Vulcan's (Blackheath Blue Mountains)

We visited Vulcan’s at Blackheath for a Sunday lunch as we heard the legendary chef-owner will be retiring. The dining room was packed on what was the chef’s second last weekend of service.

The highlight for me was the crab soup entrée with red rice. The broth was clean yet packed with seafood flavour. The famous oyster blade was tender and similar in taste to a good beef brisket at Chinatown (maybe the hour long wait for main course dulled our taste buds). The yogurt brulee was our favourite dessert, and it was fun to taste the chequerboard ice-cream.

Details:
Vulcan's
33 Govetts Leap Road 
Blackheath NSW 2785

The Union Hotel (North Sydney)

We were starving after a long day of work and just managed to have enough energy to walk to The Union Hotel for some gourmet pub grub. The scotch fillet burger was juicy and generous. And my beef cheek was extremely tender. It was a good night as we got to wind down over a relaxing meal at a place with an ambiance resembling a French bistro.

Details:
The Union Hotel
271 Pacific Highway (corner West Street)
North Sydney 2060
http://www.unionhotel.com.au

Mino (Willoughby)

When we heard Mino has opened a new restaurant at Willoughby, we were dying to go given our kaiseki experience at the Mosman restaurant last year.

The Willoughby restaurant focuses on sushi but a set menu is also available. While the ‘Willoughby set’ is a smaller set menu than a kaiseki but still offer 4 courses consisting of soup, sushi and sashimi, an entrée plate, and your choice of main. All the dishes were authentic and generous in portion – all for $30! If I have to be picky the entrée plate was rather salty, so get yourself a nice beverage.

Details:
Mino Sushi & Sake Willoughby
533 Willoughby Road
Willoughby NSW
http://minomino.com.au/willoughby/

Golden Century (Sydney)

The family often resorts to Golden Century at Chinatown for any celebrations or festivities. We arrived on a Saturday night again and it was already packed with a queue waiting outside. Booking is essential at this place.

You can choose from all sorts of seafood still alive at the fish tanks in front of you. We had steamed scallops for entrée, followed by mud crab braised in shallot and ginger. Make sure you order extra noodles to soak up all the goodness from the crab.

Details:
Golden Century
393-399 Sussex Street
Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.goldencentury.com.au/

Zen Oasis (Berrima)

The family spent a Sunday on a driving journey to Bowral for some tulip viewing, as well as the vegetarian feast at Zen Oasis which is another 20 minute drive south from Bowral.

The word oasis is appropriate because the entire property is beautifully decorated with flowers and stone features, accompanied by very friendly staff. And the buffet lunch is proper and generous. All the dishes were made from fresh vegetables. The crispy seaweed ‘fake eel’ was a revelation, as was the pumpkin dumplings.

Make sure you book way in advance.

Details:

Zen Oasis Vegetarian Garden Restaurant

230 Medway Road

Berrima

NSW 2577

http://www.zen-oasis.com/

Mamak (Chatswood Sydney)

We have waited at the queue at the popular Mamak at Chinatown on many occasions. So we decided to visit its Chatswood sister restaurant. While there was a small queue early on a Friday night, we got a table within 15 minutes.

We ordered the curries and satays for the evening, rather than our favourites of maggi goreng, fried chicken and kangkung belacan. The tangy fish curry really stimulated the appetite and I was wolfing down the steamed rice with the vegetarian curry. We also had the intensely sweet roti bom with ice-cream for desserts.

Details:
Mamak Chatswood
Shop P9
1-5 Railway Street
Chatswood 2067
http://www.mamak.com.au