Fancy tapas at a price
Chris Cranswick-Smith was a guest speaker at the Media140 event who weeks later kindly invited me to his restaurant to sample the tapas dishes along with a generous $100 credit offer towards the bill total. I discover he’s a regular Ready Steady Cook guest chef and a very passionate chef and owner of Emmilou. A spur of the moment booking on a rainy Friday night brings me to this chic looking restaurant. First to arrive at 6.30 pm the red décor and quaint coziness is first noticeable. Friday and Saturdays are apparently the most happening times to visit which in turn can make it the loudest nights although the crowds are a bit scared of the rain tonight.
To start a specially prepared amuse-bouche of Cauliflower Beignet with wild mushroom foam is provided which has lovely flavours to ignite the taste buds. A delightful and well-balanced Perry Fizz Cocktail for only $10 (early bird special before 7 pm) hits the right notes for me too. The Seared Prawn Skewer with onion jam salsa and grated almonds ($5) is quite a tasty treat making me want more but at $5 each it works out rather expensive — I think two prawns would make it more attractive value. The Duck Liver Parfait, Fried Beetroot and Sourdough ($14) looks interesting, is silky smooth and presented with crispy and tasty slivers of sourdough. I’m a sucker for zucchini flowers since I know how difficult they are to make at home. The Stuffed Zucchini Flowers with Goats Cheese, Pumpkin Seeds and Truffle Honey ($18) provides interesting flavours, especially with the truffle honey but I find the batter coating not as crisp and light as hoped.
The meatier tapas of Goat Sausage with Red Cabbage and a Pedro Ximinez Glaze ($25) is perhaps a rather pricey dish, especially for the tapas market. It’s rich flavours go well with my very drinkable 2008 Estate Cranswick Shiraz Barossa Valley ($10). For dessert the Lime cheese cake with tequila jelly ($15) offers a very subtle taste of tequila in the jelly. It has a rich lime taste and is smooth on the palate. The Affogato with house made turkish coffee ice cream with a shot of espresso ($10) is presented as a make your own. I find the ice cream itself perhaps a little on the hard side and isn’t as creamy soft and smooth as Café Sopra’s version which I rate as my favourite so far in Sydney for a more reasonable price.
It’s a chic restaurant with fancy non-traditional yet flavoursome tapas at a price. I love the humour to be found in the menu quotes and it’s down-to-earth touches in the lounge area and decorations. With every restaurant and cafe I tend to find there’s always something that can be improved and Emmilou is no exception. I'm not a huge fan of plasma tv screens in restaurants because I think they're an ambience distraction and the position of the waiters ordering screen seems to be shining like a lighthouse beacon towards the main dining area which seems to be at odds with the lovely decor and ambience. I find the low bulbous black plastic chairs are quite awkward to manoeuvre especially when positioned near another table seating.
To start a specially prepared amuse-bouche of Cauliflower Beignet with wild mushroom foam is provided which has lovely flavours to ignite the taste buds. A delightful and well-balanced Perry Fizz Cocktail for only $10 (early bird special before 7 pm) hits the right notes for me too. The Seared Prawn Skewer with onion jam salsa and grated almonds ($5) is quite a tasty treat making me want more but at $5 each it works out rather expensive — I think two prawns would make it more attractive value. The Duck Liver Parfait, Fried Beetroot and Sourdough ($14) looks interesting, is silky smooth and presented with crispy and tasty slivers of sourdough. I’m a sucker for zucchini flowers since I know how difficult they are to make at home. The Stuffed Zucchini Flowers with Goats Cheese, Pumpkin Seeds and Truffle Honey ($18) provides interesting flavours, especially with the truffle honey but I find the batter coating not as crisp and light as hoped.
The meatier tapas of Goat Sausage with Red Cabbage and a Pedro Ximinez Glaze ($25) is perhaps a rather pricey dish, especially for the tapas market. It’s rich flavours go well with my very drinkable 2008 Estate Cranswick Shiraz Barossa Valley ($10). For dessert the Lime cheese cake with tequila jelly ($15) offers a very subtle taste of tequila in the jelly. It has a rich lime taste and is smooth on the palate. The Affogato with house made turkish coffee ice cream with a shot of espresso ($10) is presented as a make your own. I find the ice cream itself perhaps a little on the hard side and isn’t as creamy soft and smooth as Café Sopra’s version which I rate as my favourite so far in Sydney for a more reasonable price.
It’s a chic restaurant with fancy non-traditional yet flavoursome tapas at a price. I love the humour to be found in the menu quotes and it’s down-to-earth touches in the lounge area and decorations. With every restaurant and cafe I tend to find there’s always something that can be improved and Emmilou is no exception. I'm not a huge fan of plasma tv screens in restaurants because I think they're an ambience distraction and the position of the waiters ordering screen seems to be shining like a lighthouse beacon towards the main dining area which seems to be at odds with the lovely decor and ambience. I find the low bulbous black plastic chairs are quite awkward to manoeuvre especially when positioned near another table seating.
Other blog reviews:
SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Interesting decor, Modern tapas, Quality wines, Nice cocktails, Friendly service
CONS: Can be expensive for tapas, Known to get noisy when busy
MUST TRY: Duck Liver Parfait, Cocktails, Wine
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Flores del calabacin: Stuffed Zucchini Flowers with Goats Cheese, Pumpkin Seeds and Truffle Honey $18
Drinks
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2007 Hugel Gentil Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Riesling Alsace $11, 2008 Estate Cranswick Shiraz Barossa Valley $10
Menu
Decor and seating
Decor and seating
Front deck area
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