Posts tagged Burgers in Sydney

My baby shot me down: BangBang Cafe, Surry Hills

Review 2 Comments
BangBang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

Fried chicken, $13.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

Slap me between two buns and call me a patty – it really does seem like Sydney’s burger craze isn’t going to blow over any time soon. From The cult favourite Burgers by Josh, to the down and dirrrty Mister Gee’s Burger Truck, to Warren Turnbull’s Chur Burger (do you even Chur, bro?), Sydney is absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to all the salty, cheesy, meaty, pickly fantasies that you can slap between two fluffy halves of a burger bun.

So when BangBang Cafe reeled me in with the promise of burgers, well…did you really expect me to say no?

Double Banger, $16.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

The Order:

Double Banger, $16.90
Double wagyu pattie, double cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and bangbang sauce

Fried chicken, $13.90
Buttermilk fried chicken, sriracha cabbage slaw, lettuce, tomato and sour cream

The Stack, $16.90
Potato rosti topped with wilted spinach, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and pancetta

The Food:

With burgers, bigger is always better, but sadly, I might not be woman enough for it.

Double Banger, $16.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewDouble Banger, $16.90

The Double Banger is a hulking stack of wagyu, bacon, lettuce, cheese, tomato and BangBang sauce. The patties were cooked to medium, the cheese oozing, and the sauce tangy – everything that I look for in a burger.

Fried chicken, $13.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewFried chicken, $13.90

Maybe I’m a purist (that’s my excuse, anyway) but I don’t think I’ve met a fried chicken burger that I actually like. Not that it stops me from trying! This particular burger – called Fried Chicken, obvs XD – was decent enough with moist chicken, light sauce and a fresh slaw, but really I didn’t feel any chemistry with it.

Because eating a burger should be like dating – if you ain’t completely satisfied, just move on.

The Stack, $16.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewThe Stack, $16.90

But the surprise of the morning for me? The Stack. This take on eggs florentine (poached eggs, hollandaise and spinach) supercharged the already luxurious breakfast classic with the addition of rosti and crispy pancetta. Because potato and bacon makes everything better. AND you can still claim that it’s a healthy breakfast! Because spinach.

Seriously though. That hollandaise? Rich, buttery and the stuff of dreams. YAAAASSSS.

Food: 1/1

The Service:

Its always a bit tricky commenting on service when I’m invited as a guest of the cafe, but from what I can see from the other diners, waters were filled, tables were bussed and service staff actually knew the menus and specials off the top of their heads (it’s less common than you’d think). There was a definite passion about the place – recommendations were made personally and thoughtfully, and they actually sounded like they enjoyed eating there themselves.

Quite impressive.

Service: 1/1

Value for money:

Given the portion sizes and that BangBang is in Surry Hills, paying $16.90 for a burger is still fairly reasonable. Of course, not quite easy on the wallet if you’re on a budget, but something that you’d happily treat yourself to on the weekend without having to save for months. Not too hot, not too cold…like goldilocks.

Value for money: 0.5/1

The Vibe:

Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

BangBang has a really nice, chilled vibe going on. And not like a hipster “I look like I’m chilled buy really I’m not” type of chill, but a relaxed, personal feel that’s reinforced by the service. The only thing that prevented it from being a complete package for me was that the personality didn’t quite come through in the decor – most likely because they were still in the process of changing things up in the decor department.

Good, but not quite an experience yet.

Vibe: 0.5/1

And finally,

It’s very impressive that Matt – BangBang’s owner of 11 months at only 24 years old(!) – has such a clear vision of what he wants, and enough experience in both back and front of house to execute it. It’s not often that someone so young has such carry through, and he (and his team) has my utmost respect for it.

Can’t wait to see how BangBang is going to evolve. ??

Bonus points: 1/1

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of BangBang Cafe.
BangBang Cafe
113 Reservoir St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone:+61 2 9281 0018
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Bangbang-Cafe-260790390627103/

Bangbang Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Hello…Kitty Diner, Chatswood

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood

Gee Gee Burger, $12: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog Review

Sometimes it doesn’t matter what the reviews say. If you put a dish like Crispy Lamb Ribs on the menu, I will show up. And I will drag Christine and Simon along with me. Like how we ended up at the Hello Kitty Diner…

And made this.

Our Freakshake creation: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewWhat happens when you cross a milkshake with a doughnut and a soft serve?

Simon is not impressed.

Simon is not impressed: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog Review


The Order:

Crispy lamb ribs, $10
With sweet soy, mint, sesame seeds

Southern fried chicken, $10
With waffles, bourbon barrelled maple syrup

Gee Gee Burger, $12
Korean fried chicken, cucumber kimchi, pickled vegetables, Asian slaw

Sweet potato fries, $6
With Miso Mayonnaise

Doughnut Soft Serve

Doughnut

Yuzu curd and white chocolate milkshake, $8


The Food:

Never has there been such a roller coaster of emotions when it comes to a menu. First I got all excited because Warren Turnbull of Chur Burger fame (and just all round chef who knows his food) designed the menu. I mean, how wrong can it get, right?

Then the deluge of reviews came through, and let’s just say that people were less than impressed. Quite a bit less. Reviews ran the gamut of saying that you’d go more for the kitsch of the theme than the food, to saying that it was downright nasty (I’m paraphrasing here). Either way, it didn’t look good for our tastebuds, but I was adamant on getting my hands on those lamb ribs.

Crispy lamb ribs, $10: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewCrispy lamb ribs, $10

Ahh lamb ribs. My second favourite of the rib variety – after beef ribs, of course – and I’m glad to say that this doesn’t change things. Lightly coated with corn flour, there was just the slightest crunch before it gives way to unctuous meat, the richness of which is enhanced with the sweet soy sauce. Because sugar is delicious, amirite?

Southern fried chicken, $10: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSouthern fried chicken, $10

The rest though, didn’t fare quite as well and fell into the “okay” category. The chicken in the Southern Fried Chicken was pretty decent, but the sad state of the waffles let it down. It was stale, and tasted like waffles that had been pre-cooked and heated in the microwave. Even the novelty of having it Hello-Kitty-shaped couldn’t save it.

Gee Gee Burger, $12: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewGee Gee Burger, $12

The Gee Gee was in a similar boat, with a decent balance of flavours, but dry bun. It’s like you could see where they were trying to go with it, but they never quite got there.

Sweet potato fries, $6: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewSweet potato fries, $6

The Sweet Potato Fries were pretty edible, but no where close to the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had in Sydney. Even with the miso mayo – and you know I’ll eat anything that’s got miso in it.

Doughnut: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog Review Doughnut

Doughnut flavoured soft serve: Hello Kitty Diner, Chatswood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewDoughnut flavoured soft serve

Of the sweets, the Doughnut and Doughnut soft serve was dutifully adorned with Hello Kitty themed decorations, but when it comes down to it, the ice cream tasted like plain vanilla – which is okay except when you’re selling it as doughnut flavoured – and the strawberry flavoured doughnut was so sweet that I’m still buzzing from the sugar high days later.

The real travesty, though, was the Yuzu Curd and White Chocolate Milkshake. It’s as if who made this never had yuzu before. It was faintly chemical in taste, and on top of everything, runny like the texture of milk. We all took a sip each, and the glass was banished to the end of the table, behind the water glasses.

I guess what Simon said really summed up the food, ” I wouldn’t be angry if I was served this again”. Sure, the menu is designed by a really good chef, but it’s a bit like Apple being designed in California – no one said anything about execution. With mostly okay-but-not-mind-blowing dishes, you really start to wonder how much the novelty of it all is really carrying the diner.

Food: 0.5/1


The Service:

The Hello Kitty Diner seems to be staffed mostly by teenage girls, which seems fitting given the theme, no? They aren’t the most experienced of staff, but at least they don’t look like they were tortured into being there, which is saying a lot. They were polite enough, and we really appreciated the little things, like waters being replenished efficiently, but not much personality otherwise.

Well, this one girl did seemed sorry that we pretty much left the milkshake untouched, but that’s about it.

Service: 0.5/1


Value for money:

It’s not the most filling meal you could have at Chatswood, but $10 for a plate of ribs is not too shabby either. The burger was of a similar price and size to Chur, except for the drop in quality, so it’s also not the worst thing you could spend your money on.

But really, you’re there for the kitsch. Let’s not kid ourselves.

Value for money: 0.5/1


The Vibe:

I actually love how the diner is decked out. It actually feels like how I imagined a Hello Kitty Diner would look like as a 10 year-old, and I like how they get the message across without shoving your face in it.

And we all know how I love a good theme. 😉

The Vibe: 1/1


And finally,

There are no illusions here. The Hello Kitty Diner isn’t the epitome of fine dining, and you know what? It never said it was either. It’s there for the fans and people who love the novelty, and by the way, you can eat there too. All we could ask of it is that the food doesn’t suck, and in that regard, we were pleasantly surprised.

Just don’t order that Yuzu curd and white chocolate milkshake. Just please. Don’t.

Bonus Points: 0/1

This meal was independently paid for.
Hello Kitty Diner
The District, Chatswood Interchange
436 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, Sydney
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hellokittydineraustralia/

Hello Kitty Diner Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Burgers By Josh, North Sydney

Best in Sydney Review 20 Comments
Sydney Food Blog Review of Burgers by Josh, North Sydney

J Burger, $14: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog Review

There has been much debate about the best burgers in Sydney, but I think that there’s no denying that Burgers by Josh is absolutely killing it right now. After making social media waves as the head chef (and burger genius) of Danno’s, Josh has now branched out on his own, serving up Sydney’s favourite American import (well, besides Doughnuts, One Direction and…nevermind) to the hungry masses.

We stop by to start 2016 with a bang! Burger-style, of course. ??


The Order:

J Burger, $14
Wagyu, American Cheese, Westmont Picklerey Pickles, fresh sliced tomatoes, iceberg, onion, J sauce

The Colonel, $15
Southern fried free range chicken breast, American cheese, Mississippi Mayo, iceberg, fresh sliced tomato

Jurassic Fries, $10
Twice fried beer battered chips, Primo sauce, Liquid cheese


The Food:

Josh proves that he’s first and foremost, a chef – expertly working the grills and the pass all by himself, while about 40 people (by my estimation) placed their orders one right after the other. The open kitchen (no where to hide, here!) exuded a sense of calm and cool, as Josh methodically worked through all the orders with his team of two.

The result? Utter deliciousness, even if they weren’t the most photogenic (I doubt he had time to worry about presentation!).

J Burger, $14: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewJ Burger, $14

On the burger front, we started with the J Burger: presumably named after Josh himself, this had a Wagyu patty, American Cheese, Westmont Picklerey Pickles, fresh sliced tomatoes, iceberg, onion, J sauce between soft sesame seed buns. Simple and straightforward, this held all the flavours of your classic burger, but on steroids. The patty was expertly cooked to a medium rare, and together with the melted cheese, pickles, tomato, lettuce, onion, and sauce, it created the most delicious slip’n’slide ever.

The Colonel, $15: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewThe Colonel, $15

The Colonel was a cheeky take on a chicken burger, with Southern fried chicken breast, American cheese, Mississippi Mayo, iceberg and fresh sliced tomato. I’m not the biggest chicken burger fan at the best of times, but this was a really good mix of tender chicken, fresh vegetables and tangy sauce. Personally, it wasn’t as well constructed as the J Burger – the uneven shape of the thick chicken breast meant that some bites had chicken, some bites didn’t, and some bites threatened to slide the whole piece out the other side – but the more you ate, the more you figured out how to hold the burger. It just takes some practice, and no one is complaining about any excuse to have more burger.

Jurassic Fries, $10: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewJurassic Fries, $10

As a side, The Jurassic Fries could also just be a meal unto itself. Twice fried beer battered chips are topped with Primo sauce and liquid cheese for an unctuous pile of super crispy chips with melty bits. The only complaint? Not enough sauce for my liking – I like it with there’s a river of sauce going down my mountain of chips. Cause it’s like, um, nature, you know?

Jurassic Fries, $10: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog Review


The Service:

I’ve heard plenty about issues with the service before – from orders getting forgotten to burgers being served cold – but I think it’s ironed out now. There was still a bit of a wait, since everyone ordered at once, but if he managed to get everything out hot and correctly, then I don’t see how there would be an issue moving forward.


Value for money:

I was very lucky to be invited to eat at Burgers by Josh, but at the $15-20 mark usually, I think the burgers are skating the edge of reasonable and pricey. In a volume sense, only the Primo pays homage to his humongous burgers of days gone past, but I think on the whole the food is well made enough to justify both the price AND the dedicated trip out to North Sydney. Just.


The Vibe:

Located in an ex-bar, I really enjoyed the clear sight into the kitchen, where you can watch Josh work his magic. There’s a great graffiti/burger aesthetic to it, that makes it feel that much more street. I love the tattoo style branding, and it’s that same attitude that’s reflected in the food. Love it.


And finally,

I know I sound like an ungrateful bitch, but I really regret not ordering the Infamous Primo. Having had the Godzilla tower of sauce, meat and onion rings before, I thought I’d be reasonable and give the other menu items a try.

The Infamous Primo: Burgers by Josh, North Sydney. Sydney Food Blog ReviewThe Infamous Primo

WHY, WHY DID I NOT LISTEN TO MY BELLY???

Everything was still delicious, but don’t make the same mistake as me. Order the damn Primo, because it’s “infamous” for a reason – it’s damned good.

Josh will be at The Upper Deck at Greenwood Plaza till the end of January. You can find out more about where he’ll be next by following him on Facebook here.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Burgers by Josh.

Burgers by Josh
The Upper Deck, Greenwood Plaza
36 Blue Street, North Sydney, NSW
Website: https://www.facebook.com/burgersbyjosh/?fref=ts

Burgers by Josh Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Fly me to the moon: Domestic Airport, Sydney

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Chur Burger, Domestic Airport

Sydney Food Blog Review of Chur Burger, Domestic Airport

Airports are usually associated with sterile out-of-the-way buildings filled with surly security people whose sole purpose is to remind you why you need to get away and have a holiday. And airport food? Overpriced and of bad quality, usually.

Well, it looks like the tide is starting to turn, as T2 of the domestic airport opens its arms to a new batch of restaurants usually more associated with the CBD than the airport. Your pre-flight meal will never be the same again.

Chur Burger

Sydney Food Blog Review of Chur Burger, Domestic Airport

Since it first opened its doors in trendy Surry Hills (with a little unfortunate break due to a fire inbetween), Chur Burger has been serving up Instagram’sSydney’s favourite food to countless foodies in the CBD, Brisbane, and now the Domestic Airport. The burger menu is identical to HQ, and with the ingredients all coming from the same supplier (down to the pickle) you would expect a consistent Chur experience from Warren Turnbull and team.

We went for a classic Beef Burger and a more uncommon Lamb Burger, with side Coleslaw, Chips with Chilli Salt, and a Milo shake. I’ve always been a fan of a classic beef burger, but I must say now that I am officially a lamb burger convert. IT’S THE LAMB WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. With a succulent lamb patty, mint sauce, feta, red onion and aioli, this burger was a riot of flavours nestled in a soft, buttery brioche bun.

The Beef Burger in this case had a well-done patty, which made it a bit dry for me, and a departure from the Surry Hills burger that I love so much. Maybe it’s down to teething issues, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t go a second round to find out, now that I’ve met my one true lamb love.

Sides-wise I was missing the Garlic Lime Sweet Potato Chips, and for some reason the Coleslaw here had bits of undissolved salt crystals. Added texture, maybe? Go the Chilli Salt Chips if you want to complete the meal, but really, that burger is the clear Beyonce in this trio of burger/side/drink.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of SSP.
Chur Burger
Food Court
T2 Sydney Domestic Airport
Airport Drive, Sydney Airport, NSW

Chur Burger Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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The Vic on the Park, Marrickville

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of The Vic on the Park, Marrickville

Crumbed Eggplant Burger with rocket, haloumi, homemade relish, mint and garlic yoghurt with a side of chips, $18: The Vic on the Park, Marrickville. Sydney Food Blog Review

I never knew Marrickville was such a foodie’s paradise. From smokey meats and amazing Yeeros, to endless rows of Vietnamese restaurants, Marrickville is my new go-to suburb when I’m feeling like trying something new.

So The Vic on the Park faces some stiff competition, especially since they’ve just launched a new menu with a brand new head chef.

Want to know how it all stacks up?


The Order:

Share Board of warm olives, pickled house veg, vintage cheddar, garlic and Parmesan brushed baguette, $20

Crumbed Eggplant Burger with rocket, haloumi, homemade relish, mint and garlic yoghurt with a side of chips, $18

Premium Pork Roast Share Board for two with Brussel sprouts, purple conga potatoes, roast pumpkin, yellow heirloom carrots, apple brandy jus and fresh apple purée, $55

Warm Duck Salad with cherry tomatoes, coriander, mint, sweet potato chips, green bean, julienned chilli and a fried egg, $25

Berry Tart with berry Compote and cinnamon ice cream, $12


The Food:

The menu is split into two sections: the regular menu which has all the old school pub favourites like steak and salt and pepper squid, and the more experimental Specials Menu that changes weekly, which we ordered from.

As always, it’s very hard to get everything bang on, but their strength seems to lie more in their concepts more than their execution.

Share Board of warm olives, pickled house veg, vintage cheddar, garlic and Parmesan brushed baguette, $20: The Vic on the Park, Marrickville. Sydney Food Blog ReviewShare Board of warm olives, pickled house veg, vintage cheddar, garlic and Parmesan brushed baguette, $20

The Share Board, $20, made a good impression. I’m told by the chef that the olives were pickled in house, and that, with the fragrantly soft baguette, made for a very appetising starter to our meal.

Crumbed Eggplant Burger with rocket, haloumi, homemade relish, mint and garlic yoghurt with a side of chips, $18: The Vic on the Park, Marrickville. Sydney Food Blog ReviewCrumbed Eggplant Burger with rocket, haloumi, homemade relish, mint and garlic yoghurt with a side of chips, $18

We then moved on to the Crumbed Eggplant Burger, $18. It was one of the better vegetarian dishes I’ve had – I think Vegetarians would automatically give it points for not being a risotto! The homemade relish added a sweetness, which I liked, but Simon did not. The burger had a clear middle-eastern influence, though the flavours were somewhat muted through the burger. Not a good idea especially in a suburb like Marrickville where you can get amazingly robust Middle Eastern food.

Premium Pork Roast Share Board for two with Brussel sprouts, purple conga potatoes, roast pumpkin, yellow heirloom carrots, apple brandy jus and fresh apple purée, $55: The Vic on the Park, Marrickville. Sydney Food Blog ReviewPremium Pork Roast Share Board for two with Brussel sprouts, purple conga potatoes, roast pumpkin, yellow heirloom carrots, apple brandy jus and fresh apple purée, $55

The Premium Pork Roast Share Board for two, $55, sounded like fancy pub food, but was executed like, well, regular pub food. The pork, which was meant to be slow roasted, was on the dry side for me. Kinda says something when I enjoyed the veggies over the meat, doesn’t it? But the best part of the platter had to be the apple brandy jus. Dark and rich and gloopy – it went perfectly with the roasted veg.

Oh, and for bonus points: even though the pork was a bit dry for us, we found that it worked with the share platter. We just cut it up and sandwiched it between two slices of baguettes, with the house made pickles. Just like a Banh Mi, only…not.

Warm Duck Salad with cherry tomatoes, coriander, mint, sweet potato chips, green bean, julienned chilli and a fried egg, $25: The Vic on the Park, Marrickville. Sydney Food Blog ReviewWarm Duck Salad with cherry tomatoes, coriander, mint, sweet potato chips, green bean, julienned chilli and a fried egg, $25

For a more summery dish, we ordered the Warm Duck Salad, $25. The veggies, while crunchy and fresh, could definitely use a whole heap more flavour, and the sweet dressing was not really bringing any sort of punchiness. And with many vibrant salads that make their appearances all over Sydney, this one just doesn’t quite make the cut.

Berry Tart with berry Compote and cinnamon ice cream, $12: The Vic on the Park, Marrickville. Sydney Food Blog Review

And finally, the Berry Tart, $12. The tart came out looking more like a tea cake to me, which was quite perplexing, but after awhile we figured out that it was cut from a much larger, rectangular piece. Fair enough, except that the frangipane filling was quite heavy for my taste, and there wasn’t much discernible different between filling and pastry, which really means it might as well have been a tea cake for me. The berry compote, though, was a saving grace, and I ended up really enjoying the softened berries with the ice cream by itself.


The Service:

I’m not sure how much I can say about the service since we were invited guests, but from what I can see, they are quite friendly and helpful, efficiently clearing all the tables in the area and greeting the diners (not just us!) with a smile on their face. Everyone seemed to have a basic knowledge of the menu – which can be quite challenging with something that changes weekly – and that’s more than what I can say for most pubs that I’ve eaten at.

Not that I’ve eaten at that many. ☺️


Value for money:

It costs a pretty penny to dine at The Vic on the Park. In my experience, Sydney burgers cost mostly anywhere from $10-$20 on average, and for an eggplant burger to cost $18, well…the price rivals even the most popular burgers in the CBD.

It works out roughly about $30 a head to dine off the specials menu, and I’m not sure that it works for me, considering the amount of affordable and satisfying eateries that are dotted all through Marrickville.


The Vibe:

Filled with locals, The Vic on the Park has a very relaxed vibe to it, with sports playing in the background and a lovely outdoor area shaded by trees. The mix of distressed wooden tables and laminate-topped ones give off a trendy but not hipster feel, which is reflected in the mixed clientele of tradies and families. I can totally see it as an after-work hangout for locals, although I’m not sure that you would make a trip out if you weren’t already in the area.


And finally,

It’s always hard for a new head chef to come in and change things up, especially with something that has been there as long as The Vic on the Park. So kudos for that. I’m not sure whether her specials menu is there to feel out what the diners want, but I do know that it’s going to be hard to train cooks up to raise the standard when a 15-dish menu gets changed out every week.

Not quite my idea of destination dining, but I guess if you’re in that side of Marrickville and don’t want to travel too far, it’s not a bad place to go to.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Vic on the Park.
The Vic on the Park
2 Addison Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: +61 2 9557 1448
Website: http://viconthepark.com.au/

The Vic Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Kansas City Shuffle, The Rocks

Review
Kansas City Shuffle, The Rocks: Sydney Good Blog Review

Beef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter, Kansas City Shuffle: The Rocks

What is breakfast food? Personally, I’m of the camp that any food can be breakfast food if you’re happy eating it first thing in the morning (fried chicken fans, rejoice!), but Sam has very specific categories that he likes to put his food into. For example, to him, rice is not a breakfast food, even though me and most of the Asian population of the world would disagree.

So what about, say, beef brisket?

Beef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter, Kansas City Shuffle: The Rockseef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter

Well, at Kansas City Shuffle, breakfast does indeed include beef brisket with (gasp! Horror!) smoked chilli butter, on a crispy waffle. The secret to making it breakfast? Slapping an egg on it.

Beef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter, Kansas City Shuffle: The RocksBeef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter

True story.

My favourite dish that morning, the beef brisket was oh-so-unctuous, and the waffle just soaked up all that butter. Because clearly my waistline I need more butter in my life. The poached egg I could take it or leave it, but if that’s the one thing allowing me to have this dish first thing in the morning, then I’ll take it.

Fried Chicken Burger, Kansas City Shuffle: The RocksFried Chicken Burger

We also ordered the Fried Chicken Burger, which was meant to come inbetween donuts, but we had brioche today because they were having issues with their donut recipe.

Because brioche is such a downgrade, amirite?

The burger itself was nice enough, but strangely enough I didn't actually get anything from the fried chicken. It could’ve been any other patty in there for all the texture and flavour it was giving me. The slaw and the pickle was pulling all the weight, and perhaps it was the lack of donut, but it just made this dish fall short of my expectations a little.

So really, I’ve just been stood up by a doughnut and starfished by fried chicken.

FML.

Pancake with Lemon Curd, Kansas City Shuffle: The RocksPancake with Lemon Curd

And because we’re greedy, pancakes with lemon curd, fresh berries and smoked almond to finish off. As far as the pancake itself, it was a bit doughy for me – you know when it keeps rolling around in your mouth too long? Yeah, like that – but I really liked the sharp tang of the lemon curd. Made me feel like I could’ve eaten more, and that’s always welcome.

Kansas City Shuffle has a great Surry-Hills-vibe to it, with none of the manic frenzy. The chefs seem genuinely happy to be there, and there’s a warmth in all the interactions – I should know, I was right next to the door watching everyone come in. The coffee was excellent, which makes sense since the owner has completed in multiple national coffee competitions, and placed in the top 5!

Sure, the food could have used a little finessing (not the beef though, that was hectic), But they did mention that they were still working out some kinks in the recipes.

So maybe I’d wait a couple weeks for them to find their feet before trying more of the menu. But in the meantime, I think we can agree that anything can be breakfast, as long as there’s an egg on it.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Kansas City Shuffle.
Kansas City Shuffle
195 Gloucester St
The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone:+61 415 362 038
Website: https://www.facebook.com/kansascityshufflesyd/

Kansas City Shuffle Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Burgers for Boobs!

Review
Burgers for Boobs, Sydney Food Blog Review

Burgers for Boobs, Sydney Food Blog Review

Being the owner of a set of boobs, I must say that there is one thing way more porn-worthy to me: burgers. After all, they are a delicious, round, juicy, hands-on experience, and guarantees way more satisfaction.

Which is why I think it’s entirely appropriate – and clever! – that the Fatties Burger Appreciation Group has organized three amazing chefs to cook for a burger festival with a good cause: Burgers for Boobs is there to raise money for breast cancer research! On July 12th, Harpoon Harry‘s will transform into a burger popup, and ticket holders will get to feast on three works of art: The Carny from Bar Luca, The Pit Stop from Chef’s Kitchen and Cafe, and the El Gringo from Danno’s Cafe.

Bar Luca

Sydney Food Blog Review of Bar Luca, Sydney CBD: The CarnivaleThe Carny

*SPOILER ALERT: this is my favourite burger of the lot.

Maybe it’s because of Chef Sarah’s delicately balanced perfection of wagyu patty, American cheddar, lettuce, tomato, bacon and toffee apple aioli, maybe because I believe in GIRL POWER, or maybe because that toffee apple aioli is a cute shade of hot pink. Whatever the case, this burger is seriously addictive, and kept me going back even after I was stuffed to the brim.

And those chips. They may look like innocent shoestring fries, but the secret mix of herbs and spicies (I know what they are, but I’ll never telllllll) is really a secret to behold. Delicious.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Bar Luca.
Bar Luca
52 Phillip Street, CBD
Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9247 9700
Website: http://www.barluca.com.au

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Chef’s Kitchen and Cafe

Chef's Kitchen and CafeThe Pit Stop

Chef Charlie gives off a mad scientist/chef vibe, and The Pit Stop is the culmination of his hard work. With smoked wagyu patty cooked to a medium, pulled pork, fresh salad dressed in a house made pit sauce, and candied bacon on the top, this burger is served in an oval bun, to minimise mess and maximise experience.

Oh and if the burger wasn’t enough? It’s being served on the side with PORK CRACKLING DUSTED CHIPS. Pig lovers rejoice!! Woohoo!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Chef’s Kitchen and Cafe.
Chef’s Kitchen and Cafe
Shop 565, Pacific Highway
Wollstonecraft NSW
Phone: 0414 255 989
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chefs-Kitchen-and-Cafe/117591564982856

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Danno’s Cafe

Review of Danno's, Dee Why: The GringoEl Gringo

If Bar Luca‘s burger carries the finesse of a woman’s touch, then Danno’s Cafe surely triumphs with brute force. The El Gringo is a monster of a burger with 8hr slow braised brisket, cos lettuce, American cheese, avoado salsa, pickled jalapeño, lime and chipotle crema. And it’s not even their biggest burger!

This towering monolith (and acconpanying mexican seasoned fries) is a juicy, messy, hands on experience, and provides all the satisfying artery clogging sensations that you associate with a good burgerrific meal. Because you should really feel it. In your heart.

Napkins essential.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Danno’s Cafe.
Danno’s Cafe
23 Howard Avenue
Dee Why, NSW
Phone: 02 8094 9677
Website: http://dannoscafe.com

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Sarah, Charlie and Josh will be serving up their amazing burgers as part of Burgers for Boobs this Sunday, 12th of July 2015, at Harpoon Harry’s in Surry Hills! Tickets are limited, so head on over to their Facebook page for more details, and TO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

Behind every good plate of dude food is…Bar Luca, Sydney CBD

Review 1 Comment
Sydney Food Blog Review of Bar Luca, Sydney CBD

Sydney Food Blog Review of Bar Luca, Sydney CBD: The Carnivale

What makes a good burger? I mean, there are so many variables: bun, patty, cheese, toppings, sauces, balance…really it’s in the details. So I guess you could say that a good burger requires a woman’s touch? And at Bar Luca, that touch comes from the super talented Sarah Robbins.

Appropriate, since I was at Bar Luca to try out The Carny, which Sarah will be serving up at this Sunday’s Burgers for Boobs at Harpoon Harry’s (alongside Josh from Danno’s Cafe and Charlie from Chef’s Kitchen and Cafe) to raise money for breast cancer research!

Sydney Food Blog Review of Bar Luca, Sydney CBD: The Biggie SmallsThe Biggie Smalls

But first, HOW CUTE IS THE BIGGIE SMALLS??? This gangsta take on the Big Mac comes with a super cute mini cheese burger topper, and has a wagyu patty, umami ketchup, pickles, bacon, lettuce, grilled hotdogs, and big poppa sauce between two halves of a sweet bun. Savoury, juicy, structually sound without being dry, this burger is an amazing example of the attention to details that Sarah puts into her work. Every move is deliberate, and this burger has been soundly engineered.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Bar Luca, Sydney CBD: The CarnivaleThe Carny

And the Carny, too, shows a similar level of attention to detail. Here, Sarah utilises all the typical elements – toffee apple, corndog, fried pickles – and makes one heck of a burger. The lusciously pink toffee apple aioli simultaneously moistens and adds an addictive edge of sweetness to the burger, and I very willingly chowed down every last bite, even though I was already keeling over from the fullness.

And you know what else kept me going? Her shoestring fries, seasobed with a secret mix of herbs and spices – the colonel ain’t got nuthin’ on this shizzle – and served with a side of Big Mac Big Poppa sauce.

Amazing dude food designed with a woman’s touch and located smack bang in the middle of the city. I think I’ve found my new favourite burger joint.

Sarah from Bar Luca will be serving up The Carnivale with a side of seasoned shoestring fries as part of Burgers for Boobs this Sunday, 12th of July 2015, at Harpoon Harry’s in Surry Hills! Head on over to their Facebook page for more details, and TO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Bar Luca.
Bar Luca
52 Phillip Street, CBD
Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9247 9700
Website: http://www.barluca.com.au

Click to add a blog post for Bar Luca on Zomato

My anaconda don’t: Danno’s Cafe, Dee Why

Review 3 Comments
Review of Danno's Cafe, Dee Why

Review of Danno's Cafe, Dee Why

Where there is a brioche or milk bun in sight, you can bet that there is a battle of the burger going on. And Chef Josh from Danno’s Cafe certainly is coming with guns blazing, delivering up absolute MONSTERS of burgers for your eating pleasure.

Mister Gee, you’ve got competition.

Best part is? Danno’s is serving up burgers at a pop up to raise funds for breast cancer research! And who in the world would complain about Burgers for Boobs? 😉 But first, the review!

Review of Danno's, Dee Why: The PrimoThe Primo

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who has the biggest burger of them all?

I do! And it’s The Primo. With two wagyu patties topped with melted American cheese, beer battered onion rings, bacon, jalapeño, thousand island sauce sandwiched between two halves of a milk bun, this is less food and more a “bloody work of art” (to quote my friend Jason).

The patties were impressively cooked to a medium rare – too many cafes in Sydney overcook their meat – and it was so juicy I had to take off my coat in order to save it from the glorious mess. The milk buns however, toasted as they were, didn’t seem up to the challenge of providing structural integrity to the burger, and halfway through, I was just dealing with token mush and holding the patties with my bare hands.

Not that it was too bad a thing – I don’t mind a naked burger once every so often.

Review of Danno's, Dee Why: The El GringoThe El Gringo

The El Gringo was another monster of a burger. Sure, its shorter in stature, but as they say, size does not matter. Okay maybe it does, a little.

But we digress.

This one has 8hr slow braised brisket, cos lettuce, American cheese, avoado salsa, pickled jalapeño, lime and chipotle crema, also between milk buns. Also super juicy, and eager to be rid of its milk bun coverings before the end of the performance, like an inexperienced stripper.

But it provides an explosion of flavours (like a piñata!), and even though I can’t pick apart all the individual elements in the eating, I’m sure that should anyone of them go missing, I would notice it in this delicate tightrope of balance that Chef Josh is walking.

Review of Danno's, Dee Why: Beer Battered Onion RingsBeer Battered Onion Rings

Review of Danno's, Dee Why: Jalapeño PoppersJalapeno Poppers

And if this is too much burger for you, well, Danno’s does a good sides game too. Their Jalapeño Poppers are rich and cheesy, served up with a creamy chipotle aioli, giving you a delicious reason to clog those arteries!

The Beer Battered Onion Rings were similarly satisfying (and made with real onion!) and actually didn’t need the smoky barbecue sauce that it was served with. Not that I’m complaining though – don’t take it away from me!

I can totally see why Danno’s Cafe is such a favourite amongst the Dee Why locals, and how it totally inspires a life of excess and rock and roll.

Just bring tissues though. Or wet wipes. You’ll need it.

Danno’s Cafe will be serving up the El Gringo with a side of Mexican chips as part of Burgers for Boobs this Sunday, 12th of July 2015, at Harpoon Harry’s in Surry Hills! Head on over to their Facebook page for more details, and TO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Danno’s Cafe.
Danno’s Cafe
23 Howard Avenue
Dee Why, NSW
Phone: 02 8094 9677
Website: http://dannoscafe.com

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The perfect pair? Chur Burger and Mudhouse Wines

Review
Review of Chur Burger and Mudhouse Wines

Review of Chur Burger and Mudhouse Wines

Burgers to me have always naturally been classed as “beer food”. You know, sport on tv, greasy burger, hot chips, cold beer? But the burgers ain’t greasy at Chur Burger, and well, the beer ain’t beer either.

No, the alcohol in this case comes courtesy of Mudhouse Wines, and Chef Warren has created four new burgers at Chur Burger to pair with the wines, in a limited edition menu, only available for the next month.

Review of Chur Burger and Mudhouse Wines: Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder Burger, with sweet potato, pickled beetroot, and minted slawSlow Roasted Lamb Shoulder Burger, with sweet potato, pickled beetroot, and minted slaw

I was very lucky to try all four burgers in a slider size with all of the available wines – goat’s curd burger with a pinot gris, saffron prawn burger with a sauvignon blanc, and a slow roasted lamb burger, and a crispy pork belly burger, both paired with a pinot noir.

I know, hard life, right? 😉

Review of Chur Burger and Mudhouse Wines: Crispy Pork Belly Burger, with cherry gastrique, baby gem and fennel mayoCrispy Pork Belly Burger, with cherry gastrique, baby gem and fennel mayo

My experience with wines has been pretty limited, but the pinot gris with the goat’s curd burger was nice. And this is where you imagine me holding up the “ok” symbol and having a very impressed look on my face. Very nice. The 2014 Pinot Gris had a very clean finish, and cleansed the palette between bites very nicely. It held up very well to the burger, and we all know that Warren does good burgers.

The pork and lamb burger was similarly delicious, though not quite as delicious as the goat’s curd, but the prawn, for me, didn’t quite work as a burger. Each component was delicious, but the filling to bun ratio didn’t quite work with each bite.

Still. Super delicious stuff from two kiwis who really know what they’re doing. And only $20 in Sydney CBD!! A steal any way you choose to look at it. Two thumbs up.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Chur Burger and Mudhouse Wines.
Chur Burger
48 Albion Street
Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW
Phone: 02 9212 3602
Website: http://churburger.com.au/sydney.html

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