Healthy Food: Porteño and Gardel’s Bar: Argentinian, Surry Hills (10 Dec 2011)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Porteño and Gardel’s Bar: Argentinian, Surry Hills (10 Dec 2011)

358 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Phone: (02) 8399 1440

http://www.porteno.com.au

http://www.gardelsbar.com

More than just a restaurant

The Gardel's Bar and Porteño restaurant was probably one of the dining highlights of 2011 for me. I felt it was more a dining experience than just another bar or restaurant. The fashionably beautiful host Sarah Doyle may have also swayed my opinion along with the lethal Don the Beachcomber Zombie cocktail which is limited to one per customer but our table of nine all had a lovely time of enjoying the set menu overall ($70). The Porteno Pimms Cup ($16) was a refreshing start and for those who want a bit of passive smoke in their cocktail you might like to try the Thank You For Smoking ($22). The good thing about having the set banquet is you don't have to worry about ordering and I think it gave us a pretty good idea of the range of dishes available and left us wanting to return to try more. The Spiced Eggplant and Grilled Tuna with Asparagus and Charred Jalopeño & Garlic Dressing were flavoursome along with the BBQ Calamari with Pickled Green Tomato & Chilli — simple yet tasty. I didn't think I'd like the Blood Sausage with Red Peppers in Garlic but the taste wasn't as strong and bloody as I feared making it fairly pleasant.

The Pork Sausage aka chorizo was very good becoming a table favourite and one I'd definitely happily order again. It seemed many enjoyed the Crispy Fried Brussel Sprouts with Lentils and Mint which might please those who generally don't like eating brussel sprouts. The Grill selection I believe included some 8 hour woodfired pig and grass fed angus beef inside skirt but I can't quite remember. The steak went well with the homemade accompanying sauces for an extra flavour burst but I wish the pork came with more crackling which I missed out on trying. The South American Style Pavlova was an interesting dessert but I do prefer the Aussie/New Zealand version with cream and fresh fruit. We were pretty much full by the time the Burnt Milk Custard with Cumquat Jam & Chocolate Ice Cream was served which had popcorn on the side which didn't quite work for me but I guess it gave that slight salty edge which is popular these days with chocolate. I'd definitely love to revisit and try other dishes on the menu like the beef short ribs, lamb ribs and citrus marinated seafood with cucumber, grapefruit and yellow chilli paste. It wasn't a cheap night but it was a fun night of drinking and eating all under the one roof in a buzzing atmosphere.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Interesting decor, Service was accommodating and friendly, Tasty dishes and a fair amount served for the set banquet, Nicely made cocktails that didn't really hold back on the alcohol

CONS: 10% service charge for group bookings of 8 or more, Set menu required for group bookings, Seating times allocated to groups, Bottles of wine are not cheap but they are pretty good

MUST TRY: Don the Beachcomber Zombie because you're only allowed one

—

Sarah Doyle (host) and me

Porteno Pimms Cup - Pimms No. 1, Cointreau, fresh lemon & cucumber juices, ginger ale & seasonal fruit ($16)

Thank You For Smoking - Buffalo Trace bourban, house smoked vermouth, house smoked maple syrup & chocolate bitters ($22)

Don the Beachcomber Zombie - A secret blend of house rums, pimento dram, apricot brandy, absinthe, real pomegranate grenadine, Angostura bitters, a trio of citrus & pineapple juice ($25)