#spicetemple

Below is a quick review of some of my favorite hatted restaurants in Sydney:

1. Spice Temple : 10 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000

After a long day in the office, it was time to return to the Spice Temple to enjoy my favorite Chinese dishes:

1. Fried eggplant with spicy ginger and garlic dressing.

2. Hunan style pork ribs with black bean and chili.

3. Stir fried wagyu brisket with baby eggplant and chili paste.

4. Yunnan style hotpot with fresh shiitake, oyster, enoki, and wild Chinese mushrooms.

As always, the fried eggplant and the mushroom hotpot stole the show from its meaty counterparts.

Note to self: Only order vegetarian dishes during my next visit.

2. Mr Wong : 3 Bridge Ln, Sydney NSW 2000

After a couple of misses, I finally got a seat at Mr Wong, the hatted restaurant which is renowned for serving delectable Cantonese cuisine in a lavish French colonial setting.

My weekend dim sum session featured pork and prawn shumai, pork xiao long bao, and Peking Duck. The dishes lived up to expectations with an outstanding display of crispiness and flavors by the famous Peking Duck.

It is truly well worth the wait so get in line before seats run out. 

3. ester : 46-52 Meagher St, Chippendale NSW 2008

For Sunday brunch, I decided to take a long walk to visit ester , a cozy hatted restaurant specializing in wood fired dishes.

After surveying the menu, I decided to indulge in a blood sausage served on a slice of soft white bread, a small wood fired cauliflower with almond cream and mint, and a beautiful moreton bay bug served with shrimp butter and native tamarind.

Each dish is outstanding, bursting with juices and flavors from careful preparations in their wood fired oven. The moreton bay bug was the best I have ever had and the dish gave me a new found appreciation for the crustacean.

Please do yourself a favor and visit the restaurant for an unforgettable culinary experience.

4. Sokyo : Level G, The Darling The Star/80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009

Today is a special day indeed as I finally found a dining buddy to accompany me to Sokyo to savor its innovative Japanese dishes.

Dinner began with the refreshing Kingfish Miso Ceviche followed by the crispy Shiitake and Eggplant tempura.

With our appetite whipped up, it was time to welcome the heavenly Miso Glazed Toothfish followed by Tuna Crispy Rice Nigiri and Queensland Sushi Roll featuring Spanner Crab with Spicy Aioli and Avocado wrapped in Soy Paper.

Our dinner adventure concluded with Salmon Belly Aburi Nigiri and Maguro Tataki.

With all five senses completely satisfied, my dinner party walked out of the restaurant discussing our next visit. It was just too good not to try it again and again.

5. Cho Cho San : 73 MacLeay St, Potts Point NSW 2011

Since it was my last day in Sydney before my flight back home, I decided to indulge in two meals for the night.

First stop of the night is at Cho Cho San with a playful izakaya set that began with edaname in nori and togarashi followed by eggplant miso stick and scallop with ikura and ponzu.

I ended my quick visit with a tangy Japanese tonkatsu curry and a cooling green tea soft serve. 

As day turns to night, my next stop beckons as my tummy yearns for more delicious dishes.

6. Bennelong Cured and Cultured :  Bennelong Point Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW 2000

After planning for a few nights, I have finally arrived at Bennelong Cured and Cultured to sample its famous tasting menu at Cured & Cultured.

Each bite is simply a work of art, honed to perfection from its rock oyster and red claw yabby to its king prawn and sesame toast, floral salad, and suckling pig sausage roll.

I feel a sense of peace and delight as I ended my perfect night with a white peach bellini while admiring the beautiful skyline by the harbour.