because we were a group and the delightfully engaging sommelier made us feel like A listers on a D lister budget. One of the most diverse and exceptional value wine lists I’ve encountered. Nothing was a problem for any of the staff but special mention must go to the sommelier who worked tirelessly to ensure our evening was everything we wanted it to be.

Thank you, thank you! Can’t wait to return.

Jan 13, 2009

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

The new gem on Goulburn Street, Mamak is what was lacking in Chinatown. Roti's for both savory and sweet taste buds and a lamb curry to die for. Excellent spiced nasi goreng and freshly prepared nasi lemak support a range of tasty curries and spice chicken. Yet to try the satays (they're always sold out)! Fantastic service with a smile. I look forward to future visits and eating my way through the whole menu.

Mar 28, 2008

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

You can't beat Saigon Bay for crispy pancake (trust me I've done the Vietnamese rounds). Perfectly fresh with crispy sprouts in the flavoursome filling, crisp but not overdone. Served with superfresh coriander and mint, pickled carrot and fresh cucumber wrapped DIY in a lettuce leaf with some sauce to top it off. Perfection. Oh and the rest of the food is pretty good too. Quick efficient service and a menu for all tastes. Trust me, have the pancake.

Mar 28, 2008

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  1     

What a disappointment. After years of being tempted of friends rave about the Malaya, and hear about when it used to be near/on Broadway and how was it good there. I was expecting something special. Dink donk. No cigars here folks. The over sized impersonal space on King Street Wharf does no deserve the rave rants or reviews. A terrible let down. Is the food edible? Yes. Is it good Malaysian? No!

Noisy crowded space with a badly organised menu with slightly aloof staff. I was open to eat whatever, as my companions had been before. We ordered roti canai (or what they think is roti canai, not light and fluffy rendition here folks), failed to get the dipping sauce. When we asked for the dipping sauce, he said we didn't order it, and you can eat it without.

Don't argue, just get the sauce and roti canai always has a dipping sauce. Few improvements from there. Salt and pepper cauliflower was nicely fried but lacking zing and anything to make it less dry, szechuan eggplant suffered from a similar fate, while dried chili's were present the zing wasn't, the eggplant was nicely cooked but certainly not what was expected.

Nothing to write home again yet and I've already spent $30, oh the lychee cocktail was delicious in the interim. A fish wrapped in a banana leaf provided an interesting diversion from the dodgy oversized impersonal tables and poor service, a kind of spicy fish cake. So the anticipated Kapitan king prawn came to the plate. So sad. Fried king prawns in a bland coconut cream sauce, which turned unappealingly soggy the longer they sat in it.

We didn't opt for dessert, and at $55 for three people including one cocktail, who would? Go to a certain unfussy Malaysian on Goulburn St for much better food for a third of the price.

Jun 19, 2009

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Oh what a night! I recently booked a large group for a special occasion at Ottoman, knowing their reputation well from Canberra days, we were looking forward to the experience down at Walsh Bay.

From the time we set foot into the restaurant to the time we left several hours later, we experienced some of the best food, wine and service that Sydney has to offer. The outcome, we can’t wait to come again and try out the rest of their menu!

The specially designed degustation provided us with a delightful array of entrée seafood samples, some Turkish staples, and the heavier main alternate selection. Stuffed zucchini flowers were a highlight as was the prawn concoction that had everyone eyeing off the last one. Thinly sliced sashimi kingfish, and stuffed eggplant, ample pide bread and the grilled spatchcock and waygu were enjoyed by all.

We never felt ‘shoved’ in the corner or ignored because we were a group and the delightfully engaging sommelier made us feel like A listers on a D lister budget. One of the most diverse and exceptional value wine lists I’ve encountered. Nothing was a problem for any of the staff but special mention must go to the sommelier who worked tirelessly to ensure our evening was everything we wanted it to be.

Thank you, thank you! Can’t wait to return.

Jan 13, 2009

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

The new gem on Goulburn Street, Mamak is what was lacking in Chinatown. Roti's for both savory and sweet taste buds and a lamb curry to die for. Excellent spiced nasi goreng and freshly prepared nasi lemak support a range of tasty curries and spice chicken. Yet to try the satays (they're always sold out)! Fantastic service with a smile. I look forward to future visits and eating my way through the whole menu.

Mar 28, 2008

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

You can't beat Saigon Bay for crispy pancake (trust me I've done the Vietnamese rounds). Perfectly fresh with crispy sprouts in the flavoursome filling, crisp but not overdone. Served with superfresh coriander and mint, pickled carrot and fresh cucumber wrapped DIY in a lettuce leaf with some sauce to top it off. Perfection. Oh and the rest of the food is pretty good too. Quick efficient service and a menu for all tastes. Trust me, have the pancake.

Mar 28, 2008