Greenhouse by Joost: Eco friendly cafe and bar, The Rocks (15 Feb 2011)

Circular Quay West, Sydney NSW 2000

Monday – Saturday: 7.30 am – Midnight; Sunday: 10 am – Midnight

Ends 28 March 2011

http://greenhousebyjoost.com

Waste not, want not

The Greenhouse is about lifestyle and the many choices that can be made; from material choices to fashion, food and ultimately waste. This building is productive and alive! The roof-top garden acts as a filter, the soil made from composted organic waste and bio-char.

If you love your food served on plywood mixed with excellent views of famous Sydney harbour landmarks, have eco friendly and recycling tendencies and don't mind your wine coming from a 23 litre demijohn and served in a glass jar then this might be your perfect cup of tea, or jar of natural wine for that matter. Oh, and if you love the Matrix then you'll feel right at home too with all the letters that surround you. It's quite amazing to read about how the restaurant has been designed to be as waste free as possible.

The Greenhouse is both creative and inspiring and the food is pretty good as well. Dishes are served on thin plywood which reminds me of how District Dining serves their dishes on wooden boards. Sydney Rock Oysters ($3.50 each) seem freshly shucked and the Fried spiced cauliflower ($9) is a tasty treat served in newspaper easily shared between 2 or 3 people. Drinks are served in glass jars and the Natural Selection Theory Natural Wine Sangiovese ($10) is pretty quaffable. The pizza base of the Wood fired Fennel and Pork Sausage pizza ($15) is soft and tasty and toppings seem quite fresh. The crisp skinned and flavoursome Seared mullet ($26) apparently comes from a very sustainable source and its mixed tomato salad is full of flavour which I'm suspecting might be of the heirloom variety.

For dessert the glass jars are also used for the refreshing Watermelon jelly with rose labnum [labneh?] and berries ($10) just like District Dining's panncotta and rice pudding. Both the Flat White ($4) and Cappuccino ($4) are well made with nice roasty flavour and little bitterness. I could have easily drunk without sugar although I'm a bit disappointed to see that only processed white sugar is available which seems to be at odds with the whole philosophy of the cafe.

Other visits to Greenhouse by Joost:

• 24 Feb 2011 - Rooftop bar, Orange juice, Lemonade, Pasta, Pizza, Mullet, Wagu beef

• 15 Feb 2011 - Oysters, Fried spiced cauliflower, Pizza, Mullet, Watermelon Jelly, Coffee

Other reviews and info of Greenhouse by Joost:

• SMH Environment

• INDESIGNLIVE

• The Design Files

• The Rocks

• Two Thousand

• Food Rehab

• The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry

• He Needs Food

• Eat, Show & Tell

• Penguin Says Feed Me

• The Empty Fridge

• Spicy Icecream

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Promotion of eco friendly, sustainability and waste-free, Well-presented and tasty dishes, Seems reasonably priced for the quality, Service was friendly (but sometimes hard to grab their attention when busy), Water and landmark views

CONS: Watch out for sharp and rough edges around seating, Very dimly lit toilets (not sure if mirrors are available in womens), Plantation timber cutlery feels like running your nails on a blackboard inside your mouth, Drinks are served in glass jars making you feel a bit homeless, Possibly not the most child friendly environment with tea lights all around, No menus so have to ask the waiter for details (a chalkboard menu like Cafe Sopra would be more convenient)

MUST TRY: Visiting again to check out the rooftop garden when open

WORTH TRYING: All the dishes

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Glass jar of water, Natural Selection Theory Natural Wine Sangiovese ($10)

Sydney Rock Oysters ($3.50 each)

Fried spiced cauliflower ($9)

Wood fired Fennel and Pork Sausage pizza ($15)

Seared mullet (sustainably farmed) with mixed tomato salad ($26)

Watermelon jelly with rose labnum [labneh?] and berries ($10)

Cappuccino ($4)

Flat White ($4)

Refined white sugar — seems a bit out of place, where's the natural organic raw sugar?

Today's menu

Inside seating

Recycled seating and tables

View of Sydney Harbour Bridge

View of Sydney Opera House

Fruit and barrels of wine

Natural Selection Theory Wines

Passageway to toilets

Toilets are Australian made Caroma Dorf, with the sink above the cistern using water from the hand wash to fill the next flush

Toilet doors made from trestle tables

Passageway lighting with glass jars

Kitchen counter

OH&S issue — watch out for sharp finishes around joints under the chairs when moving them

OH&S issue: Watch out for very rough ends of chairs

OH&S issue: Seems to be some leaking from the ceiling above, perhaps from the rooftop garden

Bill dividers

Potted strawberries — although I'm not sure how they'll survive. Perhaps some dry resistant herbs like rosemary might work as well which doesn't need much water.

Side view with Sydney Opera House

Outside view

View from Overseas Passenger Terminal


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