Bentley Restaurant & Bar
Image: Brent Savage’s cooking at this restaurant is a well-documented treat, so when I finally rewarded myself with a Degustation ($120/head), I delineated it as a night off.
Brent Savage’s cooking at this restaurant is a well-documented treat, so when I finally rewarded myself with a Degustation ($120/head) I delineated it as a night off. Of course that was until I ate the Balmain Bug with Lamb Sweetbread, Black Bean and Coconut Curd ($28), which employed lobster on the evening in question, but that’s beside the point. You see it’s not often you can write: ‘The sweetbreads were so tasty, everyone gobbled them up!’ and have people believe it; but believe me you should – it’s a monumentally great dish. The Fillet of Black Angus Beef ($40) was also a goodie; though I won’t be jumping on the azuki bean puree bandwagon any time soon. Booze, as expected, was also a highlight, with the best-balanced Long Island Iced Tea ($18) I’ve had in years. (Yeah, yeah, what part of night off didn’t you understand?) For the more moderately inclined, the 2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino ($74) drinks well too. I was also treated to a series of great desserts: my favourite being a nutty ode to the Cashew ($18) featuring an airy brick of sponge, a brightly coloured scattering of petals and powders, and the requisite perfectly-shaped quenelle defying gravity up top. Overly close tables make one thankful for friendly neighbours and smooth staff.
Bentley Restaurant & Bar
320 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Ph: (02) 9332 2344 www.thebentley.com.au
Modern European $$$$
