Fishbowl Sashimi Bar, Surry Hills (21 April 2017)

298 Crown St Surry Hills NSW 2010
https://www.fishbowlbondi.com.au
https://www.instagram.com/fishbowl_sashimi/

Make friends with sashimi salad

Highly recommended by the Mrs I tried the FB1 The O.G. ($12.90 small) that comes with salmon, sweet red onion, shallots, beetroot, sesame, seaweed salad, tobiko and roasted sesame dressing. Really yummy flavour combo and the beetroot seems to be a golden beetroot. I chose the sushi rice as my base which was served slightly warm. To help wash it down the Capi Yuzu Sparkling Fruit Soda ($3.50) was refreshing and good although no straws were available for drinks. I'm not sure if this was just because they'd ran out or a conscious decision to reduce single use plastics although single use plastic bowls were being used for dine in. Simple decor and functional seating looked good. The display counter of ingredients looked fresh and was kept clean and presentable. 

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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Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse: Singapore Chilli Crab, Woolloomooloo (4 Dec 2010)

Restaurant 10/6, Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
http://www.kingsleys.com.au

Eating crab is a messy business

Using a $200 gift voucher I received from the Pacific Restaurant Group for helping out at a Managers Creative Day on 23 August 2010 comes in handy for a family lunch at Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse. The weekend special of a glass of Louis Roederer NV ($17) seems a nice way to start although its elegance is soon overshadowed by how messy the complimentary crusty bread was to cut leaving exploding crumbs all over the table — I’m suspecting this is why many restaurants serve it pre sliced. A good selection of table pleasing entrees included a nicely presented Yellow fin tuna sashimi, nicely flavoured Hervey Bay scallop on half shell ($5.50 each) and the Steak tartare ($17.90) which I’d previously enjoyed with surprise. My mum was against trying the raw meat assuming she’d hate it but after much coaxing finally tried a tiny bit and announced she actually didn’t mind it and thought it was quite nice. A reasonably priced 2010 Totara Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ($34) seemed good value at such a nice water view restaurant. The Alaskan King Crab legs ($59.90 600g) was on my must have order which possessed decent chunks of sweet crab meat easily accessed through its softish shell.

For mains an Aged rump 120 day grain-fed, Riverine Premium Beef ($26.90 300g) of marble score 2+ was sliced up for easy sharing and cooked nicely to our medium-rare request. Similar to Mad Cow steaks seem to be served as is with no sides — quality meat but at a price. The main drawcard for the visit was to try the QLD Mud crab in Singapore Chilli sauce ($69.50 1-1.2kg) which is at a set price so you know what you’ll be hit up for. My brother refuses to eat crab these days because it’s so messy and involves a frustrating amount of time in finding the meat with usually little gain. The rest of the family still persevere in enjoying the chilli sauce which isn’t too hot and full of flavour with some decent chunks of meat to be found. Unfortunately we were also left with very messy hands that lingered with crab smell well after the meal — one of the downsides of crab eating.

For sides the Steakhouse chips ($6.90) included some ridiculously sized pieces which went nicely dipped into the crab chilli sauce. The Caesar salad, anchovy, sourdough croutons ($9.90) had a nice dressing although I missed having some bacon and egg in it. For a really well flavoured dressing I’m a big fan of the Iceberg salad, radish and blue cheese ($11.90). Most of the sides seemed quite reasonably priced including the Green beans, almonds ($7.90) and Kipflers, spinach and chorizo ($9.90). For a cheap lunch I reckon just ordering all the sides to share like tapas would do the trick. Mocha ($4.50), Cappuccino ($4.50) and Long Black ($4.50) weren’t too bitter and we ended on a sweet note of Cheesecake ($13.90) which I would have preferred more base and a warmly served Butterscotch Pudding ($13.90) which was more to my liking that came with a decent amount of ice cream on top.

Other visits to Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse:
• 17 Aug 2011 – Grasslands Launch

• 4 Dec 2010 - Alaskan King Crab, Singapore Chilli Crab, Iceberg Salad, Aged Rump, Caesar Salad, Butterscotch Pudding

• 9 Nov 2010 - Bloggers Dinner: Alaksan King Crab, Steak Tartare, Baby Octopus, Beef Wellington, Burrata Mozzarella Salad, Iceberg Salad, Creme Brulee

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Water views, Quality ingredients, Nicely presented dishes, Nice decor, Set price for Mud Crab

CONS: Surcharge fee for use of credit card, Depending on what you order could be considered expensive, Crusty bread was very messy to cut

MUST TRY: Yellow fin tuna sashimi, Hervey Bay Scallops, Steak Tartare, Alaskan King Crab, Iceberg salad

WORTH TRYING: Singapore Chilli Crab if you don't mind the mess

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Louis Roederer NV ($17)

Complimentary bread — although was very crunchy and messy to cut

Yellow fin tuna sashimi with daikon and apple ($20.90)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Hervey Bay scallop on half shell ($5.50 each)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Steak tartare with truffle aioli and sourdough crostini ($17.90)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

2010 Totara Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ($34)

Alaskan King Crab legs served chilled ($59.90 600g)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Aged rump 120 day grain-fed, Riverine Premium Beef marble score 2+ ($26.90 300g)

QLD Mud crab in Singapore Chilli sauce ($69.50 1-1.2kg)

Steakhouse chips ($6.90) — look at the size of this chip!

Caesar salad, anchovy, sourdough croutons ($9.90) — although can you really have a caesar salad without bacon and egg?

Iceberg salad, radish and blue cheese ($11.90)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Green beans, almonds ($7.90)

Kipflers, spinach and chorizo ($9.90)

Mocha ($4.50)

Cappuccino ($4.50)

Long Black ($4.50) — with a requested side of milk

Cheesecake ($13.90)

Butterscotch Pudding ($13.90)

Bill for 5 people $370.30 minus $200 voucher = $170.30

Messy hands from eating crab

Weekend drink special menu

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