You know how people are always claiming to be the Original at something, because the original is…read moreapparently the best? Yeah, so, I didn't really know what that meant before boring old Grosvener Street got the living crap gentrified out of it. It rules now, no denying, but you know who was there all along? Kyushu. Like a quiet, dignified, classy little Japanese man sitting in the corner of a suburban pub, Kyushu has maintained its class and its quality for years now, and it has never, ever slipped. Because, being Japanese, the consquence is hari kari, and nobody wants that. Always busy - although convivial is a better word because rather than feel squashed in you feel a part of something friendly and delicious - the mainstays I can direct you in the direction of are the pork-wrapped shallots, which will change your life - I know I say that in pretty much every review but this time they really will - and the Deluxe Sashimi Selection which comes served in an ice-filled bowl big enough to train dolphins in. I know because I tried, although better not to ask where I got the dolphins. (HINT: it was Seaworld. Crap security. Probably pretty good now though. I know, I've ruined it for all the other children out there who ever dreamed of stealing a dolphin. What can I say, first come first steal.)

Ah Neutral Bay..... where you go for Japanese food (mainly because it seems like half the…read morerestaurants are Japanese). This place is probably the busiest Japanese joint in the area. And it got to this place for good reason. The sushi (especially sashimi platter) is fresh, the service is prompt, and everything is great. They do have some nice entrees that I have not seen elsewhere, but sadly the names escape me. My favourite item here is the hot pot. It is a double serve, so be prepared to either die from over eating or make sure your partner is willing to split the dish with you. One issue I have is how busy it is. I cannot figure out why this place draws such crowds, as there are so many good Japanese places out here. But if I want some hot pot, then I will show up and hope there is a few spots free (either a table or the sushi bar).

So the produce was fresh and well-presented, but honestly, I could prepare the same at home - slice…read morea tomato, boil an egg (which was served cold btw?), add avocado and scatter some fresh herbs on top - no innovation here. Coffee arrived curdled and the sprouted bread option was most unappetizing. The space is tastefully decorated with representations of a 'farm-to-table' ethos. The light pink theme is novel and surprisingly not sickly. If I'd picked up one of the Callebaut sea salt cookies, this review might be sporting another star, disappointed with the opening act though, I didn't bother with the bickie. Bottom line: over-hyped.

Best chicken schnitzel in Sydney, but at nearly $30 it's not something I can justify too often!…read moreLove the booths around the back, but they are only for parties of three or more. Nice atmosphere and wonderful food, even if it is a bit pricey. My biggest complaint here is the chaotic line up system which is not easy to navigate when it's crowded. That's pretty much the reason I stopped coming on the weekends.

Located off the busy Military rd in Neutral Bay. This Japanese restaurant is part of the samurai…read moregroup. They use a touch screen pad for the inside tables and a normal menu for the outdoor tables. Staff are friendly and efficient and happy to help you choose items off the menu if you are stuck. To start we got a few specials including the pork belly bao and the deep fried sole fish, then onto some grilled salmon and by this stage our bellies were getting full! So we opted to get 2 small desserts which was the banana split and the green tea cake roll. Overall, good food with lots of flavour. If you visit do try and get a seat inside because its pretty fun to order off the menu.

I totally rate Izakaya Samurai as one of best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. I love the fresh…read moreproduce, the friendly staff and the prices are reasonable for the portions. I tell Melle that the last time I came here that the sushi and sashimi were so tasty and fresh. She nods but it's not until she starts eating the salmon nigiri and sashimi that her eyes light up and says ohhh wow this is really fresh and tasty. Yuri then explains which tuna is which. There are three grades of tuna available on the menu tonight. Melle prefers the medium grade and we all enjoy the usual tuna grade sashimi and nigiri which is typically served in restaurants. The usual tuna grade is a deep purple. Yuri explains that the lighter the tuna, the higher the grade. The highest grade is fatty and delicate. I love it!

Over looking Middle Head this little old world charm has a life in itself. If only the walls could…read morespeak. It is opposite a naval base and just up the road from a notorious nude beach. The atmosphere here... is fresh and the verandah is full of chatty customers. My friends and I were celebrating a birthday (not mine) and the food was interesting to say something positive. It looked beautiful, well presented with lovely garnishes. To come down the basics the Burnt Orange Fish Pie was nothing to rave about. It was lovely but I have made something similar on a Sunday night as a light meal. Maybe I just have good taste, ha. My companion had the salmon, needed more cooking, It shouldn't be raw in the middle. Further down the table one lass had the steak. It looked great but the shoestring fries were burnt. Maybe I am being a little critical but for expensive prices you need excellence. The cheapest wine was $44 a bottle. We had two bottles, red and white. Doesn't go too far with 6 people celebrating a birthday. Glad we had the birthday cake with everyone at the birthday girl's home. Then the champagne came out.

I dropped in for a quick lunch at this elegant open air restaurant. The atmosphere is sunny-summer…read moreporch, topped with a cool breeze and beautiful view of Sydney harbor. I chose the Wagyu burger with fries, the least elegant item on the menu but assuredly THE most delicious burger I have ever had. I paired it with the Burnt Orange Shiraz, which exquisitely matched the perfectly cooked beef and cheese burger. Fries are excellent as well. Who knew?! I shall return.

Done up beautifully inside this pub has been in operation for 140 odd years. Also pet friendly and…read morewith a decent menu. The menu lacks vegetarian choices and that's somewhat unfortunate. My fish and chips was nice and service was friendly. I will be back here again. It's in our neighborhood and a place I have come to off and on for almost two decades.

The London Hotel is a classic Balmain pub located on Darling street. It may not be the oldest pub…read morearound, or the most fashion forward, but there are definitely some features that make it noteworthy. I dipped in one sunny Saturday afternoon in search of something to quench my thirst (and tame the headache induced the night before). I grabbed a Little Creatures bright ale, one of the many on draft, and nabbed a stool on the veranda. With breathtaking views of the city and the iconic bridge popping out of the cityscape, it's easily one of the best views around. And what's more? You don't even have to leave your dog at home. The London allows pooches inside, and perhaps pets of all varieties. If you're so inclined to take your goldfish for a walk, I don't suppose the bar staff would protest. With pool tables, an awesome venue space for hire upstairs and a higher-end steakhouse connected, there's a little something for everyone at the London Hotel.

Not a bad place for a quick lunchtime meal. It is good to get out of the Westfield Food courts and…read morego to a family run restaurant. This one on Spring street is small, decorated nicely and the service is top notch. Fresh, cold water brought to your table. Special lunch time menus with amazingly cheap prices! I had the Massaman Beef curry for only $8.90. It was beautifully presented and tasted amazing! Yum. I'll be back again for sure now I've discovered this hidden Thai gem.

A mediocre thai place good for some take away. Didn't feel like cooking, so opted for some thai…read moretakeout. Ordered the pad kee mao with vegetables and tofu and the crab and shrimp rolls. Their prices are reasonable. I ordered a medium spicy level and wow the noodles were spicy. I was disappointed that the tofu was not fried. The pad kee mao was fine but nothing special. They did fill up the plastic container so I had leftovers. I have definitely had better thai food, so will definitely explore more options before I am back.

Food 10/10 fresh and delicious Service helpful and friendly…read more Ambiance good Great experience

We ordered food delivered by Uber Eats and it arrived fresh and tasty…read more The Pad Thai was pretty good, and the Curry Puff and Pork Fried Rice were excellent. Panang curry was also good. The signature dish is a whole fish that is a bit difficult to deal with, but if you have the patience to separate the bones, it is quite good wrapped in the provided lettuce leaves and other accompaniments. Be aware that all of the papaya salads are constructed from the same base ingredients, and the "mild" version we ordered was still incredibly spicy.

Your first joy upon arriving at Blue Ginger is to file in through the solid oak doors, adorned with…read morea set of bronze dragon knockers. Well appointed decor and attentive staff start your night off on the right note. The betel leaf with smoked trout is the perfect beginner. This small serve showcases powerful flavour combinations in a neat little bundle. It's one or two mouthfuls of refreshing delightfulness. How many spellings of San Choy Bow are there? (as an SEO this keyword diversity does my head in!) - Sang Choy Bow, Sung Choi Bao, San Choy Bau, Sang Choi Bao, Sang Choy Bao, arggghhh. So next on the menu was Chicken Sang Choy Bao (listed as a Blue Ginger favourite) and to be fair it was forgettable. I've had very very good San over many years, and I've never had it as chicken and perhaps that's the problem. It just doesn't have the depth of a flavour of a pork/veal San. BG then delivered the night's showstopper, a salad of crispy braised pork belly with green papaya, mint, kaffir lime leaves, fried shallots, and chilli lime dressing. This has made me rethink my "you can't win friends with salad" standard operating procedure - cos Blue Ginger certainly official facebook friended me with this winning dish! The mains all look good so it is difficult to decide, but you can never go wrong with Crispy Duck and Massaman Curry. The massaman was on par with the best one's I've had. The balance of palm sugar, tamarind and coconut milk was spot on. The meat tender, the potato's retaining that al dente bite. The duck was sublime, presented still on the bone standing like a sentinel, surrounded by a moat of sticky sauce it drew gasps as it was served to the table. With it's oh-so-crispy skin, the duck itself was perfectly cooked and each morsel was decadent. A couple of pointers. Being BYO you'll want to grab a bottle before you enter. Also it is spendy, so be prepared for $70/head. The food is seriously good so if you aren't a penny pincher you won't notice the price. Fun Fact: If you want to be transported back to your night at Blue Ginger (and you probably will) there's a rosemary bush across the road near the Woolworths. Crush a few sprigs between your fingers and take a big whiff. Rosemary triggers memory retention... which is probably why I remember where that rosemary bush is ;)

Tried the $48 banquet, well priced, had a variety of different dishes which were all pretty…read moreaverage. Hoped that one if the dishes would stand out but unfortunately the only one that got close was the salmon salad, but unfortunately didn't stand out enough to go back for more. The desserts on the other hand helped me give this place I would go again for the coconut panacotta and pineapple sorbet! That was delicious! My other friends tried the banana sticky rice pudding and the Dark Belgian Chocolate truffle with raspberry sauce and all enjoyed their choices.