twadle

Reviews

Pubs, Bottle Shops, Burger, Modern Australian, Seafood

Overall 7.3 8

7.8 Recommended

Quality 9 Food 9 Drinks 6 Ambience 6 Service 8 Value 9

What a surprise this was! I've driven past, walked past and around this pub for years never setting foot inside. Then a friend raves about the food from the bistro and since there was nothing else happening on a Sat night, off we go. And glad we did, I cannot recommend this venue highly enough for what it is. Simple, straight up bistro food attached to a pub that honestly surprised with the friendliness of the bar staff.

The kitchen is small and staff in total number 2. So I am guessing that if its busy there'd be a backlog and a wait, but it would be worth it. One thing that struck me about this bistro above the quality of the food that came out of the kitchen was that the chef came out and asked us how things were and stopped to pass the time of day.

Obviously this guy loves what he does, and I honestly hope that this style he's crafted brings the rewards that it deserves. I now have a new "local" after years without one and its thanks to Reggie, his style and food quality and the completely unexpected friendliness and service from the blokes behind the bar.

May 10, 2011

Java, Randwick

Restaurants, Indonesian, BYO

Overall 7.9 73

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 7 Service 8 Value 9

I love this place. I've been going there for the last 4 years and everytime I have been there the food has been superb. Small place and the takeaway trade up the middle of the restaurant can be a pain as the front door opens and shuts through the whole night, but the food itself makes this worth bearing.

I just got back from introducing two friends to the place and they are now converts and vowing to return also. Soft shell crab and the Fried Eggplant were the stars of tonight's meal three thumbs up for each of them. Eggplant was amazingly crisp with the battered exterior leading to a deliciously unctuous/gooey interior. The crab was coated with a delicious salty concoction and lovely and crunchy.

Low light was experimenting with the deep fried bone marrow though. Kind of disappointing in both flavour and texture. I won't be doing that one again but the chicken satay sticks are worth the parking hassles in and of them selves. If you like spicy authentic Indon food, this little gem of a place is a must.

Jul 03, 2010

Malaya, The, Sydney

Restaurants, Malaysian, Child Friendly, Child Friendly Highchairs, Licensed

Overall 7.2 265

6.3 Average

Food 7 Ambience 6 Service 6 Value 6

I've been to The Malaya many times over the last 4 years and generally had a good experience. My last outing there at the end of May, however, was far below the previous experiences. Admittedly we were a large party of 12 and took a banquet option on a busy'ish night, but I have also done this before there and had a very different experience.

Service was very ordinary this night, but most disappointing was the quality of the food. Far below our expectations based on previous visits. Service was poor, we waited in excess of an hour between first course and mains despite being seated and ordering relatively early in the evening.

Historically this has been a great venue, location and food have been superb, and this has balanced the price bringing pretty good value. After so long, are we in a mediocre period for The Malaya?

Jun 13, 2010

Let's Eat, Marrickville

Restaurants, Thai, BYO, Food Delivery, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.8 43

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 7 Service 9 Value 9

This is some of the finest Thai food I have had for a very long time. A complete surprise to find this in Marrickville so close to home. A big meal for two hungry diners came in at $63 and each dish (except the fish cakes) was absolutely delicious.

Thumbs up for the Curry Puffs as a starter, rich and tasty. Yellow curry with tofu was mild but fantastically spiced, loaded with tiny eggplants that burst in the mouth squirting their tart juice to add more lubrication to the mouth full. Green Paw Paw salad was a delicious counter point in freshness to the crispy pork belly, lovely balance of dressing of fish sauce and sweetness with tiny dried shrimp crunchies scattered through out.

I am a die hard pork fan, and the pork belly was the king of the meal, crispy fried pieces that were unctuous inside coated with spice that build on the flavour and chilli that built in your mouth wonderfully. Extra crunch deliver through the addition of spiced pieces of crackling through out, a carnivores delight. One low point, the starter fish cakes. Flacid and tough with out a lot of flavour in themselves.

Service very friendly and prompt delivered with genuine care. Ambience is fairly simple with bright lighting and a thorough fare through the middle of the diners to the register in the back. Not really a place to linger, but with a small space this is probably the owners intent to allow the tables to be turned over a couple of times.

Over all terrific value for money and a genuine surprise on a Saturday night dinner.

Jun 13, 2010