Vasco Bar, Surry Hills

Photo from Vasco Bar owners

Boisterous, fun, unapologetically loud, and a bit rough around the edges. Not really a place for conversation, quite likely somewhere you'll do shots and definitely somewhere you'll leave with ears ringing. The mischievous Italian bar tenders are insistent that you have a good time. In a few words: Italian Rock n' Roll bar.

Vasco Bar
421 Cleveland St
Surry Hills 
Night: Tues - Sun

Chur Burger, Surry Hills

Oozey gooey beef burger, $10

These burgers are the bomb. They're not made from a catalogue of ingredients, just a few select things done really well. Indulgent, sweet, oozey and damn good (check the photos). The light, sweet brioche bun is the hero here, and ordering a diet alternative would be missing the point. Don't overlook the perfectly cooked sweet potatoes fries, either.

If you set up at the bar, you get a very intimate look into the burger prep. Hip-hop beats and the swift chef work = contagious energy. 

Chur is probably the best burger I've tried and funnily enough, the cheapest too. Fish, beef, pork, chickpea or chicken; all of them check in at $10. Thank you, Good Chur.

The main thing that separates Chur from other burger joints? They're made by chefs, not cooks.

Chur Burger
48 Albion St
Surry Hills 
Lunch: Mon  -Sat
Dinner: Tues - Sat

The Apollo, Potts Point

Village Salad, olives, Karanika Wine

I came to The Apollo for my Birthday a few months ago and couldn't be happier with the choice. 

First is the restaurant itself. That romantic Grecian room is damn easy on the eyes. The décor is dramatic, but somehow understated.  Those arched windows, the time-worn columns, golden lighting and the peeling white walls. Warm, sultry and lively with diners. The perfect mix of good feelings. One might call it an ambience trifecta. 

The Greek food here is as beautiful. It's what I love so much about Mediterranean cuisine; the ability to extract so much flavour from a few well-sourced ingredients. As a cheese enthusiast, ordering the baked cheese dish was a no-brainer. Golden fried haloumi came out sizzling in a little pan, covered in bubbling honey and dried oregano. So friggen good. 

We had a group table, but the L shaped bar is super sexy. I want to sit there next time.

Our waitress was so accommodating and lovely that we felt compelled to invite her to sit and have birthday cake with us afterwards.

The Apollo
44 Macleay St
Elizabeth Bay
Lunch: Fri - Sun
Dinner: Tues - Sun

The Sneaky Pigeon has flown the coop!

Dear Perthians, the sun has set on my time in Perth (for now), as I've set my sights on the East Coast. You can follow my Sydney food trails on Instagram: @thesneakypigeon. Or Facey

Coo-coo.

XOTSP

Ace Pizza, 6003

By sights and sounds, you could compare Ace Pizza to a hip late-night pizza joint somewhere in NY. 'PIZZA CLUB' in green neon lights casts a rascal Goosebumps glow and sets you in the mood for fun and revelry. Or gorging and boozing, whichever way you want to put it.

"Black Doctor": Cynar, mint, lemon, Chinotto

The kitchen serves wood-fired rustic goodness of the Italian persuasion, plus some cheeky things like, Fried Mac n' Cheese bites, $7 and Tiramisu Donuts, $5. Blistered thin crust pizzas, with clever toppings, are pretty damn fine. Not as chewy or melt-away good as my favourite ones at Dough, but they still hit the spot. My pick is the Amalfi, $22; juicy prawns on a sensational tomato base, spruced with lemon, garlic, basil and jumbo salty capers.

What you must know is that Ace is so much more than just pizza. So much more. Get some Meatballs soused in pepperoni sauce, $12, and Chop Chop Beef, $14 on your bill.  Make sure you order something from the wood grill, too. Flat Iron Quail, $17 with charred orange, polenta chips and herbed aioli is succulent. And to cut through all that meat, try the wood fired beets n salted ricotta, $16.

The most fun you can have at this Beaufort St. establishment is with the Ace soft serve, $7. Its DIY dessert! A swirl of vanilla ice cream comes with nuggets of honeycomb, biscuit and squeezey bottles of chocolate and salty-sweet caramel sauce. The fastest way to lose your manners (and waistline) at the dinner table!

Back: Tiramisu Donut, $7. Front: Ace Soft Serve, $7: yummy, nostalgic, fun

Ace calls out for drinking almost as much as it does eating. The dark decoration, likeable staff and Americano-Italaliano cocktails with canny names, make you wanna stay awhile. And this place has that potential to become a late night eating and drinking institution.  I hope their existence will wake up this section of no-mans-land on Beaufort St.. Its fun, its delicious and its downright rad. Open 'til late 7 days a week means late night eating that doesn't involve a greasy kebab, is now at our disposal. Ace!

Eats: 4/5 (Bold, meaty, designed with cheek and flair. Eat like a kid!)
Vibes: 4/5 (Fun, hipster, troublemaker)
Service: 4.5/5 (Charismatic, sharp and food is served hot n' fast)
Bang for your buck: 3/4 (Desserts: $5-$7, Pizzas: $17 for simple -$22 for seafood)

To The Woods, 6054

Bassendean just upped its cute factor. Newly placed on Old Perth Road, this humble coffee shop is a neat little meeting point between Guildford and the city. Hot drinks and cakelets come made-in-house or locally sourced. Brunchy things - breakfast parfait, Pear Raspberry Banana Bread and savoury croissants, will see you with change for $10. Simple, thrifty and lovely. Coffee is creamy good and Little Miss Glass Half Full making it, is infectiously chipper. If the weather's sweet, grab a $5 gourmet pie to go and drive down to nearby Point Reserve for some river vistas.

I'm pegging Old Perth Road as the next Maylands strip. Watch this space.

To The Woods

Mon-Fri: 7am - 3pm

Sat: 8am-1pm
9 Old Perth Road
Bassendean, WA
08 6363 5453

Solomon's Cafe, 6050

This city may not be foreign to clean eating and alternative food philosophy (organic, paleo, vegan and raw), but what we haven't seen before is conscious eating dispensed in a sophisticated setting. While nearby PAWS and Veggie Mama (who I adore!) make great places for a no-frills healthy and ready lunch, Solomon's provides the ambient surrounds to enjoy this kind of food from sunrise to duskiness. Waited service, careful plating and attention to detail. Its all very California.

Solomon's by night

From the street, Solomon's looks small, quaint. Inside you'll discover the restaurant stretches back into real estate you didn't know existed. Its spacious without losing intimacy and a sun-lit courtyard surprises you at the back. Walls are mostly of exposed brick and wood, dotted with trinkets the (very sweet and passionate) owner has collected on his world travels. The staff are SO lovely. Its their passion and vested interest, which makes you want to return again. Even the chef said hello when I passed the kitchen.  

An earlier dinner date at Solomon's saw me sample a trio of sides; Crsipy Kale Chips, Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Blanched Mixed Greens. I wanted more and so backed it up with a solo lunch treat the following week. To start of I had an order of the Crispy Beetroot Chips, $6. The wafers of beetroot are dehydrated and served with salt and wedges of orange.  A tasty light starter.

Crispy Beetroot Chips with orange and salt, $6

I followed up with an entree serve of Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Coriander Pesto, $16. Oblong pieces of light dumpling were buttery, nutty, delicious, but the lack of pesto made the dish a bit dry.

Sweet potato gnocchi, entree sz, $16

Food is inventive, but the prices don't fit the quantities. If you have a big appetite, be weary. The mains are small, but designed to be enjoyed with one or two of their interesting all-vegan side dishes. The menu changes slightly depending on what could be bought fresh from the market that day.

Bottom line: healthy new-age food, in a comfortable setting. Passion and heart flows through the decor, the people and the cooking. Ah dear, two visits in and i'm already sounding like Portandia.

Food: 3.5/5 (Healthy, appetising, different)

Ambience 4/5 (Welcoming, relaxing, ZEN)

Service 5/5 (Heartfelt, sincere and the owners are there)

Value 2.5/5 (Prices are a bit excessive)

Mary Street Bakery, 6050

2 parts flour, 1 part hipster, add yeast, bake.

Finally, Perth gets its first new-age artisan bakery. Cos, if you read the food journalism, its totally the in-thing right now. And the hipsters have already found their way to MSB.

You'll be welcomed by the familair faces from Cantina/El Publico/ACE, who warm you with their knowledge, charismatic demeanour and carefully mismatched shirts. The refreshed fit out is on the money, too. White-out walls, mixed wood features and the occasional totally non-naff hanging pot plant. It's a formula for paired back decor that makes you feel at home. There's a good barista on deck, but i'm yet to come around to the Pound coffee bean. It's a bit too easy-drinking for my taste.

Soy Cap, $4

Day 2, lunch hour

The creative baked goods will make you curse a gluten-free diet. Beautiful loaves, bread-based brunches, gut-busting cakes and biscuits, daily pie and sausage roll specials, and Aesop to wash the grease of your hands afterwards.  One Beef and mushroom pie, $7 was smashingly good; a buttery golden pastry housing rich meaty innards. Extra credit for the house-made tomato sauce, which we used liberally!

Today's pie; Beef and Mushroom, $7

Oozey beef, break-away pastry

Escargot, $5

If you can't face a carb-a-thon, you'll be pleased at the sight of seasonal soup ($13) and salads ($11), plus a couple of more substantial lunch items, this day involving Mullet, barley, baba ganoush, radicchio, $21 and another of Slow cooked lamb. The Mullet dish was plated with the similar rustic flair as those dishes I enjoy so well at sister restaurant, Cantina 663. I loved it and would order it again. Steer clear however, if you have an aversion to coriander!

Daily salads; chickpea and spiced pumpkin, $11

Mullet, Radicchio, barley, baba ganoush, $21

After two visits in two days, I say, I can't think of a better tenant to fill the dried-out Soto space. I've pretty much already consigned those guys to oblivion. Mary Street Bakery, it's a little bit hip, but its down-to-earth too. Tastes YUM, feels comfortable and it's so 'now'.

Food: 4/5 (Traditional methods meet newfangled flavours. Fresh, homemade and modern).
Coffee: 3/5 (Crafted well, but too subtle for this pigeon)
Service: 5/5 (Vibrant, amiable and they know their product)
Ambience: 4/5 (Warm, casual and not overdone-hipster)
Value: 4/5 (Pretty much spot on. Salads $11, Pies $7, Sweet baked goods $5, Breakfast $11-$20

Mrs S., 6690

Mrs S. has remained in my top 3 decadent Perth brunch destinations since it opened. The food is next level, service is sweet and don't forget those insanely delicious, voluptuous cakes. On a recent visit, the Divine Mrs. S had whipped up some unbelievable Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Chocolate Lamingtons. I know, right!! Is that even legal?!? That is like, four kinds of amazing in one. Pure hedonism.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Momiji, 6104

Momiji happens to serve the most spectacular sashimi I've ever eaten. It also happens to be the cheapest, as well as the most ample. Fleshy cuts of raw fish that sparkle with ocean-to-table freshness. More than a dozen pieces of assorted sashimi go for around $13. Other mains range from $6 to $15. Simply amazing quality and portions, at next to nix prices!

Salad, miso, mixed sashimi and rice

Mixed sashimi gleaming with ocean to table freshness

The owner is an interesting sort. Call him the Sushi Nazi. Don't meander over the menu and definitely don't try negotiate any swapsies, add-ons or switches, you will just regret you ever asked. And perhaps don't bring young children because you will be turned away. I joke not. It's his way or the highway!

Dine-in...but really he wants you to take-away

From the street

Part of the Momiji experience is encountering the owners eccentric personality. Those who abide by his rules will have no problem with service. And anyhow, Momiji is a rare gem, a gift. And didn't your mother tell you to never look a gift horse in the mouth?

Food: 4/5 (Made fresh, fleshy chunks of well-sourced sashimi)

Service: 2.5/5 (Don't take it to heart. Amusingly blunt.)

Ambience: 2.5/5 (Clean, spacious, no frills)

Value: 5/5 (At least a dozen pieces of high calibre sashimi for $13 OMG)

Love Thy Neighbour, 6003

In a word: humble

Rear entrance and courtyard neighbouring Ezra Pound

LTN aren't trying to be anything far-out or exotic, just a warmhearted place with quality comfort food, at reasonable prices. Coffee is strong and the home style brunch has that (currently trending) American-Canadian twang. Boston Baked Beans with poached egg come under $15 and are warming and delicious. A rich tomato sugo seeps through the rye bread forming soggy tomato-y goodness. This is the kind of food and feeling you fancy on an overcast/antisocial/hungover day.

Boston Baked Beans on Rye Sourdough with Poached egg, 

Home cooking isn't the only thing to warm you up at LTN. The pint sized cafe rests inside William St Arcade. It's closed off and hushful. Introverted, yet cool. Mahogany coloured decor and personable baristas, lend that familiar vibe. LTN makes you feel at home. 

Poached eggs on Rye Sourdough $9.50

If you're on a diet, take full use of the table service and avoid the counter at all costs. The sweets are deadly! Some guest appearances: Banana Caramel Layer Cake, Mississippi Mudpies, Oreo Cupcakes and many more gut-busting Americana experiments! Peanut butter is a favoured ingredient.

Food: 4/5 (Simple hearty food, lovingly prepared)
Coffee: 4/5 (Velvet smooth and on the stronger side. Like!)

Ambience: 5/5 (Buried at the end of an arcade. Warm, quiet and mellow.)

Service: 5/5 (Affable and relaxed. Not all up in your business but pleased to serve you)

Value: 4.5/5 (On a hipster budget. $9.50 for eggs on toast. No. B.S.)

New Moon, 6000

A hint for a good Chinese restaurant I think, is the house chili oil. Chili oil to Chinese is what complimentary bread is to a French restaurant. New Moon have built a recipe for a deep flavoured spicy oil that has an unpredicted crunch. Between three of us we drained about nine serves of the stuff. Couldn't get enough!



As the routine goes at any worthy dim sum joint, the room is hustling in disorderly order. Things move rapidly and orders are hollered across the room. High turnover means dumplings appear in shimmering, steaming, joyous freshness. I'm not exactly the authority on a quality dumpling like I am say on cake or ice cream (I have only had a handful of yum cha experiences in my day) but these guys impressed me most. 



I heart the comforting fluffy pork buns (Char Siu Bao). Sweet shreds of Chinese barbecued pork, snuggled inside a pillowy bun. I had to gobble two. Prawn Coriander dumplings were also le goods. The parcels were packed with hearty chunks of sweet prawns and chopped herbs, with little stodge.

BBQ Pork Buns

Prawn and Coriander dumplings; slippery wrappers with generous stuffing

Fried Chili Squid Tentacles were a tad on the tough side, but I don't think I've ever tried any that weren't.  We ordered some perfectly steamed Kai-Lan which were served with the routine oyster sauce on the side. 

Chilli Fried Squid Tentacles; well seasoned but hard to the bite

Steamed Kai-Lan served with self pour oyster sauce

Xiao Long Bao come recommended. Also known as Shanghai dumplings or soup dumplings, these gems contain filling along with a gingery rich broth. They’re a bit of a delicate procedure and best consumed with a spoon or by slinging them into your mouth in one go! 

Xiao Long Bao; 'soup dumplings' or 'Shanghai dumplings' reveal a surprising broth inside

I'm not usually an Asian dessert wooer but the silky Egg Custard Tarts were perfect! The flaky pastry split in a pinch when I divided it with a chopstick. And those golden sunny centers. Yerrmm.

Egg Custard Tarts. Divine!

Décor is new and well lit with the token garish light fixtures. Is it an authentic dim sum restaurant without the kitschy chandeliers? The brigade of trolley shufflers revealed a friendly demeanor, which was out of custom with the usual yum cha service.

Dumplings and iPhones. New Moon on a Tuesday lunch

8 bamboo baskets and endless tea filled three of us up for just under $16. Great-value fresh dim sum means that weekend queues are a norm. I ran into a (hungover) friend who had been waiting over an hour (ouch!). VIP-it and book ahead. You'll be the object of dim sum die-hard envy! 

While New Moon is probably the newest dim sum joint in Northbridge, they're already a hit with dim sum devotees. They offer the traditional trolley service but step into the new age by blessing us with dumplings on Friday and Saturday nights too. Picture it: the tail end of Friday night drinks and the munchies call. Dumplings rule over a greasy doner kebab, for sure!

Food: 4/5 (Fresh, delicate, hot and tasty!)
Ambience: 4/5 (A bustle of efficient chaos, bright modern interior with the token garish light fixtures)
Service: 4/5 (Super efficient and friendlier than is the norm for dim sum)
Value: 5/5 (8 plates and endless tea = $47)