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 | Sydney Restaurants | Tips 61 - 70 of 709 |  |
 | |  |  | Darling Harbour / Cockle Bay Restaurants: The Blackbird Cafe | Tip Rating:   Satisfaction:  |  |  | |  |
We met VT member llauraa for dinner one evening at the Blackbird Cafe. The site was Laura's recommendation, and what a splendid choice it was. The Blackbird is upscale and yet unpretentious. The menu is exciting and still comfortable. You'll find all sorts of interesting twists on old favorites, and you'll find your old favorites, too. And, there's the lovely view looking out onto Darling Harbour and the Cockle Bay Wharf area.
The service is efficient and quite affable. This is the sort of place where you'll eat excellent food and still joke around with the waiters. All in all, the best of all worlds. Without sounding trite, the Blackbird might just be the perfect combination of Commander's Palace (New Orleans, LA USA) and a Denny's Diner. Summing up, we really, really had a nice time.
Perfect choice and recommendation, Laura.
The menu is so very eclectic and entertaining. Here are a few items to ponder...
(I had the...) Char grilled Thai beef on glass noodle salad, with Thai basil and roasted peanuts. (A$ 14.90)
(My wife and daughter had the....) Simple fish 'n chips. Fish of the day in a crispy beer batter w/lemon and sauce tartare. (A$ 15.90)
(Laura had the....) Red lentil Dahl with hot stone bread, tomato and mint salsa and yogurt raita (A$ 7.90) NICE LIGHT VEGGIE dish!
Some other good stuff included...
Tasmanian mussels in tomato sauce + grilled casalinga bread
Pan-seared wild salmon fillet w/roasted eggplant, garlic mash (Aussie for mashed potatoes), & puttanesca sauce
Char-grilled octopus w/black bean sauce and asian greens over jasmine rice
Warm prawn wonton salad w/fresh tofu, mixed leaf, light soy and sesame seed dressing.
HOT STONE PIZZAS, among the types were margharita, pumpkin (those Aussie and their pumpkin...), Nicoise, Saltimbocca, and Aztecan (chorizo, jalapenos, fresh tomato, red/yellow capsicum and spanish onion over mozarella and napoli base!!)
Great coffee treats included..
Irish (Jamesons), Mexicano (Kahlua), Jamaican (Tia Maria, mon), Irish Monk (Baileys and Frangelico), and Italiano (Amaretto)
They have some really nifty "house special cocktails", too..
SWEET NOVEMBER..bacardi, massenez ginger liquer and fresh mint, shaken with limonata
GIRLY DRINK...passion fruit, 42 below, peach schnapps, topped with guava and cranberry juice, mixed with mint.
MISTER GREEN...42 Below and midori muddled with fresh kiwi fruit. Topped with cloudy apple juice.
Desserts? How about baked ricotta cheesecake with summer berry compote? Or, devil-liscious chocolate mud cake with chocolate sauce and ice cream? Or, sticky date pudding w/butterscotch sauce and double cream? And, I'm always a sucker for blueberry cheesecake...this one came with whipped chantilly cream. Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Balcony Level, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling ParkPhone: 02 9283 7385Directions: East side of Darling Harbour promenades, balcony level. (Go up the spiral staircase......you'll see it, trust me)Website: www.blackbirdcafe.com.au Other Contact: 02 9283 7381 (fax)
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| | | | Kings Cross & Potts Point Restaurants: Fratelli Paradiso | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
We had walked past this place several times before we finally stopped in. After all it is just a couple doors down from the Simpson’s. Each and every time it was jammed packed. Always so busy, breakfast lunch and dinner, that one wondered if a table could be had.
A fairly dark place they have the menu written up on a blackboard in Italian. They come around and seem to take joy in having to explain it all to you. So they did seem disappointed when we knew what we wanted and ordered it without the whole thing needing to be explained. After all, especially with food, language is often without need of translation.
They sport themselves a rather decent wine list which seems to be the norm in this section of town. The service is quite good and they do not seem to be in any rush to make you leave. Both times we ate here we had to ask for the bill to come and still it took some time. And truth be told, I like that in a place. Nothing worse than paying for a meal out and being rushed right out because you’re not eating or drinking enough.
The first time she ordered the Gnocchi with Veal and I was to have the Lasagna. I found out after we ate that the lasagna is one of their signature dishes. I can completely understand why. It was very good and just what I needed after a very long and hard day that had started on the beach in 95 degree weather and was ending back in this wonderful neighborhood with temps in the mid 50s. I didn’t even mind that their lasagna has meat in it. I normally do not like it in mine, but theirs is quite good and as I said, just what I needed. We also had a salad to share.
The second time we were here we thought we’d get her the gnocchi again and were surprised to find that the menu had changed. I don’t know if they could have or would have made it anyway as she decided on the Risotto, which much to her surprise she enjoyed very much and has already recreated in the first couple days home in New York. This time I had the Tagliatelle. I however did not expect what I got, based on an improperly named dish at a different restaurant. But hey, surprises are not a bad thing. I enjoyed it very much. We once again decided to skip their desert and go to Yellow around the corner before heading back home. Leave a Comment Theme: ItalianPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 12-16 Challis Avenue, Potts Point 2011Phone: (02) 9357 1744Other Contact: Email: fatelliparadiso@bigpond.c
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| | | | Woolloomooloo Restaurants: Grab a dog and some Tim Tams | Tip Rating:  Satisfaction:  | | | | |
Another "quickie tip" from pchamlis......
If you've been hanging around Mrs. MacQuarie's Chair taking pictures, and find yourself hungry, you migh wonder to yourself...
"I wonder if the food is OK over at that little hot dog stand?"
Well, the short version of the answer is YES. The food is tasty takeaway, and there's a pretty decent little variety. There are meat pies (as everywhere...although I'd go somewhere like Harry's Cafe de Wheels to try Aussie pies...), hamburgers, hot dogs, various "cut sandwichs" and all sorts of liquid refreshments. I THINK they had beer, too, but I didn't get any on my visit.
Anyway, it's just a little stand, nothing special. But if you're hungry and don't want to walk back to Cowper Wharf or over to the Opera House/Circular Quay areas, you can put the feedbag on here. : )
They had good hot dogs, a variety of crisps (potato chips to we Americans) and some other sandwich offerings.
BTW, I also was introduced to another Aussie candy favorite after finishing my hot dog....
Tim Tams. They're a little bit like a cross between the American candy bars Kit-Kats and Twix. Tasty little chocolate cookie-covered goody. Give 'em a whirl. They're nowhere near as good as a Cherry Ripe Bar, but they'll do in a pinch. ; ) Leave a Comment Theme: Street VendorPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: Right AT MacQuarie's ChairDirections: Walk down Mrs. MacQuarie's Road, beyond the Botanic Gardens, out to the point and MacQuarie's Chair. Then, turn around and look up on the hill, beside a bunch of big ficus trees. : )
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