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

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/

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

Absinthe Salon

Address: 87 Albion Street, Surry Hills

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

I had been looking forward to testing out Absinthe Salon having recently been turned back for not having a booking on a Friday night and my usual effort of smiling and trying to talk my way in didn’t pay off. So I booked for 4 and 2 weeks later my companions and I head down.

I had imagined that the bar would be full of Goths and Emo’s, so I wear black for the occasion. We arrive on a dark corner and ring the doorbell, they let us in, for a moment I feel like I am doing something illegal – which makes it that little bit more exciting. We are then led through the reception out to the back, where tables are scattered around the room, each one with a different absinthe ‘fountain’.

As the name would suggest the only thing on the menu is absinthe, a small selection from France, Switzerland, Germany and Spain is on offer, and with us all being novice absinthe drinkers we let the host decide on our selection.

Our drinks are poured and we are told to take a sugar cube, place it on the slotted spoon, slowly turn the fountain tap on and let the water drip until dissolved, I feel like I am taking part in some 19th century ritual.

For you singletons out there this could make a great first date location as if the conversation stalls you can always focus on the ‘ritual’ you are taking part in… and you are only allowed 3 drinks so if your night isn’t going as expected, just drink quickly and you can make an easy escape.

As with the drink itself the Absinthe Salon will not be for everyone, but as I’m not one for routine and love to try something new, I can definitely recommend a visit at least once.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

See for yourself: www.absinthesalon.com.au