If you've been following the small bar revolution closely, you'll have noticed that a lot of small bars have quite a masculine feel... bison heads, dark timber walls, concrete floors, industrial finishes, vintage sporting memorabilia ... dont pretend you don't know the type. And I didn't really notice this trend until I visited The Hazy Rose recently.
In search of an Italian feast we head to Buffalo Dining Club, I am so excited about this one. It's a narrow 2 storey wine bar and italian restaurant less than 1km walk from Hazy Rose, just off Victoria Street.
They don't take bookings, so we arrive with our fingers and toes crossed.. et voila (or Italian equivalent)... a table for two is patiently waiting just inside. While there are staffers around no one greets us, or motions for us to sit, we are left awkwardly standing next to the table. We found the service to be generally a bit hit and miss, sometimes very prompt and friendly, at other times a bit aloof and forgetful. But the food was so good, we didnt mind.
This little gem is oh so conveniently located on Stanley St in north Darlinghurst. The only signage is a small note saying something like "Sydney's newest small bar" next to a narrow staircase. The decor and feel of this bar suits the name down to a tee. My interpretation being "Hazy" = a little bit eclectic, mismatched and confused (in a good way) and "Rose" = slight feminine touches, cosy, velvety. So the feel is warm but (comparatively) colourful, chic but eclectic.
and so dark apparently that you cant even see the walls...my bad
Food wise they have cheese plates and a pork pie dinner special ($10 for pie and beer). The cocktail list is on the shorter side, some classics and some unique concoctions, all made with skill this ain't a bad menu at all!! (plus we all know I quite like just having a few options with less reading). We order the Fernet Julep and the Pimms Cup, both are excellent in taste and value (around $15-16ea).
Classic Pimms Cup
Fernet Julep: Bourbon, Fernet Branca and mint
In search of an Italian feast we head to Buffalo Dining Club, I am so excited about this one. It's a narrow 2 storey wine bar and italian restaurant less than 1km walk from Hazy Rose, just off Victoria Street.
They don't take bookings, so we arrive with our fingers and toes crossed.. et voila (or Italian equivalent)... a table for two is patiently waiting just inside. While there are staffers around no one greets us, or motions for us to sit, we are left awkwardly standing next to the table. We found the service to be generally a bit hit and miss, sometimes very prompt and friendly, at other times a bit aloof and forgetful. But the food was so good, we didnt mind.
We perused the large chalkboard menu. Buffalo mozzarella is of course the star, and the idea is to order a 100g or 125g piece of mozzarella and charcuterie and/or vege accompaniments, now THIS is my favourite way to eat!
We order two dishes ($15 for 100g with 2 sides), the grilled red peppers and polenta: incredible incredible smoky marinated peppers, home made grissini sticks, a few slices of salami, crunchy as hell polenta batons, and that oh so luscious creamy ball of cheese that I love so much.
We drink pinot grigio ($12) (yes, I'm hooked) which has a beautiful pale pink hue, this is delicious.
To further gild the lily, we decide that the pasta is a must. The list of mains is short but diverse: salad caprese ($15), trout salad ($17) pork and mozzarella burger ($14), tomato and basil gnocchi ($15) and a parmesan herb spaghetti ($18).
We order the gnocchi and spaghetti. The spaghetti is served from a giant cheese wheel which is supposed to make it extra cheesy and lush, and we love the fresh chilli oil for a DIY chilli kick. The simple flavours were excellent, however it was less cheesy than all the hype had led me to expect, and could have been much hotter in temperature. The gnocchi was to die for, silky pillows of buffalo milk ricotta gnocchi caressed by a rich cherry tomato and basil sauce, a gorgeous full bodied sauce.
If you havent been to check these two newbies out, you absolutely must! They are definitely worth the visit
....so what do you think about my Hazy Rose theory, plausible?
The Hazy Rose
83 Stanley St, Darlinghurst
9356 1596
thehazyrose.com.au
Buffalo Dining Club
116 Surrey St, Darlinghurst
9332 4052 (no bookings)
facebook.com/buffalodiningclub
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