RockPool Bar & Grill Sydney
08/01/2011
We decided to give Rockpool B&G a try after reading about their Wagyu Burger in the 2011 SMH Good Food Guide Awards. First I have to tell you a little story that made my day on Thursday last week... Since we left it quite late, the best time we managed to book a table for on Saturday with 48h notice was 9.30pm, so my friend and I agreed to meet up for a few pre-dinner drinks. Because I couldn't think of any nice fancy bar in the surrounding, I jumped on the Rockpool facebook page got in touch with the admin contact on the page who suggested the Rockpool bar (yep, you can just wander in for a drink without a booking). Needless to say I didn't realize that helpful and friendly bloke I emailed back and forth a couple of times that day was in fact Neil Perry himself! How funny...It has to be the best customer service ever...!
So after sipping a couple of cosmos in their sleek glass bar, we moved to our table in the restaurant to discover that we couldn't order their famous wagyu burger from the main restaurant, but only from their bar apparently. Thankfully, our really lovely waiter David offered a complementary mini version of the burger as a cheer up when witnessing the significant disappointment look on my face!...I am not sure if it's just down to the burger or if I got carried away with the special treatment but it may have been indeed the best tasting burger I have ever had! Following this ridiculously lovely nibble, we shared a crudo starter and had all had steak for the mains along with a few sides to share. The crudo was nice, and the steak cooked to perfection, but for me the real highlight were the sides... the onion rings, green beans and the macaroni cheese were actually the most special of all (along with the service)!
PS: if you look carefully next time you go there for a meal you may even spot a staff member who looks exactly like Antonio Banderas!
I would give it a 9/10 Nibbles!
Hunter St Sydney
NSW 2000 Australia
Tokko - Surry Hills
30/12/2010
Toko is definitely one of my favourite hotspots in Sydney...I have been there quite a few times, have tried pretty much every dish on the menu and each one is a winner of its kind!! Even the Tofu, which I normally find a bit bland and boring, is absolutely gorgeous and full of flavors...We had the tasting menu for the first time last night, and the combination of dishes was really varied and exciting...see below photos!
The atmosphere was buzzing but relaxed, the service fast paced but friendly and the food, well the best Japanese food you can find outside Tokyo!
I would give it a 9.5/10 Nibbles!
490 crown street
surry hills
nsw australia 2010
