High Street Bistro has a little bit of Surry Hills funk about it with a dash of upper north shore suburbia. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the south side wall art - black and white illustration circle pattern with a retro design feel. It's pretty 'cool' for these parts. The dark timber table and chairs and polished (both in presentation and literally) table setting gives this restaurant an instant luxury dining feel whereas the outside seating area on the main road and side street give it more a chilled cafe feel.
The menu is certainly on the fancy end of food standards. Here's my picks to give you an indication of quality: fresh oysters with a Campari and lime dressing for starters (one dozen for $36), Roast baby beetroot with Mt Vikos feta, purslane and truffle honey for entree ($17), Duck confit with frisee salad, lardons and mustard dressing for main ($28), Rocket salad with organic almonds, black pepper and lemon for sides ($8) and an "Orgy" of summer berries, crisp meringue and raspberry sorbet ($14). Oh yeah... it's a nice menu indeed.
There's a comprehensive wine and beer list but you can take your own bottle of wine for $10 corkage. Coffee is so so.
Breakfasts are also meant to be pretty dam fine.
Staff were pleasant and efficient enough but I didn't find them overly warm. Also I'd sit looking inwards towards the restaurant as the streets outside are pretty drab. read more