Bombara Seafood Wollongong NSW

No longer are you required to collect your own cutlery like some years back.

The views are still lovely, offering different moods of the sea, escarpment and weather.  You can check out the surf from a vantage point or feel the breeze on your face and hair at the verandah.

Vehicle parking can be a pain at certain times of the day and night, especially during summer.   On Friday evenings in summer, there may be an outside food fete near the Lighthouse area.

The servings are generous, especially the platters, whether in the classic modern Australian style or those with a decidedly Mediterranean influence.  

Get dirty with your fingers, ask for any crab clamps, dig into the variety of sauces and cool down with wine or beers.   You may even come across an acquaintance, neighbour or good mate.  Families and couples, visitors or locals, they are all here.

Bombara Seafood is located at  the upper floor of the Fishermen's Coop Building at 1-2 Endeavour Drive, Wollongong Harbour, NSW.
Contact +61 2 4229 7011
Opening hours are from 7am to 10pm every day.

An independent review by Kevin Yong

My dish recommendations at the Bombara Seafood,  Wollongong Harbour are as follows:

Cob loaf of organic olive and rosemary bread slices served with hazelnut and balsamic butter.

Grilled fish - your choice of Barramundi, Atlantic salmon, John Dory or Snapper.

Sizzling prawn hot pot.

Hot and cold seafood platter for two with an upper tray of Moreton Bay bugs and lobster; with a lower plate of fresh and battered salt and pepper prawns, grilled Snapper fillets, salt and pepper squid, smoked salmon rolls, oysters Kilpatrick on the shell, dipping sauces and chips.

Bach Dang Canley Vale NSV

Roast quail  - I loved this but it was pricey.

Sunday evening and the restaurant was well patronised, many tables with birthday celebration gatherings.  The several young staff were quick on their feet, spoke a variety of languages including Vietnamese and English and were well dressed.    In a two shop space, the interior was modern and you could see the street outside through windows.   There is easy ground level access from the street.


Welcome to Bach Dang, understandably an institution amongst the Indo-Chinese Australian community and which has been serving food for many years.  Even those outside this community have ventured here and generally provide a positive experience of this restaurant.    I could hear Teochew being spoken, this is a language of southern China, especially amongst Bach Dang's diners.  


Most tables had steamboat going.   It was a boisterous atmosphere, with smiling grandparents doting over their exuberant grand kids, with bearded brown haired hipsters seated beside their doe eyed black haired angels.   Even on one wall were letterings announcing a birthday for some captain !   We looked out for the cakes - one was outstanding traditional, nothing like what we expected.  It was round shaped but did not have sponge or cream, perhaps jelly like layers but I do not really know. 


The steamboat had a most satisfying flavour, not too plain and not over spiced or chillied out.   It is the integrity of the stock in the soup and it had a bit of a twist with a light sourish feel, like as if tamarind was used.   The fish slices are tender, juicy and fresh.   Steamboat is communal eating - and Bach Dang echoes this best.   There is an emphasised family atmosphere but I did not feel crowded in in the spacing of tables.   There are option in varying cost levels of set menus.


For entrees, we had quail, one of my favourites and Bach Dang more than delivered.  Crunchy, with the right notes of meat marinated just right.   Service is friendly.  Two of my mates who used to be in Wollongong grew up here - and they still have fond memories of Bach Dang.  I observed steamboat is popular in the Teochew heartland along the south China coast ( Shantou, not far from Hong Kong)  and Bach Dang does justice to this tradition.    The Teochews migrated to Vietnam before the latest phase settling in Australia.

Seafood steamboat.

Vegetarian, meat and seafood  - Bach Dang has these three pillars in its menu.




Bach Dang  is located at  46 Canley Vale Road, Canley Vale, NSW, near the Rail Station.
Contact +61 2  9727 9931
Opening hours are open from 10am to 10pm every day.

An independent review by Kevin Yong

My dish recommendations at Bach Dang, Canley Vale are as follows:

Catfish bathed in caramel sauces in a clay pot.

Chao Gio Do Bien  - deep fried spring rolls stuffed with seafood and they taste as well as they look!

Crabs with vermicelli in a hot pot.

Chao Tam - those battered prawns served on petite sugar cane sticks.

Steamed oysters for starters.

Roast quail or pigeon.

Steamed fish with ginger and shallots.

Chicken wings stuffed with pork.

Pipis stir fried with XO sauce.

Braised Chinese Broccoli with oyster sauce.

Avocado, Jackfruit or custard apple smoothies.

 

Element 6 West Ryde NSW

South West Ryder Big Breakky.

Within walking distance from West Ryde rail station and the Ryde Eastwood RSL, is  a gem of a cafe.  It is laid out in a contemporary style at street level, stereotyped small at the front  -  and I like the further option of more seating tucked away behind, over looking bush and providing some kind of a  private hideaway.   The Element 6 is located in suburbia, but has an ambiance like in a more hipster corner of Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong.   I understand that it has been running for around four years - and is the talk amongst my mates living in that north west corner of greater Sydney.


I quickly thought about Kin By US near Macquarie Centre and Big Tree House Cafe  at Calder Avenue in Rydalmere.   Perhaps I am comparing apples with oranges.  The menu offered at each of these three brunch and breakfast places are different, each offers a separate atmosphere but all do revolve around more than just coffee - it is the inter-weaving of ideas and ingredients, it is the philosophy of the owners and the diverse inspiration behind the food.   


The two of us tried iconic test dishes - a Big Breakky called South-west Ryder and a pulled pork presentation, garnished with tumeric potatoes, pickled carrot and apple fennel slaw.   I was impressed with both, in the careful and devoted manner in which Element 6 delivered contrasting and yet harmonious in texture, colours and utilisation of ingredients.  Pulled pork can be tricky though, it takes hours to prepare but can come out a bit saturated on the palate at times.    The servings of either dish eaten were generous. Some friends said it was even better when they first opened.   The menu is not overly extensive but I reckon we do not need too many listings.  There is a wooden adornment feel around the place but the cafe does stand out amongst its retail neighbours.

Toby greeted us that Sunday lunchtime and had a pleasant demeanour with him.  There were many lunching the afternoon we were there, but Toby carried on his work with a natural pleasant and fast manner.   Haha, there was perhaps more customer engagement from Toby than from the barista outside, who seemed over whelmed with his orders.


Element 6 also opens early each day, perhaps to catch the train commuter and fitness crowd.  At certain times, there can be a wait for tables, so be forewarned.   Still I understand that there is a regular crowd.   There are tables on the pavement but also a stream of takeaway orders.  The Stateside Iced Coffee is just nice for summery weather - and for tea lovers, do try the Sticky Iced Tea with Bon Soy.

Pulled Pork.

The Element 6 Cafe  is located at  65 Ryedale Street, West Ryde, NSW, near the Rail Station.
Contact +61 2 8021 2838
Opening hours are from 630am to 3pm every day.

An independent review by Kevin Yong

My dish recommendations at the Element6, West Ryde are as follows:

Element 6 Chicken Burger, with fresh herbs, Pepperonata, Element 6 Aioli and tumeric potatoes surrounding a marinated breast fillet.

French Toast with blackened vanilla bean creme, praline and seasonal fruit, with options for additions in ice cream and bacon.

Honeybee Smoothie, with cinnamon, banana, yoghurt, honey and ice cream.

Chubby Bacon and Sunny Egg Roll with Element 6 Aioli, House pumpkin chutney and onion jam.