Commercial Break - Jamie's Italian

Jamie's Italian
107 Pitt Street,
Sydney, NSW
http://www.jamieoliver.com/au/italian/

We're sure that Jamie's Italian has already been over-blogged and over-critiqued. But this is what we have to say about this restaurant. The food is great, but the service we received was impeccable.

After we were served our drinks, we noticed that there was something floating in one of the glasses. We brought this to the attention of the server. In less than three minutes, three different people, including the manager, apologised. And on top of that, we were offered free dessert. It wasn't a big deal really. But we were so impressed.

Throughout our meal, the wait staff was so attentive, but not overbearing or intrusive. And to add to the already impressive ambiance, our food was presented to us by a man with a great Italian accent. Our meal felt even more authentic.

If you are craving for Italian in Sydney, this is the place to be.

Fresh pasta being made provided entertainment while we waited for a table.

Love the ambiance

Sweet Mini Chilli Peppers

Parmesan Chunks

Complimentary bread while we waited for our mains.

Black Angel Spaghetti

Risotto Milanese - Give us 10 more of that bone marrow!

Fish Baked in a Bag

The Ultimate Brownie

Commercial Break - Home

Home

http://www.homethai.com.au/

Shop 1 - 2 / 299 Sussex Street

Sydney, NSW 2000

It is always a good sign when there is a long line of people waiting to be seated in a restaurant. Home is always packed and we can definitely understand why. 

Chicken, beef, duck or seafood, stir fried with basil, lemongrass and chilli, add in the papaya salad, moneybags, Tom Ka Gai and Pad Thai and you now have the menu of the hundreds of Thai restaurants in Sydney. 

We wish we can say that Home's menu is different. It's not. BUT what sets Home apart from the rest is the taste. The dishes are so good. You have to try it.

Crispy Pork Belly

Thai Sausage - tastes like longganisa

Minced Duck with Pork Rind!...Pork Rind!!! Mmmm....

❤Sticky Rice with Mango- you almost need this just to extinguish the chilli fire from your mouth❤

Commercial Break - SeaChange Cafe

SeaChange Cafe
http://www.seachangecafe.com.au/
3/20 The Strand, Dee Why,
NSW, Australia 2109

It is easy to spot SeaChange Cafe from the long row of restaurants that line The Strand at Dee Why. It is the only one with a queue. Regretfully, it must have been the scent of the salty beach air that made us order the Seafood Platter. We should have stuck to our original plan and ordered from the all-day breakfast menu. The Seafood Platter was still great, but the plates of breakfast food that were being served to other diners were looking pretty scrumptious. Next time.

Seafood Platter for Two

We love that it has a kiddie menu.

Fish and Chips from the Kiddie Menu

Always a plus when a resto provides paper and crayons

Burning off some calories while enjoying the weather and scenery

Commercial Break - Ton Ton Takeaway

Ton Ton Takeway
http://www.tontontakeaway.com.au/regent/menu.aspx
Ground Floor
501 George St
Sydney 2000 

We found a "Ryo's special ramen" contender. It is just as good, or even better. YUM. Ditch Ichiban Boshi and head over to Ton Ton. You will not regret it.

Niku Miso Ton Ton Ramen

Try the Spicy Karaage Chicken donburi too. Sam loves it.

Ton Ton is usually packed on weekdays, but we had lunch there for two straight weekends and there was no line.

Commercial Break - Bavarian Bier Cafe

Bavarian Bier Cafe
http://www.bavarianbiercafe.com/

We went to the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park for the weekend market. The gloomy weather reflected the atmosphere of the market...grey and depressing. It was drizzling and we were hungry. We quickly zoned in on the Bavarian Bier Cafe, right opposite the market. If it were an otherwise sunny weather, we would have probably not even considered going to Bavarian Bier Cafe. But we are glad we did.

We were annoyed that they ran out of the mussels. WHAT?! Hunger and the sight of tender juicy steak in the next table saved the resto from the wrath of this crazy, hungry woman. Steak and pork belly, it is! Plus a sausage from the kiddie menu for our little artist.

Kid's Menu and colouring make this resto a winner.

The mash is the true star of the dish.

Killer but a winner.

 

Commercial Break : New Shanghai

We went to New Shanghai in Chatswood Chase because we were reminiscing about our favourite Zong dish, the Deep Fried Chicken in Salted Yolk. We have tried the Calamari in Salted Yolk before. But it was too oily and after just 3 pieces, we were over satiated.  One year on, we were ready to give New Shanghai another chance.

Overall, the food is not outstanding enough for us to brave another round of really poor service. Let's just say we experienced better service from a Chinese restaurant servicing 6 full banquet tables with 1 server and 1 chef doubling as another server. 'Nuff said. 

We ordered the Prawn in Salted Yolk, Xiao Long Bao and Pork and Chive dumplings. The plain rice served to us was the worst I've ever had...really dry and definitely not restaurant worthy. 

To be fair, the Prawn in Salted Yolk was really good. It's a good thing they served only a few pieces so we didn't get the same feeling as when we had the calamari.

The middle piece did not make the first shot.

Lesson Learned: We're gonna buy those damn salted eggs in the asian grocery and make our own Crispy Chicken with Salted Yolk! Who has a good recipe?

Commercial Break : Soban

Soban

http://www.soban.com.au/

1 Anderson St, Shop 602 Level 6 Westfield
Chatswood, NSW 2067

We have been to Soban about 6 times. To tell you the truth, we have only tried 2 dishes. And we will probably only get to EVER try these 2 dishes because they are sooooo good. We wish we have 3 tummies each so we can try other dishes.

Kimchi Fried Rice with Seafood Cream Sauce

Pork Belly Mu-chim

Sam loves the vinaigrette in this Pork Belly Mu-chim. He couldn't get enough of it and decided he owned the plate.

Commercial Break IX

Da Wan Lai The Poets

http://www.toprydecity.com.au/trc/stores/The-Poets.php

Want a dish that can make the NUMBest of all tongues go on fire?

The "Boiling Fish" swims in a pool of chilli oil, filled with chilli and peppercorn.

Commercial Break - Ryo's

Ryo's Noodles - Best Ramen in Sydney

125 Falcon St

Crows Nest 2065 NSW

Let the hungry boy (...and his hungry parents) in!!!

Must there always be a long queue to get in??? The hungry folks better NOT be told there are no noodles left, like the last time!

You need only say three words when ordering..."The special, please." This is NOT on the menu. You are now part of the inner circle, who know that this bowl of indescribable yumminess exists.

HK friends, please please please try this place!