Flanagans Dining Room, Thirroul

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For those who know me, life in the city has been too busy, hectic and stressful especially with work. So it was nice to get away from the bustling Sydney life and head into the more relaxing, quiet town of Thirroul near Wollongong (only 90 mins by train from Central) where we got the chance to check out Flanagans Dining Room. While it was hot, it was also incredibly windy but that didn't spoil our mood that day for a relaxing, chill out session by the beach.

Originally Flanagans was your typical fish and chip shop until it changed management with Claire and her husband (who also takes the reins in the kitchen). It even has the old signage at the front of the restaurant. Since getting head chef, Arman Uz (formerly of Efendy's) involved; the restaurant has turned a new leaf in bringing Middle Eastern and Modern Australian dining with fresh seafood to the Wollongong region. We were also impressed by the interior design that Flanagans give off. It appeared simple with wooden furniture and ocean decor surrounding the place which gives off a relaxing and soothing vibe.

Before getting seated inside, we were treated to a much needed refreshing drink of Blood Orange Gin and Tonuc. Unlike most Gin and Tonic drinks, this one was very sweet and not as strong. Loved this drink. Would love to see more of that drink at bars and clubs hahaha.

Blood Orange Gin and Tonic

The bread was sourced from the Berry Sourdough Company and the extra virgin olive oil arrived from Hunter Valley. There was a selection of woodfired sourdough bread including white sourdough, rye and spelt. Always loved this combination. Once I tried a piece, I got hooked and wanted more but alas must save my stomach for the rest of the degustation. Speaking of which, the degustation menu at Flanagans changes based on fresh produce. Therefore, you would definitely expect some surprises here no matter which day you head down to the South Coast.

Hunter Valley Olive Oil and House-made dukkah

Rye bread

Sourdough bread

We were treated with countless glasses of Crooked River 2011 Estate White Blend Chardonnay wine to complement with our many seafood dishes.

Crooked River 2011 Estate White Blend Chardonnay ($11 - glass /$44 - bottle)

I was in love with the first entree dish that arrived to our table. The seared scallops were cooked perfectly to our liking and it worked well with the tangy chilli paste. The scallops were also quite juice with a slight crispy outer texture. I would gladly order this dish again just for myself. 

Seared Scallops with Sambal Chilli Paste ($22.00)

With the hot weather that is happening in Sydney these days, a round of oysters was a refreshing treat before the main meals. Lots of zesty flavour action from the white balsamic and the pink shallots. 

Clyde River Oysters with Pink Shallot and White Balsamic ($16.00) 

The following dish showcases Arman Uz's Efendy origins with its Modern Turkish influence. The texture of cakes were light and bouncy which matched well with the creamy and garlicky baba ganoush, the fruity pomegranate and the bitter watercress. A very colourful and tasty plate that will test your taste buds.

Crab cakes with baba ganoush, watercress and pomegranate (price unknown)

Soon after we finished our entree dishes, FOUR plates of seafood and chips arrived to our table. I was gobsmacked at the amount of seafood that was presented to us. On the menu it is listed as 'Salt and Pepper Local Fish with Handcut Chips' where you get a choice between Bream, John Dory, Rock Cod and Snapper. Because of the restaurant being located so close to the ocean, you are guaranteed to get freshly caught seafood at Flanagans. The fish was fried and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper (I actually barely notice the seasoning when I tried the fish!). The outer texture was crispy while the inside was soft, easy to fall apart and juicy. There were lots of bones so we had to be careful when biting into each fish. 

Each plate also came with hand cut fries which were so crunchy and addictive. I believe that these were some of the most crunchy chips I've ever had - possibly twice-cooked? Either way I thought they were amazing that we all wanted to grab more but was disappointed at the serving size (about 4-6 chips per plate). Will recommend ordering a bowl to share (thankfully available for $10) or even just for yourself to gobble it up yourself.

Salt and Pepper Rock Cod with Hand Cut Fries ($28.00)

Salt and Pepper John Dory with Hand Cut Fries ($28.00)

Salt and Pepper Bream with Hand Cut Fries ($28.00)

Salt and Pepper Snapper with Hand Cut Fries ($28.00)

If you are one of those people who can't stand seafood (you know who you are!), you can also get the slow cooked lamb shoulder with smoked eggplant and Cavolo Nero. I can definitely see this menu appearing at Efendy with the use of lamb and eggplant. Those who know me will know that I actually LOVE my lamb so this was a satisfying experience for me. It was tender and soft to the point that it melts in your mouth. The parsnip puree had that sweet taste which complemented perfectly with all the savoury plates so far. 

We were all so full but we were still so eager on what to expect for desserts. Were we impressed? Yeah of course we were! Everyone was treated to three different desserts that were made to share. The kadaifi pastry was inspired by Uz's experience at Efendy. This was a favourite for everyone on the table. The nuttiness from the pistachio, the swirls of golden syrup and the pastry layers gave the dish a sticky and sweet crunch to the palate. And it looks so pretty!

Kadaifi Pastry with Pistachio and Golden Syrup ($9.00)

These dessert treat also had a nutty and sticky sensation with walnuts stuffed inside the figs and topped with maple syrup and clotted cream. While I'm personally not a fan of white cream, I would say that the cream actually helped in balancing the overall sweetness from the plate. 

Sun Dried Figs with Walnut, Maple and Clotted Cream ($9.00)

I love creme brulee and I haven't had it in a looong time so imagine my face when I saw this dish. This is also shared between all of us although the serving size is much smaller. This dish would be perfect to have for yourself actually...hehehehe. It had everything that I like in my creme brulee - smooth and creamy vanilla custard combined with a burnt sugar topping so you can have a good time cracking it open. I was also gazing at the raspberries on top of the brulee topping. Very nice to have after a rich, sugar overload. One of the better creme brulees that I've ever had (in my opinion of course). 

Creme brulee with Mastic and Vanilla ($9.00)

Before we knew it the day was already over. The dining experience was lots of fun and even got to catch up with everyone who I haven't met in a long time. The service was wonderful, down to earth and friendly and that complemented well with the quiet, peaceful setting with ocean views. Will certainly come back here if I ever head down this way. Definitely worth it for a getaway from the busy Sydney life that's for sure. 

Claire (owner of Flanagans Dining Room) and Arman Uz (Head Chef)

The degustation menu at Flanagans Dining Room is available on Friday and Saturday evenings for $75.00 pp or $115 with matching wines. Bookings are essential. 

Disclaimer: The Random Foodie dined as a guest, courtesy of Wasamedia and the Flanagans Dining Room. Opinions are personal.

Flanagans Dining Room
Thirroul Beach Promenade, The Esplanade
Thirroul NSW 2515
(02) 4268 1598
http://flanagansdiningroom.com.au/
Breakfast: Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays from 8:00am
Lunch: Wed-Sun from 12:00pm
Dinner: Friday and Saturday nights

Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine, Chinatown

Usually when it comes to eating joints with a substantial amount of hype, I would have first heard about it through various blog reviews appearing at once. For Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine, I actually first heard about it through CC who checked it out one night with a mutual friend when it only just opened. At the time, I did not hear any word about it even when we did a quick stop for takeaway once about a week later. Eventually the reviews came through and then the queues appear out the door of the grand-sized restaurant. Strange how things work out.

When entering inside the restaurant, we thought that the decor of this eatery kinda reminds us of Mr Wong even with the two-levelled, spacious and old fashioned Colonial Style layout. The difference here is the lower prices which is evident throughout the entire menu with the majority of dishes priced at less than $20. Furthermore, the service at this restaurant is incredibly friendly and attentive which is saying something for a Chinese/Asian restaurant in Haymarket/Chinatown area.

We were greeted with a crowd of people standing outside the restaurant. Thankfully, the people were served really quickly so it didn't take too long for us to get to our tables. We ended up sitting by the bar near the kitchen area where we saw roasted meats hanging around like those Asian BBQ butcheries in the Cabra area. We didn't mind at first because we wanted to sit down since the weather was freezing that night (damn you cold winds). We eventually wished that we waited for a proper table because our dishes were delivered all at once. Which is good if you are in a hurry but not so good when you feel rushed and want some time for your food to settle down. Still, bonus points for quick service.

Roasted meat display

Complimentary Tea

Since it was cold that night, CC was craving for a hot drink and was recommended to try the hot milk tea. She didn't end up enjoying the taste though and struggled to finish it. 

Hot Milk Tea ($3.50)

I was craving for lemon lime bitters all of a sudden despite the weather. Was nice to try and quite balanced with its flavours though I drank the whole thing way too fast.

Lemon Lime Bitters ($4.50)

Because of the vast amount of dishes on the entire menu, we took a while to decide our dishes. We did try to order the pan fried pork buns but it always sells out each time. Must be an incredibly popular choice or there are limited batches. Instead, we decided on the Old Town pan fried pork and vegetable dumplings. The skin had a nice crisp and the pork filling was juicy to our liking. Similar to Chef Gallery's version but much cheaper. 

Old Town pan fried pork and vegetable dumplings ($6.80)

With all the hype about buns (or baos) lately, we couldn't help but try all the buns that Old Town has listed on their menu. Each one of them were delicious to try with its sticky and sweet bun, hoi sin sauce and shreds of green onion. CC's fave was the roasted pork belly bun with its thick slab of meat. The peking duck was also a winner with me with its crisp skin and tender meat. While the BBQ pork bun was tasty, it didn't wow us as much as the other two flavours. I still prefer the Ippudo pork buns for its secret sauce but these ones impressed us enough to order again at our next visit. 

Old Town buns (L-R: BBQ Pork, Roasted Pork, Peking Duck)

Roasted Pork bun ($8.00 for 2 buns)

When we saw this dish we immediately thought of those restaurants that serve handmade noodles (like Chinese Noodle Restaurant, Chefs Gallery and Seabay). I didn't end up trying this meal but CC enjoyed the plump dumplings and the light soupy broth since she was craving about it in further visits.The amount of noodles served was too generous for one person to finish so it was a struggle and ended up doing take away. 

Shanghai Wonton Noodle Soup ($10.80)

I went along with the Old Town Homemade Noodles with XO Sauce since I have been craving for handmade noodles lately. The noodles were actually very oily for me to enjoy though the spiciness from the chillies and the XO sauce balanced the overall flavour. It's a decent serving so I would recommend this dish to share. 

Old Town Homemade Noodles with XO Sauce ($12.80)

We made another visit at Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine recently on yet another cold and windy night. Damn cool change. CC decided to get the Seafood Congee which ended up working a treat in warming yourself because she was still noting that the bowl was still very hot later that evening. While I didn't end up trying the congee, it appeared to be creamy and lumpy. While the below photo did not show it, CC mentioned that there was a decent amount of seafood. 

Seafood Congee ($12.80)

When there's congee, there's gotta be fried doughnut fritters. I always loved eating these crispy treats on its own since I was a kid. Can never get sick of it. Old Town's version appeared to be two fried fritter sticks stuck together. Great match to have with the creamy seafood congee. 

Deep Fried Fritters ($2.50) 

While the serving size of the Soy Sauce Fried Egg Noodles was still generous and oily like the handmade XO noodles, it was easier to finish due to the crispy texture from the egg noodles. The presentation might be simple but the taste was delicious. 

Premium Soy Sauce Fried Egg Noodles ($10.80)

We were planning to get the below dish as our entree but I guess a lot of precision was involved in creating the bird's nest so it would have taken its time. It was a tad pricier than many other dishes but it ended up being one of our favourites. The laced nest was crunchy which matched well with the succulent, piping hot and juicy pork dumplings. There was eight dumplings served so it's great as a shared dish. 

Pan Fried Pork Dumplings in a Bird's Nest ($14.80)

Good selection of desserts

The decor may appear to look modern and contemporary like Mr Won compared to the old school Chinese restaurants in the Chinatown area but the prices remain cheap and friendly to those on a budget. What should be noted is that the dishes were delivered incredibly fast though rushed. There were moments when many dishes were delivered at the same time which was overwhelming for us. Still I would say that this dining joint is great for a catch up with friend after work or class. The crowd was mostly students so the atmosphere had a casual and noisy vibe. You can even check it out after a night out at a bar or clubbing or a drunk karaoke session because it opens till 2am every night. Will definitely return to try the many other dishes on the menu including the dumplings, desserts and the specialised Hong Kong dishes. Would still like to know how I could get my hands on those pan fried dumplings that always sells out every time I'm there.

Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine
10 Dixon Street, Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9264 3888

Pho Ann, Cabramatta

If there's one thing I know about Cabramatta (in relation to food of course!), it's that they do have their fair share of best kept secrets. Pho Ann is one of those places. While there are barely any coverage about this pho joint on Urbanspoon and even Google, it still gets incredibly busy during the weekend peak lunchtimes. Although the address said that it's on John Street, it's actually located on the further end of the Belvedere Arcade alleyway across from Cafe Nho. Pho Ann is a relatively newer establishment having only been around for about 5 years or less (I remember seeing the opening deals during my uni years) compared to the long standing Vietnamese eateries like Pho Tau Bay, Pho 54, Pho Viet, Pho Minh, Tan Viet and Bau Truong which have all been around for decades. 

It's easy to confuse yourself between this establishment and the much more famous An Restaurant in Bankstown from the similar names to the way the pho is made. The main difference is the price. While Bankstown's An Restaurant serves up a small bowl of Pho Tai for $13.00 and a large bowl for $14.00, Pho Ann does the same but for $8.50 - small and $11.00 - large. If you want a bowl of Pho Dac Biet (Combination Noodle Soup), you can get a small bowl for $9.50 and a large bowl for $12.00. That is the most expensive item on this menu.

While most Vietnamese restaurants serve a variety of different food from fresh spring rolls to bun bo hue and egg noodle dishes; Pho Ann concentrates on pho noodles with its limited food menu displaying only beef noodle soups (Pho Bo), chicken noodle soups (Pho Ga) and a selection of drinks.

In all of my visits at Pho Ann, I often have the waiter asking if I would like to have my bean sprouts cooked or fresh. Decisions decisions!!! Definitely something I don't encounter at any other Vietnamese restaurant but it's good to know that you get those options.

Personally, I like them fresh

As part of Good Food Month, the restaurants in Cabramatta and the Canley region are showcasing their signature dishes. Pho Ann's signature is their Pho Bo Dac Biet (Combination Beef Noodle Soup). That is pretty damn special when there is so much competition in the area. Pho Ann's version uses a generous combination of various meats from their pho-focused menu including rare beef, cooked beef, brisket beef, tendon, tripe and even thick slices of spicy beef roll...to name a few! The broth was rich that it was quite hard to finish the entire bowl. It wasn't too sweet so I did had to rely on the usual condiments like the lemon and mint. The noodles that Pho Ann restaurant uses was slightly thinner than what I often see at most Vietnamese restaurants around Sydney. It gets you incredibly full but it satisfies the pho cravings. 

Pho Bo Dac Biet - small ($9.50)

Food porn!

I also tried the Pho Tai (rare beef) on another visit here. Again, the broth was rich and the serving size was generous for a small bowl. I loved how soft and tender the beef was once it was cooked in the broth. Add the usual crunchy onions, coriander, spring onion, Vietnamese mint and a dab of lemon and you got yourself a yummy, fragrant bowl of beef pho. Oh yesss! 

Pho Tai - small ($8.50)

As usual, I always like to have a cold, refreshing soya-bean milk to drink on the side. This version however seemed to be a bit more milky than how I usually enjoyed. 

I wouldn't jump the gun and pronounce this as the best pho in Sydney (yet) because there is still so many other pho joints that I haven't tried yet including Pho Viet and the many Vietnamese restaurants at Flemington and Marrickville. My parents reckon it's one of their favourites which is saying something because they can be a bit elitist with pho. Plus the service was friendly in all of my visits. It may be one of Cabramatta's best kept secrets but it sure gets people lining up outside the door on a very hot day. I even had to share my table with a couple of strangers in one of my visits because all the other tables were full. Judging from my visits at Pho Ann so far, I would say that it does satisfy my tastebuds with the tender and flavoursome meat. It's also nice to see an uncomplicated menu where all you need to choose is what bowl of pho, beef or chicken, suits you on the day. Will certainly return again soon to try one of the many other pho bowls yummm!
 

Pho Ann Restaurant
Shop 10-12/70-72 John Street Cabramatta NSW (enter via Belvedere Arcade between Subway and Tan Ky Noodle House)
(02) 9723 2529