Costi's Fish & Chips, Barangaroo (27 April 2018)

The Canteen, Tower Two International Towers Sydney
200 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, Sydney
https://www.costisfishandchips.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/theseafoodgroup/

Fish Friday at Barangaroo

Looking like a good addition to The Canteen foodcourt with a large selection of fried and grilled options and the gourmet salads were looking pretty good too. I've gone for the classic Battered NZ Hoki Fish, Chips and Salad ($10.90). Batter was decent and crispy in most parts and quite a large piece of fish. Lots of chips in the mix. For dressing on the basic side salad just help yourself to the bottles where you pick up your cutlery, napkins and other available sauce condiments. Service was keen and efficient. Gets very busy in this food court and seating comes at a premium. I'm not a fan of most of seating arrangements available here which I find too squashed and awkwardly facing others when dining solo.

Pasta Pantry, Woollahra (25 April 2018)

140 Queen St, Woollahra NSW 2025
https://www.pastapantry.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/pasta_pantry/

Coffee fix sorted on Queen St

In need of a coffee I thought I'd try this place which seemed to be pretty popular with the locals. Friendly service and keen barista pumping out the coffees as fast as possible. I was pleasantly surprised to find this pasta place did a decent coffee. Not quite sure what coffee they're using but I'm suspecting it might be Aroma Coffee Roastery based on one of their instagram posts.

Little Bistro, Hotel CBD Pop-up, CBD Sydney (24 April 2018)

52 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
https://merivale.com.au/venues/littlebistro

Refined flavours in Little Bistro

Little Bistro pop-up takes up position at the former Bistrode CBD site where the much loved but not forgotten Jeremy Bistrode brought joy to his dishes. British chef Alastair Little is at the helm and so far I'm impressed with the professional and down-to-earth service, decor and dishes that delivered on taste and technique. Vodka Martini ($14 / $17.50 on bill corrected back to menu price) is served at the table from a mini carafe filled with Absolut Elyx, Noilly Prat, Lemon Zest and '4:1 ratio' which I'm not quite sure what that meant. The tiny martini glass is also well-suited for a tea party but filled with lovely flavour and topped with a massive juicy green olive as my preference over the twist. Keep them coming I say. Clair de Lune oysters, spicy sausages, mignonette ($5 each) are from Moonlight Flat Oysters and come with a housemade spicy sausage which is a first for me but won't be the last I hope. Oysters seem shucked to order as well which is always my preference for some flavoursome brine.

Seafood life is good in the Bourride of market fish, mussels, squid, prawns, fennel, rouille, croutons ($35). Nicely cooked seafood, plump mussels and a tasty punchy rouille makes for a happy tummy. Some softer sourdough would help also to soak up the leftover broth. The Apple Tart Fine, Chantilly cream ($14) apparently is one of Little's signature desserts using his apple tart recipe since about 1983. Nice thin caramelised pastry topped with wafer thin slices of apple. A joy with the Chantilly cream. I'm suspecting the only thing that could make it better is if you were lucky enough to have it served just out of the oven and not at room temperature. I think a bigger hit of vanilla from some vanilla bean paste in the Chantilly would be most welcomed. Looking like a good addition to the CBD dining scene and well-suited for the business lunch crowd that keep in mind the online booking confirmation Dress Code of Smart Casual.

Fishbowl, Chifley Plaza, CBD Sydney (23 April 2018)

Level 1, Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
https://www.fishbowlbondi.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/fishbowl_sashimi/

Fishbowl comes to Chifley

Taking over where Poku used to be is a well-established poke bowl player in the Sydney market. They seem to have changed the service and order pickup layout of the shop in a good way which looks like it might be more efficient. I've gone for the first item off the menu. The O.G. with Salmon Sashimi, shallots, onion, beets, edamame with roast sesame dressing, seaweed salad, tobiko and crisp shallots, chose glass noodles base ($12.90) add avocado ($2). Nice flavours and texture and always good to order without a plastic lid for a nicer shot and use up less single use plastic. Seemed to be missing the edamame though and the glass noodles option seems to be vermicelli noodles which I believe aren't technically glass noodles. I'm keen to try the Tokyo Tamari on my next visit for a healthy lunch eat.