EDIT: CLOSED

Located in Chinatown just opposite Arisun is Masu Izakaya, a cosy Japanese Izakaya that pumps out charcoal grilled yakitori skewers with a focus on chicken and all of its parts. But first, my only decently lit photo of the night is the Little Neck Clams ($15). Cooked in sake, the clams are small but tender and the serving is super generous in size.


I can never resist Nasu Dengaku ($15.80) whenever I see it and Masu Izakaya’s did not disappoint. The eggplant was topped with homemade miso paste that was salty and sweet and grilled until the glorious point that is caramelisation.


I had high hopes for Salmon Skin Tempura ($7.50) but the tempura batter on each piece was on the thick side and while it was delightfully crunchy, the flavour of the salmon skin was unfortunately lost.


Noods ordered the Chicken Neck ($3.50/skewer) and said he liked the flavour but found them a tad chewy and kinda wanted a dipping sauce of some sort. He also ordered the Chicken Hearts ($3/skewer) which he described as bouncy lol and the Chicken Liver ($3/skewer) which were creamy and tender but unfortch thanks to my mad skills I may have forgotten to take a photo of either. Oops.


The Wagyu Beef ($7.50/skewer) was amazing, super juicy and oh so tender with a roll-your-eyes-to-the-heavens fattylicious flavour thanks to the insane marbling. We ordered a second round before we had even finished out first skewers and they were just as perfect.


If you know me at all you’ll know I have a weakness for corn so of course we ordered the Corn with butter on hot plate ($9.80) hehe I know it seems like such a simple dish but man the smell of the butter melting on the corn with the bacon bits sizzling is just the most delicious smell in the world!


There’s not many seats downstairs but not to worry there’s a whole level upstairs and you can ogle at all the sake bottles on display as you make your way up. The weather lately has put me in hibernation mode but I’ll be back to try Masu Izakaya’s hotpots and more of the grilled skewers!

Masu Izakaya
Shop B1, 35-39 Liverpool Street
Sydney

Trading Hours:
Mon – Fri: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Sat and Sun: 5pm – late

Winter is well and truly here. I hate the cold, it feels like my soul just shrivels up and goes into hibernation the moment the first cold snap hits! But when we heard that the newly opened The Local Mbassy served baked eggs we made the trek over to Ultimo near Wentworth Park and just down the road from the Sydney Fish Markets. Isaac went for the Shakshuka ($17) which was jam packed full of baked beans, bacon and poached eggs in a sweet paprika sauce. There was a loooot of beans lol and plenty of toasted bread to dunk into.


Since all day breakfast was offered, I opted for the Full English Breakfast ($18) because I was super hungry haha and the Local Mbassy’s did not disappoint. It came with my eggs of choice which were poached and had perfectly gooey centres, fat sausages, double smoked crispy bacon, grilled cherry tomatoes on the vine, mushrooms, a pile of wilted spinach, in-house baked beans and a golden hash brown (even though the the menu said potato rosti). Try as I might, I just could not finish this and mourned my fail stomach.


Leen’s Spanish Open Omelette ($16.50) was massive! It was a super generous serving with crispy edges and fluffy innards and stuffed with chorizo, spanish onion, red capsicum, grilled tomatoes and fresh rocket and shavings of parmesan cheese scattered on top.


The Red Velvet Pancakes ($15.50) arrive and we take a moment to gaze at its triple stacked beauty. The pancakes weren’t as fluffy as I thought they’d be, more of a hotcakes style but they tasted like summer with the fresh strawberries and blueberries. The pancakes could’ve used a bit more chocolatey flavour and I would have preferred ice cream instead of cream but they were a nice light dessert to end the meal with.


I loved the interior with exposed beams, hanging lightbulbs and bicycle gear stools. The service was ace and I’ll have to re-visit soon and try their extensive lunch menu!

Local Mbassy
310 Wattle St,
Ultimo
NSW

Trading Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7am – 4.30pm
Sat: 8am – 4.30pm
Sun: 8.30am – 4.30pm

There’s really nothing that gets my heart a-pumping more than a good ol burger. Well that and fried chicken. And Pizza. Or Pancakes. But hey we’re talking about burgers right now so shush because One Penny Red deserves your undivided attention. Like take a look at this Brunch Burger ($16), there’s a fat and juicy pork and fennel sausage pattie, a fried free range egg, cheese, smoked chilli mayo AND SUGAR CURED BACON. My god that bacon has ruined me, I’ve been seeing it in my dreams! It wasn’t toothachingly sweet but perfectly balanced and super crispy.


I’m always a sucker for Duck Liver Pate ($14) and this did not disappoint. The jar of pate looks deceptively small but in fact there was quite a large amount in there so that we gleefully schmeared inch thick onto the toasted bread. I loved how creamy the pate was against the layer of px jelly and the slices of pickled quince were a nice acidic touch.


The Hay Valley Lamb Shoulder ($32), had Isaac, Raff and I in raptures, the brick of lamb is tender to the max, we didn’t even need the knife to cut into this! It wasn’t super fatty but just so fricken tasty especially with the smooth chickpea puree and the accompanying pomegranate and sorrel side salad cutting through the richness.


Aaaand of course we had to have dessert, the Banana and Salted Caramel Beignets ($14) was the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The beignets satisfied my never ending love for all things donuts, they were light and fluffy with a hit of banana and an oozy molten salted caramel centre. They barely needed the chocolate fudge sauce but we dutifully swirled them in.


One Penny Red is located inside the renovated Summer Hill Post Office near the Town Square. I’ll definitely be back either for breakfast to try their pancakes or for dinner where the Sweet and Sticky Whole Beef Shin on the bone ($85) will be mine.

One Penny Red
2 Moonbie St,
Summer Hill, NSW

Trading Hours:
Mon – Thurs: 4pm – Midnight
Fri: 12pm – Midnight
Sat: 10am – Midnight
Sun: 10am – 10pm

Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay has been on my wishlist for ages and finally the family clan got together to celebrate my brother’s birthday with seafood and plenty of it! We start with Yarra Valley Salmon Roe ($45/50g) which is just oh so beautifully presented and came with a very generous 2 plates of potato blinis. The blinis were warm with fluffy innards and just begging to be smeared with the accompanying creme fraiche and dab of wasabi before piling on the shiny baubles of briny salmon roe. Bliss.


The Tartare of Ulladulla Bluefin Tuna ($27) is almost too pretty to eat but eat it we did! Cubes of ruby red tuna are dotted with ponzu and contrasts with the crunch of puffed rice, apple and paper thin slices of radish.


The Roast Spencer Gulf King Prawns ($27), are plump and juicy and would have been the perfect specimens had they had their heads intact. There were curls of crispy crackling and a schmear of grits which was enjoyed by the whole table.


BUT THEN IT WAS PIE TIME!!! Our Snapper Pie ($48) and special Snapper Pie with Truffles ($75) was wheeled out to us on a table cloth lined trolley and we grin with anticipation. The pastry was golden and super flakey and is supplied by Brasserie Bread whose founder & director Michael Klausen was previously Head Chef at Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay back in 2000.


I wasn’t expecting the pie to be cut into because our table was sharing everything and from previous posts that I’d read I knew they divided the pie and plate it with the mash and tomato.


So the waiter lifts off half the pastry top and places it on top of the other half and wheels away and I’m like wait what, that’s it? I mean, back in the day they would fillet your fish table-side which you know, is super impressive but seriously isn’t smashing into a pie and hearing the sound of the shards of pastry splintering the best part? ANYWAYS. The pie was amazing. There’s a good amount of snapper in the pie, and the sauce is creamy and rich. Oh and the truffle pie? Bloody beauty it was! The smell of the truffles when it hit the table was intoxicating! And the mash was so freaking smooth it was insane! How many more exclamations marks can I use!


We also ordered the Wok Fried Gladstone Mud Crab in Black Bean, Chilli and Ginger ($90/950g) and were pleasantly surprised at the meatiness of the crab. The flesh is sweet and perfect against the saltiness of the black bean sauce.


Oh and there were Hand Cut Chips with Aioli ($12) because, carbs.


I loved the food at Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay and the views were fabulous! Yes it’s on the pricey side but this is one restaurant that is perfect for the special occasion or to impress the out of towners.

Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay
23 Ferry Road,
Glebe NSW

Trading Hours:
Fri – Sun: noon – 3pm
Tues – Sun: 6pm – late
Mon: closed