Palings @ The Ivy, Sydney

Not everything about The Ivy has to be considered expensive. Until the end of August (Monday-Friday), Palings at The Ivy offers $35 for 2 courses, with a beer or wine. You are able to pick from the salads, mains and desserts. The deal is available for all of lunch, however for dinner it is only available between 6-7pm (with a slight leeway to 8pm).

Palings is located at the back of level one, furthest away from the entrance. I went with my family, so we shared a lot of the dishes which allowed us to get a combination of salads, mains and desserts.

Sauté of mushrooms, walnuts, peas, broad beans, 

pickled onions, sesame yoghurt dressing 

A lovely warm salad to start of the night. All the components accompanied each other well, however, I found the pickled onions to become overpowering over time. 

Watercress, smoked trout and coriander with soft egg, ricotta, toasted almond and pumpkin seed 

Another lovely fresh salad! The smoked trout with egg and watercress reminded me of something you eat for brunch! There was a hint of spice in the dressing as well.

Rangers Valley rump steak, spinach, fries, paris butter (300g grain fed) 

The rump steak was cooked to right degree for all those who ordered it. It was a great serving size for the price we were paying for dinner. 

Friday Roast - Pork belly with apple sauce 

I opted for the roast of the day, because we can never say no to pork belly right? The serving size was more than I expected. There was also the layer of crispy pork skin! The roasted vegetables was a great side. Perfect for a cold winter night.

Strawberry mascarpone

Dessert! We ended up sharing 2 desserts, but it seems like I didn't take a photo of the other dessert which was cookie and peanut butter ice cream sandwich. The desserts are provided by Lorraines Patisserie, which is located downstairs from the Ivy. The strawberry mascarpone was DELICIOUS! The layers of strawberry and mascarpone cream were delectable. Not exactly sure what the cake layers were made from, but the top was blow torched, so I think it may have been meringue or almond based. Either way, the slight caramelisation added the extra oomph.

Palings was a great place to dine, and we went on a Friday night, where there was a lively atmosphere all around. You are able to make reservations for the deal! 

Good food, good times!

Windows on the Park Restaurant @ Pullman Hotel, Sydney

As a belated birthday celebration for one of my closest girlfriends 21st birthday, we went to Windows on the Park Restaurant. The restaurant is located inside Sydney's Pullman Hotel. It is a relatively small restaurant, that provides a wonderful view of Hyde Park, with the ability to see part of Sydney's War Memorial Monument. 

Complimentary bread with flower shaped butter

 Entrées:

Roasted quail with baby beetroot, fried calvolo nero and puy lentils

Calvolo neo is a type of kale that provides a slight bitterness to a dish. The quail was succulent, filled with flavour and the roasted baby beetroot was delicious. 

Harvey Bay oysters with key lime sorbet and seawater pearls

An ample serving of oysters for an entrée which was strangely not served with lemon wedges. The sea water pearls were very salty. I think fresh oysters with lemon can't go wrong.

Slow cooked pork belly with tonka beans and red miso

This was my entrée  and I found the serving to be very generous. The pork belly was beautifully cooked, but my only wish would be for a crispier skin. The sauces accompanied the pork belly well, providing a subtle Asian twist.

Sherry vinegar cured Yellowfin tuna belly with Iberico ham, red capsicum and almond crunch

A refreshing entrée filled with flavour and texture. All the elements were fun to try, and delightful. It is very appropriate dish if you don't want a warm entrée.

Mains:

Rosemary infused Riverina lamb cutlets with baby gem lettuce and truss cherry tomato

One of my friends always orders lamb, just the same as how I always order duck. The lamb was juicy, and always goes well with rosemary. It was filled with colours and flavours of summer.

Roasted muscovy duck with braised Belgium endive

You can't go wrong with ordering duck as a main course. The duck was slightly overcooked, which made it a bit chewy but didn't disappoint the taste buds. I loved the carrots and mushrooms, made the dish much better.

Sage scented grain-fed beef eye fillet in red wine, softened chats and oyster mushrooms

The grain-fed beef was cooked to my friends request of medium, which is always a good thing when it comes to ordering steak. The caramelised mushrooms were succulent, and potatoes with steak can never go wrong.

Desserts:

Palette of chocolate with peanuts and popcorn ice cream

This serving was massive, and a great end to the meal. The popcorn ice cream was topped with popcorn and caramel and contained peanuts within it. The palette of chocolate was rich with flavour and enough to share between two people consideringthe size of the entrées and mains.

 

Dark ganache with pistachio soil and Malibu flavoured summer fruits

Spoonfuls of ganache with mango/coconut flavoured sauce. The pistachios added a subtle crunch.The ganache was intense, no one was able to finish all of this. 

Ricotta cheesecake with toffee glaze, walnut chutney and meringue

A light dessert for those not wooed by the power of chocolate. It wasn't as heavy as some cheesecakes may be. The nuttiness of the walnut chutney was delectable. 

The overall dining experience was delightful, with the staff assisting us in many ways possible. 

Good food, good times!