Toko Restaurant & Bar

Address: 490 crown street, Surry Hills

Arigatou gozaimasu. ありがとうございます

My birthday is in August and this year was a milestone (well in my mind they’re all milestones but this one ended with a zero). I celebrated by going on a holiday with my two sisters. It was fabulous. And with the month just about over, my final birthday present was in site… the annual birthday dinner with one of my friends.

I knew it was going to be fun. Their birthday last year (which also ended with a zero) included cocktails at Hemmepshere, dinner at Sushi E, followed by more cocktails and finished the night with a cigar. Won’t be having a cigar again. Learnt that lesson.

They take me to Toko Restaurant & Bar in Surry Hills and enter a dimly lit Japanese haven. I love it. We are seated on one of the elegant booth seats, surround by honey coloured curved, sleek wood interior. I scan over the cocktail menu and decide on a Fig Martini, made from fig infused vodka, fig essence, sherry and garnished with two home glazed figs. It is strong and delicious. By the end of the night I have another two. I figure if I'm on to a good thing, why change.

Being people who don’t like making decisions on food we order the tasting menu. A excellent option. Toko offers Japanese food and cocktails at its fine-dining best, I would rate Toko above all other fine Japanese restaurant and bars in Sydney, beating Ocean room, Sake and Sushi E.

But that is all from me for now, I have to go… I’m on the lookout for fig essence.






Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale





See for yourself: http://www.toko.com.au/index_surryhills.cfm

Shady Pines Saloon

Address: Shop 4, 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst

Wild Wild West

 

Having grown up on a farm, I was looking forward to heading to the country-and-western-style tavern, Shaddy Pines Saloon. After work I jump in a cab, pick up my friend on Elizabeth St and head to a small lane parallel to Oxford St. The bar is next door to the Bikram Yoga school. Don’t look for a big sign. There isn’t one. 

As it's always full on a Friday night there is a strict one in one out policy, however my friend and I only have to wait a few minutes before the door is opened for us and we head down the stairs to the wild west. There’s carved American Indians around the room, animal heads leering out from the walls (including a large cow’s head) and old bottles (that my dad would love) and other random items. 

While the place is full and very loud it still has a great buzz to it, I can imagine that if it wasn't busy the place would seem a bit odd. I head to the bar to get our drinks. I do my usual and ask the bar staff for the best vodka, sour cocktail he can make. The outcome.  A Harvey Wall Banger. Tasty.

As my friend and I were enjoying our drinks the barman comes past and places a wooden bowl of whole peanuts that you shell yourself.  Nice touch. Pity the guy that was sitting behind us kept taking a few every time he walk past… that annoyed me. I was never good at sharing.

It's my friends turn to get the drinks and we decided on mohito’s. They come back with two rum and cokes (yuk). The the barman didn't understand them and they were too polite to question what they received. They also inform me that when paying for the drinks and handing over three $5 notes, the barman looks and says, “I think you've been fooled, this is a fake $5!!!!. WHAT…they look closer at the $5 bill. Yep, they’ve been fooled. I decide that I will get our final drinks and order two South Sides. Highly recommend.

Shaddy Pines is a great bar, with friendly staff, tasty cocktails and a lot of wild west cheer. I am certain I'll be back.

Spot the difference

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale 

See for yourself: www.shadypinessaloon.com

Emmilou

Address: 413 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

Corporate chat and cocktails

My friend seems to always get invited to fabulous functions. On this occasion they needed a “handbag”. I have no issue being the side kick from time to time, so I happily oblige.

This function is at Emmilou, a converted terrace in Surry Hills situated towards the Oxford Street end of Bourke Street. Neither of us has been there before, so when our taxi misses the location we jump out and walk back a block.

We arrive, are greeted and are instantly offered a cocktail called “More than Greg”, named after the host. It is superb. Not sure what was in it… I was too busy enjoying it (and talking) to ask.

This lounge and bar is down to earth with a touch of class. With the sounds of upbeat rythems playing in a mist of reds, blacks, mirrors, scribbles on walls, and ghost chairs.

With a cocktail in hand we do the rounds of corporate chat and make our way to the tapas bar. Not that I am a food reviewer, but I need to mention that the tapas here are fabulous. You must try the Duck Liver Parfait… you may need to wait a while though... I think I ate their entire stock.

With Emmilou’s exceptional tapas and cocktails, wonderful music and perfect service, I’ll happily take on the role as “handbag” anytime.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

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

Since I left you

Address: 338 Kent Street, Sydney

Ahhh honey…

I discovered Sydney’s latest hideaway bar. It has such a great name that when I come across it I instantly emailed one of friends and arranged to go out.

Since I Left You is currently in its 8th week of operation and is located in an old converted warehouse building. We arrive at a cobble-stoned carriageway and make our way down the narrow space, past the heaters and tables that line the wall, to the courtyard. While the space is about the size of a tennis court, it doesn’t offer any chairs or lounges to sit on. Not wanting to spend all night standing my friend and I head inside to the tiny bar. This narrow space is full with the usual after work suspects. It feels cosy and relaxing with a blend of old and new, a pressed metal ceiling and bar, along with art deco lighting and posters.

My friend and I take a seat on 2 ottomans right near a ‘loved up’ couple. The place is quite noisy and I secretly think “great, they won’t want to stay here for too long; surely they will want to go home soon”. They read my mind (or I was thinking out loud) as not long after we sit down they head off to enjoy the rest of their evening. Without delay my friend and I jump into their bench seats. The bar offers table service. Perfect. As I am too lazy and pre occupied to get up.

The cocktails on offer are more of your classics, but they do have a couple of signatures. I scan down the list and decide on XHOOCHX, purely because it refers to “a soft seduction of your tastebuds with elderflower, vanilla and kiwifruit”. It’s quite nice. There is a small problem though, the menu doesn’t actually tell you what spirits are in your cocktail which makes it a bit of a gamble (obviously you could always ask the bar staff).

The crowd clears by 7.30, just in time for my next selection. Honey Pot. A playful mix of vanilla, peach and honey, finished with pomegranate seeds. While definitely more of your girly variety it tastes wonderful. Actually, it's so good I think I could have a bath in it... might be a bit sticky though.

Another Honey Pot later, I jump in a taxi and call it a night.

Since I Left You is a great spot for an after work or post dinner beverage, and with the bar currently in negotiations to open up the floor above them, hopefully in time for summer, I will be back.


Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale   

 

See for yourself: www.sinceileftyou.com.au

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