People forget that you don't have to be a hotel guest to enjoy 4-star luxury! The new upgrade to Holiday Inn Potts Point's flagship bistro features historical prints on the walls from the National Archives, an open kitchen and on it's rooftop, harbors beehives in which honey is extracted and used in their Panacotta!
What's surprising are the substantial proportions of entrees, mains and share plates priced very competitively in comparison to other venues in the area making it the perfect destination for both the visiting traveller and nearby residents. Kids under 12 even dine for free with an adult paid main - now that's value.
The new menu is hearty, comforting and uncomplicated. An after work meet up called for an epic feast.
Entrees, could seriously be a meal on their own! There's a perfect balance in the CRISPY FRIED SALT & PEPPER SQUID - many places in my opinion go a bit too far with the salty element, but they've toned it down here which is really to my preference! The MARINATED FRIED CHICKEN features cornbread, baby rocket and jalapeño aioli and there's a mix of ideas in this remnant of the deep south of the U.S.A with hints of Latin America, set to guarantee this as a major favorite. Aesthetically, the ROASTED & PICKLED BABY BEETROOT SALAD wins hands down and delivers some seriously tantalizing flavor. Jeweled burgundy beet rough cuts & pearl white blobs of bocconcini on a bed of baby spinach greenery, sprouts of lentil, specks of quinoa is an orgy of texture play with an intermittent crunch from the caramelized walnuts. It's all bound together with a cooked wine dressing (Vincotto). Exquisite.
Share platters of CHAR GRILLED SCOTCH FILLET & PORK RIBS and GRILLED ATLANTIC SALMON were the perfect mains from land and sea. Chunky cuts of Salmon, large ribs and well cooked steak. It was a smorgasbord of sweet and sour.
The homemade BAILEY'S CREME BRULEE was a nice change from the standard vanilla custard cliche, simple and satisfying. However, it's the ROOFTOP HONEY PANACOTTA that is a must should you be forced to choose between the two. The taste of honey is unique to the pollen collected by Sydney working bees, and on the rooftop are a number of hives that the Holiday Inn & Sirocco Kitchen extract this SydneyCity honey from! From Rushcutters Bay Park to Hyde Park or even the Royal Botanic Gardens, it truly is a unique flavor you can only find here if you know your honeys...
Our service attendant Karishma was a pro. After all, it's the hotel industry that set the standards of service every high end dining venue aspires to and she and the staff seem to manage the wide space of busy tables well, perfectly timing the delivery of courses and maintaining a good rapport without being too intrusive to your dining experience.
Definitely a surprise and a venue not to overlook just as a haven for travelers! A great untapped local hangout for sure! read more