Greenhouse by Joost: Revisiting for lunch, The Rocks (24 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

Last days before recycling

Greenhouse by Joost has certainly been talk of the town in the last month and for those of you lucky enough to try Chef Matt Stone's (picture above) dishes I hope you've found them as interesting and tasty as I have. Although I still prefer to eat my food with proper cutlery and plates instead of fragile plantation forks which can easily break under pressure and plywood made with possibly questionable glues suitable for human consumption. On my first visit the rooftop bar was still be finished but thankfully on this visit I can appreciate the amazing view it offers of the harbour and Sydney's notable landmarks. Menus are now printed to save service time in explaining what's available and the restaurants popularity is evident. Don't miss out if you haven't been yet, you only have til Monday I believe.

My Wagu [wagyu] beef gerello, green papaya, peanut, tamarind ($25) was excellent. Meat was tender as hoped and the balance of flavours throughout the dish was simple yet tasty. The Seared mullet, mixed tomato salad ($26) was again good and well liked with crispy skin and flavoursome tomatoes. The Pasta with anchovy, tomato, olives and fresh herbs ($22) was enjoyed very much although the Pizza with potato, caramelised onion, cheese and rocket ($15) was lacking something to make it more memorable although the base was very good. Freshly squeezed orange juice ($5) and Home made lemonade ($6) are both refreshing and served in glass jars for that uni student experience.

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

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Promotion of eco friendly, sustainability and waste-free, Well-presented and tasty dishes, Seems reasonably priced for the quality, Water and landmark views

CONS: Plantation timber cutlery feels like running your nails on a blackboard inside your mouth, Water tasted a bit like wine from the reused wine bottle, Watch out for sharp and rough edges around seating, Service at times seemed bordering on "we're over this" attitude and a bit too relaxed with pockets of friendliness and attentiveness

MUST TRY: Wagu [wagyu] beef gerello with green papaya

—

Rooftop bar panoramic view

Great views from the rooftop bar — although very sunny and bright during the day so evenings and night time would be more pleasurable

Sydney's smallest bar with best views — Small beer ($6), Large beer ($10). Little Creatures Pale Ale is a fruity refreshing choice.

Not what you want to see when arriving for lunch but the wait was worth it

Salt and pepper served in glass jar lids

Menu

Drinks menu

Water is served from reused wine bottles — unfortunately the lingering taste of wine is noticeable in the water

Freshly squeezed orange juice ($5), Home made lemonade ($6)

Wagu [wagyu] beef gerello, green papaya, peanut, tamarind ($25)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Plantation cutlery isn't quite up to cutting meat with a heavy hand

Seared mullet, mixed tomato salad ($26)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Pasta with anchovy, tomato, olives and fresh herbs ($22)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Pizza with potato, caramelised onion, cheese and rocket ($15)

Restaurant seating

Million dollar views watching the tall ship go by

Sugar cane and lemon for the homemade lemonade

Mens urinals unfortunately in full view of the toilet corridor — woman watch out and don't venture too far down the end of the cubicles

Greenhouse by Joost sits in a prime location

View Larger Map

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

—

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


View Larger Map