Hellenic hideaway

Diethnes Greek Restaurant

336 Pitt Street

Sydney

Phone (02) 9267 8956

Admittedly their's not a great deal of exoticism within Greek cuisine. An influx of migrants from Greece and Cyprus post-World War II has served to popularise much of the local food, particularly dishes like moussaka and dolmades. On Pitt St sits Diethnes, Sydney's longest serving Greek restaurant since Phillip Ventouris opened over fifty years ago, in what was then the city's Greek quarter.

As we enter the restaurant down the staircase, we are lead to a marriage of the modern and rustic in a recreated Greek taverna. The dining room is a throwback to the 1970s with mustard table cloths and vinyl chairs. It's cosy and the chatter of the groups of Greek families reverberates. It's booked fairly solid, so we're thankful to receive a table at such short notice.

Given the friendship of some life-long Cypriot friends, I feel quite close to the Greek community; particularly through a common passion- Football. It was always a great reward to be invited around to their homes for dinner pre or post match. treasured memories for a variety of reasons.

In tribute to all things Hellenic, we order the banquet which inevitably covers all the bases and provides a flashback to previous home-cooked meals. Theday-long effort in preparation results in volumes of sumptuous food. Out comes Moussaka, Tzatziki, Taramasolata, ouzo-marinated octopus, incredible slow cooked lamb (just dabbed with lemon juice and a sprinkle of oregano, salt and pepper then into the oven for 4 hours) topped off with a Galaktoboureko custard slice and coffee.

Food - Homely, tasty and plenty of it! All the classic along with a few unexpected twists.

Service- Ticked all the boxes and that's saying something considering the constant demands of a few birthday parties.

Value - $40 per head which covered absolutely everything. I felt compelled to take the food home. Maybe we slightly over ordered but that's up to personal opinion

Verdict - You can't beat home cooking

Something special

Jasmin Lebanese Restaurant
224 The Boulevarde
Punchbowl
9740 7866


Granted, I didn't just pick this restaurant randomly. It's relatively well-known amongst foodies and critics around Sydney. But like most, I had to try it for myself. Could it deliver? I was more than ready to scrutinise. Lebanese food is a family favourite and Sydney is not without several enjoyable restaurants throughout places like Auburn, Surry Hills and Enmore.
Even from the time I call to make a reservation, what stands out is the casual tone of everything. Self-assured, confident, nothing is too much trouble. I hear no rote-learned greetings, no pretentiousness or arrogance.
Suffice to say I have only passed through Punchbowl a few times. The Canterbury-Bankstown area is home to a plethora of diverse restaurants- from Korean to Vietnamese through to Middle Eastern and Turkish.
The decor is simple, casual, tidy- mainly functional in its appearance. We sit down wedged between a large family and a rather imposing taekwondo champion. The menu arrives and we basically indulge ourselves by ordering the vast majority of the dishes. Out comes Foule (a dip made from lemon juice, garlic and chick peas that far exceeds the sum of its parts), Fattah, Taboulleh, some incredible marinated chicken that just tears apart, plenty of hommus and babaganouj, Lebanese sausages. the tastes and texture of the food is amazing. It's as though all the time that could have been spent on flash interiors has instead been channelled into the food. A welcome change.

Food - Wonderful variety of foods cooked simply and naturally. Some old favourites, some things I'd never tried before. Highlights: Foule, Fattah, Tabbouleh, Char-grilled Chicken....the list goes on.

Service- The food was so good, service was irrelevant. It was fine anyhow.

Value - Amazing $68 for 5 people and we ordered seemingly everything and were all full by completion.

Atmosphere- Little noise, fairly cosy amongst an interesting streetscape. A restaurant specialising in food from the Cocos Islands is located directly opposite.

Verdict: A jewel without doubt. Must return 14/20

Home Sweet Home

Prague Czech Beer Restaurant
42 Kellett St
Potts Point
9368 0898

As I turn down Kellett St from Bayswater Rd, a stencil on the footpath informs me that i'm walking through the site of the vicious 1929 Sydney riots, when the city was terrorised by razor-weilding gangs under the instruction of notorious underworld figures 'Tilly' Devine and Kate Leigh. The street itself is mainly bordered by terraces, some of which are now restaurants and wine bars, 24 hour pubs, gaming lounges and the odd strip club for good measure. An icy breeze takes over the dimly-lit street, voices emanate from the buildings. I am habitually checking the time. I wonder how much has changed since the 20s, hopefully a lot.

Prague is situated on the corner of Kellett Way and I walk down there while I wait. As my friends arrive, we are shown into the bar and immediately I have a good feeling about this. The bar compliments the cuisine with an array of quality imported beers from the Czech Republic which i'm dieing to sample.

The restaurant is the product of a renovation in 2004 and has a homely, cosy atmosphere. People chat quietly amongst themselves and it feels as though we're in a guest house in the Blue Mountains. We start with the Utopenci (marinated Czech-style sausages) which we are warned are served cold, which is little deterrent. They are engulfed by a marinade of what tastes like lemon juice, vinegar and onions. Although a huge serving, it works well. Next is the crunchy fried and stuffed mushrooms with blue cheese and tartare sauce. Even at this early stage of the evening, I make a mental note to go to the gym ASAP. The mushrooms are merely a vehicle for a whole lot of calories but the flavour makes it worth it.

After deliberating about the mains, I choose the stuffed Chicken Breast with Peach and Prawns, Blue Cheese Sauce and roast Potato. On face value prawn and peach don't work- one is a crustacean, while the other is a stone-fruit by-product of a deciduous tree. As it arrives, I'm happy to be proven wrong. The chicken is tender and the roast potato a cut above. It all washes down quite easily with the addition of some great Czech pilsners, Urquell and Gambrinus. My friends order the Beef Goulash with extravagant bread dumplings and Veal sausages with horseradish and mustard. I could get used to this.


Food: Great variety of dishes. Many new dishes to try. It was a strange and exhilirating experience to glance down the menu and to not really be familiar with any of it. It never sought to rely on the beers, which are undoubtedly a strength.

Service: Almost seamless. Had everything covered.

Value: Outstanding. Table for 3 came to about $110. We shared 2 entrees, each had a main and topped it off with a few drinks and a side serving of chips.

Atmosphere: Warm, cosy, friendly- felt like you were eating at someone's house.Perfectly juxtaposed to the atmosphere outside.

Verdict 13.5/20 I will be back. A great way to end the week


NB: Should you opt for late-night pancakes on say a Friday night, leave the long queue at the Rocks for someone else. City Extra is more than competent in the art of the flapjack and is just a short stroll from the Harbour View Hotel.

Perusing Leichhardt

La Parrillada
Shop 470
Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt
Ph: 9560 0943



Immediately as you arrive in the vicinity of this restaurant you're likely to have doubts. Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt has always been more of a transit thoroughfare than a social mecca. The restaurant itself is bordered by several pubs, run-of-the-mill showrooms and for the most part the street is incredibly barren, particularly for a Friday night. An array of neon signifies that we're at the right place.

However, the atmosphere changes as we arrive. A wonderful smell of roasting meat is released as staff saunter around the room caring for tables that house a variety of different demographics – all in a talkative, friendly mood. It’s the kind of place where you almost feel obligated to have a good time.

We order the Parrillada (Peruvian barbeque) for two that comes with a bowl of chips, salad and some pretty intimidating servings of chilli in a variety of forms, some chorizos and barbequed chicken. The waiting time is used to take in the décor, which is high kitsch almost to the point of satire. It agrees with me. I like the bar. A western should be filmed there one day.

The desert menu is offered. The suitably intriguing Lucuma Ice Cream – made with the ground powder of the native Peruvian Lucuma fruit is the obvious choice for the adventurous. I choose the Crème Volteada, while quite nice, it seems underwhelming. The Ice Cream however, is from all reports, a sublime piece of ice confection with the unique flavour that really differentiates this meal. Our waitress was impressively informative, going so far as to explain the intricacies of Peruvian microclimates. She is proud of where she works and justifiably so.

Food- Tender cuts of meat (enough for several people), some desserts that they bet you haven’t tried before enveloped by a warm, homely atmosphere and some bizarre décor. Great

Value- Excellent. We essentially shared most of the meal and at $25-30 per person it provided wonderful value with substantial servings.

Service- Never in any doubt. And knowledgeable too.

Atmosphere- Jovial but not over the top

Verdict- Definitely worth a return visit/s. 13/20