WOOLPACK HOTEL - REDFERN, SYDNEY

Woolpack Hotel
229 Chalmers St
Redfern, Sydney

The Woolpack Hotel and Lounge in Redfern has been around for so long, you could almost call it a city landmark. But don’t let its solid history fool you into thinking it’s an everyday local pub. The Woolpack Hotel has not only revamped its interior, it has created a tantalising new Spanish Tapas menu.

Now, before we go on, let’s get a few things straight. The Woolpack is still a pub, so if craft beers and steak or schnitzels are your thing, then this place definitely has you covered. Their traditional pub menu is quite comprehensive and there are about eight rotating craft taps on offer, guaranteed to satisfy any thirst.

For us, any opportunity to try a new menu is exciting so tonight, we’re happy to ditch the pub grub and get our forks into some delicious Spanish Tapas, created by Barcelona trained, Head Chef, John Howard.


We arrived on a busy Friday night but found a table inside quite quickly. The Woolpack has a lovely outdoor area out the front, a large main area inside and a cosy, intimate room around the back which is perfect if you are after a somewhat quieter space. There was some live music happening too.





















We started our Spanish journey with a jug of Sangria. True to its tradition it was not too sweet and full of flavour, First up, some Iberico Jamon, a specific type of ham which is basically a Spanish legend. Made from Iberico free range pork and cured according to a specific process, Iberico Jamon is a thin leg of ham, with a deep golden hue to its fat. It’s absolutely delicious and far superior to any ham we have tasted till now.





















Some grilled Octopus followed. Huge chunks of Octopus cooked in paprika and vinegar and marinated with Olives.

It’s so easy to over cook Octopus on the grill but thankfully this wasn’t the case here.

The paprika added a real smokey taste to the dish.



Following on the seafood theme, we also tried some fish croquettes and let us tell you these were AMAZING.

Bite size pieces of fresh salty fish, deep fried and served with the most creamy aioli.

Just one word of advice folks, these are dangerously addictive.




You can’t have a Spanish tapas experience without some famous patatas bravas, and the ones here at the Woolpack hotel don’t fail to impress.

The potatoes were golden and crispy and smothered in that creamy sauce that’s so delicious.

We were scraping everything off the plate.

We decided to have a short break from the food whilst enjoying our beautiful wine. We had a deliciously crisp rose produced in Orange NSW, by a Portuguese wine maker. Portuguese and Orange - a great combination.

Our next dish was the char-grilled beef. Thick carvings of delicious Hereford beef cooked in a very tasty salsa. They say Hereford beef is one of the best types of beef, we can definitely attest to that. It was tender, perfectly cooked on the more rare side of medium and perfectly carved and presented.

A perfect accompaniment to the beef were green beans which were cooked in a beautiful garlic and butter base, and also a chickpea dish cooked with cauliflower, spinach and aged cheese. A very impressive choice and one we would highly recommend. We couldn’t get enough of it.

Our last (but not least) dish for the evening was the stuffed Zucchini Flowers. Evidently fresh, these succulent flowers were filled with ricotta and Manchego cheese and again served with an aioli, but this time a chilli one.

After all this amazing food, we definitely were ready for a siesta so we decided to call it a night. The Woolpack hotel in Redfern is the perfect choice for your next meal no matter what the occasion as it offers a great balance between high quality Spanish Tapas and a solid, traditional pub menu, all within a relaxed atmosphere with friendly, efficient service.

Ole.

The Counts, who review for Sir and Mlady Dine Out, were guests of The Woolpack Hotel. Big thanks to Mel Fryer for the invitation.

 

CAFE ORATNEK - REDFERN, SYDNEY

Cafe Oratnek
4 Pitt St
Redfern, Sydney

A beautiful old terrace house in the middle of Redfern is the setting for this lovely eatery we visited for lunch. It has a leafy outdoor seating area with lavender-fringed gardens stocked with fresh herbs.

It was a beautiful day and although very new, the place was full of people. Inside, the décor was rustic and charming with rough cement walls and simple wooden tables.

We were greeted by the General Manager Daryl Russell, who showed us to our table and explained the dishes on the menu. The selection was very interesting and Japanese influenced, with some hot dishes, salads and “sandwiches” which were more substantial than you might expect.

Oratnek’s head chef Kenny Takayama is a former head chef of Bill’s at Darlinghurst , so we were eager to test the water here at his very own place.

The katsu pork fillet sandwich was a popular choice.

However, we decided on the Japanese fried chicken with house kimuchi and mayo. Who doesn't like fried chicken!

It was in fact a soft roll stuffed with delicious crispy chicken and the kimuchi  (a pickled cabbage slaw) was a very tasty addition.

To drink, Dame K ordered the homemade ginger beer with rhubarb and Dame M had the homemade lemonade. They were really fresh and not too sweet.

We both liked the look and sound of the spicy pork-stuffed chicken wings so we eagerly ordered these.

The lovely golden wings arrived served with crispy chips and a tangy and rich chunky chilli jam dipping sauce. 

The wings were wonderful and the unique pork filling was so moist and very tasty. 

As well as all these goodies we also had the miso bbq boneless beef short rib san choy bow.

The beef rib meat was so tender and deliciously marinated and it just fell apart as we scooped it on to the lettuce cups with piles of fresh salad and coriander dip.

It was a pleasure getting our hands dirty as we tucked into these!

 A few serviettes later we were ready for something sweet.

The use of green tea (matcha) has been gaining popularity in the dining scene and it was a feature of the desserts on offer here.

We chose a matcha lamington and a matcha cream puff to go with a good coffee and a pot of tea.



Both desserts were impressive. The lamington cake was very soft and moist inside and the cream puff was made with a choux style pastry and homemade sweet matcha filling. Light and delicious!

Café Oratnek is open every day for breakfast and lunch. Its not surprising this place is so popular even though it’s not in a high traffic area. Patrons obviously know about it and seek it out. These Dames are planning to go back to sample the lovely brekky menu in the near future.

Those Dames, who review for Sir and Mlady Dine Out, dined as guests of Cafe Oratnek.  Big thanks to both Daryl and Kenny for their hospitality.

 

THE ANGRY PIRATE - REDFERN, SYDNEY

The Angry Pirate
125 Redfern St
Redfern, Sydney

You're certainly not going to forget a name like The Angry Pirate. It's rated ahhhhr - sorry - we just couldn't resist saying that!

It kind of stands out as a memorable one - and the place that goes by this name is just the same.

It's a small bar in Redfern that has some great specialty drinks but also offers some really great house made pizza's too.

It's clearly a quirky place - adorned with seafaring artefacts and all sorts of interesting bits and pieces around the place.

There's plenty to look at, but after you try their drinks and food it won't be the only things you find memorable!

Everyone starts off with the same thing here - the seasoned popcorn.

It just arrives at the table free of charge. It's nice to see some places still giving customers some snacks to have when they stop by for a drink.

We decided to just have a nibble on it - but after our second bowl we realised that this stuff was tastily addictive! Other tables nearby were going through the same experience too.

We actually started our drinking with a tankard of mulled scrumpy. This is a traditional old English drink that's been cleverly adapted here. They start with Custard & Co Scrumpy cider and mix in maple syrup and spices. It's then served warm in an Angry Pirate mug. The taste reminded Mlady of a nice Christmas pudding with custard!

The next drinks were just as memorable. We had a bacon and maple Old Fashioned. It had house made bacon bourbon stirred with Angry Pirate bitters and maple syrup. It was all topped with a chunk of maple cured bacon creating a memorable drink. We then had another great tipple - rum and freshly squeezed apple juice. It combined so well creating a fresh yet spirited drink.   

They do pizza here. It's pretty much all they do and they do it well.

We started with a Cour Valant - made from pancetta and porcini mushrooms on a great base slathered with San Marzano tomatoes and all topped with mozzarella drizzled with truffle oil. This was a great pizza. The earthiness of the mushrooms and truffle oil combined so well.

Our second pizza was interestingly called Adventure Galley. All the pizza's here have great names.

It was made from prosciutto, chevre and mozzarella with San Marzano tomatoes and all topped with fresh rocket after cooking.

Again it was a great pizza that we very eagerly devoured.
























The Angry Pirate is a great place to drop in for a drink and one that you won't forget in a hurry. It has real atmosphere.

The decor is memorable, the drinks and food are both great and it has some awesome music playing.

It's a small place but it's somewhere to settle in for an evening and just chill and enjoy yourself.

Sir and Mlady dined (and drank) as guests of The Angry Pirate. Special thanks to Pete for his hospitality and also to Alice for looking after us. Thanks also to Beth Manche from Hooked Marketing and Creative for arranging our visit.

 

PITT ST DINER - REDFERN, SYDNEY

Pitt St Diner
96 Pitt St
Redfern, Sydney

Pitt St Diner has a casual sophistication - an air of relaxed charm. It's small, boutique in fact, and not on a busy street.

They've only been around less than two years but in that time they've shown that they are prepared to be bold and creative with their menu and wine list - and their loyal followers certainly appreciate it.

The menu is French influenced - and the French accents flowing from the kitchen are clear.

It's honest and good food and also still adventurous and exciting nonetheless. Owner Gary Prebble takes great pride in making the food take centre stage - and it does. The lovely wine and charming feel of the whole place are an added bonus.

Our first taste of the food was with the arrival of the pork and pistachio pate. It was chunky and rough with definite texture - as intended - and served in a jar.

The pate came with a rich aged balsamic onion jam, cornichons and sliced baguette.

It was a substantial starter which was ideal for sharing, with bold flavours.

Next to arrive was a beautifully presented tuna tartare. We know some people won't eat tuna this way - for them it has to be cooked. However, if you haven't tried it raw you really should. The flavours of this dish were superb.

The tuna was nicely combined with cherry tomatoes and avocado, all nicely stacked and topped with thin slivers of crisp and crunchy apple. The colours were bold and the flavours were delicate and paired so well.

Good food deserves some good drinks to have with it of course - and so Mlady had a light 2013 Storm Ridge Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley and Sir had a fuller 2011 McLaren Vale Shiraz. 

Fancy some fish? The whole snapper was served with mixed green vegetables (including beans and cooked tomatoes) and lovely hand cut potato wedges. Yes we did eat our greens that night - mum would be proud!

This was a spectacular dish - the whole fish diagonally across the plate with the sides at either end. The fish was perfectly cooked too with it's skin nicely crisp yet revealing moist tender flesh just below the surface. 

Our other main course was chicken - and done so well. The tournedos chicken is boned and rolled with mushroom truffle and goats cheese inside and then sliced and served on pumpkin mash and a porcini cream sauce. 

Again the colours were evident and the flavours matched this too. The smooth pumpkin mash and porcini cream added tasty depth to the fragrant tender chicken.

Before we moved on to dessert we had a lovely cheese plate. Pitt St Diner has a small but highly select range of cheese choices and it's well worth trying a few.

On this occasion the cheeses we had were a beautiful fromage de Meaux (a French brie), a fragrant and more dominant Italian Gorgonzola and a lighter Munster from France. They were all beautiful and came with baguette, honeycomb and fresh pear slivers. 

Then it was time for dessert proper - and there are quite a few regulars to choose from here. We decided to have one of the specials though.

The sablees was lovely - cake like but a bit different - that was served on a board with marinated mandarin segments scattered around with swirls of raspberry coulis and passionfruit Chantilly dolloped on top. Its a sweet dessert, but with a subtlety that makes it not overpoweringly sweet. We thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Pitt St Diner is charming. It's cosy, intimate and personal. There's plenty of choice on the menu, and even more on the specials board. If you want, they'll match wines for you too, and it's well worth considering. Nothing is to much trouble.

Sir and Mlady dined as guests of Pitt St Diner. Thanks to passionate Chef/Owner Gary Prebble and Nicolas for looking after us. Thanks also to Claire McPherson of CPM Online Marketing for arranging our visit.

THREE WILLIAMS - REDFERN, SYDNEY

Three Williams
613a Elizabeth St
Redfern, Sydney

Three Williams is one of the new Sydney hotspots for breakfast and lunch - and after eating there for a blogger tasting it's easy to see why!

Head Chef Tim Bryan (ex Aria) has put together a great menu that has something for everyone and plenty of wow factor as well.

It has a very open airy spacious feel to the place. They clearly could have fitted more tables in but have decided to keep it roomy and limit it to 100 seats which is noticeable and certainly appreciated. The stairs and ramp make it wheelchair and pram friendly too.

Access is easy too. There's heaps of on street parking outside - it certainly wasn't a battle to find a spot!

We were to sample the menu and the first dish to arrive was "the merchant". This is not your standard bacon and egg roll.

It was a chilli fried egg that came with crispy bacon, pickled slaw and ranch dressing on a lovely warm brioche bun.

It tasted great with the chilli and slaw adding some zing and tang to the dish and the brioche offsetting it all nicely.

One of the signature treats at Three Williams are the croquettes. Unlike many these were fish croquettes which came with lemon and aioli.

These were beautifully presented as a six pack in a cardboard egg carton - but they can be ordered individually.

They were crisp, tasty and so good that we just had to have a few each!

Home made baked beans can sometimes be a bit hit or miss - but these ones were certainly a hit! They were described on the menu as spicy smashed beans with avocado on charred toast with two poached eggs. This is the breakfast of champions - beans, greens and beautifully eggs with a side of fresh lime to squeeze over the top. Just lovely.

The coffee here is really great too - certainly not like some places where the coffee tastes like a soggy tea towel left out in the rain!

Any breakfast dish that involves brioche French toast is probably going to attract attention for all the right reasons.

The variation at Three Williams goes much further than this.

It is crunchy brioche French toast topped with blueberries, yoghurt, roasted pecans and maple syrup. It was absolutely delicious.

Three Williams are known for their narnies. So what are they? They are  their signature house-made naan style flat bread which comes with different fillings.

We started with the variation that had glazed beef brisket, slaw, gherkins and chipotle mayo.

It looked great and tasted great as well. The nicely cooked beef went so well with the tangy slaw, gherkins and spicy mayonnaise.

The beer battered chips with house aioli were a real winner. These were killer chips and they disappeared so quickly. They kept coming and we kept devouring them.

Another real treat was the pineapple and mint soda. This was very nice - so refreshing and so perfect for either breakfast or lunch. The flavours were great and we really enjoyed it. It would be a must order for us on a return visit.

Our second narnie was the signature house-made naan style flat bread with grilled prawns, avocado, sweet corn and tomato salsa with aioli. Again the combinations worked so well.

The final narnie we had was filled with fried tempeh (a bit like tofu), Asian-style pickled veg, sriracha (a spicy sauce) and lime mayo.

It's so easy to see why the narnies are so popular here - they all tasted great.

Not surprisingly, there are some really interesting salad combinations here too using some great mixes of ingredients.

We had the caramelised cauliflower tabouli with quinoa, walnuts and preserved lemon.

It was a lovely combination of flavours and textures that was a real winner. Mlady devoured it and even I loved it too!

We were very full by now as multiple plates of each dish kept arriving at the table. However the arrival of several platters of beetroot coloured glazed donuts and chocolate brownies brought out the inner kids in everyone with loud gasps heard up and down the table.

I'm a doughnut fan so I enjoyed these treats that tasted good, but the delicious chocolate brownies were the winners here even for me!

Three Williams is attracting plenty of attention - and having now eaten there it's easy to see why. Service was good, the place has a nice spacious airy feel to it and the food is delicious with plenty of variations providing something for everyone! We'd certainly eagerly go back again!

Sir and Mlady dined as guests of Three Williams. Special thanks to George Redmond and Alana Garton of Wasamedia for arranging everything.