Burger Battle: Counter vs Grill'd

(Since late 2011, Counter Burger was replaced by the Bavarian Bier Cafe)

The Crows Nest area has 2 burger chains on the same street.

Starting with Counter Burger, an American chain with one outlet in Sydney, its burger is huge with 4 toppings included in a normal order. The generous beef patty, however, is dry on the outside while raw on the inside.

5 min up the road there is Grill’d – an Australia based burger chain offering many choices (including lamb). While the burger was smaller, it is perfectly cooked and its juice all absorbed into the soft sourdough bun. The thick cut chips also add to the satisfaction.

Winner: Grill’d.

Details:
The Counter
118 Willoughby Road
Crows Nest NSW 2065
http://www.thecounterburger.com/crowsnest/


Grill’d
57 Willoughby Road
Crows Nest 2065
http://www.grilld.com.au

The Little Snail (Sydney)

I have been visiting The Little Snail since my university days. While the quality has gone down in the past few years, things are looking up again with (seemingly) new ownership.

The 3 course dinner menu still provides good value at $55 and did not disappoint. Liver pate was tasty and generous. Beef fillet was nice and tender. Crepe with strawberry and mascarpone rounded off the meal nicely. All in all it was a good night out especially the service was attentive, justifying the full dining room on a Wednesday night.

Details:
The Little Snail
50 Murray St
Pyrmont, NSW 2009
http://www.thelittlesnail.com.au

Sakuratei Japanese Restaurant

To welcome a friend from Melbourne on a Friday night, a group of us went to Sakuratei behind the QVB for a few Yakitori’s (skewers). It has a more casual ambience than its sister restaurant Kabuki Shoroku next door but the quality of food did not disappoint.

We sampled all the Yakitori possible – from all parts of a chicken, tender wagyu beef and ox tongue. The zucchini and cheese sticks were the surprise of the night. And we finished the night off with a seafood and vegetable hotpot available from the Kabuki’s menu.

Hope our friend had a fabulous stay.





Details:
Sakuratei Japanese Restaurant
Ground Floor, St Martins Tower, 202 Clarence St, Sydney 2000
http://www.sakuratei.com.au/