La Renaissance Patisserie & Cafe, The Rocks

This classic pastry cafe is one of the best cafes in town selling Parisian patisseries.  They have been in this business for over twenty years.  I absolutely love their cakes and sweets selection.  They also have savoury items available in the shop as well.  This place makes a great breakfast and morning tea outing especially on those clear blue-sky days.  There is a not-so secret courtyard located at their back door.  With more space and tables under the warm sunshine.

 

If you come from Wynyard/Circular Quay station, walk along George Street toward The Rocks.  When you see this Belgian Chocolate Cafe in the corner, turn left and La Renaissance just behind them.  It has LaR sign on the top left of the building or otherwise it is very easy to spot, the one with lots of customers.  

Mocha $4.50

Earl Grey tea $4/pot

Rare roast beef sandwich $12.50

Mushroom quiche $8

Coffee eclair $8.80

La Renaissance Patisserie & Cafe

47 Argyle Street, The Rocks

Open: Daily from 8am - 4:30pm (except weekend until 5pm)

Edomae Sushi Yokocho

Have you heard about Regent Place Shopping Centre near Town Hall station, this area turned out to be like a little Japanese town.  They are filled with a pack of Japanese restaurants and stores selling Japanese sweets and merchandises.  Let alone this Yokocho chains: Edomae Sushi Yokocho, Yakiniku Yokocho and Yakitori Yokocho, they are all under the same roof.  I have visited 3 of them recently.  Let me start with the sushi shop first.  

When the address said level 9, don't get it wrong.  It's actually one level down from street level.  The shop is located just opposite Mido mart.  On the weekend, it's very hard to get a spot, there always be a long queue.  However, on weekday, we were so lucky to get a table right away.  

It is a sushi train shop.  You can just pick up sushi from the conveyor belt or place an order from tablet underneath each table.  They have variety of nigiri and sushi rolls in the house.  Inexpensive sushi, it costs $4.30/plate of 2 pieces nigiri and slightly more expensive on special items.  I could tell that they use fresh fish and other ingredients as well.  However, in here they tend to serve classic and traditional sushi, not those modern and fancy ones. 

 

Sushi train - conveyor belt

Edomae Sushi Yokocho

Level 9, Regent Place Shopping Centre

501 George Street, Sydney

Hours: Sunday - Wednesday 12pm - 2:30pm, 4pm - 8:30pm

            Thursday - Saturday  12pm - 2:30pm, 4pm - 9pm

Epicurean Lunch Buffet at Crown Sydney

After we had our amazing dinner experience here in Epicurean, we opted to dine again but this time we went for lunch to see what they will showcase to the tables and what their menus would be differed.

For the weekend lunch buffet, the door opens at 12:30pm and there is no time limit.  So, in saying that you can can enjoy the full two and half hours of eating before they finish their lunch session at 3pm. 

On the way in, we have been greeted with these sweet petite goodies.  They were like waving at me and saying, "Please take me!!!" My eyes were like popping out...  "No worries, babies. I will come back to you in a jiffy." 

On this lunch hour, everyone seems coming in at the same time and they all headed toward that oyster and crab table.  So, rather than wasting my time waiting, I won't be joining this long line.  I went straight to get some sashimi and nigiri instead, which have a lot less queue.  Because I know they keep topping up those crabs, prawns and oysters anyway.  Later on, when the line for oyster and crab has soothed, then I can grab some of those goodies.  This is my tips for any first-timers to Epicurean, don’t you worry those fresh seafoods won’t disappear.  Look at the picture below, the mountain of crab leg just looks as much as when I came earlier.  

If you have read my previous visit in Epicurean blog, you will definitely notice that I always mentioned about how fresh their seafoods were.  It goes the same this time too.  Same premium quality, same fresh items as well.

Trying bits here and there

This time I tried to attempt a little experiment with cheeses.  I had mixed and matched a few crackers with different cheeses and chutneys.  The best one was definitely handed down to a combination of beetroot cracker with a cheddar slice and beetroot & watermelon chutney.  Sweet and tangy.  Crunchy and soft. 

For dessert, the type of cakes and slices are pretty much similar between lunch and dinner session.  But some just come in different flavours.  

In summary, I would say that their menus are nearly identical between lunch and dinner.  Therefore, if you could make it for lunch, it would be more ideal as you will pay cheaper price from the same or similar foods.  So, more benefits...  I haven't tried weekdays buffet though.  Should I?  Maybe..  Once I found out, will definitely let you all know.  For now, Octie Appetie everyone...

 

Epicurean Buffet at Crown Sydney

Level 5/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo

Ph: 02 8871 7171

Lunch: Monday - Friday 12pm - 2:30pm

            Saturday - Sunday 12:30pm - 3pm

Dinner: Monday - Thursday, Sunday 5:30pm -10pm

             Friday - Saturday 5:30pm - 11pm

Click here for price lists

77 Restaurant and Bar, Sydney

A Korean BBQ or Japanese BBQ is pretty common, isn't it?  How about Thai BBQ or they normally call it, moo krata.  First of all, the griller is different and they don't use charcoal.  For Thai BBQ, you not only get to grill your meat, but you can also get to put your ingredients on a broth like hot pot on the same griller plate.  Probably, I'm guessing that the original idea must come from the person who can't decide his/her meal. "Hmm... should I get a BBQ or a hot pot meal!!!  Ding..... How about have them both together at the same time."  Anyway, whoever invented this must be very genius.  So now, we can get to enjoy a tasty meal under one roof.   

Another great advantage is we don't need to fly to Bangkok to be able to enjoy this.  We now have a restaurant serving moo krata in Sydney and the best thing is, it comes as a buffet.  The price for an adult starts as cheap as $29.  It's included unlimited vegies, meats, and seafood from the display fridge.  Also, DIY papaya salad, hot food from the hot bar, drinks and boba milk tea.  Yes, you read it correctly.  Unlimited boba milk tea. So, gooooood.

They also have premium quality meats as part of their premium buffet option with the price for $55/pp.  However, if you pay by cash, it will cost you only $45.  So, don't forget to caryy some cash.  You need to order these premium beef and other seafood items by scanning the QR code.  So, basically with premium buffet you still can get all items from a standard buffet plus premium items as well.

The way Thais do their BBQ is firstly put a pork fat on the griller plate and rub it around from time to time.  This way is to make the meat not stick to the pan.

Dipping sauces

For standard buffet

Premium beef menu

 

DIY papaya salad

My successful trial

Unlimited boba milk tea

Loss count to how many glasses I had

Unlimited ice creams

Thai-style dessert

77 Restaurant and Bar

77 Liverpool Street, Sydney

Open: everyday from 12pm-12am

Price: Standard buffet $29 adult / $45 for premium buffet - cash payment ($55 - card payment)

          Kid below 4 yo is free