Reviews by aidanadia

This review is for Bai Bua, Penrith NSW

verified email - 29 Aug 2013

Today was the boss's birthday, so instead of the brown-paper bagged lunch for me, off to Thai we went. Put simply, Thai is a brilliant cuisine and Bai Bua honours the code of offering delicious food.

What I liked from the start was that we had one server who managed our group of nearly 15 people. I find it irksome when you have 3 waitpersons attending one table of two (personal quibble). Our server dealt with our orders efficiently, got our drinks promptly and the food came out in record time.

I started with the Black Pepper Stir Fry with chicken. This was a great dish where the chicken was cooked perfectly, the sauce was amazing and the plate wasn't too dense or oily. The green curry with chicken was mild, great for those who have a delicate palate. Drunken noodles next – not my favourite as it was too sweet for my liking, but I could appreciate that it was cooked perfectly.

The beef mussaman curry was probably my favourite – the flavours were perfectly balanced and the beef was tender, breaking away so easily. The sizzling chicken, once you get over its awesomely noisy effect, tastes fresh and lightly spicy. The rice was a perfect balance, light and fluffy. For the low prices, the dishes were fantastically portioned and large enough to share amongst 5 or 6 people.

Cue the food coma.

The atmosphere here is relaxed (and they played George Michael!), the service was friendly, the food was amazing and I didn't have to take out a second mortgage on my house to pay the bill. Bai Bua is definitely a place I'll return to soon. My faith in Penrith eateries is slowly but surely being restored.

Approximate cost: $15

This review is for Liana's, Parramatta NSW

verified email - 29 Aug 2013

After a trek around Church St looking for a halfway decent place to dine, my friend and I finally stopped in front of Liana's on a Friday night. Despite acknowledging that people have had positive experiences at Liana's, I simply cannot agree.

Upon entering, we were greeted by the hostess… and then nothing. By ‘nothing', I mean that the hostess stared at me without saying anything. I found myself tongue-tied – I've never had that happen to me, and I was simply at a loss for words. After what felt like an eternity, the hostess finally asked whether we had reservations. This gaffe irritated me. It is basic service etiquette to ask your customers instead of expectantly staring at them. We did not have reservations, but eventually got a table after much consultation – and so the saga continues!

Liana's has really odd décor. Ambience is just an important part of a culinary experience as the food itself, and Liana's really doesn't do itself any favours here. It is a restaurant that presumably caters to families (evidenced by the multiple children we sighted), but this clashes with the bar area. There is a flat screen television, an aquarium, Christmas lights around the windows and carpeted floors. The menus are printed in Comic Sans and look childish. It looks ridiculous and is utterly confusing. Despite being an Italian restaurant, there is nothing that caters to that heritage and the physical space achieves very little.

I ordered the vegetarian pizza and my friend ordered the chilli pizza, and we waited for approx. 20 minutes – not bad, maybe could have been better. After the pizzas came out, I immediately dug in, feeling starved. We noticed an issue almost immediately. The tabletops have a slippery surface, so everytime you try to cut your pizza with cutlery, the plate threatens to fly away from the table. I'm surprised we managed to make it without any Walter White Pizza Tossing incidents (calling Breaking Bad fans?). Placemats have never been more appealing.

The pizza: my standard for pizza is incredibly high, given that it is a relatively simple dish. The pizza was warm when it came out, so it became stone cold halfway through. The base was undercooked as it was not crusty. There wasn't enough seasoning and the sauce was bland (salt? garlic?). I enjoyed the artichokes and olives on the pizza, but overall the pizza itself was a big miss. The chilli pizza fared better as the chilli gave it a discernible flavour, but there was still the same issue with the temperature and base.

The servers also seemed to muck around with our bill. We received the wrong bill twice and were charged for pasta dishes in addition despite making it clear what our order was. Human error I can forgive once, but twice? I won't mince words. $20 is a fair bit of moolah, and you expect to get quality food in exchange. Instead, Liana's offered a sub-par, cold pizza that tasted like cardboard towards the end. Italian nonnas are rolling around in their graves.

Approximate cost: $20

This review is for Star Buffet, Penrith NSW

verified email - 04 Jul 2013

Anyone who believes that Star Buffet is a decent eatery in Penrith is a philistine.

Located within the Penrith RSL on Tindale Street, Star Buffet made me re-evaluate my undying love for food. Instead of lunch with co-workers being a positive socialising experience, Star Buffet left me wishing I hadn't consumed those empty calories.

After three tables were hastily shoved together and wiped down to accommodate our large group, we were invited to make our selection. With scratched crockery and awkwardly large silverware, I proceeded to slop food on my plate. My first selection was the mushroom risotto, spinach and cheese ravioli, fried rice with prawns and a side of pumpkin soup.

When all the food you've ever been subjected to has ranged from average to mindblowing, it can be quite a kick in the face to taste food that is depressingly below-sub-par. The mushroom risotto was mealy and utterly flavourless. No sighting of spinach could be made in the ravioli, which was essentially drowned with a cheese sauce that tasted more of jar and less of cheese. The soup began to separate, becoming runny, and also lacked flavour. At the behest of my co-workers, I ditched the plate and tried again.

Attempt number two fared slightly better, but was not impressive by any standard. The stir-fried vegetable noodles also lacked flavour, but I admit that the vegetables were nicely cooked. The vegetable stir-fry was coated in oil (which kind of defeats the purpose, I believe). The chips were limp but the baked potato was decent – not that that is enough to rescue lunch.

Dessert was a hopeless adventure as well. Despite the awesome chocolate fountain (which I was tempted to put my hand in), everything was bland. Jelly has tasted better in hospitals. The cookies were barely sweet which seems to be a pointless endeavour. The profiteroles were warm on the outside, but the custard inside was cold and solid. The coke tasted watered down and was flat beyond belief.

I can't comment too much on service because it is primarily self-service, but the waitresses were prompt to clear out our dishes when we were done.

Star Buffet has been rated as the #1 restaurant in Penrith, and my response to that is an incredulous laugh. If you know what good food is, this is a far cry from it. This buffet needs a good buffet to the head.

Approximate cost: $20

This review is for Rabbit Hole Bar And Dining, Sydney NSW

verified email - 30 Jun 2013

I spent hours online trying to find a place to host my 20th birthday party. I felt fortunate to have finally discovered Rabbit Hole Bar and Dining, and I was not necessarily disappointed. I chose Rabbit Hole because it sounded like exactly what I was looking for – something Wonderland-esque and fantastical, a place that dared to err outside conventional dining practices. After finally locating the elusive restaurant on Elizabeth Street in the pouring rain, we descended into what was an interesting night.

I made a reservation through email and received a response rather promptly to all of my questions. One of the turn-offs from larger restaurants I previously considered was the imposition of a gratuity tax for larger parties. Why should I have to pay more on my bill simply for having a larger number of people? Thankfully, Rabbit Hole places no such tax, leaving your post-gluttony billing simple.

The night started off! Rabbit Hole's cocktails menu is fantastic – we spent ages deciphering the artful descriptions in an attempt to decide. I started with the Breakfast Bouquet and I was not disappointed. An inviting rich red colour, the taste is simply divine, finding the perfect balance between sweet and alcoholic. My next poison of choice was the Kraken's Prey, an interesting concoction for those slightly more daring. The swipe of squid ink could be a turn-off to some, but what I liked about this drink is that the flavour changes as you drink. Starting off rather bland, it eventually evolved into something bittersweet and delicious. Then came the Chocolate Pop Martini, and we elected a dark chocolate flavouring. This drink was strong and heady, and while I enjoyed its simplicity, it was not necessarily well received by the table. My final drink was the New + Old Sparkling Cocktail. While this drink looks beautiful, I was not won over by the taste (but to be fair, I was in the minority on this).

What I liked about dinner here is the availability of two menus – bar and dining. If you're money-conscious, I would recommend sticking to the bar menu. For entrée, we shared a charcuetrie which was generally well received. The bread and hummus were memorable, but the gherkins and unidentifiable sausage/tuna meat received grimaces. For dinner, I ordered the wagyu beef burger and hand cut chips off the bar menu and I was not disappointed. This was absolutely delicious! While you'd have to unhinge your jaw to eat this, the flavours are fantastic – the beef was juicy and cooked perfectly, the bread was cloud-soft and the melted brie a work of art. While the chips were a bonus, the centre of attention is undeniably the burger (and I'm craving another already). We also shared a delectable cheese board, where there is virtually no room for error and a must for any table. However, the major gripe at the table was that the food and drinks appeared to be unreasonably overpriced. The cocktails are approximately $20 and while I would go back for one, you might need to take out another mortgage on your house to get drunk. To have a decent, filling meal, it costs approximately upward of $30, and to the poor uni student, this can put a slight damper on spirits.

In terms of service, my response is mixed. We were seated in the wrong area of the restaurant in the beginning as our reservation was mixed up with another's. The servers we dealt with were varied. One of the waiters was memorable (but perhaps a little hopeless) – he spoke to us informally, sat at our table and had a few jokes. It depends on your attitude towards dining propriety, but we (mostly) enjoyed his casual and affable demeanour. Our other servers seemed a little more frigid, but to be fair we did receive recommendations and comments on our drinks and they took some photos for us. There was also a mix-up with our bill twice (undercharged, then overcharged). Do the small annoyances detract from the overall experience? Maybe, maybe not.

Overall, I was pleased with my experience at the Rabbit Hole, and I am glad that I chose this place to have my birthday. The food tasted great, the drinks rid me of all propriety and the ambience was beautiful, very much unlike general dining experiences. If you haven't checked this place out, do an Alice and take the jump. Wonderland is never too far away.

Approximate cost: $30

This review is for The Union, Penrith NSW

verified email - 16 Mar 2013

The Union is a little hole in the wall, easy to miss if you're inattentive and just casually driving by. I expected to find a place that was reminiscent of medieval architecture or some such, but it ended up looking like an ordinary, slightly industrial back entrance. The stairs are barely wide enough for two adjacent people to ascend and as such, I was not expecting much. (However, for those concerned there is large carpark available for free).

The interior is quite fantastic. When I talk of ambience, I wish that every eatery had an atmosphere such as the one in the Union. The restaurant is small yet elegant, and we were promptly seated. The close quarters actually brought us altogether, and with a party of eight people, it was surprisingly easy to converse with each other over the table. The place is spotless and the background music is pleasant enough to fade into the background and be utterly unmemorable, yet seamless.

The waitstaff are polite and attentive, approaching us almost immediately. After ordering drinks and munching on our complimentary bread and olive oil – always delightful – we wasted no time in choosing from the tapas menu (which was conveniently located just in front of our table with prices). The waitstaff also advised us whether one plate would be sufficient or not for our group of eight, which was pretty helpful. We finally decided on the mushrooms, polenta chips with aioli, fried haloumi, beef cigars, patatas bravas (and something else that I unfortunately can't remember).

What surprised me is how little amount of time was spent on waiting. It was so disconcerting that our actual plans had been thrown into disarray! The first plate came out within 5-10 minutes. Nice to see that Penrith can offer some decent timing in comparison to “fancy” eateries in the CBD. The tapas themselves were not the resounding hit that I had been expecting though. Some were great, and some were average and apparently not worthy within my memory.

The fried haloumi was just that – fried cheese. As someone who had never tried haloumi before, I didn't think I had been missing out on much. The beef cigars, exotic as they sounded, were simply small beef spring rolls that were wrinkly like my great-aunt's fingers. And no, I'm not just exercising my ever-expanding wit – I literally thought that. They tasted pleasant enough with their accompanying sauce, but once again, nothing amazing. The patatas were baked potatoes in a tomato-esque sauce. I also felt indifferent to this dish as it spoke nothing of import to me.

The real gems would be the remainder dishes. I have had some troublesome experiences with polenta in the past, but the Union's polenta chips are delightful. The polenta doesn't taste heavy or mushy, and the aioli complements it perfectly. The mushrooms were probably the unanimous favourite at the table. Just the right amount of oiliness and saltiness, they were delicious and I simply wanted more. In a way, the tapas experience is annoying – just when you get to like a dish, it's all gone.

The dishes we ordered were all approximately $15 give or take some change. The experience seems to be most worthwhile when you attend with a sizable party – that way you can experience a greater variety of flavours without spending all too much. I still thought most of the food could have been slightly more flavoursome, but regardless, I have recommended it to some people and look forward to attending again and trying different dishes. Finally, a noteworthy place in Penrith!

3.5/5

Approximate cost: $15

This review is for Pasticceria Dolce Mia, Penrith NSW

verified email - 12 Jan 2013

At the end of the Broadwalk on High Street is a bakery by the name of Pasticceria Dolce Mia. I've been there a couple of times, and I'll try it a few more times, but I'm rather undecided on how I feel.

I ducked in after work one afternoon as they were about to close and asked if they had sold the bigne` (known as a cream puff, an Italian variation of the beignet). The lady at the counter said that she only had chocolate left and sold all her vanilla. I told her I would return tomorrow as I was not particularly a fan of chocolate. Apparently this is a blasphemous statement inside a bakery! She offered me a chocolate bigne free of charge so that I could try it. I thought this was an incredibly kind gesture and thanked her for it.

The bigne itself was rather uninspiring, and I was disappointed to come to that conclusion. It tasted mediocre - there was nothing that dragged my mouth back for a second bite. Rather large sized, I could only manage about half before I gave up. Neither the pastry nor the filling quite hit the mark. The chocolate did not taste sweet or rich enough, and the pastry was a little on the bland side.

I went back a few days ago and purchased a biscuit and a 'melting moment.' I would highly recommend the melting moment - it literally dissolved in my mouth and I regretted only buying one. The biscuit, however, was once again mediocre. Beautifully decorated, it was filled with something like semolina. While baked perfectly, it was uninspiring and not sweet enough. In the middle was a dollop of a glace` cherry, but I think the biscuit could have benefited from a dollop of jam instead. Once again, I could only get through half before becoming tired of it.

My experience with the service the second time around was a little less satisfying. I was asked once by a server what I was after, but I said that I was still deciding. After having decided though, I was left by the servers. I removed my sunglasses and made eye-contact, and even though the servers looked at me, they carried on with their conversation instead. I waited for a few minutes until I was asked again what I wanted. I felt that this was slightly rude. I had clearly indicated that I was ready to order, but all three servers chose to continue their conversation over serving me. I am unsure if this was a one-off experience.

I will return again to this bakery in the high hopes of it impressing me. Their goods look beautiful and I only hope that I can find one that suits my desire. I also hope that service is closer to that of the first time. If I were to recommend it right now though, I would be slightly half-hearted as I have had far better experiences.

This review is for Luneburger German Bakery, Parramatta NSW

verified email - 12 Jan 2013

I like to consider myself as a bread aficionada. Bread is one of the most beautiful things on the world for me, and no matter how many nutritionists and personal trainers tell me to, I cannot shy away from bread. This is a love affair to last until the end of time. It can be rather challenging to find delicious bread. Bread that tastes amazing as a standalone product is superior to all other bread. And the place that manages to bread this superior bread is Luneburger.

Their square shaped bread rolls start from $1.00 and come in a few varieties: multigrain, sunflower seed. My personal favourite is the pumpkin seed bread roll. Fresh and baked until somewhat tough and crunchy, the bread is salty enough and full of flavour. It is an experience in itself. Although they seem small, they're filling and pleasantly so. If you're feeling peckish but don't want to commit to a large lunch, don't look further than these.

I particularly like the service at Parramatta Luneburger. I had the embarrassing misfortune to be short of money for my bread, but they were kind enough to hold it for me and were good-natured about it as well. I enjoy Luneburger, and anyone who is as devoted to bread should try Luneburger also.

This review is for Berkelouw, Paddington NSW

verified email - 12 Jan 2013

Piecing together fresh, modern aesthetics and the homely feel of used books, Berkelouw Bookstore is an outstanding facet of Paddington.

I will admit that when I first entered, I did not find anything spectacular to marvel over. The bottom floor seemed mediocre with bestsellers and Penguin Classics throughout the level. While it was clean and aesthetically pleasing, designs like these are a dime a dozen throughout Sydney bookstores.

The real magic, however, starts upstairs. Boasting to be home to 60,000 secondhand titles, their collection is extensive and far beyond impressive. The third floor is filled with shelves of books to keep one occupied for decades. In a place like this, I kept picking up books and flicking through them, astounded - most retailers couldn't hope to emulate this. There are stools placed to grab the books slightly out of reach, and comfortable seats with cushions strategically placed around the store. Berkelouw is mentally tuned into the bookworm, recognising their desires and fulfilling them by offering the most comfortable and pleasing bookworld experience.

The available genres are enough to accommodate virtually everyone. Ranging from fiction to theory criticisms to poetry and philosophy, no one is disregarded. Their prices are the best I have found in Sydney, starting from $5.50 and working their way up depending on the title. The qualities of the books are also reasonable; worn enough to have been loved, but strong enough not to be falling apart. I also found the ambience very accommodating. The service was friendly and prompt (unlike many places in the city), and did not feel judgmental in any way. There is a cafe on the second floor that sells alcohol,coffee, savoury lunch options and dessert - I really like this notion of eating good food in a bookstore! The only awkward thing would be the music playing in the background. Sometimes it felt a little unwelcome as it was slightly too loud and disrupted the browsing experience. Nonetheless, this can be drowned out if one is well entertained.

Even though Paddington is a good deal out of my way, I cannot wait to go back sometime this summer. While their new book section is formidable, it is nothing compared to their secondhand book selection, which will always outshine every other aspect. I loved the welcoming feel of Berkelouw and I think that any book lover will have the same disarming experience as I did.

This review is for Ampersand - Cafe Bookstore, Paddington NSW

verified email - 11 Jan 2013

If I build a house one day, it would unconsciously emulate Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore. Devoid of fluorescent lighting and the corporate feel of crisp paper, Ampersand manages to create the essential atmosphere for a bookworm. Well used and loved books litter the shelves with no perceptible order (save for genre), and the decor is quaintly stylish in an unmatching way.

When I'm at home, I love to eat while I read - I think it makes for a more wholesome experience. Here is a place that invites you to behave like this, and it's difficult to pass up the experience when mouthwatering, delicious smelling foods are being prepared. If you're after lunch, don't be late like I was - they close their kitchens at approximately 2.30-3. They have cold food prepared as well - perhaps for the untimely! - and I chose to have a Mediterranean wrap.

I would like to describe this wholesome food product. The bread is strong yet thin, and not overpowering. The filling is comprised of rocket, roasted zucchini, roasted eggplant, roasted capsicum, sundried tomatoes and fetta cheese. It is wrapped tightly which disallows the wrap from falling apart mid-way. You also get the whole wrap, cut in half. A lot of places will only sell half so this was a nice surprise. Consuming this wonderous, foodgasmic item whilst reading Harry Potter was a delight that my mind reveled over. I would recommend getting it toasted and sprinkling on some salt and pepper from the table as it enhances the taste. It cost $8.90, which I found to be a competitive price. Filling and scrumptious - this is definitely one of the tastier things that I have eaten in a while, and I feel justified in raving about it.

There are so many books to choose from, I excitedly hopped from shelf to shelf. My qualm would be regarding the price. Secondhand books seem to start at approximately $8 in Ampersand and this sort of price (and higher) are not uncommon in the CBD area. I find this to be on the pricier side of things when secondhand books can be bought for cheaper, or brand new books bought from online stores for slightly more. But there's little denying the unique ambience that used books have to offer.

The service at Ampersand is pleasant. I did not have to wait at all before I was asked by a server on what I wanted to order. Even though I took an appallingly long time to decide, I was asked by other servers as well instead of being completely ordered. After being told to go and find a seat, I didn't have to wait long until my wrap was delivered to me. I was also informed that water bottles and cups were available near windowsills for my convenience if I wished so. My only hesitance would be the clientele. I seemed to attract a few glares from a girl whose table I shared (in my defense, it was a large table, I sat on the other end and there was no other available seating). However, this is not really something I can blame Ampersand for. Next time though, I will get there much earlier in the hopes of obtaining my own table.

If you're a food and book junkie, look no further. It's a pleasant 20 minute walk from either Museum or Central Station and feels a home from a dream.

This review is for Cohibar, Sydney NSW

verified email - 08 Jan 2013

Having the bar to yourself is easy if you visit on a Tuesday afternoon. Cohibar is an aesthetically pleasing venue with comfortable, inviting couches and exotic sounding cocktails.

The Zombie is an awesome looking cocktail to order. Lighting the drink on fire made the drink such a novelty! Unfortunately, it tasted very bitter, as though lemon rind had been used excessively. It was a struggle to get through. The Italian Job was slightly better, as it was fruity and devoid of the bitter essence. Regardless, they were not outstanding drinks, and as such were not worth the money.

However, the one thing I liked about Cohibar besides the ambience was their cheeseboard. At only $15, it's big enough to split with a mate which works out well economically. The board comes with generous helpings of brie, camembert, bread, crackers, jam and fruit. It was a delicious experience -- although disappointing that a bar's best facet ends up being their food and not drinks.

The service was standard, although we had to wait an awfully long time for the cheeseboard. Considering it was fruit and cheese to be arranged on a board, and the bar was empty except for us, it shouldn't have taken so long.

Cohibar is not necessarily a place I'm dying to return to, but some parts of it were quite memorable.

Approximate cost: $18