Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Owl House

Address: 97 Crown Street, Darlinghurst


Trying to find wisdom in the bottom of a glass

After getting my first ever parking fine (I only bought my car in January...it’s fabulous!) I went out with a friend to commiserate. I was annoyed. That $143 could have brought me a pair of shoes that were on sale.

We head to The Owl House. This restaurant and bar is situated in a small terrace on Crown Street near the corner of William. The place is busy and small, with a ten-seater bar taking up most of the space downstairs. The friendly barman informs my friend and I that there’s a spot for us on the balcony. We head up the steep terrace steps, through the restaurant with a mix of communal seating areas, to the small balcony that can seat four.

As I enjoy people watching I like our spot with the view of Crown Street, the Westfield Eiffel Tower and the guy dressed like Ali G... I don't think he was meaning to though.

I order a Green Martini (cucumber, wasabi, ginger puree, vanilla vodka and sake) I ask the waitress what it's like. Her response "it's interesting". My friend orders a gin and tonic... not so interesting. I take a sip. The verdict. A little too Japanese for my liking... still drinkable though.

For my next cocktail I ask the waitress for her recommendation. She tells me she like's tequila. Tequila isn't my friend. I ask her for her next favourite. Side Car (Hennessey VS cognac, Grand Marnier, lemon juice and sugar around the rim of the glass). While tasty and lemony, it's not as good (or sweet) as the lemon cocktail from Sub Solo.

If you’re after interesting cocktails, Asian fusion food, all in a small busy bar with friendly staff, then come along to The Owl House to find your words of wisdom. Mine... it's always wise to have cocktails on a Friday.


Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale 




See for yourself: www.theowlhouse.com.au

The Owl House on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Galle Fort Hotel

Address: 28 Church Street, Fort Galle, Sri Lanka


A review from Lotus Martini’s International Correspondent, Sri Lanka

On a mission from Lotus Martini, I discover one of Sri Lanka’s gems – The Galle Fort Hotel - the epitome of a boutique hotel and bar with no pretension or formality yet effortless style.
 
It’s owned and operated by Aussies Karl Steinberg and his partner Chris Ong who swapped high flying careers in film-making and finance in Sydney to pursue more fulfilling hotelier dreams.

The cocktail menu has the feel of a trendy Surry Hills bar with a breezy laid back vibe.

The crowd are expats living in Sri Lanka’s balmy climate who mingle over Cosmopolitans and honeymooners or stare into each other’s eyes drinking martinis in the pool surrounded by sweet smelling lilies and floating candles.

I relax on the day bed gazing out through the plantation shutters at the cobblestone streets. I feel the warm breeze from the Indian Ocean and am grateful for the ceiling fans cooling the place down. Galle is hot, too hot to be outdoors. The environment is just right for sitting, reading and drinking cocktails.

I take a seat in the front bar with my tall and handsome companion and order the Galle Fort signature which is a refreshing blend of vodka, lychee, lime, passionfruit juice and brown sugar.  My companion orders the Banana Colada – something of a luxury back home in Sydney with the outrageous cost of bananas. This cocktail is a dreamy blend of fresh banana, white rum, malibu, coconut cream, cream de banana and pineapple juice.  The tasteful and classic décor take me back in time to when this hotel was once a wealthy Dutch merchant’s house. The service is reminiscent of the British colonial times in Ceylon: respectful, attentive, polite and wrapped up with warm and welcoming smiles.

The table of expat journalists next to us drink Long Island Iced Teas while discussing a story on how Galle is rebuilding itself after much of the town was destroyed by the tsunami back in 2004 (the Galle Fort Hotel in the old part of the town escaped the damage caused by the tsunami being protected by the fort’s wall).  On another table, a young, well dressed Sri Lankan couple sip on a Gin Fizz and a Lion Lager beer.

The atmosphere is exotically romantic. We love it here so much, we almost miss our airport pick up.  To quote Australian Gourmet Traveller, " Galle raises the question: why didn't someone tell me about this place sooner?” I say the same about the Galle Fort Hotel – it’s no wonder they are the winner of Sri Lanka’s Leading Boutique Hotel award in 2010 World Travel Awards. I could stay here forever…

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Capital Grill

Address: The Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney (Entrance cnr Loftus Street & Reiby Place).


Do you really need to bring a laptop to a bar?

A celebration was in order; a friend got a new job. So I organised a few of us to get together to celebrate their success. We head to Capital Grill.

Capital Grill is located in an awaked space tucked away in The Gateway building in Circular Quay. With its towering glass walls and swish surrounds this bar and restaurant includes a ground floor dining area, a mezzanine and an alfresco courtyard offering an undercover island marble bar.

It’s smart and very corporate. There’s even a gentleman in the corner working on his laptop. I found that a bit odd. He was by himself, surely if you were that busy you would stay at the office. Well I would anyone. Maybe he hasn’t learnt a key lesson that I have…trying to work and drink at the same time doesn't give you the best results.

The group decides to buy a few bottles of wine from its apparently very good wine list, I wouldn't know, I really don't know how to pick wine and generally leave it to others.

We baste under the outdoor heaters, talk some rubbish and then call it a night. I should mention that the staff are very friendly and professional. I left my wallet at the bar, and those of you who know me, would not be surprised. I tend to miss place a lot of things quite often. My work pass, wallet, mobile and keys are the top of my list... I went back the next morning to pick it up, every item was still there.

Capital Grill is open early so you can come in for a mid-morning coffee, a corporate lunch or business meeting or grab some friends, tapas and wine by night.

 

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale 




See for yourself: http://www.capitalgrill.com.au/

Capital Grill and Bar on Urbanspoon

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Russell Wine Bar

Address: 143a George Street, Sydney

Is a stuffed peacock really necessary?

A couple of friends and I had arranged to catch-up after work, one of them isn't handling the cold weather very well (there from a country where very small bikinis are a year round option). Lucky for us I had just been informed of a new cosy wine bar in The Rocks. We brace the cold and head to Russell Wine Bar.

Two of us are seated on a bench table made from the wood of old wine boxes, order a glass of sparkling and wait for our friend.

The warm tones of the decor make for a cosy and relaxed drinking spot. The bar does have a random peacock theme to it though, with a feather pattern on the leather booth seats and even a stuffed peacock on the wall. Which I must say I was not impressed with.

The tunes are also interesting. Not that I mind Dolly Pardon's classic "working nine to five", I have fond memories of my sisters and I dancing to it (I'm pretty sure our routine included a briefcase. Can't remember for certain though... I was only 10), it just doesn't suit the bar.  

Our friend arrives and is impressed with the bar staff, apparently they asked them how their day had been (and actually seemed interested to find out). After a number of glasses we decide that we should eat and order a few dishes from their great tapa style menu.

While Russell Wine Bar is a convenient meeting place for after-work drinks, it will need to not only play tunes that suit a cosy bar, but also be careful not to fall into the tourist trap that many bars and restaurants succumb to in The Rocks.






Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale 




See for yourself: http://www.therussellwinebar.com.au/

The Russell Wine Bar on Urbanspoon