Sake Restaurant & Bar, The Rocks, Sydney

10 August 2011, 09:03


It began with drinks. Some chili vodka to be exact. A happy group of hungry food bloggers are at Sake Restaurant & Bar (12 Argyle St, The Rocks Sydney) to try out the new Umami Cocktail and Canapes menu ($25 each) created by Head Sushi Chef Shimpei Hatanake and Bar Manager Wayne Shennen.


First up from the new menu was the extremely delicious Nightingale Song cocktail (umeshu, pear vodka, white wine, bianco vermouth and fresh lemon juice), which was matched with scallop sashimi dressed in grape-seed oil, white soy and fresh lime; and perched precariously on a shot glass holding an olive oil and yuzu dressing was a morsel of snapper sashimi topped with the crazy addictive shio kombu and flying fish roe.


The second cocktail, the Honey Dragon (honey, single-malt Scottish whiskey, cinnamon, lemon zest and chilli) was just spicy enough for me to go hmm hello burning! But zesty enough to bring out the flavours in the slices of seared salmon belly topped with chives and the yuzu soy dressing.


Then for some dishes from Executive Chef Shaun Presland who is the first Australian Caucasian chef with the title of Sushi Chef. The char-grilled Octopus Sunomono with kiwi vinegar, bonito jelly, dashi-infused wakame and cucumber is incredibly tender, the nubbins of octopus tentacle breaking away easily and managed to overcome my dislike of kiwi fruit to be an instant convert.


Teriyaki Beef Burger Balls. BAAAAALLLS! Covered in a rich, sticky terriyaki glaze, the juicy beef meatballs was perfect with the Hitachino Nest Beer.


Steamed prawn dumplings (Chinese-inspired shumai with spicy ponzu) ($17) was just freaking awesome. I managed to down 2 of the prawn wrapped in shredded dumpling wrappers with quick succession and was desperately looking around to see if anyone had left their dumplings unguarded.


Crispy Chicken ($16) oh baby hello fabulous fried chicken! Crispy skin deliciousness protecting juicy chicken innards and oh how about those sauces? Jalapeño was a tad spicy on my suze-is-chili-fail-meter but the aioli and the tomato salsa were tasty accompaniments.


Sushi party! I’m a big fan of DIY foods. Not sure if this is available on the normal menu but it sure made for a hoot as we attempted to roll our perfect handrolls. I say ‘attempted’ because majority of us tried to stuff too much filling which resulted in explodey sushi haha


Gotta work for yo dinner lols


After stuffing ourselves silly are we able to fit in dessert? We’re food bloggers of course we can! Panacotta and raspberry coulis are topped with toasted coconut flakes and is perfect with sake that soon makes the rounds mmm


Gianna and I. You can’t take us anywhere :P


ChocolateSuze was invited to dine at Sake Restaurant.

 

 

  1. Love the food here! I am jealous! :0

    — joey@FoodiePop    Aug 10, 10:59 AM    #

  2. another restaurant to add to my wish list…….

    — iT    Aug 10, 11:15 AM    #

  3. Ballllzzzzzz :D Looks like boozy good times!

    — Steph    Aug 10, 12:15 PM    #

  4. lol “Gotta work for your dinner” :P

    I went last year and remember those prawn dumplings being awesome too. Oh and the cocktails! Mmmmm… alcomohol…

    — Phuoc'n Delicious    Aug 10, 12:16 PM    #

  5. Looking at blogs close to lunch is not a good idea at times, I really want fried chicken now. Love the food here.

    — Dumpling Girl    Aug 10, 12:20 PM    #

  6. ooh I like the idea of the DIY sushi!

    — Jacq    Aug 10, 12:32 PM    #

  7. Fried chicken! Yeah yah! The sauces sounds good with the chicken.

    — Ramen Raff    Aug 10, 02:10 PM    #

  8. Oh my god. You’ve sold this place to me just with the first meal! It’s all so cute and small. Plus it sounds delicious. Definitely going to this place next time I travel inwards!

    — Apple @Polkadotsandchopsticks    Aug 10, 02:13 PM    #

  9. DIY sushi rolls! That’s fun!

    — Gaby    Aug 10, 02:43 PM    #

  10. Ooh, I’ve been wanting to eat at sake for ages and I think you’ve just persuaded me! It’s a must :)

    — Nic    Aug 10, 04:29 PM    #

  11. Haha love the sake shot! Been dying to go here for aageeeees!

    — Nic@diningwithastud    Aug 10, 05:34 PM    #

  12. Sake is awesome! I love that place. We had the steamed prawn dumplings too. They disappeared very fast too. It was so hard deciding what to have there. So many good choices on the menu. We ended up making our own degustation. I can’t get enough Japanese food. Soooo good!

    — @SuperfoodAnita    Aug 10, 09:39 PM    #

  13. lol – good times! Love that pic of you and G :) My temaki was only explodey in the way that my stomach was about to burst… :P

    — Tina@foodboozeshoes    Aug 11, 09:47 AM    #

  14. Wow. Looks very delicious.. Very great.. I like this blog..

    — Ocean Frieght    Aug 11, 11:20 AM    #

  15. Looks like lots of fun! Love the DIY concept! :D

    — Ladybird    Aug 11, 01:37 PM    #

  16. cute head bands and excellent food photos! =)

    — curiouschopstix    Aug 11, 04:55 PM    #

  17. how is it that you can drink cocktails and not have blurry photos? what a pro, i need a lesson! :)

    — catty    Aug 11, 07:41 PM    #

  18. I haven’t made it to Sake yet but those cocktail canapes look fantastic. Must rectify soon!

    — Vintage Macaroon    Aug 12, 08:42 AM    #

  19. So many drinkies that night! But didn’t feel at all seedy the day afterwards =D

    — mademoiselle délicieuse    Aug 12, 10:24 PM    #

  20. just started reading your blog and definitely can’t wait to check out this place after looking at the photos!

    — Ellie    Aug 14, 04:58 AM    #

  21. That is some beautiful looking Japanese food…Sake is right around the corner from work, I must visit.

    — angela@mykikicake    Aug 15, 05:34 PM    #

  22. Nice photos – looks like they had blogger friendly lighting – go Sake! Fired Chook looks so tasty.

    — Miss Piggy    Aug 16, 02:54 PM    #

  23. mmm LOOKS SOO YUMMY!

    — Excuse Me Waiter    Aug 17, 12:45 AM    #

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