Vui Va Say

@ 127 King Street, Newtown

Formally Jesters Seeds, this dingy pub has since been renovated into something modern, chic and slightly kitsch. 
It's a Vietnamese cocktail bar and serves food, snacks and cocktails. One of the best things is that it's open until midnight. Who could resist?

The same could be said about the cassava balls. Of the feast that we supplied ourselves in the backyard-inspired, this mixture of cassava, tumeric and herbs fried and served in a cocktail glass are the perfect munchie to accompany one of the bar's unique cocktails.

Modern Vietnamese is the name of the game, with Chef's Caramelised Pork Belly (I NEVER say no to pork belly), Warm Vermicelli Salad, and Stuffed Baby Calamari. Occasionally, they'll throw in more unique ingredients like crocodile meat - keep an eye out for the specials on the board and be adventurous. 


The food is well cooked and brimming with flavour, displays on signature red and black crockery, they're also a bargain for the price within the area averaging around $10 per dish.

For those seeking late nights, cocktails, and short company, wind your way up the stairs into one of its more casual chic rooms. There's a room for hire decked with soft drapings falling from the ceiling, and a further room with fireplace, graffiti style paintings, and high, friendly tables. 

Clink your glasses and drink up. They didn't name this play Vui Va Say for nothing you know.

Times hit: 1

Pho 88

@ 343 King Street, Newtown

This was an unexpected visit. Upon organising a catch up with a friend, she'd spied this little gem on her bus-ride in and began that understandable craving for pho. It was a balmy evening out, but I wasn't going to debate her on this one. I hadn't yet broken Pho 88 and it had been taunting me for quite some time. With the plethora of Vietnamese restaurants that have opened up to me lately, the ruling is still out on which is the best. OK, let's face it, Thanh Binh wins hands down, but we've got to give the rest of them a fair chance, right?

We entered and were seated in a prime spot, right at the window. The setting was cozy, the restaurant was comfortably packed, and the service spot-on. We scored the menu, knowing innately what we were going to order. We went for the DIY rice paper rolls instead. So sue us - we can always return on a colder evening for pho.

Unfortunately, the table was quite measly for our meal, but in between shuffling water bottles around and doubling up on plates, we managed to make this work. The rice papers came on plastic coverings and were already softened, ensuring we didn't make a mess of things. We did anyway. But that's where all the fun comes in. We practised our packing and rolling skills and eventually made it through most of the rolls. Between the both of us there were about 10 rolls and ample fillings for all.

All in all a successful evening. Again, Thanh Binh does it better, but if you're after delicious DIY this side of the strip, doubt discount Pho 88. We'll be back for the pho- promise.

Times hit: 1

PAJU BBQ

@ Level 1, 196 King Street, Newtown

To be honest, I had my doubts about this one. The previous restaurant, Top Level, was a forlorn and empty place. When we entered Paju it read quite the same, of course, it was New Year's Day when we entered, so the lack of clients can be excused. On the upside, we had our choice of table. Gone were the cheesy glow lights of its predecessor and the gawd-awful music, instead we were greeted with open space, wooden tables and floors and a casual air.

The cuisine was typically Korean. There was a BBQ menu on the side, but our craving lay all in the traditional stone potted Bibimpbap. Endless entrees of kimchi were laid on the table, everything from chilli cabbage to seaweed and all delicious and easy to pick up before and in-between meals.

The bibimbap arrived in due course, steaming hot and as delicious as it should be. I drizzled my red sauce generously however my party chose to be more sparing. Whatever your desire, it's good. Nothing out of the ordinary, mind-blowingly spectacular, but if good, authentic Korean is what you're after, you'll find it here.

Times hit: 1

Kammadhenu

@ 171 King Street, Newtown

The best, number one, recommended and all those other fun little accolades. Kammadhenu is the formative name on King Street for Indian and Malaysian fare. They've got the best hoppas and dosas in Sydney and their roti, though unlike Mamak you can't see them make it, tastes just as divine.

Platters are huge and quick to come out. Our party reached four and there was not a grumble on the table as everyone was served within maybe, five minutes? Not too bad methinks. Sauces are plentiful and arrayed in strategically created platters, each separated onto a metal dish and ready for the dipping. The taste is rich and the price, yeah. They're good. At a maximum of $12 for a dosai and less than $20 for a heartier dish, it seems extremely unfair to rave about Kammadhenu any more than it always has been.

Corridor

@ 153 King Street

Named with a reason, this is one of the more... narrower outfits on the street. You can't miss it though. There are always people staking their claim to the front seats for a slab of people watching. It's situated smack in the middle of the busier section of King and is also in front of the bus stop, which tends to collect the stupid or the drunk (sometimes both) in the early hours. Great for entertainment. No so good for the actual victims of the binge.

Your night at Corridor will also be marked by the sounds of live music. They try to keep it going all-night, every-night. Of course, the band needs to take their break, and in that time, you should head downstairs to top up your beverages. Up stairs is where it's at though. In one small room, the musicians and a decor that Mary Antoinette would be... hmmm maybe not proud of, but giggly over. Sumptuous couches and generous armchairs of no particular match or colour are strewn around the place, accompanied by large mirrors and wooden floors.

Behind, is the smoker's area/terrace. It's small but comfortable and a hot bill for summer. The only downfall (you mean, besides the smokers?) is that the music doesn't travel as nicely to this end of the bar. Well, you can't win them all.

Atom Thai

@ 130 King Street, Newtown

I'm honestly surprised I haven't posted this one up yet considering it's one of my more favourite Thai restaurants on the block. To be fair, I've been to it twice, but I've also had friends recommend it to me with glowing reviews. The aesthetics of this restaurant are simple, yet work sublimely. Warm wooded colours and square tables matches with even squarer stools.

The service is immaculate, the waiters are attentive, the wait for the food is a bit much, but if you want it done right, you have to sing for your supper, as they say. My standard Thai fare to compare with is a Thai Green Curry and this one did the job. Accompanied by a never-ending helping of rice and you know when you're undoing that belt that its done such a good job all you can do is say 'one more spoonful' to yourself as you go for it.

Times hit: 2

Claire's Crepes

@ 457a King Street, Newtown

I've been eyeing this one for a bit now too. It's signage is quite plain, but the name already draws your attention. Claire's crepes. It's like Janet's Pies. There's something about personalisation that automatically creates that connection. I couldn't help it. I had to step through.

What we found on the inside were walls and walls of doors and doors. With Bloodwood across the road, it seems like this is the new indoor trend. There were numbers and images, some of the doors were old bathroom doors. I'll admit it. I tried to pull one for kicks. It didn't work.

The crepes on offer are a balanced mixture of sweet and savory. You could go for your heavier options with eggs and avocado. Or you could try the plains, which include lemon and sugar and Nutella. I'm a believer in testing the true, so lemon and sugar (Sour Frank) I went.

It was pricey. For ONE crepe, we were charged $8. The service was nice, but not worth the price. The size of the crepe was good, but again, not worth the price. May I remark that the only things in this dish are milk, flour, egg, lemon and sugar. I can't see how that equates to such a substantially inflated price. Perhaps if there was more novelty behind it besides the wall of doors, I could have forgiven them. But for a normal crepe with no special extras. I'm sorry, I can make better.

Times hit: 1

Guzzle Tandoori

Guzzle Tandoori
@ 453 King Street, Newtown

Tossing between Indian and seafood, somehow we ended up at Indian. Guzzle is a small Indian on the St Peter's side of things. The wall tables fill up quickly with a reason. They're decorated in a beautiful layer of colours and remain free from the winter's cold of the open doorway.

Having been claimed before our arrival, we ended up in the doorway. No matter, the staff were extremely friendly, attentive and considerate to food issues, happy to recommend meals that were safe for certain intolerances.

There's a Guzzle's Special section as well as your usual meat, vegetarian, beans and rice sections and you'll spend some while deciding which page you want to bank your meal on.



In the end, we tried a special, Haleem - a mix of beef, lentils and spices with a stringy consistency due to an addition of wheat into what tasted like a cheesy coating. Our other meal was the lighter, Daal Makhani, a black lentil stew that was simply, yet delicate to taste and still too much (when combined with rice) to polish off in one seating.

Times hit: 1

Molly Coddle Cafe

@ 3/621-622 King Street

Farewell Blue Vein Cafe, hello Molly Coddle. No question as to if Molly truly exists, today we're too busy eating to bother with such trivialities. It's a busy Saturday morning and we're lucky enough to snag a table at all. It's outside. It's winter. It's cold. We order coffees. Then we turn to the menu. There are quite a few interesting ones on the menu and even more that are appealing for a Saturday morning catch up with one of my good friends.

"Is it strange if we order the same thing?" I ask my friend. "No, not at all," is her reply. That's what I like about my friendships. They're not particularl about things like that like I can be with me and my sister. We can't wear the same colours. We can't eat the same food. It's sibling rivalry. It makes us look like we're trying to copy one another. But friends? It's just a sign that we have good taste.

Molly's was originally established in Stanmore as a cafe/fresh food delivery service that has since found a new restaurant outlet on the St Peter's end of King Street this June. It's a grand spot for it, open and with a bit of greenery to add to the scenery. The food is a mish-mash of cuisines, there's some Australian, Italian and Filipino influence in there. Not to mention the cupcakes, the likes of which include Cookie Monsters and Grouches that look too good to destroy.

Lunch though was a Filipino dish. It's not everyday you get to experience this on King Street. In fact, this is the only Filipino restaurant I've ever known on King. It's a platter of sweet potato rosti and grilled halloumi. The presentation isn't the most fabulous, scattered around the plate, making it look emptier than it should, but the taste is authentic. Clean and simple, the flavours are subtle yet alluring and the plate is enough to fill without compromising on the dessert stomach. Good food. Good company. A perfect Saturday.

Times hit: 1

Di Stefano Caffe

@ 67 King Street, Newtown

Quite a number of chains have found their way onto King Street in the past two years, most of them have been to the TexMex or froyo flavours. But while we lost (finally) Gloria Jeans to one of the prior, it was replaced by Di Stefano Caffe. A cafe chain that's based in Homebush, but now has a tidy little spot on King Street in front of the bus stop at the very end, closest to Sydney University.

It's in prime position and has a comfortable array of cushy chairs to snuggle into. The staff are some of the friendliest and are happy to answer any of your questions. The chai lattes are quite sweet to. The good thing? They don't use Bonsoy. Now for those who haven't been following my blog (I don't blame you, absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder when it comes to social media) I'm not a fan of Bonsoy. This has nothing to do with it being organic or a premium brand on the market or the fact that people "boast" its use in their coffees. This is because there is something in the formula that I am allergic to (my guess is the level of calcium carbonate in it, but who knows really.) Anyway, this means for quite a lot of embarrassing and arduous questions about what kind of soy milk the cafe uses and then a stiff regret for not being able to order a chai with them because of my reaction to the substance. Anyway. I was happy to discover that Di Stefano doesn't use Bonsoy. The waitress was happy to add commentary to the situation, stating that they had done a "soy" test and of all the soys they tried, the one they used (I think it's Vitasoy) delivered the creamiest results. Sold.

Though I haven't returned yet for more chai goodness, I promise I will. I just have a little more of King St to conquer first.

Times hit: 1  

Fringe Cafe and Restaurant

@ 199 King Street,  Newtown

Morning space was never such hot property as when Fringe appeared on the scene. For a cafe, it takes up a lot of space and is a popular one to boot. It might be the good coffee and fast service or it may just be the free WiFi which is also a hot commodity on the street and still a rarity though things are getting better.

Free newspapers and people spotting is also a bonus. I ordered up a coffee and a serving of toast with butter. Both came promptly and were well done. They did their best with my gluten free bread, it wasn't toasty but it had some crispness to it, which is a feat in itself. If only it would open later - so far it's only a morning and bruncher. Fringe, take note, you could do well opening your doors into the evening.

Times hit: 1

Bean Around Town

@ 257 King Street, Newtown

Taking over Rise Bakery as of last week is Bean Around Town. The name sounds familiar, but that's probably because there's a similarly named cafe a little further down the way. We can ignore that. Bean Around Town takes much the same function as Rise Bakery did. It's a morning cafe in a skinny strip of land right next to IGA. There's some seating further in, but most will order a morning takeaway with one of the many sandwiches or delectable desserts from the counter. There's quite a decent array and it's truly tempting, but I'm on the run so all I grab is a coffee.

The service is stellar. The girl who greeted me was really friendly and, despite by aversion to chit-chat, she tried her best at making my morning a cheery one. The coffee came quickly, it wasn't searing hot, which, depending on how you like it, is to my liking. So that was good. It was sweet and hit the spot. What more can I say?

Times hit: 1

Newtown Hotel

@ 174 King Street, Newtown

Yeooow! Newtown Hotel! What has happened to you? You've had a facelift! You've had a renovation! You have an upstairs! You actually look... fancy!

The building that was once the Newtown Hotel way back when then closed for over a decade due to funding/ownership issues before becoming Freaky Tiki - a supposedly temporary set up before it went viral - has now completely come 360.

A slick new paint job in a nice calm green and a balcony that is the envy of King Street, spanning a whole corner and then some is the least of this bar's impressive touch ups. The downstairs is still a little dark, but with deco style paintings on the walls, a motley of mismatched but alluring couches and an upstairs replete with movie and trivia nights are more than persuasive enough to enter the doors.

The food is your typical bar fare. We opted for the fish and chips and steak, done in different grades (mine in rare, my friend's in medium rare) and they came out about right, on cheap looking tinned plates with knives that didn't quite cut it (excuse the pun). For something that looks so fancy on the outside, I was expecting a little more class, at least in presentation. Well, one step at a time.


Times hit: 1

M.O.A.N.

@ 224 King Street

I noticed this one crop up only a week ago. It was what used to be Ciciolina, the Italian restaurant with decent food, a BYO budget and the most gaudy interior decorations EVER. Pink on the inside, the decorations looked like the paper mache monster had chewed on too much newspaper and spat them out onto its walls in globs that stuck and had begun to grow into something festy and sinister.

Sadly, M.O.A.N. has not managed to rid itself of the paper mache monster. It has however added a pretty funky little chest table to its entrance, immediately already rendering it a cut above its predecessor. As for everything else... it's pretty same-same.

The cuisine is the same, Italian, specialising in pizzas and risottos. We arrived on a Tuesday night, which in wonderful tight-ass Tuesday format, meant that every pizza on the list was $10 each. Not a bad deal.

The service was great to begin with... then it started to slip. Once food was on our table we were instantly ignored. We requested a new bottle of water. It never came. We requested the bill. It took about 5 minutes and then we had to call them 10 minutes later after leaving our money on the table to have it picked up for change. And let's not begin to discuss our request to take away the rest of the salad we couldn't finish.

But onto the food. The pizza was good, well cooked and a good size for three small stomachs. If I were a man, I'd be disappointed. The salad was nice, but for something advertised as a roast vegetable salad it was severely lacking the "roasted vegetable" element. Most of it was overgrown with rocket. There was perhaps a 1/3 of a carrot in there and even less pumpkin and zucchini.

An improvement on its predecessor? Sure. But not by much.

Times hit: 1 

WOWCOW

@ 280 King Street

OK it's been two years since my last post. There's a reason for this. I've been away, in rainy England, enjoying myself and having a ball. But I'm back now. And, as to be expected, there have been changes to my beloved King Street. 38 changes to be exact. So expect me to be blasting up posts and eating up the street like no other.

The first shop I visited was WOWCOW. It was an easy eat. Frozen yoghurt. I grabbed a medium pot, chocolate and vanilla. Simple yet delicious. Extremely creamy and very sweet. I could tell from the first bite though that it wasn't real yogurt. It was sugar filled happiness. I relished it and the service was nice as well. There are only two things I'm disappointed over 1) the fact that it tasted less like yogurt and more like icecream and 2) the fact that WOWCOW took over the African food place.

Oh well, at least they still kept the map of Africa on the side of the shop.

Times hit: 1

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