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Siam Terrace

The locally owned and run Siam Terrace, offer's a vast array of Thai dishes from one of Australia's best Thai restaurants. The small Thai restaurant, located in Wyong on The Central Coast offer a cosy yet authentic Thai experience, loved by all locals.

While going there for a family dinner to celebrate Mother's Day I was expecting it to be busier than usual and therefore knew the wait for our food would be longer than usual. However, the warm atmosphere and friendly customer service - that helps make the dining experience that much more enjoyable - was kept to it's usual high standard, so we were happy to wait the extra time.

Siam Terrace located in Wyong on the Central Coast

The menu at Siam Terrace offers a range of flavours and variety to suit everyone's taste. The meals (while we were asked not to take photo's within the venue by other dining customers due to privacy reasons) were both beautifully prepared and presented. While the restaurant will only accept cash and not card, the main meals were all reasonably priced, averaging out $15 - $16 per dish.

Overall, my family and I enjoyed our dining experience at Siam Terrace (as per usual) and look forward to being able to eat there again soon!


Contact Details:
Location: 9 Alison Rd, Wyong NSW 2259
Phone: (02) 4351 4555

Opening Hours
Monday - Friday: 11.00am - 10.00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 5.00pm - 10.00pm

Bavarian Bier Café

During the day, my friend and I were feeling peckish and wanted something filling. So we headed over to Parramatta and ate at the Bavarian Bier Café. As parking is scarce, it was best to park at Westfield as it is a short walk from there. What we were confronted with was an impression of luxury and authenticity in terms of connecting the ambience to the style of food - German. 

The service is friendly, and there is a range of places to sit, either indoor or outdoor. There are views into the kitchen where you can see the various meals being cooked, and seats by the bar as well. At the bar, there is a lush selection of beers to choose from, all of which tend to be rather expensive. We chose the mango beer, and it was rather satisfying in taste, and strong in alcohol content. 

Mango Wheat Bier

From the menu we essentially chose to 'go big or go home' and ordered their well renown "Munich Platter". This was a sight for sore eyes, the inherent meal for two was $35 each, and consisted of more variations of meat than you could possibly think to see on a plate. 

Munich Platter - $70

The list is as follows; crispy pork belly, pork terrine, roasted pork knuckle, haus-made sausages, schnitzel, sauerkraut, red cabbage, creamy mash potato, granny smith apple compote, Löwenbräu Bier Jus. The flavour for the most part was rather nice, especially when eaten with the sauces/sides. Some of the sausages were not as appealing as the rest of the meat, I assumed it was for an acquired taste, a long with the pork knuckle providing a rather overbearing flavour. Other than that, everything was presented well, and cooked to perfection with a nice and crisp texture. 

Overall, it was a great experience and I would definitely visit again. Perhaps I wouldn't order the same thing, but my recommendation was the chicken schnitzel as I was blown away at how nice it was! 

Despite being rather expensive, I'd give this a 4.5/5

Bavarian Bier Café
2-8 Phillip Street
Parramatta, 2150 NSW
Ph: (02) 8836 1400

Trading hours
Monday - Sunday: 11am to midnight

Titanic Cafe

This cafe is perfect for a late night feed. Myself and some friends were looking for a place to eat and relax, and came across this small joint in Blacktown. Its menu is Lebanese and has a range of meals to choose from; pasta, salad, pizza, chicken, and other meats. Another factor which adds another aspect of relaxation is that they also provide argileh to smoke if desired, with a choice to add fresh fruit and various flavours. We chose to share a king prawn pizza and smoke an argileh with lemon and mint. 

King Prawn Pizza - $19.99

The service was rather friendly, and efficient, as the pizza was cooked and served within 10 minutes. Personally, it was one of the best pizzas I've ever had, every single flavour and texture was on point. At $20, I find this rather reasonable. The atmosphere gives off a rather vibrant feeling, as the restaurant is filled with voices due to how busy it is at all times. The great thing about this joint is that it closes until 1am most nights, perfect for those late night hunger urges. 

Overall, I give it 4/5. 

Cafe Titanic

49 Raymond St

Bankstown, NSW 2200

Tel: (02)9708 3688

Trading Hours
Monday - Sunday til 1am

Salt Pepper Nutmeg

This restaurant was recommended by a family friend, so for my Mum's birthday we decided to give it a try. Salt Pepper Nutmeg is an located in Roseville and is apparently a neighbourhood gem. The menu is mostly Italian cuisine but there are few other European inspired dishes as well. Immediately as you enter you get this "cozy" vibe.  On one side there are a couple of shelves filled with books for sale and on the other there is drawings from past customers. It is definitely a great place to bring children because the table is covered with paper for them to draw on with crayons. Which my family took advantage of!

The food itself was not too bad. My Mum ordered the Pasta of the Sea, which for most restaurant standards was pretty good. Normally seafood pastas are lacking in seafood, so it was nice to see a good amount of seafood on the plate. My sister ordered the Lamb Orechiette and I ordered the Mushroom Risotto. Both dishes were okay, they were a bit flavourless and were missing something that we couldn't put our finger on.  However, my sister's lamb was cooked beautifully and was really soft. 

(Pasta of the Sea)

(Lamb Orechiette)

(Roasted Mushroom Risotto)

Finally because it was a celebration we had some dessert. My sister opted for the chocolate tart, which tasted like pure chocolate but wasn't too rich so it was still enjoyable. My Mum has never really been much of a sweet person but she loves Lemon Meringue so she had that. She said that it had the perfect balance of sweet and sour.  I order the Brandy Kisses, which is 3 little puddings that are topped with brandy butterscotch and vanilla creme anglaise. I thought mine was delicious! I am certain i scoffed it down in less than 5 minutes!

(Chocolate Tart)

 (Lemon and Meringue)

(Brandy Kisses)

Overall, I would give it a 3.5/5 because it was a good night but I won't be hurrying back any time soon.

110 Pacific Highway, Roseville 2069

PH: (02) 9880 9994

Opening Hours:
Mondays Open from 4pm with some exceptions. Please call in advance
Tues-Fri   10:30am-10:30pm
Sat   8:30am-11pm
Sun  8:30am-9pm (last orders 7:30pm)

WAQU

I went to a Fine Dining Japanese Degustation in Crows Nest with my family on Wednesday night. There are two options, either a six course degustation ($69pp) or an eight course ($90pp). There is also the option of adding matching wines and sake to your meal. The restaurant was dimly lit and warm with hardly any noise. It is frequented by small groups and couples. The staff were very knowledgable, charming and well presented. 

To start we had fresh oysters, which was accompanied by a sorbet. The second course was the soup of the day which was warm and delightful.  

Cured King Salmon 

The salmon was light and delicate, the combination of flavours worked perfectly. As you can see, it was beautifully presented. 

 Scallop Confit 

The texture of the scallop was meltingly soft & was complimented beautifully by the kabosu (Japanese lime) foam.

Pan Fried Barramundi 

The pickled radish and turnip were gently acidic which was balanced beautifully by the sweetness of the barramundi had been perfectly cooked. 

Course seven was a choice of spatchcock, wagu beef or lamb. I chose the spatchcock which was perfectly cooked and the highlight was the enoki mushrooms that had been wrapped in the skin of the spatchcock. 

My dad had the lamb which was the rare side of medium rare accompanied by a quinoa salad. 

 Gateau Au Chocolat 

The intensity of the passionfruit cream and the soft vanilla ice cream complimented the richness of the chocolate flavours.

By course 5 we were concerned that we would still be hungry at the end. However the last couple of courses ensured that we were full, but not uncomfortably bloated as the quantities were perfectly judged  and each course was evenly spaced.

There was a worldwide selection of wines from Italy, France, Spain and Australia, each chosen specifically for the course it accompanied to both balance and enhance the flavour of the food. One sake was very rich and intense and the other was brewed using a particularly pure water source making it crisp and clean.

The thought and attention to detail to the individual courses, particularly the balance of flavours and presentation, and to the pairings with the wine and sake as well as the timing and order of each course was phenomenal.

This restaurant has won three awards this year deservingly. I give this restaurant my first 5/5 as i could not fault a single aspect. Despite the steep price it was good value, definitely worth the investment.

308 Pacific Highway
Crows Nest 2065
Sydney, NSW
Tel: 02 9906 7736
Tue-Sun from 6
Also open for lunch Thu-Sun from 12

Bay Vista Desert Bar & Café

The restaurant is a trendy dessert café focused on providing the best dessert experience around. Serving menu items such as coffee, hot chocolates, cakes, sweet & savoury crepes, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, paninis, jaffles etc.

 Chocolate Fondue with Ice Cream

I went out for deserts with the family and was not disappointed at all. The service was swift and the desserts were just awesome! Sorry, I was too indulged in the dessert lust that I forget to take more pictures of the other selections.

It’s ‘happening’ atmosphere with late night trading and full menu availability until closing, the many patrons are guaranteed satisfaction before going to bed, whether after a night out or finishing the ‘late shifts’ from work. Apart from offering fantastic food, it was Bay Vista’s desserts that made it famous. Ice creams, pancakes, sweet crêpes, waffles and a huge selection of cakes is what put Bay Vista on the (dessert) map!

BAY VISTA DESSERT BAR & CAFÉ is ‘young at heart’ and a place where young and old, singles, couples and families could enjoy without formality. I recommend this restaurant to all!

Remember… when you are just a little STRESSED… go ahead, spell it backwards… and see the magic that it brings!

I give it a rating of 5 out of 5!

BAY VISTA DESSERT BAR & CAFE

83 The Grand Parade
Brighton-Le-Sands
NSW 2216 Australia

Phone: (02) 9556 1727
Email: info@bayvista.com.au

Located in the heart of Brighton Le Sands, are open from 10am till late, every day of the year.

The Source- The Museum of Old and New Art Tasmania

During the mid-semester break, my Dad and I went down to Hobart. While we were there we visited the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and ended up having lunch at their restaurant which is called The Source. This is one restaurant I would never even dare to go to if my Dad was not with me, because it was so pricey. However, when we looked at the menu it sounded delicious and plus Tasmania is known for its produce so it is bound to be good. 

We both decided to share two mains so we could have a little taste of everything.  Dad ordered the godiveau of blue eye cod with Japanese spinach, clams, clam sauce and chorizo oil ($32) and I had the slow-roasted pork belly with spiced red wine, eggplant, apple sherbet and cider jus ($36). We also had some wine to wash it all down. 

The blue-eyed cod

The pork belly

Unfortunately, although the food looked and sounded amazing it was average at best. The blue-eyed cod was lacking in flavour, I think it could of done with a little bit more of chorizo oil for a bit of a kick. The fish itself was cooked properly but it was just a spectacular dish. Also the pork belly was not crispy. The main reason I wanted to get pork belly is because I love the crispy skin and it was just not up to standard. Especially since we were paying $36 for it!  

All in all it was an alright meal, there was not anything wrong with it but you would expect better for the price. I would definitely advise people to visit the museum but I would skip on the restaurant. It was probably 3/5.

Museum of Old and New Art
Hobart Tasmania 7011
655 Main Road Berriedale

PH: +61 (3) 6277 9900

Opening Hours: Wed-Mon (10am-6pm)

Bellyfish Cafe Terrigal

If you're someone who loves breakfast like I do, then you'll love the Bellyfish Cafe! Located on the Central Coast's Terrigal beach customer's are not only treated with an all day breakfast menu but also the cafe's waterfront view of one of the Central Coast's most famous beaches and a menu entirely made up fresh local produce.

View of Terrigal Beach 

Image not author's own, retrieved from:

http://www.ytravelblog.com/backpacker-travel-destination-terrigal-beach-australia/

Upon arriving at the locally owned cafe, my sister and I were greeted relaxed and friendly staff who kindly showed us to our outdoor table. However, for those who easily burn or are looking for somewhere indoors to escape the heat for a bit, the open architectural layout of the restaurant ensures that you are able to remain safely hidden from the sun while also being able to enjoy the restaurants beachside view and sea breeze.

The menu while predominantly showcased their extensive breakfast options, the Cafe also offered a small range of dishes for those who not interested in the main dishes showcased. While the menu offered dishes mainly served with ingredients such as "sweet toasted brioche" and  "pesto tossed roquette" it still managed to portray itself as family friendly by offering a children's menu for kids 12years and under. 

"Dukkah Eggs" from the Bellyfish Cafe

Both my sister and I opted for the "Dukkah Eggs" which consisted of Local poached, a salad of heirloom tomato, local fetta and fresh parsley on local sourdough with house hummus and served with dukkah and lime, that came with the fairly reasonable price of $16.50. When the dish was served (within a reasonable waiting time) we were both impressed by the presentation of the dish and were both happy to find out that it tasted as good as it looked!

Overall, the food, friendly staff and relaxed, easy-going atmosphere to the Bellyfish Cafe made it an enjoyable experience for all. If you ever find yourself casually visiting the Terrigal area I highly recommend you visit this wonderful little cafe for enjoyable dining experience!

To find out more about Bellyfish's opening hours, menu, location or local produce, 

visit their website at 

http://www.bellyfishcafe.com/

Din Tai Fung Chatswood

Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese Restaurant that is famous across the world for its specialty dumplings or xiaolongbao. It has restaurants in Japan, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, USA and Hong Kong. In Sydney there multiple stores in the city, such as at the World Square and the Centrepoint Westfield. However, recently they opened at store in Chatswood Westfield making it a lot more accessible to more people.

After having these dumplings in Shanghai, I have become obsessed. The beauty of the xiaolongbao is that it besides the pork filling, it is also filled with a delicious pork broth that oozes out once you have bitten it. But newbies beware, make sure you eat the dumpling in one bite because if you bite through the middle of it hot pork soup with squirt all over the place.

Besides the xiaolongbaos, which you can get in a few different flavours, Din Tai Fung also has a wide selection of other dumplings, noodles, fried rice and vegetables. My favourite noodles is the dandan noodles, which has this sesame sauce which oddly tastes like peanut butter but its delicious. Also the beans with spicy pork mince is another standout.

Pork Xiaolongbao dumplings and DanDan Noodles

Unfortunately because the Chatswood store is new, I had to wait around 30 minutes to get a table. This will hopefully not be an issue in the long run once the novelty wears off. Also in relation to Shanghai the dumplings were so much more expensive. For two people, ordering two servings of dumplings (6 in each serving), two noodles and one beans, the entire bill was around $80. If you are obsessed with these dumplings as I am, you will be able to justify spending this much. If not then this is not the restaurant for you.

Pork xiaolongbao and spicy noodle soup

So if you are a dumpling fanatic and find yourself at Chatswood Westfield at lunch or dinner time head on over to Din Tai Fung to get your fix! Definitely a 5/5 from me!

SHOP 332-3361 ANDERSON STREET CHATSWOOD, NSW 2067 PH: ‎ (02) 9415 3155

Opening Hours
Mon-Sun: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Mon-Sun: 5:00pm - 9:00pm

La Capannina

There are unfortunately very few good italian restaurants  on the North Shore, so in a bid to finally find one I ventured to Milsons Point. Latched on to the side of the bridge hidden amongst trees covered in fairy lights is La Capannina. It is owned by an Italian family and is frequented by older generations. My boyfriend and I expected to hear the loud rumble of trains going by, however the buzz of happy dinner conversation and some very good sound proofing ensured our meal was not interrupted. There was a view of the harbour bridge through a gap in the trees which made for a special evening. On the Friday night it was very busy, would definitely require a booking (particularly for larger groups) on the weekend.  

We decided to share on entree of fried calamari, prawns and vegetables. It was a light batter, not too heavy or greasy. However I definitely didn't feel like anymore fried food afterwards. There were more vegetables of carrots, eggplant and squash, then there was seafood. There was a home made Tartar sauce which enhanced the dish. I was so excited to eat that i may have forgotten to take a photo for the purpose of the blog. 

 Spaghetti served with Balmain Bug, chilli and cherry tomato sauce $26.50

For mains I had a pasta with Balmain Bugs. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection. It was also quite thin for spaghetti, which I preferred. The sauce was very yummy, however the menu mentioned chilli and I was not able to detect any. Having not had many Balmain Bugs in my time i cannot comment on how well that was cooked, however as far as I could tell it was up to standard. It was a really tasty pasta dish that I enjoyed very much. 

I saw the fish special being delivered to another table which I was tempted with. I also managed to catch a glimpse of the lamb chops and the steak, which both looked appetising. 

 Rigatoni with prawns in a basil pesto sauce $28 

My boyfriend chose a basil pesto sauce with prawns and rigatoni. Again the pasta was cooked well and the seafood was fresh. It was quite a rich sauce, hence the smaller portion, however my boyfriend was hungry afterwards. This wasn't all bad as it meant we were able to have dessert.

 Nougat semifreddo with toffee and chocolate sauce $18

This was a great dessert. It was just the right size, not to sweat and the nuts in the semifreddo added some great texture. 

All meals came out with a some time in between courses, which I appreciate. All staff were very friendly and efficient. The prices were reasonable for the location and quality of food. It has an extensive beverage menu, however there weren't a large number of food options. The guests all seem to be frequenters of the restaurant which suggests that they maintain their high standard. I looked at the menu before going to the restaurant and was quite disappointed to find that it was substantially different from the menu on offer. Luckily I was able to find dishes that appealed to me however I was looking forward to some of the items that had been removed from the menu but not the internet. This is the best Italian i've visited this side of the bridge. I definitely recommend it.

4 out of 5

41 South Alfred St
Milsons Point, 2061
Sydney
Tel: 0299555928
Mon - Sat 6pm until late
Also open for lunch Mon - Fri