Bonnie Coffee, Wynyard, CBD Sydney (2 March 2018)

42-44 Margaret St, Sydney NSW 2000
http://bonnie.coffee/
https://www.instagram.com/bonniecoffeeco/

Bonnie Coffee from Melbourne

Sydney seems never short of a new coffee shop opening and its Bonnie Coffee's first week at cracking the Sydney market with their Melbourne styling. Cappuccino ($4) is nice with a medium body roasted flavour. Love the coffee art, decor, sparkling table water and friendly service. Nice use of the newspaper board which reminds me of when I visited Patricia Coffee Brewers in Melbourne. Selected tempting pastries are from Brickfields, Butter Boy Bake and Alfamores that are located at the ordering station when you first walk in.

Little Vietnamese Food Restaurant, Wynyard, CBD Sydney (21 Feb 2017)

15 Hunter St, Sydney NSW 2000
https://www.instagram.com/littlevietnamesefood/
https://www.facebook.com/Little-Vietnamese-Food-222075581305074/

Vietnamese lunch game strong

Tried the Beef Pho ($11.90 regular size) which had well flavoured broth and certainly one of the better ones in the CBD. Two types of beef seemed to be served cooked rather than rare though. Hoisin sauce and chilli is added standard so be sure to order without if you don't want. The ample amount of chilli served has a decent kick and will leave your lips with a tingling hum which builds intensity to achieve a nose drip reaction amongst the faint hearted like myself. There's a fair amount of communal seating which fills up quickly due to being so popular and becomes quite neighbourly when you're sitting so close to others. No toilet available which is unusual I thought for such a decent sized sit down eatery as always thought this would be compulsory? If dining in they'l provide table service of your dishes when they call out your number. Definitely wanting to try more of the menu now like those spring rolls and grilled pork belly. Menu prices seem pretty reasonable as well.

The Naughty Chef: Vietnamese, Wynyard, CBD Sydney (6 May 2014)

Shop H04, Hunter Arcade, Wynyard Station, Sydney NSW 2000

Naughty by nice pho

The Naughty Chef has been one of my long standing favourites for a good pho fix in the CBD. Located underground between Hunter Connection and Wynyard Station this hole-in-the-wall counter delivers quick service. Seating is available in their 'Noodle Room' a few doors down adorned with crookedly hung Vietnamese decorations. Prices have crept above $10 over the years but I think still holds as a cheap and cheerful place for some simple and consistent comfort dishes. Spicy Beef Pho ($11) had a tasty and flavoursome broth with a decent chilli kick for me.

Other visits reviewed: 

http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/naughty-chef-pho-sydney-17-sept-2009.html

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Good pho, Decent flavour, Prices have come up over the years but I think still reasonable for what you get

CONS: Finding a seat during lunch time can be a challenge, Be careful when carrying your tray of hot pho to find a seat

MUST TRY: Spicy Beef Pho

VERDICT: For a pho fix this place should do the trick and I think is above average compared to many other offerings around the CBD

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Spicy Beef Pho ($11) — tasty and flavoursome broth, decent chilli kick for me but you can add extra

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Menu

Service counter

Seating available nearby

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York Lane: Tapas & Wine Bar, CBD Sydney (8 Dec 2011)

York Lane, Wynyard, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.yorklane.com

Laneway tapas and bar

Thanks to Richard Elliot for organising a casual lunch catchup at this laneway café he spotted serving a tapas style menu. It’s quite a cosy place with repurposed items like airline trolleys as shelving, railway sleepers as flooring and furniture offcuts becoming stools. The laneway location, creativity and intimacy oozes a Melbourne vibe to me but the service cheekily says ‘this is what Melbourne would want to be like’, and perhaps he’s right, but I'm thinking we're still catching up. It’s smaller than Grasshopper Bar and around the same size as Grandma’s Bar and joins the growing number of small bars around Sydney.

The hand-written menu seemed quite well-priced at first but you’ll need to order a few things to fill up so I think it’s more suited to side snacking with your wine or beer rather than a reasonably priced lunch spot for one. The Haloumi & Pea Fritters with Tzatziki ($9) was pretty tasty and I wondered if slices of grilled haloumi could be another dish worth having on the menu. Four pieces are served with the Duck Pancakes with Hoisin Sauce ($12) filled with fresh salad. I quite liked the Chorizo Hot Pot with cannellini beans, fresh tomato & basil ($12) although wished it came in a sauce of some description to soak up with the crusty bread included. We’re prewarned the Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Sauce ($10) takes 15 minutes to prepare which are quite flavoursome and the chilli deceptively increases over time on your palate. There were a few stray little feathers on my wing which could have perhaps been better cleaned off though. I’d recommend the Pork Belly with Chilli Jam ($12) if you’re after some decent crackling and nicely flavoured meat. Bite-sized pieces of joy for the pork lovers. My Mocha ($3.50) thankfully had a good balance which helped finish off the meal with a sugar note.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Friendly and accommodating service, Repurposed decor and furniture is done well and good for the environment

CONS: Seating can get a little uncomfortable for extended period of time, The smell of a laneway is sometimes not the cleanest

WORTH TRYING: Pork Belly with Chilli Jam, Buffalo Wings, Mocha

DAMAGE: $73.40 for three

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Handwritten menus — now that's dedication to doing it on the cheap

Drinks on offer including beers, wine and spirits

Haloumi & Pea Fritters with Tzatziki ($9)

Duck Pancakes with Hoisin Sauce ($12)

Chorizo Hot Pot with cannellini beans, fresh tomato & basil ($12)

A bit of sauce would help to dip the bread in

Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Sauce ($10)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Some of the wings had a bit of feather still left on it so hopefully they can be cleaned a bit better next time

Pork Belly with Chilli Jam ($12)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Flat White ($3.50), Mocha ($3.50)

Little plates for a little table makes it feel like a tea party

Seating and repurposed decor

Bar

Furniture offcuts, airline trolleys and railway sleepers repurposed

Crates for shelving


Wooden fruit bowls for lamp shades

Tapas style menu from 12 noon, Monday – Friday

Tips lady

A sign of understanding for the ladies in the unisex toilet

Bill $73.40 for three. Records albums ready to play

End of laneway advertising — although I think it's probably overlooked quite easily

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