Freaky Tiki

@ 174 King Street, Newtown



**Freaky Tiki is now "Sadly Missed". It has finally been replaced, renovated and all that jazz and been turned into Newtown Hotel.

Formally the Newtown Hotel, this bar has been closed for around three years but opened its doors as Freaky Tiki around a year ago. Now, for all you who may not know, Newtown Hotel used to be the gay bar of King Street (not that all the bars aren't gay friendly, it's just Newtown Hotel was renouned for being a gay bar). Anywho, Freaky Tiki follows suit. The theme is, well, Tikis. It is dressed ultra tackily (in that it's so bad that it's good) with straw huts, fake palm trees and umbrellas and is riddled with graffiti like no other.

The food menu is Asian fusion. There are dumplings and spring rolls and for dessert ... chocolate spring rolls?! It's all a little unnerving and I'm not THAT brave when it comes to food (that and I don't want to spoil my pallette at such a young age) so we opt for the alcohol instead. There are bowls of punch to be downed that can be shared either by two or four. Each night is a novelty night. And tonight is trivia. We've a tranny walking around in all her glory who plays a round of trivia and celebrity heads with the crowd before bowing off the stage to a rousing number in true diva style.

It's a fun night out, I'll admit though it doesn't feel like a bar. It doesn't feel like a restaurant either. I guess you could say it's a "venue" or an "artspace". The crowd doesn't seem to be that local. Most are either out for an interesting night out or are visiting as tourists or backpackers. A local hole? Probably not for me. But it's definitely worth the visit just to see what all the fuss is about.


Times hit: 1

Marlborough Hotel

@ 145 King Street, Newtown

Welcome to Marly Bar. It was renovated some five years ago and is looky as pretty as ever! Downstairs is the bar and if you enter from the side you'll make your way to Bar Prego where the food is good and the crowd is great. There's an inner seated area or, go a little bit further and you'll find the outdoor courtyard/smokes. The service, admittedly is a little slow, the food though is good. Once again, it's your usual pub grub going for a rate of anything from $15-$20 per meal.

Upstairs is where it's all happening. A nice balcony area that overlooks Missendon road sits on the side but inside is where the renovations really start to shine. Turn the corner around the bar and you'll find a row of pool tables. Keep going and the courtyard will appear. Lined with wooden benches and ferns, the roof has been taken out, leaving you with a gorgeous view of the night sky.

Times hit: 4

Bank Hotel

@ 324 King Street, Newtown

Craving food after work, we find out way into the Bank Hotel. It was close to where we parked after all. Through the main bar area and into the courtyard, we are met with a jangle of fairy lights and wooden chairs and tables that take (at least mine) the breath away.

The menu does the same. This is Sumalee Thai, the Thai restaurant connected to the Bank Hotel. The prices are steep but we are hungry and, in a sense, desperate. How steep? Around $40. I head for the Green Curry with roast duck. Problem is, they didn't warn us how large the servings were.

Delivered in an enormous serving bowl and with a dollop of rice to top things off, this is a meal that could be shared by two or perhaps three small eats. The taste is divine. With just the right amount of coconut and cream and topped with Thai eggplant and spices, I was hard pressed to finish this one off. I didn't. We stole two takeaway boxes and were off. Content and set for two more nights of dinner in our hands. I can't wait to test out the rest of these delicious dishes. Definitely one of my favourite Thai eating holes in Newtown.

Times hit: 1

Town Hall Hotel

@ 326 King Street, Newtown

Ahhh, the good ol' Townie. This one's hard to miss, after all, it's right next to the station. I've spent many an evening here, drinking away the hours and listening to the jukebox - more like waiting for it to play our songs. Downstairs you've got your TAB but it's upstairs where you can people watch as the night goes on.

Once again, pub grub is what goes on at this bar. They used to have some super curly fries on the bill but the last I checked that had disappeared. I usually head for the parmie or the steak and they're both your usual good grub for the evening. The drinks are neither here nor there. Sometimes they get the cocktails right, sometimes they get them tragically wrong. The beauty of this place however is the endless jukeboxing, the location and the fact that they close something near 4am so whenever you're looking to close the night off, the Townie will always be there.


Times hit: 20

Zanzibar

@ 323 King Street, Newtown

Years ago my friend recommended I check out Zanzibar, the little orange bar on the opposite corner of the station. She highly recommended the rooftop. So, in we went one day to check the place out. I pass this place every now and again on my way home. It's usually dark, filled with people staring out on the street or playing pool and has a line of smokers or drunk teens loitering around the alley beside it.

We went in late one night, close to midnight actually, and walked straight through a couple of packed floors. The place was happening, the crowd was so-so. Ending up on the rooftop, we were sad to hear the food had stopped being served, though managed to squeeze a bowl of fries out of the servers. Alcohol followed. It was a nippy night so we didn't stay long, but from what I hear they keep it going until the very early hours of the morning. It seemed like a busy place and the view from the top floor was stunning. Did it scream, visit me, visit me again? Perhaps I'm getting old and this "happening" place is beyond me but sadly my answer is no. 

Times hit: 1

Sandringham Hotel

@ 387 King Street, Newtown

**The Sandringham has now been renovated and looks like the swankiest thing on the block. The clientele is noticeably younger and the music nights? Well, I haven't seen them around. They do have great pizza specials during the weekdays and a cute little courtyard to smoke and stare at the stars in. A full review will be coming soon.

On the outside, this dingy looking pub looks like something you'd have to douse yourself in santisier in before and after you enter. Looks can be deceiving, though not this time. Inside, it's dark, dingy, is filled with cronies from the days of olde and in truth, is nothing spectacular. There is a main seated area out front near the bar, a teeny little courtyard that could turn you claustrophobic and on the left is what is the bistro, though could probably be better described as the kitchen. It's a small little thing. The menus are even smaller. Flimbsy bits of paper detail what's on the menu. Pub grub and that's it. Basically steak and chips, sandwiches, wedges, spag bol and the like. If it's deep fried, you'll find it here. 

It takes me a while to choose what to eat. There isn't anything appealing at all. I settle on a steak sandwich. Seemingly harmless. It puts me back $6.50. Another harmless endeavour. The lady behind the counter is nice, chatty and easy going. 

There are no buzzers or numbers. Just memory. My meal is served on a tiny little plate, it smells delicious though looks nothing more than what you could get off a fundraising bbq. There's no cutlery in sight so I used the good old paws. I polish the sandwich off, it tastes healthy enough and I'm satisfied. Will I return. Only if I'm brave.


Times hit: 1

Coopers Arms

@ 221 King Street, Newtown



One of the earliest closers on King Street is Coopers. I'm not too sure why as it's no closer to residential (in my opinion) than the rest of the bars on King Street. Nevertheless, I've been refused alcohol at Coopers as early as 11.30 and kicked out of the bar at midnight. Whatever, let's get onto the food.

I've been here once for food and twice for alcohol. They don't have my favourite alcohol behind the bar so that's already a heavy blow to them. The food however is good but EXTREMELY pricey for a bar. A bangers and mash cost me around $20 and though was more than enough for me, I wouldn't have to fork so much out at any other bar on the street for that meal. My friend ended up getting spaghetti as she was on a cash diet, that set her back near the $20 as well.

In terms of atmosphere, this place is nice. It's a little dim on the top, but it's got a nice balcony and downstairs there's always something going on from music to trivia. But with so many other bars on offer, why should I bother? Sorry Coopers, but that's just how the cookie crumbles.

Times hit: 2

Tandoori Express

@ 581 King Street, Newtown

Look for the orange building. Covered in bright oranges, reds and purples, there is little doubt this place serves Indian food. There's a takeaway counter on the right, but why would you takeaway with atmosphere like this? Fine square tables laced in white and with a long bench on the side dressed with coloured cushions, this is a pretty place to eat.

We ordered a Beef Madras and Bhoona Lamb dish and some rice. The heat was just right for the Bhoona and the coconut in the madras was addictive and seductive. We polished off one bowl of rice between us and had to order a second to get through the lot and the sauces. To polish that off, we tried our stomachs against a Gulab Jamun, reduced milk dumplings soaked in cardamon flavoured syrup. It was delicious but oh-so sweet. Too sweet for our teeth in fact, we didn't make it all the way through. The service was a little sluggish, but I'll admit it was a long day and it was quite late in the evening. Definitely a place to go for good Indian whether it be takeaway or dine in.

Times hit: 1

Rise Bakery

@ 257 King Street

**Sadly missed. This one is now Bean In Town**

Sitting next to Franklins is Rise Bakery. It's a thin hallway of a cafe but is rich with coffee, bread and baked goods. Oh and it has some seating room too. The service here is impeccable. They're on the ball. The second you walk through that archway they greet you and ask for your order. Most of the time the customers are on a coffee-memory basis. Some of the more regulars come equipped with the exact change, which they leave on the counter as the servers take care of the rest. In this same vein, they do this for the bread. A couple of coins and they're off. It's a popular spot for early risers (sorry for the pun) and joggers on the move. Currently being renovated, it'll be interesting to see what they do to the place. In the meantime, I'll just have to wait for the return of my coffee fix. Oh, the coffee. It's good. The brownies and chocolate muffins, great. I intended to buy a brownie for one of my fello team members one day. Let's just say, it never made it to them ...

Times hit: 2

Ichioku Japanese Teppanyaki Restaurant

@ 267 King Street, Newtown

This is the only Teppanyaki restaurant on King Street (as far as I'm aware) and is organised as one big U shaped table. It's also my first time at Teppanyaki but from what I have heard, I should be afraid. On the menu, it explains that Teppanyaki is like Circus Sports. I'm really scared at this point. For this uncoordinated little girl, this is not looking good.

Thankfully the food comes first. Choosing a mixture of meats, vegetables and rice as well as the traditional miso soup, it takes a while for us to be served. I hear this is usual too, though my stomach doesn't enjoy the news. Our server says hi and welcomes us and proceeds to cook out meat. As he cooks he explains what he's doing and warning us of a fire burst or two. Adding in different sauces and wines before he scoops up the meal from the hot plate and delivers it onto our plates. One by one our plates fill up.

And then he asks us if we want to play a game. We say yes, it's all part of the experience right? He asks us how many games and we look at each other deciding. He decides for us. Three. The first is easy. Catch a raw egg in a cup. Done. The second is a little more complicated to the point where we fail. Throwing little bits of omelette our way we try our best to catch these in our mouths. Epic fail. The third. Bowl stacking. Throwing five bowls our way in succession we must catch each in each bowl, stacking to five. Sounds easy, but here's the rub. The last is filled with rice and vegies. Can we make it? Sadly no. But it was fun. He asks if we're alright (we're covered in rice and egg). We chuckle and nod and he hands us a roll of towels and our final dish. Fun, yeah? Definitely. And the food was pretty good too (try the chicken, it's sooo good!)


Times hit: 1

Gelatomassi

@ 262 King Street, Newtown

Open until the wee hours of the morning, if you've had a late one and are looking for ice cream (like we were recently) then you can't go past Gelatomassi. There's a lot of room to sit from the front stools on the pavement to a longer table down the back. A variety of ice cream flavours, as well a coffees, waffles and milkshakes will tide you over until you reach home. Quality wise, it's good gelato. Piasso Pizza even chooses to stock this as their ice cream of choice. The scoops are generous and the service is nice. Keep cool, readers.

Times hit: 2

Pizza Piasso

Note: Pizza Picasso has now moved down the road and taken over the pizza spot on the Newtown side of Sydney Park. It's new home is Shop 5/654 King Street and means extra seating space and a fancy schmancy larger logo. 
Happy pizza-ing.

Shop 5 / 503-511 King Street, Newtown

Until recently, this was much larger. It had a dining area and a takeaway section where you could order a scoop of ice cream either for dessert or to eat while you waiting for your pizza to be cooked. Now, it's been reduced to a couple of stools outside and the kitchen.

This evening I ordered a pizza on takeaway off the internet. Seems their system is still in the works however as they decided that my order should be cooked immediately instead of the two hours after I had ordered it. Needless to say, over an hour earlier than expected I heard banging on my door. Not good. At first the delivery guy was annoyed as I had made him wait (I was in the shower at the time) outside and had left a substantial number of calls at my door. When I explained to him I had ordered it for the following hour, he was apologetic. I accepted the pizza early and we both went out merry ways.

Tonight's dinner? Picasso Club. A combo of chicken, ham, turkey, swiss and bacon topped with a layer of cranberry sauce (this came in a separate tub so as not to turn disgusting). And for dessert, banana and sour cream pudding with butterscotch sauce. Despite the unexpected service, the food was magnificent. The pizza was rich and filling and the dessert was so addictive I had to pry myself away from it. With other interesting topping titles like Blue Nude and Thunder and Lightning, I'll be checking out some others in the future - just not via online ordering.

Times hit: 1

Eat Me Sushi

258 King Street, Newtown

It wants me to eat it. It's asking me to eat it. I ate it. It was good.

This tiny little eatery is tucked away just a couple of blocks from the station. It's a quick stop shop for some sushi or noodles. I made it a very quick one. In and out within seconds, I pointed at one of the Eat me Set boxes in the display and ran. To be honest, sushi is sushi to me. Perhaps I've not been spoilt with this cusine but the only time sushi ever really stands out to me is when there's some unusual combination involved or it's displayed interestingly. This was plain sushi. It was good, cooked well and was priced well. Go here on the run. If you want something a little more flash/interesting, I'd probably recommend Sushi Train closer to the station. At least you get some atmosphere and some more unusual combos.

Times hit: 1

Izote Mexican

@ 6 King Street, Newtown

Closer to the Sydney Uni end of things is this Mexican gem. Now, you can choose to go to Guzman Ye Gomez to fulfil them Mexicano cravings of yours or you can sit your pretty little bum down in Izote Mexican and give your tastebuds a real treat.

The servings here are substantial, neither of us finished our dishes. We each chose an burrito and it was packed with all the good stuff including beans and guacamole. The place was quite packed and though we sat at the front, we could see there was an enticing looking courtyard out back that will definitely have to be scouted out next I visit.

Each of our burittos set us back nearly $20 - a bit steep for Mexican compared to Guzman so be warned. If cheap is what you're after, head for the yellow sign further down the road. But if a good atmosphere, lovely service, hearty Mexican meal and night out is what you're seeking, go the extra mile (three or so blocks) and try this one out for size.

Times hit: 1

Asakusa

@ 119 King Street, Newtown

I've been saving going to this joint for a bit now and finally I made my way in a number of weeks ago. The place is always packed late at night particularly on the Thurs to Saturday shifts and it's little wonder. The decor is gorgeous, brimming with dark brown wooden chairs and tables and a rich red wall. The service is great too, extremely attentive and helpful.

Starving and desperate to get home to a good meal, I pushed my way inside Asakusa and browsed the menu. I decided the best way to go would be a Dinner Box and ordered the Furu. A box of chicken balls in teriyaki sauce, dumplings and grilled chicken in teriyaki sauce. I didn't know how they'd deliver to to me as these dinner boxes usually come in pre-set boxes, but they had the answer down pat with their own plastic version.



The meat was well cooked and the sauce divine. I licked it up and then some. The chicken balls were hearty and the dumplings were good but what I loved was the grilled chicken. Dripping in sauce with just enough salt and just soft enough to sink my teeth into, they had me craving for more. Yes, the wait was over and it was definitely worth it.

Times hit: 1

Simply Noodles

@ 273 King Street, Newtown

Simply put this is ... simple. What I didn't like about this place is it tries to be all things Asian and noodly when clearly it's not qualified enough to be. When I say things are authentically cooked, it's usually because there's someone in the kitchen who is versed in a certain cuisine so well that they kill it first go, every go. Now I'm not too sure what the cook at Simply Noodles is versed in, but it definitely isn't all and every type of Asian noodle dish in the world.

Looking at the menu simply confuses me. What to choose? Which country to eat from? Finally I settled for something simple. A flat, white noodle dish with some vegetables and beef. Though the price was decent the meal was nothing special. The portion size was average and so was the taste. The ambience as well was quite without. The look of this restaurant is a narrow, long kitchen and counter on one side and a series of white tables down the other, which opens up into the back area creating a little more room but not much. The white decor doesn't do this restaurant any favours either, giving it no atmosphere and making it seem less "deco" and more "sterile." I ate here once years ago. I don't have to tell you twice that I haven't returned since.

Times hit: 1

Gloria Jeans

@ 156-158 King Street, Newtown

**Finally, Gloria Jeans has been pushed off the strip and replaced by... another chain store. Mad Mex. Not sure if that's a complete improvement or not.

It's been a while since I went to this Gloria Jeans. In fact, I've only visited it once. It looks nice on the outside but I guess I'm a Gloria Jeans snob because I've not returned since. In fact, I'm such a snob that when Max Brenner opened up no less than 5 doors down from Gloria Jeans I was smirking like a naughty little school kid who's just played a prank on their teacher.

Sure the ambience looks nice, it's quite roomy and there are stacks of comfortable chairs. But one Gloria Jeans is like another and the only times I would ever go to it is if it were the only option or on a late night cake binge - which this Gloria Jeans can't even fulfil as it closes so damn early.

To all you GL fans, enjoy. To the rest of us, there's always Max Brenner, Urban Bites, Buzzzbar and Cafe C.


Times hit: 1

Lite Bite

Dear Eddie, sorry it took me so long to create this post. Best of luck with your next endeavour. Lite Bite is now officially closed and has been replaced with Di Steffano.

@ 67 King Street, Newtown

This one's quite new to the strip. Less than a year new. I visited it when it first opened and was remembered ever since for being one of the first customers to enter the premise. As you can already guess, it's a cafe with a healthy angle to it. There's a couch and stools at front for customers to look out onto the street and some good sitting room on the inside.

I popped by in the wee hours of the morning hoping to grab a coffee for breakfast and a meal for lunch later on at work. I ordered a caramel latte and a lamb roll. Apparently it was too early for a lamb roll though, the owner hadn't even fired up the grill yet, but after a little communication confusion, he was more than happy to cook my order up so long as I was willing to wait.

I was. In the meantime we enjoyed a good chat. He'd just bought the place hoping to become his own boss and combine the two things he knew best and was passionate about most: hospitality and carpentry. He did a decent amount of the shop's woodwork and, due to his Vietnamese background, serves up Vietnamese roll inspired meals. Now, I say inspired because as you can already guess, lamb usually is not on that menu. There are a lot of other opinions besides and you can pick and choose what else you'd like in that roll of yours. For breakfast there are also your typical bacon and egg rolls and a series of healthy juices to tuck into.

The service was wonderful and the food was good and did the job. Definitely a good place to chill during the day and when looking for a "lite" meal.

Times hit: 1

Ladda's The Thai Takeaway

@ 593 King Street, Newtown

Ladda's looks like a little street vender. In the front counter there are stocks of premade curries and noodles and vegies ready to be dumped into the boiling water to be cooked in an instant. There aren't too many tables in Ladda's possibly six in total. That doesn't matter, either you're there for a quick meal or you're picking up some takeaway on the fly.

I was the latter.


I was also expecting to have to wait for my meal. Not so. The lady behind the counter just spooned the mixture into a container on the spot and handed it to me. She asked if I'd like some rice. I told her no. I had some leftovers waiting at home and preferred to use them up. The container she offered me was measely (I ordered a small), but upon opening it I realised she'd managed to pack quite a bit in there.

The order was green curry with chicken. It was spicier than expected (in a good way) and creamy to boot. There was a good helping of meat in there too. For $6.50 it was a steal and worth every cent. Especially since I had to wait less than an sec for it.

Times hit: 1

Polka Dot

@ 601 King Street, Newtown

**Polka Dot has now been replaced by another sweet treat sensation: Mak Mak Macarons. Full review coming soon.

This place used to be "by appointment only" but has just of late opened its doors to the public. The hours are restricted - something like 10-5 everyday and so is the selection. When entering the premises I thought I'd be met with jars upon jars of delictable sweets. Instead I was probably met with a selection of 10. Not too impressive in all honesty.

The feel inside Polka Dot is definitely boutiquey. You know the kind where, when you enter, you feel really uncomfortable because it's so open and there's hardly anyone in there. Oh, and also because it feels like whoever is inside is judging you over whether you truly "belong" to be standing there. Yes, it feels like that. The decor is cute, lots of white and baby colours. And, after mulling over a couple of jars of macarons and general biscuits I finally landed on a couple of liked.

Purchased was one strawberries and cream macaron and three speciality cookies. The total running cost of my "snack"? $14. The macaron was nothing special, but the cookies were well treated. Exceptionally even on all surfaces, decorated to perfection and the taste was well and truly overflowing with quality. Would I return? Maybe if I were a millionaire.

Times hit: 1

Amazon Steakhouse

@ 357 King Street, Newtown

I'll admit. I've kind of been avoiding having to go to this place. The decor is at best, tribal. With bamboo sticks that look lit and a neon blue light at the bar, it doesn't exactly scream "enter". But what I've learned to discover about many of Newtown's culinary delights is that looks can be deceiving.

There is plenty of room inside Amazon Steakhouse, all dressed with thick bamboo and warmth. On a cold, rainy night, it was a godsend. The waiter was sweet and extremely patient. And, although not the best choice of food for the night or the venue, we decided meat was a little too much for us and, at a steakhouse, we ordered vegetarian dishes.


Needless to say, AS does vege as well as it looked like it did meat (we were eyeing a couple of other dishes we saw other people order). Filled with helpings of boiled vegetables and cheeses, our meals were crisp, clean and filling enough to send us home happy.



 
Images: Crumbed capsicum feta and vegie patties.

At about $20 each, the price was decent and I've definitely got my eye on this place the next time I'm graving some good hearty, meat dishes!


Times hit: 1

Cold Rock

@ 64 King Street, Newtown

**Sadly missed. Cold Rock wasn't taken over by another food outlet, instead a beauty parlour has been erected in its place. No time for reviews. Too busy eating.

Mix it and smash it. That's the premise of Cold Rock. The first one that popped up in Sydney (as far as I'm aware) is in Haymarket and was a local ice cream hole for me during my university days. These days, it's easier to pop down the road to my local Cold Rock for a smash up sensation. The beauty of this venue is - it has seats indoors. Made up like a ice creamery, the booths are coloured blue white and red and work perfectly for this Cold Rock.

Sporting all your usual flavours (from bubblegum to peanut butter) and your usual mixes (like chocolate and gummy bears) if you don't know how Cold Rock works, then here's the lowdown. You choose your flavour, you choose what "toppings" you'd like to mix it with. Then, they get smashed together and slabbed into a tub for you to eat. If you're on the tail end of King closer to Sydney University seeking ice cream, this is the place to go.


Times hit: 1

Burgerlicious

@ 215 King Street, Newtown

There are three "burger" places in Newtown and Burgerlicious was the first. The menu is quite extensive and the service is fast, you can choose to have chips or salad with your burger or, alternatively, you can go the skinny mini and order the bunless burger. The downside to this, you still have to pay the same price as if you ordered a normal burger. And once the bun is taken away, is it even still a burger? Oh, the philosophical talks we could share on that one!

Talks aside, these are burgers and they're good. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, they're nothing fantastic, amazing, but they do the job. If I had to choose one of the three though, Burgerlicious pales in comparison with Burger Fuel's eco-friendly appeal and Moo's gourmet mega burgers. Come for the name and the fame that is Burgerlicious, but don't expect any profound revelations upon leaving this establishment.

Times hit: 3

Good Wok

@ 587 King Street, Newtown

Good Wok confirmed two things I love about Chinese food. 1. It's cheap and 2. It's fast. This tiny diner is hidden behind a sliding door and serves up all your typical Asian dishes from chow mein to laksa and then some. On a tight budget and desperate to get home asap, I order a "special box". It's $7 of meat/vegie and rice goodness. Just choose between beef, chicken, pork or vegies, then choose one of 10+ sauces to douse it in and sit and wait. 

Less then five minutes later, a girl comes round with a bag and hands me my order. It's heavy. I look inside and ontop of my meal, I've been given that complimentary bag of prawn crackers. One word: score!

At home, the meal is warm and just what I need. Sure, it's nothing special and nothing I couldn't have whipped up myself with the bother and the ingredients, but for $7 it's a pretty good deal. The sauce is glorious, the vegies substantial - although I'm not partial to the stumps of bok choy of which there were quite a few - and the meal polished in under 15 minutes.

Times hit: 1

Alberto's Pizzeria Restaurant

@ 589 King Street, Newtown

Tucked quite a way down King Street is Alberto's Pizza. I was met at the door with an elderly Italian man (Alberto himself perhaps?) who casually welcomed me in. Wondering in, this pizzeria is replete with Italian flags and memorabilia, making it feel like an Italian home. Being a party of one my order was small, a taste test if you will. One Margarita pizza to go. 


I was told it wouldn't be a long wait. It wasn't. About 10 minutes later dinner was served. I ate it up in a matter of minutes the moment I arrived back home. It looked burned on the top, which was a little disappointing, but in a strange turn of events, worked to its advantage. What had happened was a layer of cheese had infused itself between the burned top layer of cheese and the base making it quite a treat. The cheese was awesome, the size perfect (a small) for one and the service wonderful and friendly. What let it down was a lack of consistency. Of my eight slices of pizza, in only two could I taste the oregano and garlic. Overall, for a $8 grab and run it was a good experience.

Times hit: 1

A Coffee and a Yarn

 @ 413 King Street, Newtown

**Sadly Missed. This was a lovely idea, but unfortunately it couldn't last. Looks like we'll have to survive on wool art in Newtown again.

I love the idea of this place. It's packed full of yarn, knitting needles and knitting books. They provide classes on knitting and they leave half stitched works around for you to "stitch a line" while you dine.

Brimming with colour and flair, this cafe is hard to miss. And although I was thrilled to take my camera through its paces amongst this rainbow of colour, the food was sadly lacking. My coffee was about 80 per cent froth and 20 per cent coffee and the brownie I ordered was standard, small and cost a little over $4!

Go for the atmosphere, but don't expect anything exceptional from the food.


Times hit: 1

2042

@ 403 - 405 King Street, Newtown

Named after the postcode for Newtown 2042 is a huge expanse of a cafe. Broad wooden benches line the pathway, comfortable sofas sit just beyond the doorway and inside are lines of tables and chairs. It's a great place to go for a morning cuppa and doesn't deter solo diners.

The counter sits at the back, adorned with an array of sweet treats. I chose a seat closer to the front on a scorcher of a morning, on the side, hiding behind a front column. It was comfortable and afforded me a good view of the street and the rest of the cafe. 

The service was slightly delayed though, when it began, was delightful. The coffee was nice, the french toast was a little soggy but extremely filling though, because it did feel so heavy it's doubtful I'll be ordering it again! (Shouldn't have doused it in the maple syrup, should I?) Overall it was a nice experience and I'm sure I'll be returning for a heartier meal soon.

Times hit: 1

Green Palace Thai Vegetarian

@ 182 King Street, Newtown

On the outside, Green Palace doesn't look like much. There's a counter at the front filled with desserts and on the side, a sizeable row of hot steaming takeaway food you might find in a food court. Inside, the chairs look cheap as does the flooring.

This is a classic case of how looks can be deceiving.

The served at Green Palace has never disappointed. They're always extremely attentive and the food served within a reasonable amount of time. At the front is a quick sticks takeaway section, but plonk yourself down and you'll be served piping hot meals from the kitchen out back.

The first time I visited this little shack of a restaurant, I was craving Thai and this was the closest thing. Yes, it's vegetarian and even has soy ice-cream on the menu, the food however is great and the prices reasonable. True, they're not the cheapest you can get for Thai food nor the best presentation, but for the taste, it's worth it. The family's even become a regular consumer of the durian sticky rice, which, I must admit, I enjoyed immensely the first time I tried despite my aversion to the fruit.

Soy fried ice cream - weird but good!


Times hit: 3
 

Darley Street Bistro / Botany View Hotel

@ 597 King Street, Newtown

Fancy a fancy bistro? Darley Street will do it for you. Found closer to the St Peters side of things, the second you look at the menu for Darley Street Bistro, you'll understand why I believe calling it "pub grub" is an insult.

 

After ordering in traditional pub style, we headed up the stairs into the dining area. Surprisingly quite large, it opened into a outdoor courtyard, which was full and stretched quite far. Though narrow, it oozed with intimacy and a relaxing atmosphere.

After a wait of something close to half an hour, we were called to collect our dishes: Hand made ravioli with goats cheese and pumpkin with roast peppers, lemon and parsley gremolata and topped with shaved grana padano and Darley Street corned beef braised in honey, American mustard and peppercorns served on Parmesan mash with Dijon cream, spinach and asparagus.

The ravioli was delicious and light and packed full of flavour whilst the corned beef was soft, flaked right on the touch and filling to boot. But not filling enough to pass up on dessert. After one of the servers at Sole Espresso discovered my love for chocolate, he suggested I try this baby out. 

It's a triple brownie stack and must be shared at all costs. Brownie, ice cream, brownie, ice cream, brownie, ice cream and a strawberry on top. If you like your brownies moist then I don't recommend this. If you don't mind chewie, nutty and chocoately, then give this a go. Technically, it's called a chocolate, pecan and rum tower and is worth saving your stomach for.

Times hit: 2

Urban Bites

@ 58 King Street, Newtown

Early in the morning or late at night, it's hard to pass Urban Bites and NOT see it open ... or packed! While I've not tried their coffee in the morning (it's long due though!) I have stopped by for a number of meals over the years and have fond memories of my time spent warming up to their outdoor heaters with good company and great food.


The food is your typical cafe food, made well and eaten without complaint. But what really makes Urban Bites is the atmosphere (an indoor and outdoor courtyard area built of wooden chairs and tables, promotional posters and even a tip jar/sculpture made of foreign money) and the people. The servers are friendly, funny and extremely easy going and accommodating.


My latest venture to UB was after an Indian dinner. The group was on a mission: chocolate. Max Brenner was packed as is usually the case on a Friday night, so after gaining a couple of blocks we found ourselves tucking into an Oreo cake and a number of chocolate infused tarts. Delicious, heavy and well presented. The photos speak for themselves:

Times hit: 5

African Feeling

@ 1/501 King Street, Newtown

When first we passed this place, we thought it was closed. Dimly lit, it took a while for this place to fill up on a Wednesday night. But come 7pm it became pretty packed.

Decorated with patterned tablecloths and artwork that covered the walls from floor to ceiling, the feeling is definitely African (excuse the pun). We were served promptly however were waiting near an hour for food. There was only one chef working that night and try as he did to get the food from pan to plate efficiently, many of us questioned the waitress (again, only one for the evening) on when we could expect our meals to arrive. She was extremely apologetic and it was hard to be angry or place the blame on anyone for the situation.

What I loved about the menus was not only the variety (food from across the country from East Africa to West Africa to Ghana to Nigeria) but the fact that they divulge in mentioning where each dish comes from. On our order was Kpoff-Kpoff dumplings (Nigeria), Ladies Fingers (West Africa), Kuku Na Nazi (East Africa) and Tanzanian Chai and Kenyan Tea.

The meals felt lightly flavoured and although the portions didn't seem huge, they were immensely filling. The dumplings were wonderfully warm and the ladies fingers nice and spicey. If you're a fan of coconut, the kuku na nazi is not to be missed and is pleasantly addictive.


Times hit: 1