In Search Of The Best Pho

Benchmarking

It might seem like nothing much doing, but I am interested in finding the best pho in Sydney. That's right. If you'd asked me 10 years ago, I would have said, 'Pasteur' on George Street. It might still be the case, but there are some good ones out on Cabramatta way. 

Still, Cabramatta is a long way to go, just for a good pho, so I've been digging around a bit. 

The benchmark pho, I think is at Xiclo. They have a shop in town and in Chatswood and Hay Market. It comes with a good soup, with good basil and meats. It's important they come with the obligatory sundry combination of meats, otherwise it's not a proper pho. The beef comes with 2 different cuts, cuts of beef balls, some tendon and tripe. It's pretty good even with a $11 price tag. You can get good laksa for that price, but you can also get some awful soups for that price too. 

Bertoni Cassalinga

Best Coffee In Sydney

If you believe Time Out magazine, then the best coffee in Sydney can be found at Bertoni's in Balmain. It's such a funky place that it doesn't have enough chairs for the scrum of people who rush to it on any given weekend. Verily, I like it too.

It's a formidable Long Black. The real reason I like going there though, is actually the thing you see behind it: the monster doughnut. It's a clincher. 

Thai Laksa

It's Hard To Find A Good One

Years ago when I was first introduced to Laksa soups, it was from a place that made this Malaysian style Laksa that just burnt hot chili marks into your innards. But it was great!

That place is now long gone.

Since then I've been ordering Laksas in the hope of finding something as good but I've failed. In the mean time, I've noticed the rise of the Thai Laksa, which is a kind of bastard soup noodle experience that is not quite the same dish but bears the same name.

Thai Laksa are largely less impressive than the Malaysian kind. However, I have found a great place in Crows Nest, not far from Bean Drinking. It's a place called Wok Noodle Bar. The Laksa there has a strong lemon-grassy tang and has a unique flavor. I think it's awesome.

Best Coffee In Crows Nest

There Are Many Coffee Shops But...

... there's only one place in Crows Nest that I'd go to have coffee for the sake of the coffee itself, and that's Bean Drinking. It's in Ernest Place near the Professor Plum's shop full of cute toys. The coffee there is seriously awesome. 

Being a long black drinker, I'm pretty sensitive to over-roasting and crap beans and sour coffees. There's absolutely none of that with Bean Drinking. The baristas there are pretty spot on, and the service is good, even by local standards. The staff are friendly, and the vibe is relaxed. 

If that's not enough to convince you, their beans are 'fairtrade' beans so it's relatively guilt free. If you're slogging cups of Vittoria during the week at work like I do, it's very noticeable when you sip on the sacred black juice of the caffeine gods. The caffeine gods smile from the ceiling saying "good java..." well, maybe not. But you know what I mean. 

They've also won some awards for sustainable coffee so that's a plus for every eco-conscious coffee -sipper. 

If you happen to be in Crows Nest and you like your coffee rich, strong and flavorsome, Bean Drinking is the place in Crows Nest. 

The Best Fish And Chips In The Universe

Five Dock Fish And Chip Experience

Ocean Foods is a place on Lyons Road in Drummoyne. They boast a bunch of prizes and claim to have the best Fish and Chips in the Universe. It's a big claim. Any time you drive past on the weekends, they are packed with eager customers hoping to get a dose of the best fish and chips in the universe. Even some of my friends are big believers in the claim. 

I've been there several times. The grilled fish and chips is not bad and it comes with  soggy greek salad. It's a touch on the expensive side when you add the obligatory bottle of lemonade you need to wash down the grease, as the price tag comes to about $15. If you live near Five Dock, there are a couple of  fish shops that offer similar fare for a little bit less - although they've raised their prices recently too.  

Comparing, critiquing and complaining about fish and chips is like comparing the heights of midgets but as a local food derby is concerned, it's this or the gaggle of Thai restaurants. I'll write about those soon. 

Anyway, I can't quite hand the big gong to Ocean Foods as readily as they hand themselves the epithet of best fish and chips in the universe, but they're none too bad. It's worth dropping by at some point if you live in the Inner West. 

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Rigoni's

My Fave Italian Isn't Even In Sydney

I know some people will whine and moan when I say this, but my favourite Italian restaurant is in the heart of Adelaide around the corner from Adelaide Casino called Rigoni's. 

They serve up wonderful pastas that actually have a solidity and isn't mushy or over-boiled . I haven't been there for a couple of years but my friends reassure me that it's still as good as it ever was. 

I spent time in vain, looking for an equivalent in Sydney but you just can't find something with the same quality at the same or similar price. Even Norton Street's best offerings don't quite come up to the lofty standards of Rigoni's in my experience. I really wish there was some place in Sydney s good s Rigoni's!

Is Tetsuya's Still Any Good?

I ask myself this question a lot. It's been years since he's moved to the new premises which used to be the old Suntory restaurant. All I hear is the food is okay, but the atmosphere is dreadful. It's a shame because back in the day, Tetsuya's really made you ponder the delicacy he was serving up (in a positive ay, that is). Now it sounds like it's an up market food court. 

My Favorite Restaurant At The Moment

Ju-Rin in Crows Nest

It's a lovely little Japanese kaiseki place. The dude who runs it is a hilarious bloke. It's a tiny place but it's bustling with activity. The food is yummy and it's not too hard on the wallet. 

Just Starting Out

I decided I like eating so much I'd do a blog about fine foods and culinary delights. 

I don't how it's going to go so I'm tentative. I'll try and link to some restaurants and stuff I've enjoyed. It's a bit of an adventure, this blogging thing! 

Thanks for visiting!

Cheers,

Max