Battered at the Bay, La Perouse (28 Jan 2019)

51 Endeavour Avenue, La Perouse NSW 2036
https://www.facebook.com/batteredatthebay/
https://www.instagram.com/batteredatthebay/

Chips ahoy in La Perouse

My first time checking out this place which is looking much better than the previous fish and chip shop that used to be here. Calamari and chips ($13) comes with 6 pieces of tender calamari that's prepared right without thankfully any stringy elastic membrane left intact. Good crispy chips. Will definitely need to revisit to try their fish. Parking on the weekends is a big challenge being such a popular area. Service was friendly and under pressure at the time. I thought the order was going to take a while but it came out a lot quicker than expected. Fair amount of seating on the balcony that overlooks towards the beach area. A well located spot for those craving a fish and chips fix.

Maroubra Saltwater Quality Seafood, Maroubra (3 Oct 2016)

944 Anzac Parade, Maroubra NSW 2035
https://www.facebook.com/Maroubra-Saltwater-Quality-Seafood-162869620391531/

Fryday in Maroubra

These guys have been around for ages. Snack Box ($13.50) comes with deep fried goodies on a generous amount of chips. Thin batter pretty good on the decent sized fish cocktails. Calamari rings are tender. Would be great if the tartare sauce was housemade rather than the processed type. Char-grilled Octopus Pack ($15.50) comes with a nice fresh salad and coleslaw. The octopus flavour is OK although the texture is more rubbery than hoped. I suspect it's because the octopus is already partly cooked and pre-marinated on display so the extra grilling tends to toughen it up a bit which is a shame. Service is pretty friendly and efficient. There's three stainless tables to dine in which has been handy when available. Lots of free street parking in the area. I spy Deep Fried Mars Bars live on here for $3.50 for a decadent fryday.

Kingsford Chinese Restaurant: Chinese, Kingsford (10 May 2014)

426 Anzac Parade, Kingsford NSW 2032

Everybody Sang Tung tonight

Surviving the test of time Kingsford Chinese Restaurant has remained popular and consistent. Sang Tung Chicken ($12) is considered by many as their signature dish and is also a family favourite of mine. Tasty with crispy bits of yumminess. Deep Fried Calamari with Pepper & Salt ($12.80) is another favourite that's been a must order any time I visit. It's tender, tasty and crispy — what more could you ask for, oh yes it's reasonably priced as well for the portion size. This time I take a gamble on ordering the Pork Chop in Vietnamese Style ($11) for the first time and so glad I did. Tender and tasty as hoped and becomes another favourite. Can this place do no wrong? Well I guess the Chinese Mushroom with Seasonal Vegetable ($12.80) isn't the most pretty of dishes. It tasted OK in its foreboding gluggy sauce and if the bulbous and slippery mushrooms were sliced up would have made it a lot easier to share and eat with chopsticks. Always gotta have me Fried Rice ($8) which was good too. 

Bill came to $56.60 for four which in my world is great value for the standard of dishes and the chinese tea is complimentary which is always a bonus for customers. I guess don't expect service to be overly friendly although this time around they were pretty nice and helpful but probably because our lunch time visit wasn't too crazy busy. Your toilet awaits through the back door, down the dreary and slightly smelly outdoor passageway, past the dirty mop drying against the fence and into the single stall complete with wonky hand gel bottle sitting inside previous wall mount ed soap dispenser. What more could you ask for besides the wall mounted paper dispenser perhaps being filled up if that's the norm.

Previous reviews of Kingsford Chinese Restaurant:
13 April 2009
http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/kingsford-chinese-restaurant-13-april.html
15 Sept 2008
http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com.au/2008/10/kingsford-chinese-restaurant-15-sept.html

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Reasonably priced, Efficient service, Tasty dishes, Complimentary Chinese tea, Free street parking in the area

CONS: Be prepared to wait outside when busy, You'll be the goldfish in the bowl if you sit at the front at night with waiting customers looking at you, I've seen nicer toilets

MUST TRY: Sang Tung Chicken, Deep Fried Calamari with Pepper & Salt, Pork Chop in Vietnamese Style, Fried Rice

VERDICT: Very popular for a cheap feed of tasty dishes

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Complimentary Chinese tea — didn't seem to be a charge on the bill

Sang Tung Chicken ($12)
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Deep Fried Calamari with Pepper & Salt ($12.80)
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Pork Chop in Vietnamese Style ($11)
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Chinese Mushroom with Seasonal Vegetable ($12.80)

Fried Rice ($8)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Bill $56.60 — it's all Chinese to me

Prime spot for waiting customers outside to look at you

Watch out for the trip hazard

Thankfully the hand dryer worked as there was no paper towelling left

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Bar H: Seasonal Produce, Surry Hills (22 Sept 2011)

80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

http://www.barhsurryhills.com

H is for Seasonal

Bar H has certainly made the old Wall Cafe site their own in a good way with a nice chic look and inviting space. Chef Hamish Ingham aims to highlight seasonal produce through the menu which is always a good thing. The Sashimi of stripped trumpeter (instead of Kingfish) with pickled mushroom ($16) had nice flavours and presented well and the trumpeter seemed to have a firmer texture than kingfish for me. The Braised beef short rib on sesame leaf ($6.50 each) were more than a mouthful and seemed to work well as a tasty treat albeit a little messy on the fingers if you're not careful. The Scallops on the half shell with blackbean and chilli ($5 each) were small but flavoursome and the Steamed pork wontons with shellfish and chilli oil dressing ($3 each) became a favourite of mine for their flavour and freshness. While having food envy for the Caramelised beef short rib with fennel salad served with rice ($17) spotted on another table I unfortunately wasn't a fan of the Raw calamari salad with yam bean & coriander ($16). I didn't mind the yam bean but the texture and taste of the raw calamari wasn't for me and I'm now a believer that calamari tastes better when cooked like the cuttlefish salad I very much enjoyed at Bloodwood. To help cleanse my palate of the raw calamari the Ginger custard with lime syrup ($10) hit the spot with refreshing flavours. I loved the candied ginger on top of the dish although overall it was quite a sweet dessert so the small portion was more than enough.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Service was professional and friendly, Interesting menu focuses on seasonal produce, Flavoursome dishes, Nice decor

CONS: Raw calamari didn't work for me so I wish I got the Caramelised beef short rib instead, Stool seating can get a bit uncomfortable after a while

MUST TRY: Steamed pork wontons with shellfish and chilli oil dressing

VERDICT: A tempting menu that seems reasonably priced for the quality and flavour suitable for a nicer than average lunch catchup

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Sashimi of stripped trumpeter (instead of Kingfish) with pickled mushroom ($16)

WORTH TRYING :-) 

Braised beef short rib on sesame leaf ($6.50 each)

Scallops on the half shell with blackbean and chilli ($5 each)

Steamed pork wontons with shellfish and chilli oil dressing ($3 each) 

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Raw calamari salad with yam bean & coriander ($16) — Wasn't a fan of this dish

Ginger custard with lime syrup ($10)
WORTH TRYING :-)

Caramelised beef short rib with fennel salad served with rice ($17) — Spotted on another table and must try next time if available

Menu

What does H stand for?

Chef Hamish Ingham (sorry about the deer in the headlights shot)

Nice flowers = nice touch

Table for six

Nice unisex toilet

Room with a street view

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