District Dining

Address: 17 Randle St, Surry Hills

I know this place is a restaurant but it does have a small bar (and I did drink two cocktails while I was there) so I thought... may as well write about it.

The Sydney connoisseur of all things fancy suggests to a selected few that we should head out to lunch, as they are my ticket to all things fabulous I instantly knew I couldn’t refuse.

We jump into a taxi to make a quick escape (it's a work day after all) and head to Surry Hills. We arrive at a bistro style restaurant which is located close to Central Station, it’s apparently the new venture of Warren Turnbull, the chef of the two-hatted restaurant Assiette (I'm not what some may call a "foodie" so I don't particularly care about this fact).

While there is a large variety of tapas style share plates on the menu (which I must say are all fantastic), there is only a small selection of seasonal cocktails. I order the first one on the menu, the Pacific Princess, purely because it has all things I love; vodka, mint, lime, honey, apple and pomegranate juice. I wait in anticipation, the waiter approaches and as he picks up a glass from the tray to place it on our table, it falls, and six drinks spill all over him. I felt bad, I really hoped his day got better.

When round two of our drinks arrive I'm served my cocktail in a ceramic glass, which I'm sure could double as the holy grail in Indiana Jones... it wasn't for me, it tasted like cough medicine.  I get Peach Bellini envy as the friend I'm sitting next to enjoys their selection, I place my cough medicine to the side and order that... I'm glad I did, it's excellent.

While I'm no restaurant critic, I have been to my fair share and I must admit I have already placed my next reservation at District Dining.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale




See for yourself: www.districtdining.com.au

Doctor Pong

Address: 1a Burton St, Darlinghurst

Ping Pong + Cocktails + Hendrix + Heels = ?

When I first heard about Doctor Pong my initial thoughts were… ping pong, what the??? … well at least it was something different, so I grab a group of friends and head down after work to kick-off the weekend.

There’s a Doctor Pong in Berlin, but Sydney took the concept, made it larger and placed it in Darlinghurst. It has a lot of bare concrete and a ping pong table. I feel like I’m at an American house party – decks in the corner, beers served in solo cups. If only my American friends could have made it, they would have added to the atmosphere.

I order a pomegranate martini and later on white sangria, they both are a bit ordinary, I stick to bubbles for the evening.  The sound of Hendrix plays, then a trio of bongo drummers arrive, I'm taken back to a former life...

I quickly snap out of it when we get a turn at ping pong. I have always been a competitive person, even as a child my sisters and I would have competitions over everything, we realised it had gone too far when we were competing over who could eat a packet of chips the slowest and who could get ready for school the quickest (I won that one when I realised if I put my school uniform on before going to bed I would win – pure genius).

So when my companion and I head up to the ping pong table I picture us playing like we’re China’s Wang Hao and Zhang Yining, the winners of the 2009 World Championships… lets just say we're not.

So while my ping pong career has been short lived, my dreams of a world championship shattered and having endured quite ordinary cocktails, I must say I had an excellent evening. Doctor Pong is a great place to go with a group of your fun and fabulous friends to have a relaxed, enjoyable, and slightly competitive night out.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

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

Kuleto’s cocktail bar

Address: 157 King Street, Newtown

Lychee Martini… yes please

I was given the perfect opportunity to promote my reviews (and myself) while recently attending a group dinner in Newtown, with a number of people who I hadn’t previously met. One lady, who is a local Newtonian, informs me that I should look at a few bars in the area. 

Not wanting to waste an opportunity, a small group of us walk up King St to Kuleto’s cocktail bar. Even though it’s quite late when we arrive the place is full, we quickly move up the stairs, past the huge lamp shades with massive long tassels and head straight to the bar.

As the ladies I'm with order their lychee sangria, the barman sighs and says “I’m sick of making these – I’ve been making them all night”. Buddy, here’s a tip for you – if you don’t like making cocktails, maybe you should reconsider working at a cocktail bar.

As I stand there hoping to get served by someone else, a martini is handed to the gentleman beside me, it looks good, I ask him what it is, it’s a lychee martini. I instantly close the cocktail menu (that I was actually only pretending to read anyway) as my decision has been made. It's an excellent choice.

If you’re looking for sophistication in a cocktail bar, with luxury lounges and scented candles then Kuleto’s is not for you. While the cocktails are good value, the atmosphere cheerful and sincere, it has a more shadowy after-hours appearance and in my opinion is in need of a little sprucing up.

But if you're strolling down King St after an evening out, I would still suggest taking a look inside, having a drink and embracing Kuleto’s.







Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale




See for yourself: www.kuletos.com.au

Zeta

Address: level 4, 488 George street, Hilton Sydney  

Not just a letter in the Greek alphabet

Having been to Glass Brasserie in the Hilton Hotel for a work lunch, when I caught up with a friend the same night I thought… may as well keep it in the family, so I head to Zeta Bar on level 4.

Zeta, like a lot of elegant bars, provides a warm and friendly ambiance where you can unwind yourself on plush leather ottomans and tub chairs, centered around a stylish oversized fireplace, perch yourself along the wood bar in the middle of the room, or if you can get them, relax in one of the small private seating areas which look like mini harems. I really wanted to sit there as I picture myself being an ancient Greek goddess lying in robes, being fed grapes, while at the same time being fanned with large palm fronds…

However, not being interior decorators my friend and I aren’t here to admire the furnishings, as Zeta is known for its cutting-edge collection of smooth cocktails.

We order a pineapple and coriander martini, apparently it tastes like a sweet tart (my friend’s American and I have no idea what they are talking about), I really like it and after two I decide to let my adventurous side out for the night and try something that I’m certain I can’t get anywhere else… an Earl Grey Martini. The problem was the waitress didn’t hear the words “Earl Grey” and I get served a straight Martini, which to me was $19 of torture.

Overall, Zeta Bar is a gift to Sydney’s cocktail scene which will surprise anybody with its long list of beverages, their innovative cocktails and chic surrounds.

 


 Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

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

Sake Restaurant and Bar

Address: 12 Argyle Street, The Rocks

For gods sake…

Having enjoyed a birthday lunch here earlier in the year, I was looking forward to going back to enjoy the cocktails that Sake has to offer with Shinkansen, Astro Boy and Bang on! being my personal favourites.

I call ahead to ensure there is room for my group at the bar, we arrive and after trying to explain to the hostess “no we don’t have a booking we are just here for some cocktails” (a concept she could not quite process), the phone rings and the hostess holds up her palm, in front of my face to stop me from talking and says "excuse me can you just wait" as she proceeds to answer the phone… Excuse me… Are you serious… You. Are. Not. In. New York. Honey!

We are finally told we can sit at the tables near the bar, (more like the naughty corner) where we wait for someone to take our order, and then wait a little bit more. I’m not the most patient of people so I eventually give up and go place our order (lucky for me it was worth it as a cute barman serves me).

Loving everything Japanese I do enjoy Sake’s well designed Japanese layout which is both open and inviting. However, when you're looking forward to a dash of cinnamon in your cocktail you’re not expecting a dash of bi#@h as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an absolute fan of the food and cocktails that Sake has on offer, but the hostess needs to lose her power trip and remember… Darling, you're working at a cash register, no need for the attitude!

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

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

Hugos Bar Pizza

Address: 33 Bayswater rd, Kings Cross

Hugos or Egos

I have actually been to Hugos once; I sat at the bar, and obviously got a better offer as I never actually had a drink. So I returned with a couple of friends to see what everyone had been talking about.

A few days before I go someone tells me “if posing is your thing then Hugos will suit you down to a tee” obviously they didn’t know me, I am no wall flower and I strut my stuff as I walk up the small flight of stairs into the bar. We are seated instantly and I am immediately impressed by the glowing back-lit marble bar, the arrangement of drinks behind it and the dimly lit surrounds, for a late Sunday night the place is full.

We order some cocktails and pizza and while they are good, the crowd is older, mostly men and indifferent leaving me feeling unimpressed. Hugos Bar Pizza is soon to expand from an 80 seater to a 120-seats for the summer, hopefully this may mean that the male to female ratio will even out a bit. Ladies and gentleman, with the endless amount of pizza places and new cocktail bars in Sydney you are probably better off going there.

As my evening comes to a close, I sit there with my champagne slightly disappointed; lean over and tell my friends… I’m glad I got a better offer the first time.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale







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