Jester Seeds, Newtown
Atmosphere: The atmosphere in Jester is great. It is very small bar, with a cosy and comfortable feel. The lighting is warm, the furniture is comfortable and quirky and the staff are friendly! Overall I would rank the atmosphere at jester 5 bottles out of 5.
Drinks/Food: The menu at Jesters is short, however well reputed. There is a reasonably wide selection drinks offering delicious ranges such as Rekorderlig Ciders which are always a favorite of mine! Overall rate the food and drinks 4 out of 5.
Affordability: Whilst the cocktails at Jesters are pretty expensive if you flick through the menu you'll find a number of affordable drinks and foods! With entree style foods starting at around $5 and wines available for $7 I rank the affordability 4 out of 5 bottles!
Location: Jesters is located towards the top end of King street in Newtown (127 king street), approximately a 10 minute walk from the station. Whilst it's not in the heart of King street the slight seclusion of this bar suits the atmosphere! I rate the location 4 out of 5 bottles.
Interior Design: The interior design of the bar is fantastic! The old lounges and stools, accompanied by the dark woody feel give the bar a wonderfully relaxed and quirky mentality! I rate it 4 out of 5 bottles!
Overall judgement: Overall I think that Jesters is a great place to catch up for a relaxed drink with a friend (or a small group), the atmosphere is fantastic and the staff very friendly so overall I would rate the Jester Seed 9 out of 10 bottles!
Pron Prohm's - North Strathfield
Atmosphere: The restaurant is very simple and relaxed. The staff are extremely polite and friendly so this makes it an enjoyable and nice atmosphere. However it is not exactly an exciting place to be, just a place that serves good food. So i would rate the atmosphere at 3 plates out of 5, as it is enjoyable but not over the top.
Drinks/Food: Pron Prohm's offers almost 60 different meals on their menu, and though i obviously haven't tried them all i would confidently say that they would all be amazing! Of the dishes i did try, including chicken and cashew nut stir fry, gang mussamin, and pad-thai, all was delicious. The food was created with good quality vegetables, and meat and chicken, and extremely tasty spices. There were dishes with noodles, rice and salads and soups; chicken, beef, lamb or fish and vegetarian meals. I would rate the food at 5 plates out of 5.
Affordability: The starters including spring rolls, curry puffs and more were priced from $5.90 to $8.90. The majority of the main courses cost between $12 and $16, with a few exceptions slightly higher or lower. I would rate the affordability at 3 plates out of 5.
Interior Design: The layout was simple, and organised. With completely wooden furnishings, floor and frames, and a colour scheme including oranges, yellows and reds made the restaurant feel very warm and comfortable. It was nothing extravagant, but pretty enough to make it just a tad better. I would rate the interior design at 2.5 plates out of 5.
Location: Pron Prohm's is located at 209 Concord Road North Strathfield. Its easy to find, in the centre of a row of restaurants just along the main road. For anyone in the inner-western suburbs it is easy to get to, and definitely worth the trip. I would give the location 3 plates out of 5.
Overall Judgement: I thought that Pron Prohm was a great thai restaurant. The food was affordable and delicious - basically all i was looking for, so the minimalistic design didn't exactly detract from the awesomeness that was the thai. Overall i would give it a rating of 4 bottles out of 5.
- Tina
Fujiyama, Leichhardt
Atmosphere: Fujiyama restaurant is a great place for lunch or dinner, whether it is with family, work colleague or partner. Located in the heart of Little Italy, its overall atmosphere stands out from the rest and its different menu to other restaurants in the area, makes it unique and distinct. Fujiyama has a sense of Japan to it and really makes you feel part of the culture and traditional food. They create a bit of ambience by using tealight candles on each table and this adds a nice, simplistic touch to the place. Overall, I rank its atmosphere 4 plates out of 5
Drinks/Food: Its got all your favourite Asian dishes, including sushi, futomaki, rice and noodles and its famous seafood. Its entrée and main course are the real deal! If you love Asian dishes, this really is the place to be. 4 plates out of 5.
Affordability: relatively inexpensive. The main sets (Bara, Hana, Yasai, Sakura and Fujiyama) at the restraint range from $39 - $59 and you really do get what you pay for. I rank its affordability 4 plates out of 5.
Location: Fujiyama is located in the heart of Norton Street (161 Norton St, Leichhardt) and really stands out from the rest as it is a Japanese restaurant in Little Italy. 3.5 plates out of 5.
Interior Design: The interior design is light and simple as well as ambient. It has that nice Japanese feel and design to it, making the mood relaxed and enjoyable. I rank it 3.5 plates out of 5.
Overall judgement: My overall judgement of Fujiyama is one of delight and pleasantness. It’s a great place to dine and enjoy traditional Japanese food and to get a feel of Japan’s culture. Its ambience and simplistic approach to dining makes it an enjoyable and relaxed place to be. It was a little difficult for the waiter to take our order as he did not speak English well, but overall a great place. Overall, I rank it 7.5 plates out of 10.
-Aryan
Star City Garden Buffet, Pyrmont
Atmosphere: Star City Garden Buffet is a great place for all special or business occasions with a vibrant atmosphere complimented by its ‘all you can eat’ offer. It’s close to the casino and other facilities in Star City, which is now known as The Star. Its large range of prawns, pastas, meats and salads on offer makes it a great place. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are included in the 'all you can eat' price. There are plenty of seats available but the waiting area can get a bit unyielding at times. Overall, I rank its atmosphere 4 plates from 5.
Drinks/Food: It’s just like Sizzler, except a greater range of food choices. Star City Garden Buffet is most famous for its large selection of Asian and Western food. There is also a huge selection of wine. Star City Garden Buffet is sometimes called Star City Prawn Buffet. Overall, I rank it 4.5 plates from 5.
Affordability: Slightly pricey when your only choice is a Garden Buffet:
Breakfast Daily $34.50; Lunch Mon-Fri $29.90, Sat-Sun $34.90; Dinner Mon-Thu $34.90, Fri-Sun $39.90. Overall, I rank affordability 3 plates from 5.
Location: Star City Garden Buffet is located at The Star, Level 1, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont 2009 NSW. It’s in a great location because you still get an absolutely amazing view of Darling Harbour outside the casino, which is less than a 5 minute walk away from the buffet. Overall, I rank location 4.5 plates out of 5.
Interior Design: lighting is well enough to allow you to hold your large plate of food and not drop it! The garden buffet is located at the front of the restaurant and seating (520 seats) is located all around the buffet. It has a simple design to it and is coated brown all around the eatery, suitable for an ‘all-you-can-eat’ restaurant. I rank it 4 plates out of 5.
Overall judgement: Overall, its location, atmosphere and design are well crafted and laid back, making it suitable for any special occasion or just a simple business meeting. A great place to socialise and enjoy food. Overall, I give it an overall judgement of 8.5 plates out of 10.
- Aryan
Beach Road Hotel - Bondi Beach
Atmosphere: Given that there was an AFL Grand Final, an important Rugby World Cup match between Scotland and England, and several other football games happening, the atmosphere at the Beach Road Hotel was exciting, with crazed sports fans practically bouncing off the walls. The large crowd fit well into the large bar spaces, and the people, the bartenders and other staff were all extremely friendly and personable. I would rate the atmosphere at 5 bottles out of 5.
Drinks/Food: There is a large dining area and the meals did look great, but i personally didn't eat there, but this is the link to the Bistro information on their webpage http://beachroadbondi.com.au/bistro/. The Drinks were generously poured and the rate was a bit over $20 for three beers. Overall I would rate the drinks at 4 bottles our of 5.
Drinks/Food: There is a large dining area and the meals did look great, but i personally didn't eat there, but this is the link to the Bistro information on their webpage http://beachroadbondi.com.au/bistro/. The Drinks were generously poured and the rate was a bit over $20 for three beers. Overall I would rate the drinks at 4 bottles our of 5.
Location: The Beach Road Hotel is located 71 Beach Road, Bondi Beach. Its a very large, square, white and yellow hotel, extremely hard to miss. Its very close to the beach so a great place to go for some lunch, dinner, or a few drinks after a day at the beach. However, it was a little confusing to get to directly from the station, so i would rate the location at 3 bottles out of 5.
Interior Design: There were three bar spaces and a dining area on the first level all well spaced and simply designed with wooden furnishings. The outside bar space was decked out with benches and bar stools, with a simple water feature along the back wall and several small trees throughout. Better lighting would have been appreciated outside as it was practically pitch black by around seven. The inside had both a simple bar near the dining area and a sports bar with a DJ and multiple TV screens and pool tables. The upstairs was a little more artsy, bicycles hanging from the ceiling etc. and without the same excited atmosphere as downstairs, but appealing nonetheless. I would rate the interior design at 4 bottles out of 5.
Overall judgement: Overall the bar was an enjoyable and relaxed environment, a great place to chill out and enjoy a few beers. The friendly and excited atmosphere made the hotel even more appealing and the simplicity of the lay out made it all the more accessible. Overall i would rate the Beach Road Hotel at 4 bottles out of 5.
-Tina
Interior Design: There were three bar spaces and a dining area on the first level all well spaced and simply designed with wooden furnishings. The outside bar space was decked out with benches and bar stools, with a simple water feature along the back wall and several small trees throughout. Better lighting would have been appreciated outside as it was practically pitch black by around seven. The inside had both a simple bar near the dining area and a sports bar with a DJ and multiple TV screens and pool tables. The upstairs was a little more artsy, bicycles hanging from the ceiling etc. and without the same excited atmosphere as downstairs, but appealing nonetheless. I would rate the interior design at 4 bottles out of 5.
Overall judgement: Overall the bar was an enjoyable and relaxed environment, a great place to chill out and enjoy a few beers. The friendly and excited atmosphere made the hotel even more appealing and the simplicity of the lay out made it all the more accessible. Overall i would rate the Beach Road Hotel at 4 bottles out of 5.
-Tina
Cottage Point Inn
Atmosphere: The Cottage Point Inn sits right on Cowan Creek with astonishing views and seclusion. The water is lined with yachts and the odd seaplane giving an undeniable air of sophistication. The restaurant itself is light and airy whilst maintaining a sense of cosyness and hospitality. Overall I would rate the atmosphere 4 bottles out 5.
Drinks/Food and Affordability: The Cottage Point Inn is not in a way, shape or form affordable. Entrees range from $20-$30, Mains from $35-$50 and Desserts from around $30. However, you don't go to the Inn if you're looking for a cheap eat!! Overall I would rate the affordability 0 plates out of 5. But I would rate the meals 4 out of 5 (not 5 as I think if you are paying that much it should be the best food you have ever eaten - and it wasn't)
Location: The Inn is located right on Cowan Creek, sheltered from any semblance of society as such the location was spectacular. However, with very little parking and the only 'on-road' entrance being a small windy road getting to the Inn is not very easy. Unless of course you choose to take a seaplane or come via boat, then getting to the Inn is very easy - jest very costly! As such, I would rate the location 3 plate out of 5 based solely on the beauty of the area!
Interior Design: The interior design was light and airy, wooden furniture with simple white decor. The restaurant relies on the beauty of the surrounding area to take on the primary design role. Overall this worked pretty well - over designing the interior of the restaurant I feel would have been to its detriment. As such i rank it 3 plate out of ten.
Interior Design: The interior design was light and airy, wooden furniture with simple white decor. The restaurant relies on the beauty of the surrounding area to take on the primary design role. Overall this worked pretty well - over designing the interior of the restaurant I feel would have been to its detriment. As such i rank it 3 plate out of ten.
Overall judgement: Overall, the location and ambiance was spectacular, the food was good and it was wll worth the trip. The only detraction was the $500+ bill. As such I rate the Inn 8 plates out of 10.
-Katie
-Katie