The Dining Room / The Wool & Wheat Bar at The Royal Exchange, CBD Sydney (16 April 2018)

1 Gresham St, Sydney NSW 2000
https://www.royalexchange.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/theroyalexchangesydney/

Classic French and British Fare

I first visited The Wool & Wheat Bar on 8 February for a Cappuccino ($3 takeaway) using Reuben Hills coffee. It had nice flavour although seemed a bit light on the chocolate at the time. Ever since I've been curious to revisit The Dining Room. The 2 courses for $39 seemed to be the go. Glad to see the oyster game is strong here. Sydney Rock Oysters from Broadwater Oysters Pambula Lake are usually $4 each on the bar menu or can be ordered as an entree (4 pieces) on the $39, two course menu. They were shucked to order with excellent brine retained and lovely flavour. I was very happy with these. NZ King Salmon petit pois a la francaise, lemon beurre blanc and dill ($32, or $39 two course menu) is nicely cooked on a bed of a richly flavoured petit pois a la francaise. Service was friendly and professional. Seems to be an ideal spot for business lunches or group bookings in The Dining Room.

The Traditional Chip Shop: Fish & Chips, The Spot, Randwick (26 March 2015)

49-55 Saint Pauls Street, Randwick NSW 2031

http://www.thechipshop.com.au

Hitting the spot for chips

"We are currently serving Sydney with authentic traditional Irish and British Fish & Chips plus all the trimmings you'd expect to see in a 'Chipper' back HOME!"

A sudden craving hot chips was satisfied with a visit on their first day of opening for some of their freshly peeled and prepared Chips ($5 regular size). A good sized portion to share between two as we watched My Kitchen Rules and better value than the $4.50 small size which would have been about half the amount. I liked the hand cut look and thought the flavour was good especially with some salt and vinegar. I generally prefer my chips crispy but once they had travelled back home in the paper wrapping they'd become a bit soft and sweaty. Apparently this is the way some people really like them and is more authentic than the crispy chips I'm so used to. I'll probably need to dine in if I want to enjoy the chips a bit crispy and crunchy. There's a fair amount of seating and the space and fitout looks pretty good. I've been to the Bondi Junction store for a burger and chips but it's a much smaller shop with limited dine in seating. While passing by on Good Friday I spotted a poster advertising their Official Opening happening on Thursday 9 April from 7 pm til 10 pm. Special guest will be Celebrity Chef Colin Fassnidge who'll be up for selfies and there's prizes to be won including vouchers to dine at Colin Fassnidge's restaurant Four in Hand or 4Fourteen.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Lots of ways on the menu to have your chips, Quite an extensive menu

CONS: Parking can be a challenge in the area

MUST TRY: Chips if you like them hand cut and a bit soft. Revisiting to try the Fish & Chips and working out what a "Paul's Jammy Wotsit" is on the menu

VERDICT: Promising to be the be all and end all of authentic traditional Irish and British Fish & Chips is a big call and time will tell how they fare. There's plenty of Irish and English in the area so I'm sure they'll be loving the addition to the area.

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Freshly peeled and prepared Chips ($5 regular size)

Chips getting a little sweaty and sticky once arrived as takeaway

Opening hours. Note: the 12 pm has since been corrected to 12 am

Good Friday was busy

Official opening with Celebrity Chef Colin Fassnidge Thursday 9 April 7–10 pm

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