Cafe Sopra Review

We have travelled and imagined ourselves as gladiators arm in arm with the mighty Crowe. We have made love to Italian woman and have been broken-hearted in Sicily. We have witnessed AC Milan outplay Real Madrid in a pure demonstration of elegance and skill. We have walked down the cool backstreets of Assisi and been humbly ushered in by real, dumpy Italian mamas with accents as thick and round as their busting breasts, to drink red wine and listen to Pavarotti.

However, underlying all these experiences there has been a constant source of inspiration. Something that is integral to the Italian way of life. Something that bonds families together. It is the essence of Italy. It is the food.

Whether spaghetti, vermicelli, fedelini, capellini, bucantini, fusilli, fettuccine, linguine, mafaldine, stringozzi, cannelloni, ditalini, garganelli, penne, rigatoni, tortellini, or even gnocchi, when combined with tomato and garlic, or cream and cheese, some olive oil and parmesan, you have yourself a delicious bowl of pasta. Yet, at Cafe Sopra you get a little more than that.

In their menu, Sopra breathes this very essence. Each dish is reminiscent of the real Italy. However, Sopra alerted us to an important element of Italian Cuisine. That it inhabits a universality and therefore, an adaptability. Sopra offers not only authenticity, but a creativity that allows it to function in an Australian context. It is hard to pick out any one dish from the menu to acclaim, since we have never been disappointed when dining at Sopra. Our most recently enjoyed meals included a Salad of Roast Pork Belly, a simple but exquisite Spaghetti alla Carbonara, and a slice of the most delightful Banoffi Pie.

When we order a Carabonara there is something that we are all inherently looking forward to, even if we do not consciously know it. Cheese, eruptions of pepper, waves of salt from crispy slivers of bacon, a subtle consistency of egg, cream and the light lubrication of olive oil throughout. The Carbonara had it all.

We don’t know if the Pork Belly salad is an established Italian dish, or if it combines tradition with an innovative sense of reworking, so that it appeals to an Australian audience. We felt blissfully confused when we tasted our first mouthful. The combination of pork belly, fresh apple, Treviso and pan-fried walnut was a delicious coalescence of simplicity and flair. We recommend that you accompany your Carbonara with a shared, pork belly salad. There is however many other salads to choose from that will complement your meal in both flavour and balance.

Hasn’t everyone tried to share that one nervous string of spaghetti? Maybe. Would we take a girl to Sopra? Yes! Italian cuisine is romantic. Red wine and a bowl of pasta will never be a meal to forget. There is something so raw about the romance that is associated with Italian food sharing. At Sopra you cannot make a booking, so be sure to wait for a table inside. We suggest sitting at the bar, ordering a couple of Campari’s with red grapefruit juice and sitting out the weight until a table frees up. When you first eat at Sopra it does initially feel a tad strange to be seated amongst shelves stacked full of delicious groceries. One could certainly be turned off by this restaurants setting. However, we believe that Sopra’s location is only testament to the quality of the food that it serves.

Not much has to be said about this Banoffi. It is simply a gift. Eat it!

The service was quick, intuitive and European. No Complaints there.

Price: You can get away with spending anywhere between $30 to $60 a head on average. Depending on how many people you dine with and if you indulge in desert. Believe us, indulge! Drinks will add to the cost. No need to worry, Sopra will fill you up. Exceptional value for money! 

Italian's do things with heart. Sopra does things with heart and ingredients from Fratelli Fresh. 

Adam gives Sopra 4 Spoons

Douglas gives Sopra 4 Spoons

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Apology from The Foodmen

Adam and Douglas would like to apologise to you, our friends, for being unable to share our last weekend recommendation. We were busy with an out of state visitor. He needed constant supervision and attention. Easily bored, he would wake us at early hours, depriving us of the much needed energy to review restaurants.

We hope you will enjoy our coming reviews.

Sincerely,

The Foodmen

Din Tai Fung Review

“Every dumpling pastry is delicately hand made to measure between precisely 4.8 and 5.2 grams at conception, with an exact 6cm diameter, before beingstuffed to weigh between 20.6 and 21.4 grams.”

- Din Tai Fung

It is clear that there exists a science behind Din Tai Fung’s dumplings. However, when you first lift one from the bamboo steamer, noting its weight and perfect craftsmanship, you immediately feel like there is something you don’t quite understand. You haven’t heard much about these dumplings, only that they do not require sauce, and that life without them is like life without dumplings at all. So when your holding one, as you are now, you feel uneasy. Your dominated by a sense of uncertainty, your previous familiarity with dumplings collapsing under the soft weight of the parcel in your hand. With no expectations and every expectation, you place the dumpling into your mouth. Your mouth closes, and in doing so encapsulates a unique reality. A reality that we can only describe as magic.

It is rare that we would ever recommend a dish that is essential every time you go to a place. The Pork Dumplings function as the base for every meal at Din Tai Fung.

We Foodmen were daring enough to try the Silken Tofu with Pork Floss and Century Egg. We feel that it is our obligation to try 100 year old eggs, to give you, our friends, an insight into the history of the egg. We aren’t going to lie, we didn’t finish this dish. However this isn’t to say that this appetiser is not exceptional. We’re sure that if we had been brought up in the mountain villages of Taiwan then the strong, overtly egg-like flavour would have been one that we had acquired a fondness for. Having said this, dare to try new things. It can be impressive. As long as there is a staple dish like the Pork Dumpling sitting at the heart of your meal, your date wont think you’re a moron for ordering the old rotten eggs and pork moss.

Speaking of taking a date to Din Tai Fung, the dumplings are not the only must on the menu. It is not always the case that at an oriental restaurant you might find yourself indulging in deserts. Its understandable. Sometimes you just do not feel like deep-fried green tea ice cream. But again, we are risk takers and this time it paid off. The Triple Strawberry Crushed Ice Mountain is an extraordinary desert. The date of the boy sitting beside you will wish to God that she was yours. And your date will smile and know she is.

The service at Din Tai Fung is outstanding. The waiters operate as a systematic, unified machine. Their method is concise, their equipment clean. You are their subjects and the dumplings the experiment. It feels like it takes no time at all before your table is covered with food. Like everything at Din Tai Fung, the service is exact. Din Tai Fung is permanently full and the staff are on top of everything at all times. Although you might have to wait for a table, it’s a wait well worth having. Order an Asahi and prepare yourself for something special.

The atmosphere is what you would expect. The walls are lined with steamers, spoons and bowls and the tables are set with fresh slices of ginger to cleanse your pallet. Chopsticks sit waiting and a sense of anticipation fills the air.

The Cost: You can get away with spending between $25 to $50 a head depending on how many servings of their dumplings you find yourself eating.

It has been said that magic is science not yet understood. We still don’t fully understand the dumplings at Din Tai Fung. But we will go back, again and again. That much is certain.

Adam gives Din Tai Fung 4 Spoons

Doug gives Din Tai Fung 4 Spoons

The Foodmen give the Dumplings 5 Spoons!

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Our Cold & Wet Weekend Recommendation - Una's Review

Eating at Una’s is like being tucked into bed.

You don’t go to Una’s for a fine dining experience. You go there for warm, hearty food that makes your belly feel nurtured and spoilt. A serve of the Jager Schnitzel, a simple meal - homemade potato rosti, a slab of crumbed chicken or veal, a side of cabbage, and everything lightly dusted with paprika - is more than enough to satisfy the hunger of the working man. The mushroom sauce effortlessly engulfs the meal and if you add to this a side of creamed spinach the result is wunderbar! Combine this meal with a towering Schofferhofer and you are more or less on your way to bed from then on.

Alternatively, for those Foodmen preparing for a night out on the town, be it a journey to the theatre, or a jaunt in Sydney’s famous Kings Cross, Una’s is ideally positioned as the venue to kick your night off. The gigantic portions and equally over sized beers will line your stomach for a night of booze.

The Pork Knuckle is a meal that will create food envy for any who don’t order it. A crispy, juice drenched crackling shelters the yielding, slow baked pork meat wrapped around its bone. Your knife is barely necessary as the meat literally strips away and dissolves in your mouth. The crackling takes you on a guilty journey. It's the naughty enjoyment of gnawing on fat. Looking upon the knuckle is like seeing an entire Pork Roast, the kind that your family makes on special occasions. We aren’t going to pretend that this meal isn’t big. No, the Pork Knuckle is immense. You would think that the sheer size of this meal would overpower what flavours it has to offer. This isn’t the case. The Pork Knuckle is drenched in the essence of Germany. There is a distinct sense of primitivism associated with eating this meal at Una’s.

The interior of the Restaurant has a rustic, homely disposition. With wooden furniture, brick archways and a subtle omniscience of bottle-green colouring, Una’s gave us the warm impression of being in the heart of Europe, situated in a small village that throughout the year is invariably frosted in snow.

Are we so bold to presume that the service at Una’s is German? Yes. It’s also efficient and straightforward. The meals aren’t complicated and they wait on you accordingly, their thick, detached German accents filling you with an unusual sense of excitement. A strong German man can be seen walking through the beer hall heaving kegs from here to there. The staff are confident in their establishment and it shows.

Taking a date to Una’s is a surprisingly good idea. Because the food servings are substantial in size, your date may not have the stomach to finish their meal. This is where showcasing your masculinity comes into play. Casually finishing the food on their plate will boost your manliness in their eyes. This idea can be transferred into a setting in which you’re eating with a group of friends. If you’ve brought your date along, and they haven’t finished their food, a contest amongst your friends might occur. This is where you lay claim, a manoeuvre that works to emphasise the closeness of your relationship.

Cost: Almost all the meals are around $20, combine this with a Beer and your looking at $30 a head. Taking into consideration meal size and the leftovers from others, there is no need to worry about spending more.

Will we be going back? Yes. 

Adam gives Una’s 3.5 Spoons

Douglas gives Una’s 3.5 Spoons

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Misschu Review

Although the name of this establishment is cringe worthy, reminiscent of annoying text messaging diction, the quality of Misschu’s menu overwhelms this embarrassing fault completely.

At first glance, the boxes at Misschu seem like they aren’t going to be big enough to fill you up. However, it is these tuckshop/takeaway containers that the meals are presented in that gives you this deceiving impression. We found that these boxes carry with them a literal depth, as well as providing an easy and effective way to manage our meals. Attraction is displayed in their humble presentation and specificity of flavour. In this, Misschu evokes a humility that is often not found in many food establishments.

Misschu’s meals expose themselves to personal experimentation. The Vietnamese Warm Vermicelli Salads can be enjoyed as a healthy lunch or as the base for an indulgent dinner. You can choose from a selection of accompanying meats – Lemongrass beef, Chilli prawn, Satay Chicken, Seared Atlantic Salmon or with Traditional Pork Spring Rolls. All the salads have individual flavours yet share a similarity in freshness and simplicity. Standing alone, one of these salads will fill you up, however, we recommend ordering a side serve of the Prawn and Crab Net Deep Fried Spring Rolls. Mix these two together and voila! You will feel a wave of accomplishment as your date’s eyes light up, impressed by your “creativity” and oriental sensibilities.

On the topic of impressing a date, it is a must, an absolute MUST, that you order a crushed ice fruit drink. This chilling beverage combines either fresh lychee or pineapple with blended mint and crushed ice. The flavours spring back and forth between your taste buds, work there way down your body and positively contaminate you with an energy only fresh fruit can achieve. The cool, sweet liquidity of these drinks contrast the spice of Misschu’s meals in a tasty equilibrium of bounce and flavour. A perfect summer treat.

If you’re that someone on the hunt for Vietnams classic Pho beef noodle soup, why not dive into a bowl of Misschu’s Wagyu Beef Pho? It’s the same simple meal, the same attractive price, it’s just Wagyu Beef. For the novice beef eater, take note that Wagyu cattle produce beef of superlative standard, meat defined by its high eating quality, natural rich flavour, and impeccable tenderness. So for that reason alone, Misschu’s Wagyu Pho is miles ahead.

This self-proclaimed Tuckshop is a fitting name for the modest street-side hole in the wall. Size limits this restaurant to only outside seating. This can be a problematic during Sydney’s winter. This being said, order a soup and you’ll be fine! The furniture outside Misschu is creatively themed and works perfectly to combat the slope and lack of seating space. It’s easy enough to sit on a milk crate and be satisfied. However, Misschu has come up with the ingenious idea of attaching fitted pieces of polished wood to the crates bottoms, turning them into seats fit for a street-side establishment. Perfect.

As far as service goes, Misschu is fast and effective. Of special note is their bicycle delivery service. For obvious reasons, we love this.

The cost: Our recommended creative meal deal and ice drink will set you back about $20. However you could be satisfied at Misschu for as little as $12. Be warned, the menu is so appealing that you could easily find yourself indulging in seconds, thirds and possibly dessert.

Adam gives Misschu 4 Spoons

Douglas gives Misschu 3.5 Spoons

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Grill'd Review - Our Weekend Recommendation

At Grill’d, the burgers are better than Hungry Jacks.

There is still the grease. It’s just hiding behind nice packaging, modern street décor and healthy advertising. There are still chips, although they are covered in herbs, not just salt. There is still the tomato sauce except they call it tomato relish. We are not saying that all of these things are bad. This is what we want in a burger joint! Burgers are like milkshakes, you want to finish them feeling full and a little bit sick.

If you’re a weight conscious individual, Grill’d will make you feel a little less guilty about indulging in your favourite, sloppy pastime. Grill’d promotes themselves as a burger joint that differs from others – “Healthy Burgers Healthy Mind”. We noticed that they don’t say “Healthy Burgers Healthy Body”. Should they?...No!

Burgers are not meant to be healthy. As a meal, the burger is a simple one. Delectable, moist, and nauseatingly satisfying. Everyone, at some stage in their life, desires a burger. The beef, the melted cheese, the lashing of sauce, the crispy bacon, maybe an egg, and let us not forget that tiny, tiny salad.

At Grilled, they say that they use fresh ingredients of the highest quality. Their beef, chicken and lamb is lean, their eggs free-range, their salads organic. But that is not why we go to Grill’d. We go there for one thing and one thing only - a disgustingly delicious burger!

As you grasp the burger between your hands, the excess sauce and meat juice works its way down your fingers and drips onto the plate. Your mouth salivates, your heart rate increases, your knee trembles and then it happens. The orgasm. You cant stop. You go for it, mouthful after mouthful, until it’s over. Your body leaves Grill’d in a comatose state. You have just conceived a burger baby. Your belly is stretched, your reflexes are slow, and all you can think about is bed. When you go to Grill’d for a burger you don’t leave dissatisfied. They make burgers and they make them well.

As far as atmosphere goes we really don’t care. Eating at Grill’d is pure indulgence. You don’t care where you are or what you look like. You just want the feeling.

Would we take a date there?
Probably not. It isn’t the kind of place that you would use to show off. You take yourself there on a date and enjoy getting messy. Or with a group of friends looking for a similar experience.

The Cost – a little over priced. But that’s what you pay for when you don’t want to feel guilty. Burgers range from $10 and up depending on how many other sides you pile on. Chips can come free if you have yourself a Pocket Pal. Grill’d is licensed so you can neck a beer while you fill your belly.

If you feel like getting Grill’d, we definitely recommend it.

Adam gives Grill’d 2.5 spoons
Douglas gives Grill’d 3 spoons

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Doma Bohemian Beer Café Review

For those Lord of the Rings fans who have a particular appetite for Dwarven cuisine, Doma Bohemian Beer Café is the place for you. Doma sits in the midst of backpacker filled Orwell Street in Potts Point. The courtyard is invariably filled with nostalgic foreigners, drinking the beers they have been missing on their travels. You hear them chug and chuckle, you see their smiling mouths full of meat and their plates piled high. It’s an exciting scene for both the familiar and unfamiliar.

When you take your seats at Doma you feel like you have just walked into your long lost little Slovakian Grandmothers house. The restaurant is quaint and very homely. You feel warm, welcome and ready to indulge. As two Australian men with roots in the country and appetites to fit, we were excited at the prospect of a huge Scandinavian feast. Our expectations were exceeded – literally. Never have we ever laid our eyes upon meals this big!

If you are hungry, craving a meal that is bigger than the dinner plate it sits on then the schnitzel from Doma could be exactly what you need. The schnitzel sits upon a king size bed of creamy mash potato that literally covers the entire surface of the plate. This mash is definitely a highlight. The accompanying salad does not marry the meal the way you need it to. This being said, the dish is good value.

For families, preferably six foot and over, bearded, and with a penchant for demanding food after a hard sea voyage or hunting trip in the mountains, Doma is undeniably perfect. And if you’re in the mood for a surprise we recommend you order the Dutch Roast Pork.

Getting past meal size, we were expecting the music to remind us of victory, battle, jugs of slopping Glogg, hobbit dancing, fiddlers and Nordic women. However, to our surprise, the soft, beachy voices of Angus and Julia Stone filled the place with a sense of atmospheric dissonance. This only added to our unusual experience of Doma.

The beer list at Doma is impressively long and would keep any beer drinker entertained for hours. If you are in the mood for something a little stronger, why not hit up their absinth list? There is as much alcohol at Doma as there is mash potato.

The service is okay. It seems that the staff care more about the beer than they do about the food.

Would we take dates there? No.

Would we go back? For a beer, yes.

The Cost: Entrées from $6. Mains anywhere between $15 to $45. The beer ranges from $5 - $15 depending on size and quality. You can get away with $30 a head for a meal and drinks.

Adam gives Doma 2 Spoons
Douglas gives Doma 1 Spoon


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Room 10 Review - Our Weekend Recommendation

Every morning without fail we clamber out of our beds and make our way to our kitchen. It’ s here that our amazing friends greet us. Daniel & Daniel and the rest of the Room 10 Team!

Living near the Cross, we often wake up dangerously hungover. Room 10 gives us the motivation to actually haul ourselves out of bed, simply because they offer what every healthy hangover needs, amazing food and a warm smile. The staff at Room 10 are extremely intuitive people. They understand our needs and cater to us with care and good nature. They know the pain and they have the cure. Usually, for us it's a breakfast panino, fresh orange juice and a coffee. However, every dish on the menu is literally a godsend. It’s rare for a café to be so consistent. Room 10 has never let us down.

The menu is lip-smacking, with a rich selection of meals to choose from. If you want to keep it simple go for the toasted Breaky Panino. Lying between two tasty slices of seasoned sourdough, an egg is poached, crushed and spread onto a bed of homemade hollandaise and double smoked ham. The combination of flavours is insane.

Why not be Muesli Men? At Room 10 the muesli is not dry, chewy and seemingly never ending. It is bathing in honey and yoghurt, a dollop of rhubarb, and just the right amount of milk. Choose between burnt fig, cinnamon, almond granola or green apple and dried muscatel muesli (natural or soaked). You finish the bowl full and satisfied, feeling healthier than you really are. Plus, girls love muesli! The last girl we introduced Room 10 to said with absolute sincerity, wide eyes and a cheerful grin, “ Wow… this muesli is so good!” Girls are clearly the authority on muesli.

The Salvator, named after a valued customer (amazing!), is the perfect breakfast or early lunch. Here we have two toasted slices of quinoa bread, each topped with a chunky spread of ricotta, lightly oiled tomatoes, and optional shaved prosciutto. Very satisfying.

The atmosphere is chilled, rustic, and homely. With high ceilings and low stools, bare brick and warm hanging lights, the space is reminiscent of a Melbourne hole in the wall, especially with Daniels beautiful bike stationed in front of the coffee machine everyday.

Room 10 makes a mean coffee. We have one with every meal, sometimes two, and we recommend that you do the same. The boys will remember your face after your first visit, your name after the second, and from then on you are a regular.

Potts Point was lacking a great café. Room 10 has established itself as the best café in the area. It is simplicity in its most attractive and delectable form. For a small café it offers a big experience.

Cost – Everything under $15. Incredible value for money.

Adam gives Room 10, 5 spoons

Douglas gives Room 10, 4.5 spoons

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Busshari Review

Japanese cuisine is fresh, healthy and beautiful. Presentation and flavour go hand in hand. Busshari combines all of these elements into an impressive, satisfying experience.

Most people have an idea about Japanese cuisine with Sushi Bars being frequented as often as they are. So what is it that makes Busshari’s Japanese food so special? It comes down to quality. From a traditional miso soup, to a tuna hand roll with fresh wasabi, and then onto an innovative pork belly, and finishing with an excitingly artful Chefs Selection Sushi Plate, each bite was succulent, sharp and subtle.

Each dish communicated a sensitivity, a contemporary minimalism, and a taste tradition. You know you're eating well because your body tells you so. Plus, experiencing a Sushi Master working in a world defined by precision, beauty and discipline, you can’t help but realise that what you’re eating has been crafted with care. We did enjoy the food. Immensely.

Is Busshari a place to take a girl?

Yes. Of course it is. Just in case, make sure you make a booking well in advance in order to get the table you want. We recommend a seat at the bar that surrounds the Sushi Masters. The performance is as impressive as the taste. Your girl will go away thinking you have knowledge of food and art, when really you just like chicken teriyaki and Asahi. Girls will love eating here, simply because its healthy.

The atmosphere is buzzing, intimate and comfortable. The darkness of the walls and the low lighting creates a sense of warmth and relaxed vibrancy. It’s a cultural haven, and the spectacle of seeing 25 to 30 year old groups of extremely good looking women only added to our experience. This juicy demographic is attractive to be around, even if you’re the single bachelors at the end of the bar enjoying beers and the signature Wagyu Beef Sizzling Tobanyaki.

Upon arrival the service is impeccable. You are ushered to your table and immediately presented with an incredibly translucent bottle of the freshest sparkling water. Its actually made out of icebergs! Just like the food, the service reflects Japanese culture.

The damage?

You could get away spending around $50 a head. However, you could go anywhere between $25 and $200 depending on how much you want to try and drink. No matter what the cost, you will be satisfied.

We will certainly go back.

Adam gives Busshari 4 spoons

Douglas gives Busshari 4 spoons


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