Altitude, The Rocks

Last Tuesday was my 20th birthday. To celebrate, my parents and brother made the trip down from Port Macquarie and we wined and dined all day long. I had reserved a table for five (Nathan included) at Altitude Restaurant in The Rocks to cap off celebrations.

Nestled on the 36th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel with Blu Bar, Altitude is simply an astounding restaurant. Upon stepping out of the elevators, one is met with sophistication at its finest. Even at the first point of the restaurant, we were greeted with charm as waitresses flocked to take our coats and lead us to our table. 

Seated on the second tier of the restaurant--most of the window seating is reserved for tables of two--the  Harbour Bridge is clearly visible as are the vibrant lights of the city and Luna Park. Further to the restaurant's east, patrons seemed delighted with the sweeping vistas of the harbour, the opera house and city skyline. Basically, Altitude provides a pristine opportunity to sit back in one's seat and relax. Indeed, perhaps at the core of the restaurant is relaxation (luxurious relaxation)--seated high above Sydney city with ever-doting waitstaff, there's not a thing to worry about bar what to eat.

The service at Altitude is refreshing, our water glasses are never empty, the meals come out at a speed that allows us to enjoy all the perks of fine dining and the waitstaff are the perfect amount of attentive. 

To begin, Mum and I order cocktails, the boys opt for beer and we share a $55 half bottle of wine among the table. My vanilla passionfruit cosmo ($22 from Blu Bar) is a divine medley of vodka, vanilla liqueur, passionfruit puree, cranberry juice and fresh lime. Garnished with half a pineapple, it is deliciously sweet and yet simultaneously sour, and one of the better cocktails I've had.

My mother, a child at heart, orders the Hello Kitty ($23). I find myself for once quite jealous. Not being a fan of rum, I abstain from drinks in which it is included, but this mixture of rum, strawberries, mint and lime tastes similar to my preferred style of cocktail: the caipiroska. It's a sugary delight.

Having ordered our mains we wait. And a delicious wait it is when we find ourselves choosing between three beautiful types of complimentary bread (all forgotten bar the ciabatta now) that seem to be in endless supply. Next, we're served a scrumptious soup teaser which I recall including mulloway, leek and gruyere. 

Revelling in our chance to be doted upon by genuinely friendly waitstaff at every turn, we order some beers, sip some wine from the massive wine glasses and ogle the delicious menu and view. It doesn't seem too long before our mains arrive. As it's a Tuesday night, we choose from the a la carte menu. Nathan ordered the grilled swordfish with steamed diamond shell clams, sweet corn and capers ($39). The presentation is beautiful, with salad twigs and a light foam. And while not amazing for the price, Nath found the meal favourable and enjoyable. 

Again with fish, I choose a delectable main of Palmer Island mulloway, with baby globe artichokes, confit chicken wing and sauce matelote. At $38 and with past frugal fine dining experiences in mind, I was blown away. The crisp skinned fish fell off the fork, the chicken was tender and the sauce too die for. I was craving seafood and found myself more than pleased.

My brother and mother both had the roast loin of Murraylands lamb with pumpkin-fenugreek puree fresh yogurt and curry oil ($38) and my father consumed the duck. There were smiles around the table, all meals were devoured, and sauces were so good that what was left over from the mains were soaked up with that delicious complimentary bread, and devoured. Also on the table was a side of dill and butter poached kipfler potatoes ($10) which were by far the nicest potatoes I believe we've all had the pleasure of eating. The buttery crisp outside and the melt in the mouth consistency was purely scrumptious.

With a dessert menu featuring fondant, a fig tart and many other goodies, it was always going to receive more than a quick glance. But even before dessert, we found ourselves each with a palate cleanser: a mandarin jelly with star anise creme that is tart and light. Again, on the house.

Dessert, like our mains, did much more than please. The four different dishes we ordered were stunning to the eye and the care taken in planning each dish, the matrimony of ingredients, is clear as day in what is placed in front of us. There's also a lot of thought--as with everything in the restaurant. My dessert plate, for instance, was graced with a delicately written Happy Birthday message: traced twice over, in two types of chocolate. Beyond this extra attention to detail and care for its patrons, Altitude delivers delicious desserts. The caramelised banana with banoffee mousse, peanut brittle and vanilla ice creams ($18) is abounding in different soft and rough textures. Parts of it melt in the mouth, that is the tasty banoffee mousse, while others a la the brittle have that brilliant crunch. Perfection in a dessert.

We are equally pleased with the butter poached pear stuffed with hazelnut and milk chocolate also with hazelnut soup and quark ice cream ($18; pictured) and the dark chocolate fondant with milk chocolate mousse, prune and Amargnac ice cream ($18). Sure, one of the two fondants we ordered didn't actually arrive until we notified waitstaff, but the error was greeted with shock on our waitresses' face and it was very quickly solved (and wiped off the bill). The incident epitomises the service at Altitude, it's genuine, sophisticated and very pleasing.

Now, Altitude expectedly is not the cheapest of restaurants. For five, we racked up a $400+ bill for two courses ($150 roughly of this was drinks), but the experience is worth it. The food is excellent, sure it could be improved in parts, for instance Nathan was not bedazzled by his swordfish, but it's quite streamlined and luscious as is. I am certain few patrons would leave without smiles on their faces and a loosened notch on their belts.

Altitude Restaurant, Level 36 Shangri-La Hotel

Rosebud, Rozelle

My local, Plunge in Summer Hill, has recently been taken over by new staff. Wondering where they all came from, I once asked one of the waitstaff this very question. "I actually worked at our sister cafe, Rosebud in Rozelle," he said. That day, my fate was sealed. I was going to go to Rosebud; I just had to.

A couple of weeks passed before a visit from my father provided the perfect opportunity to do so. The visit landed on a Sunday morning. We pranced into a cafe-restaurant taken over by mothers and their children, but, lucky for us, the local haunt was not quite full.

The decor at Rosebud is quite typical. A blackboard dotted with chalk-drawn specials; wooden furniture; a pinky-red feature half-wall above the counter with "rosebud" scrawled onto it. The lights are a bit fancy; they dangle from draping cords attached to the panelled ceiling. All-in-all, Rosebud provides a unpretentious ambience for either a scrumptious breakfast or romantic dinner, although I wouldn't say it adds much to the experience.

Dad begins with a cappuccino ($3.8). And that's when we determine that the service at Rosebud was not quite up to scratch. I found the waitstaff rude and unaccommodating. They went about their job without so much as a smile and were neither prompt in taking our orders or very helpful. Nonetheless, like Plunge, the coffee is good. 

Battling through one of my very rare the-thought-of-coffee-makes-me-sick days, I opted for the banana and coconut smoothie ($6). It was nice, but I was looking forward to the coconut taste, which wasn't as present as I would have liked. The drink menu is also a bit pricey. A large coffee will set you back $4.80 and an orange juice is $5.

The first couple of times I dined at Plunge, their food wasn't great. However, now, it is simply amazing; something seems to have clicked and I am more excited than ever for the opening of Plunge for dinner (hurrah!). The food at Rosebud causes a similar level of excitement, and they're already open for dinner--lookout Plunge, my impatience is calling. 

The breakfast menu leaves us spoilt for choice. Blueberry oatmeal pancakes with mascarpone and berry compote ($15), a smoked salmon omelette with mustard dreamed leek and fried capers ($17) have my mouth watering, but I opt for organic poached eggs with Sonoma bread, tomato relish and cultured butter ($9), adding field mushrooms and grilled haloumi with Zaatar for $4 each. Phwoaaaar! My food is scrumptious. The toast is crisp, I slice into the eggs and a gooey, soft yolk oozes out. The field mushrooms are presented in equal slices, soaked in flavour and the haloumi, oh my the haloumi. Salty with a bit of bite, thanks Zaatar!

My father couldn't go past the shakshouka: baked eggs, beef sucuk, spiced tomato, pepper, onion and bread. For $17 this was a purely smashing dish. Presented in a neat clay pot, the egg yolk seeped out upon being sliced, like my own poached. Dad savoured the fragrances and seasoning; slightly spicy and yet too good too resist for a man who generally doesn't handle his spice. Also, accompanied with Sonoma toast, this dish was spot on.

So, would I say Rosebud is better than my beloved Plunge? No, but it could be. The cafe-restaurant simply needs to work on showcasing a smiling face, and perhaps needs to develop more of an edge than local competitors.

Rosebud, 654 Darling Street, Rozelle

Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, Cairns

Cairns has its fair share of high quality restaurants; a large quantity of which line The Pier. Exploring the Great Barrier Reef is exhausting. So what better way to wind down following the cruise back to the Reef Fleet Terminal than with reinvigorating food nearby on the marina? 

The Pier is Cairns' hot spot for dining, wining and a spot of shopping. With the Shangri-La and a flock of high class resorts nearby, it's also perfectly situated for tourists. 

Nathan and I stroll along the wooden floorboards, assessing the various menus on display. There are multiple cuisines and restaurant-types to choose from: seafood, Chinese, Thai, Modern Australian, grills... Some are expensive, while the rest aren't exactly cheap but affordable nonetheless. If you're into the drink, on a a Sunday night the northern-side of the marina is home to a bustling bar (with banging bar food to match).

It's the last evening of our Cairns trip and we've spent too much money. And so we opt for the most decently-priced restaurant (that has a burger on the menu of course) at The Pier. This happens to be Waterbar Bar & Grill. 

The menu is extensive: with steaks, salad, a variety of seafood dishes, pork ribs, a vegetarian platter and a lot else. After eyeballing the $30 plus steaks, Nathan, realising the hole in his pockets after shouting me a day at Fitzroy Island, chooses the beef burger featuring 250g lean beaf, smoked bacon and melted cheese. When his meal arrives shortly after he is blown away. The patty is juicy, the bacon crisp with a superb smokey edge and the chips crunchy. Sure, there's no edge to this burger, it's like most others he has tried, but it's smashingly presented and worth the $18 price tag taking into consideration the location and premium prices at The Pier.

It's only 6pm and considering I devoured a hot and cold buffet for a late lunch I am conscious of my waistline. The Thai beef salad of rump steak, coriander, mint, chilli, cucumber, cherry tomato, peanuts and nahm jim dressing ($22) meets all my criteria. And it also met all my expectations. The meat was deliciously deliciously tender; seared to perfection. The salad greens were a diverse and well-matched mix. The mint and coriander definitely stood out giving the dish a tangy flavour. Drizzling the lime over the dish improved it tenfold. The serving size was also generous and by just looking at the picture below, I remember how beautifully the dish was presented. 

Waterbar & Grill was an excellent choice. The food was fantastic, the service friendly and the ambience relaxing after a long day on the reef. Overlooking the muddy water and boats in the marina is a decent view but not the nicest. The decor is in the same class; sophisticated but nothing special. Mainly, Waterbar offers one of the most reasonably priced array of meals on the marina. There's lots to choose from, making the restaurant suitable to almost everyone.

Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, Pierpoint Road, Cairns 

Ochre, Cairns

When we stepped into Ochre, the restaurant was nearly empty; the waitstaff couldn't be more excited to see us. So naturally, I questioned: Had we picked the right place for our two year anniversary dinner? Was this evening going to be special? The silent restaurant offered a resounding no.

But then we were guided to our candle-lit, linen-dressed table, where the table setting couldn't be more romantic.

The restaurant interiors at Ochre are stunning. A long bar lines the eastern wall, a peeping hole into the kitchen graces the backend of the restaurant and tall windows overlook the quiet road to the west. The colour theme exudes warmth, with orange, reds and browns painting the walls and rustic wooden furniture. Perhaps most alluring to the eye is a spiral of wooden slats that line the roof. To me, Ochre has an agrarian quality to its interiors and this is very fitting, the restaurant's focus being on game meats and Australian bush foods.

The waitstaff are attentive and have that friendly-yet-not-overly-friendly-as-to ruin-the-restaurant's-sophistication, quality. The waitress that serves us is well mannered and wearing neat, clean attire. She does, however, seem a bit nervous, but throughout the night proves herself to be informative and prompt.

Nathan and I order drinks to start: a frozen mango daiquiri from the specials menu for $10 and Nath's favourite beer, Western Australia's Little Creatures Pale Ale. Our drinks take a while to arrive, but are elegantly presented in a cocktail glass and goblet respectively. My daiquiri is heaven. It lacks a strong alcohol flavour (just how I like it) and is the perfect solution to a humid evening in Cairns.

Ochre has an extensive menu with a focus on local seafood, game bush food and Australian produce and regional cuisine. The menu offers an array of meticulously thought out tasting plates, speciality platters, mains and vegetarian dishes. Their game platter has received many accolades ($48/pp, with a minimum two people) as has their "Australian antipasto" (starter $23; main $35)--kangaroo terrine with sunshine lime relish; crocodile wonton with red pepper jam; lemon aspen ocean trout gravlax; duck liver pate with bust tomato chilli sauce; goats cheese and roast capsicum roulade. The menu is punctuated by ingredients native to Australia, including lemon myrtle, macadamias, bush tomato, quandong and wattle seed; and there's even an index to such ingredients at the back of the menu.

As for Nathan and I, didn't quite feel game enough to try wallaby or crocodile (I have had kangaroo). Predictably, Nathan chooses the beef with tomato tart tatin, bush tomato and balsamic sauce and baby spinach and I decide on the duck.

Our meals arrive shortly and are very cleanly, yet not exactly creatively, presented. (I apologise for the tungsten tinge to the photos; we have not yet mastered the art of the Canon 600D). Nath couldn't give his beef tenderloin with tomato tart tartin, bush tomato and balsamic sauce and baby spinach more praise. The meat was tender and arrived in a very decent portion. It was moist and melted in the mouth, cooked as requested and enhanced by the accompaniments; in this case juicy bush tomato, fresh spinach and an exciting tomato tart tatin. It did cost $36, but the experience made the cost worth the while.

Wow: one word and a very accurate description of my five spice slow cooked duck leg, roast breast, native tamarind and orange glaze and green vegetables ($33). I loved that I had both five spice duck leg and roast breast to whet my appetite with. The five spice was incredible: it gave the leg a crispy skin as well as a bit of bite. To crunch into the skin and be met with the delectably moist meat created a hell of a sensation in the mouth. Moreover, I'm not a fan of orange and yet the orange glaze only bettered the meal. Like Nathan's beef, the serving was quite generous for a fine dining restaurant.

Now I must note, we went to Ochre with a voucher for a free dessert with every main purchased. Had I not had these vouchers, Ochre may have been out of the question. It is definitely not a budget-friendly restaurant with the cheapest main being $28 and the dessert $14. Needless to say, I am beyond glad that we came across the voucher. Dessert at Ochre really shouldn't be glanced over.

Nathan's lemon myrtle panacotta, rosella jelly and hazelnut tuile ($14) was a dessert unlike all others. Served in a martini glass with hazelnut tuile, rosella jelly, shortbread and an assortment of fruits that I can't identify, the dessert instantly catches the eye. The panacotta itself had both an immaculate lemon myrtle flavour and spot on consistency. The tuile was a bit soft, as opposed to crisp as expected, but the shortbread was a nice surprise considering it didn't appear on the menu description. The assorted fruits that complimented the martini glass were extremely odd to me, in texture, flavour and appearance; I'm not dying to try any of them again. (But if you could help me name them for future reference, that would be great). Overall, Nathan was quite pleased although a bit put out by the sweetness of the dish. As for strongly-sweet-toothed-me, it was more than fine.

I most definitely have a weakness for creme brulee, and with good reason. The quandong creme brulee with toffee macadamias and vanilla shortbread and I were meant to be. The contrast of the crunchy caramel and melt-in-your-mouth custard, the no fuss plating and variety of flavours makes the dessert a choice that hardly ever disappoints. This occasion was no different. Everything was as should be bar caramel that was slightly on the burnt side of the fence. And there were also added extras: addictive (and native!) toffee macadamias and beautiful vanilla shortbread. The quandong made the creme brulee different to all others, although I still prefer the strawberry or white chocolate alternative. Nevertheless, at $16 (again, we didn't pay for desserts), I'm not sure the brulee was worth the price tag. It was, however, damn good.

Ochre is the most highly awarded restaurant and catering company in Cairns; so much so that it's bordering on a foodie institution. The fresh and creative restaurant has a focus on Australian products and native foods making it a delight and a must for tourists and locals alike. As for Nathan and I, it was the perfect location for our two year anniversary dinner.

Ochre, 43 Shields Street, Cairns

Tuscan's Table, Cairns

I hate resorts sometimes. The restaurant choices are inevitably limited and for acreage getaways like The Lakes Resort and Spa in Cairns, the great places to eat are a bus ride or 3km walk (in the humid, 32 degrees Celsius weather) away. Alas, we were starving after having spent a great day on the Great Barrier Reef and a walk or bus ride just wasn't going to happen. And that's how we ended up at The Lakes' lone restaurant, Tuscan's Table.

The restaurant itself is modern. Three quarter windows line the 'outside' section. They can be opened, revealing the restaurant to the resort's gardens and central water feature. But it's the middle of Summer and, considering that it's Cairns, no one wants to be exposed to the humid air, let alone outside. Inside is nothing special; I remember nothing of what it looks like.

We wait a while to be welcomed, lucky we have plush cushioned chairs. Various families surround us, all look a bit peckish. The service is not the best. The best word I can think of to describe our waitress is awkward. She seems out of place and confused as she heavily stomps around the restaurant and basically throws the menus at us.

We glaze over the extensive menu for quite a while--there's pasta, pizza, salads, pork, chicken and beef.  A large chunk of the meals are outright Italian and then there's a handful of your standard mains. Nath and I look forward to the duck all' arancia: duck breast served with orange and Grand Marnier sauce ($30) and Pork belly: Slowly roasted pork loin with crispy crackle, served with mixed herb risotto and rosemary and marsala sauce ($26)

Nathan and I both like our pieces of meat. The duck is tender, as is the pork. The duck's skin is crispy, as is my crackling (praise the lord for non-chewy crackling!) And, while Nath's side of vegetables is a bit on the boring side, my risotto is heavenly. For me, risotto is one of those things that tastes good, regardless of its lack of technical skill and creativity. Nathan's sauce was okay; if you are an orange enthusiast you probably would've loved it. However, for both of us (and I admit, I am not the biggest fan of citrus fruits, especially orange) it was way too sweet. And this is where the compliments and small negatives end.

My meal, in reality, was almost inedible. Well, not all of it: just the bits that were covered in sauce. After digging in, I literally questioned whether Tuscan's Table had confused their savoury and sweet sauces, because mine tasted like toffee. It was so sickening and odd, I assumed that this must have been the case. God bless any poor souls who order this meal if it is not. Sickly sweet, thick and overpowering. I was lucky the so-called rosemary and marsala sauce only clipped the ends of my pork.

So, would I go back? Probably not. If you're thinking about going to Tuscan's Table, you are probably exhausted and are holidaying in the resort. I recommend you try get over that tiredness and make the trek to somewhere more worth your while.

Tuscan's Table, The Lakes Resort and Spa, 2 Greenslopes Street, Cairns

Revolver, Annandale

Revolver came to my attention after its inclusion in just about every list of the whos-who in cafes. Top ten, all the time--so, it's no wonder that I finally made my way there.

This Annandale cafe is an institution, just google "Revolver big brekkie" and look at all the pictures of said dish. With its artsy interiors--including old-school library style wall equipped with sliding latter, antique lighting and lone graffiti wall--hip waitstaff and equally creative cafe menu.

Revolver hugs the corner of Annandale and Rose street. Fortunately, this means double the footpath, that is, double the space for cafe-goers to wait in line. And there is a line.

When we--Mother, Mother's Boyfriend and I--arrive, the cosy cafe is packed. Our name gets taken down and we're advised there's four other parties in front of us. So begins the wait and so, the observations.

The staff at Revolver are as friendly as anything. I watch them so carefully help a lady in a wheelchair to a table and generally conduct wide genuine grins in every which direction. When an elderly man turns up with two bouquet's of flowers for his obvious lover, the waiter doesn't hesitate in fetching a vase and placing the beautiful bunch in front of the tiled wall adorned with mermaid mural. Soon enough, we're seated at a crooked table on Rose Street, with it's very own revolver pattern etched into the woodwork.

The menu at Revolver is full of fancy cafe style dishes with a bit of flair. Everything sounds too luscious and I would most certainly have needed god's help to choose a few to mention here (luckily, picking my meal was a decision cut out for me, I just couldn't go past the infamous big breakie).

For drinks, my mum and her boyfriend, Bret, both opt for the Red Dragon organic ginger beer ($4.50) and I, for the mango smoothie ($5.50). Mum and Bret are rapt with their ginger beers and couldn't give more positive reviews. It is from Byron Bay, organic and apparently damn tasty (I can't stand the stuff), so I'd say it's worth the price. The photo does my smoothie no justice, it is most certainly massive. The liquid itself isn't the best I've had. Revolver has an extensive list of teas.

Our meals arrive promptly, on cute, antique (probably op-shopped) plates. Mum couldn't rave anymore about the nine hour roasted lamb bruschetta with housemade hummus, fire roasted capsicum relish, spiced almonds ($15.50). The lamb was tender and the dish had a bit of grunt thanks to the spiced almonds and relish. The toast was perfectly crisp. Really, it couldn't get any better for less than twenty dollars.

My big breakie of two baked eggs in housemade beans, honey cured bacon, roast tomato, mushrooms, honey mustard sausage and toast ($16.50) certainly was ace. The baked eggs were soft and the yolk melted in the mouth. The bacon was spot on with a hint of honey, the honey mustard flavour was definitely present in the sausage and with toast and pesto on the side, the meal was basically impossible to finish; it was certainly very sizeable. I must admit, however, that I'm not a fan of baked beans, and this failed to convert me. The tomato sauce can also get a bit sickening after a while.

Bret wasn't very peckish so opted for something light: the pocketed bacon and egg roll with rocket and awesome sauces ($8). Simple and yet sophisticated; the meal was spot on in terms of flavour, was presented very cleanly and a godsend to the tastebuds with those "awesome sauces."

Revolver certainly lived up to the hype. Everything about the visit was streamlined to perfection: the warm, caring, efficient service; welcoming interiors; convenient and yet secluded location on a residential road and, most of all, creative and damn tasty menu. This cafe really is the centre of its community (a trend the media seems to preach lately) epitomised by the Revolver community noticeboard that greets you at the door. And for once, a cafe is absolutely worth the label.

The only thing I want to know is where I can get a clay pot a la the Revolver big breakie? Let me assure you, it's a great dish to replicate.

Revolver, 291 Annandale Street, Annandale

Cedro, Port Macquarie

I am horrendously behind with my posts. The thing is, I have rediscovered reading and once you find a good book, my god is it hard to put down.

After a long time wishing for a visit to Port Macquarie's Cedro, my father and I finally made plans to visit the demure cafe on December 27 (yes, really behind I know!) Prior to our visit, it had always seemed that Cedro was closed whenever we decided to go. I am just glad I didn't give up! When I finally did visit, the service and food was excellent, sealing the cafe's fate as a new go-to.

Being a public holiday and very early in the morning, the cafe was quiet. This was lucky for us because it was blowing a gale outside. While there's a lot of al fresco seating lining the pathways on the corner of Clarence and Short streets, there is limited seating inside - a communal square table for around eight and a handful of others to seat groups of four to be exact.

The waitstaff at the cafe were incredibly friendly and very talkative which was nice. They were very comforting while I waited for my father who was late, and not in the slightest bit pushy. When my father finally arrived, orders were taken swiftly and jovially.

My father, not feeling very peckish, ordered the poached eggs on Turkish toast, adding bacon ($15.50). He had no complaints himself, but personally, I believe $4.50 for an add on (which also includes tomatoes, mushrooms, smoked leg ham, slow baked beans, chorizo, avocado, crisp chat potatoes) is a bit steep. To be honest, every time I see eggs and toasted listed on a cafe menu I cringe. Not because the old eggs and toast combo isn't damn tasty, but because of the absurd prices that are usually attached. 

I opted for the roasted forest mushrooms on brioche with wilted baby spinach, asparagus and gorgonzola, a poached egg and truffle oil ($17), which was absolutely divine and, unlike my father's meal, well worth the price. The poached egg was spot on - the yolk oozed out when I ran my knife through it -, the mushrooms were excellently marinated and the brioche was so sweet, crisp and soft at the same time. I was thrilled with my meal and couldn't have asked for anything better.

The coffee at Cedro was deliciously smooth. I usually don't like Toby's Estate but this was brewed well and presented beautifully. It was also exquisite because it came with a smile!

It really is a wonder why I let the fact that I hadn't visited Cedro slide for so long. But with a delicious sounding menu including such things as goat's cheese, basil and shallot scramble and a breakfast tagine of lamb, pumpkin and minted yoghurt, I will just have to go back - and oh so willingly will I go!

Cedro, 70 Clarence St, Port Macquarie

Zebu Bar + Grill, Port Macquarie

Zebu is doing wonders to Port Macquarie. It is perhaps the most upmarket restaurant cross bar in the coastal town and also occupies prime tourist territory. The main thing I love about Zebu is what it adds to Port's night life: a very sophisticated, elegant bar with a great range of drinks, extremely creative decor and an absolutely delicious cocktail list. But, after visiting the restaurant half of Zebu after a hiatus, I must say, the bar may not be Zebu's better half.

The restaurant offers a fine dining service that could carry its weight in culinary heavyweights like Sydney and Melbourne. The service is super refined, with friendly yet professional waitstaff, regularly refilled water and swift bringing out of orders. The decor is sleek with patterned walls, glass cabinet alcohol displays, electric fires and floor-length glass windows overlooking the pristine Hastings River.

On arrival, we are quickly seated, and soon find ourselves being given four complimentary oysters - one for the each of us. Luckily for me, neither Mum, Kyle or his girlfriend, Emily, like oysters so I guzzle down three of them. Any restaurant that provides a complimentary starter or bite to eat with the bill - for example, the delicious turkish delight at 3 Olives - instantly gets a place in my good books. And the beauty that was these oysters, almost assured that Zebu's place would be secured.

Zebu has your usual menu, and then there's the above; patrons are literally spoilt for choice. Those who pick something "from the grill" are met with the (aweful) decision of deciding between 11 sides and 12 sauces. With options such as buttered broccollini with zattaar and rosemary and garlic mash for sides, and creamy garlic and shallot and cafe de paris for sauces, the act of just picking what to munch on becomes near impossible. 

After many years deciding, Kyle decided on the apple cider and star anise infused Kurobuta pork cutlet with buttermilk onion rings and dijon mustard, I, the pork with the three cheese cauliflower gratin and cinnamon and star anise spiced apple sauce, Mum, the Rosemary, thyme and garlic marinated Murray Lands lamb rump with duck fat potato dauphinoise and wild mushroom ragout, and finally, Emily opted for the lamb, with thick cut steak fries and dijon mustard. We also ordered the flat bread with rosemary, confit garlic and smokey tomato salsa ($7.50) to share.

The flat bread came out soon enough, presented beautifully on a wooden board. The confit garlic was incredibly soft, and went down very smoothly spread across the bread. The tomato salsa packed a punch.

However, our mains saw some problems. Three of our four orders had been confused - therein lies the downside of their complex mix-and-match menu. I'm not going to go into the who-received-what, because boy could that be confusing. Basically, we all received the right slab of meat, but the sides and sauces, just no. Instead of one serving of each of the following - onion rings, chips, duck fat potato and cauliflower gratin - we received two lots of onion rings and two lots of chips. And, rather than two dijon mustards, one ragout and one apple sauce, we received two apple sauces and two dijon mustards (one to the wrong person).

Oh well, all was forgiven. Not only did we receive all the dishes we had originally ordered soon after the mistake was brought to light, but we got to keep everything we had been given by accident, and sincere apologies were made. On top of this, our food was absolutely faultless.

Oh the apple cider and star anise infused kurobuta pork cutlet with buttermilk onion rings and cinnamon and star anise spiced apple sauce ($34), so tender and full of lovely flavours, and improved tenfold with the spiced apple sauce. My own brother, who I admit, is overly picky, liked the apple sauce. Mind you, this followed much convincing that it would compliment the pork better than any dijon mustard. This was also my first experience of onion rings and I can now safely say that I am hooked.

Our two servings of thick cut chips were a hit (not with me, sadly, owing to my chip ban). They were crisp and had been imparted with a spot on level of salt. The rosemary, thyme and garlic marinated Murray Lands lamb rump with thick cut steak fries and dijon mustard ($36) also received red hot reviews with both Mum and Emily. I was surprised at how tender both types of meat we had ordered were. The slight seasonings on made the pork and lamb near perfect.

The beauty of Zebu's menu is that it is easy to mix and match. Mum and I shared the duck fat dauphinoise and cauliflower cheese gratin. Both were scrumptious, I particularly liked the cauliflower that I chose, which was light and coated with just the right amount of cheese. But, then again, I'm probably a bit biased.

To summarise, I was really impressed on this visit to Zebu. Even if they really stuffed around the orders, the food was so good that such a horrendous error was forgotten. Zebu's presentation is plain beautiful, with everything plated using charming skillets, boards and pots. The service was very refined and yet still managed to retain friendliness. And the food was simply top class.

I must mention that one of our glasses hadn't been cleaned properly, and was contaminated with what appeared as mucus. To be fair, I found it necessary that I mention this but, in all honesty, I had almost forgotten in light of the wonderful experience that was had by all.

It's best you visit Zebu on a warm, summer's night when the sun's just setting for an excellent dinner and equally stunning atmosphere.

Zebu Bar + Grill, 1 Hay Street, Port Macquarie