Watergrill, Kirribilli Club Sydney

Enough said - the Watergrill at the Kirribilli Club is upstairs and so commands a captivating panoramic view of water, bush and sky at the northern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.   Add to this a perfect winter's day where the sun shines intently, the air is coolish but guests were all tucked inside behind glass windows.  This is another outlet of a chain that operates in Girraween and Cronulla as well in greater Sydney.  Here you can sample not only the food, but a portion of lower north shore residents, visitors and tourists, families and other groups, having a good day in!

Vehicle parking can be a challenge in this petite suburb of Lavender Bay with its narrow and sloping roads and almost all metered parking requirements by Council.  There are only 65 vehicle parking spaces provided by the Club with a FIFO policy and no reservations allowed - parking tickets need to be validated at the Club's reception and paid on leaving.

Strong on seafood, emphatic on the Aussieness of grilling, celebrating both the produce of the garden and paddock, the Watergrill menu is extensive, generous and pays attention to ingredient and cooking styles.   Asian choices have crept in - oh I see Penang curry chicken and Sichuan flavoured ones, plus tofu served with Enoki mushroom slices on steaming rice!   The tapas plate, at around 25 dollars, caught my eye - breaming with five spice powder flavoured pork belly cuts, crumbed fried Brie with relish of cranberry and duck meat spring rolls accompanied with Hoisin sauce.

Of course, the hot or cold seafood platters are inevitably available, reflecting the origin of Watergrill from the Shire in southern Sydney.   There is an interesting salad offering that throws in balsamic cabbage, rocket, feta cheese, pearl cous cous and pulled pork - perhaps a rather optimal lighter choice.

A room with a view.

Coffee can be pretty standard as this is part of a club but I reckon people love to come here to gather the clan, to savour special occasions and to see what can be achieved with good old produce from both the Aussie heartland and multicultural inspirations. Barramundi is grilled to be served with Kalamata olives, sundries tomatoes, Kipler potatoes and wilted spinach.    There is a gourmet salmon and prawn pasta selection heaped with capers, fresh Dill, garlic and Spanish onions.   Your mate can have the Souklavi skewers with Tzatziki, whilst you can still have your 300 grams of pork cutlets, Scotch fillets or surf and turf combos.

I noted the beef Fajita that comes with avocado Guacamole , caramelised onions, sour cream and tortillas.  Prices of mains are from mid to high 20s.   Service was not to complain of on  rather busy Sunday afternoon.  The logistics that day inside the kitchen must have been over whelming. And id fellow lunchers still have room to spare, there are the usual bright gems from the dessert menu - chocolate fondant, cream brûlée, cheese plates and sticky date pudding!

A limited menu is available away from the rush eating hours, after 230pm and before dinner time.
There are separate winter and summer menus, a couple of us visited in early winter.  Kids would love the ambiance here as there is space for them to wander.  I had no issues with my mains, delightfully garnished with thoughtful sides.



The Watergrill Restaurant is located at the Kirribilli Club, 11 Harbourview Crescent at Lavender Bay.
There is a distinct cafe area separate from the dining area - window seats are better secured in this cafe spot on busy days and nights.
Gluten free or vegetarian selections are indicated in the menu.
Telephone: 612 9945 2245

The BullnBear Cafe, Bar and Restaurant - Wollongong CBD

Lunch on the run - the lentil burger.

Just a block away from the Hotel Illawarra, near the junction between Princes Highway and Victoria Street, the BullnBear opened only a few months ago and has been picking up the pace with customers.   To me, I love the practical pricing, the location, the staff and the two tiered levels of the site.  Not only open for breakfast and lunch, increasingly parties with small groups are being held there.  The walls remain rustic - perhaps there is a Spanish hint here?  They are within walking distance of the GPK shopping centre in Wollongong city centre and especially from the lane that leads to Sifters Espresso. 

More than coffee are the Spanish and Euro beers stocked at BullnBear. 

La Vizcianto - with smoked salmon that gives a special texture on the palate.

The few times I have been there the staff are kind enough to let the guests linger and enjoy the place, suggesting some items to further consider in a relaxing environment.  For quick stays, you can use one of the small tables in front of the bar or sit outside on the pavement.  The place is also worth strolling to.   The El Gordo, or Big Breakfast, is an excellent choice and Scott did enjoy this selection - somewhat modern Aussie with a twist, as you are provided with chorizo and spinach with the expected servings of bacon, sourdough, tomato, eggs, mushroom and avocado.  I enjoyed a total salad one late morning with Michael as we sat at a window side table.   I reckon there is wholesome food here, with choices for different palates and appetites.  The coffee complements the food - and I have a fav staff here who is always smiles even when busy, a rare gem!

Tapas evenings have commenced in August - this is a good development on the Wollongong foodie scene, which has limited choices for Euro small snacks like Greek and Spanish, unlike Surrey Hills in downtown Sydney or Brighton Le Sands at Botany Bay.  Snacks like these go well hand in hand with cocktails, alcohol and liquor.


The BullN Bear is located at 2A Victoria Street, Wollongong CBD.
Telephone 612 4231 4315
Opening hours are from early morning till late arvo everyday, with dinners only on Fridays and Saturdays.


 

MoChi Restaurant, Wollongong NSW

From 12 o'clock clockwise - the black Jiaozi, the barbecued pork bun, two types of Shuimai, the Har Gou and the Xiao Long Bao.

Opening week in July at MoChi was a flurry of activity and customer interest.  The owners, the Sheppards, already operate Caveau, a small French dining restaurant across the road and which the Sydney Morning Herald has consistently renewed its one Hat rating.  Occupying two shop lots, Mo Chi is spanking clean with neutral hues (Nest Emporium), friendly staff (ground and first point of contact) and with a spacious feel.  The bar is upfront so one can ponder on its offerings whilst waiting for a table.  There is an in-room divider blocking up the inner third of the place, perhaps catering for any private functions cordoned off from the main dining floor.

The lunch express came in a single bamboo basket, with a section of yum cha dishes, including some of Hong Kong's Four Heavenly Kings but excluding the steamed cakes.  The prawn and pork filled Har Gou with a whitish outside layer was good to the taste, but the Shuimai's two choices - one with sticky rice, more Indo Chinese than southern Chinese and another with rather dry minced pork and prawn - were disappointments.  The wanton skin selected to wrap the Shuimais were rather thick and so affected the delicacy of what should be a more refined prepared snack.  The barbecued pork bun was more passable in presentation, especially its fluffy steamed dough, but they can look to improving the marinade of the pork fillings.

The black coloured Jiaozi tasted flat even if it was an interesting attempt at it.  I did like the Xiao Long Bao (the Shanghai inspired steamed bun with soup inside).

In the brave new world of culinary adventure and frontiers, we have Koreans and Japanese celebrity chefs dabbling in fusion, especially with French cuisine.  At Mo Chi we have Australian background owners experienced in French cooking venturing on to southern Chinese dishes, utilising ethnic backroom teams. We also have people of south-east Asian backgrounds combining the best of ingredients from a tropical setting fused into so-called modern Australian cuisine.  Results can vary but the important things is the continuity of such interchanges in cooking styles, especially in clever use of local and overseas ingredients and coming out with a why not taste.

Mochi is located at 157 Keira Street, Wollongong city centre.
Open from Wednesdays to Sundays from noon for lunch and from 6pm for dinner.
Telephone: 612 4244 5811
Vehicle parking can be on side streets like Market or Victoria, or one can park at the shopping centre a block away.
The wine list is good and especially chosen to match the nuances of southern Chinese food.
Would I return? Perhaps from dinner, where I am told that the barramundi and crabs are worth trying.
I am eyeing as well the slow cooked duck leg with star anise, perhaps a real test of Chinese and French classic styles.

The Northern Explorer - Waikato Valley New Zealand

Bostons Espresso - Wollongong CBD

Anna had signalled to me how she and her other half and enjoyed this cafe on a weekend.  Tucked away on the ground floor of a modern building, it is spacious, has a few library shelf books and even alternative forms of seating for guests.   The staff are friendly.  Perhaps the menu and feel is Mediterranean in a modern Australian setting. I see feta, haloumi, yoghurt, aoili, dukkah, fennel, avocado and cheddar.  I see a range of customers, from the young to the elderly, not dominated by a set demographic.   Sited between the office crowds and a light industrial area, the cafe reaps the benefits.

My choice of pulled pork sandwich was rather wholesome and of a generous serve, especially in relation to the pricing.  I am looking forward to try the slow cooked lamb sandwich for AUD9.  There is another sandwich with smashed chat potatoes, cranberry sauce, egg and baby spinach. Down to earth, they also offer soups, salads and sides of grilled chicken or smoked salmon.

The coffee?  I only had a quick drop by and a rushed cuppa. It was good enough to want to come back at another opportune time.

The pulled pork roll for AUD 9 - July 2015.

The Bostons Espresso is located at the southern end of Wollongong CBD at 11-15 Aitchison Street, within walking distance from the main Wollongong Rail Station.
Telephone: 612 4227 5527
Opening hours:  Open every week day from 7am to 4pm and from 8am to 3pm on Saturdays.
Ambiance:  Relaxing, value pricing.