Sundays should be for avoiding the washing up – and if that means letting someone else do the cooking too, then I’m all for it.
I know, in reality, it’s not always doable. Sometimes you’re too hungover, sometimes you’re too skint. Sometimes you just want to spend the day in your pyjamas. But generally an invite to eat somewhere else on a Sunday, means I’m happy to chuck my rubber gloves back in the cupboard, (put on some proper clothes) and head out.
An invitation to try Australasia’s new Sunday Sharer menu even more so. It was the first time the husband had been to visit, though I know well the tempting nature of the booth seating (so squishy) and the delights of the menu.
The Sunday sharer is their version of a Sunday lunch. Alongside a drink from the select menu (wine, beer or one of two cocktails) there are then a selection of starters for you to share, followed by a tabletop kobata grill featuring three different meats (you can choose one, or two of the three), and two sides.
And if you have room, then there’s pudding too. But more on that later. Let’s start from the beginning.
For drinks, he went wine and I went cocktail. The wine was a perfectly lovely Chardonnay, the cocktail a Roku Gin White Lady. Citrussy, a little dryness, a little sweetness.
The decoration on top is absolutely lovely visually, but did pose an issue about half way through. The edible paper had become soggy and slightly squidgy, and I was faced with a decision. Do I slurp it, or ditch it? Mental note next time to remove it early doors and eat it – I know a few venues have these pretties from Roku, so a mental note for those cocktails too.
Onto the starters. Thankfully, as we can be incredibly indecisive, the starters is a sharer platter.
Edamame beans with truffle oil, garlic spiced prawn skewer, squid tempura, and Japanese curried korokke. The beans were, as you’d expect, somewhat addictive. The squid batter was lovely and crisp, the squid just done. The korokke are something like a Japanese croquette, with a softly spiced filling. A little stodgy, but in a good way.
But the prawns stole the show.
They’re huge. And a little smoky, a little spicy, a little sweet and juicy. I could eat a lot of these. You know. Just saying.
After a little rest, we moved onto our mains. You get the choice of three meats on the grill. There’s a galbi marinated spatchcock baby chicken, teriyaki beef, or bulgogi pork loin. You can have one meat, or two to share, we so went for pork and chicken.
The meats arrive on top of a mini Robata table top grill. But whereas my previous experiences with the grills have involved them being lit (they add a delicious element, but there’s often a lot of smoke, and you go home smelling like a barbecue), at Australasia they use a rosemary infused dry ice.
Much less, smoky, just as delicious, and no wondering why my hair smells like a bonfire on the bus home.
Along with the meats, you have a selection of sides. You can have sweet potato mash or seasoned
rough cut chips, and Asian slaw or broccolini with XO sauce. As you’ll see, we went for the broccolini, with XO sauce and crispy onions (crispy onions make just about everything better), and seasoned chips.
It was such a relief to have proper chips after the poor ones I experienced recently. Crisp, salty, and perfect for dunking in the extra sauces that came with the meats. The bulgogi pork loin was delicious, soft and tender. The fat had that crisp charring that means it melts in the mouth. The sauce adds a sticky warmth, which is a complete contrast to the chicken. The galbi sauce is sweeter and sticky, and as you’d expect, the chicken tender and soft.
Interestingly, our server mentioned that the chicken isn’t such a popular option. Which surprised me, and I wondered if it was the bones putting people off a little? Or that nobody knows what galbi sauce is?
You can, of course, finish your meal here. Sip your drink, order a coffee, go home.
Or for an extra £7 each, you can add pudding. Believe me when I say, pudding is worth that £7 extra. Even if you end up in a gentle sugar crash that leaves you half dozing on the sofa for the rest of the day.
Because look at it.
Not just one pudding. All of the puddings. Chocolate with peanut parfait (with salted caramel sauce to pour over the top), coconut friande, pistachio & passion fruit macarons, lychee & strawberry cheesecake, and a kaffir lime crème brûlée.
I don’t know where to start. The chocolate dome with the peanut parfait was rich and delicious (though I was very glad it was a dinky version). The cheesecake was rich and sweet. I adored the friande (I’m a sucker for a coconutty cake). And not only were the macarons lovely, they clashed with my manicure beautifully.
Perhaps for me the queen of the dessert bento box was the creme brulee. You’ll want the sound on for this bit.
Creamy, soft custard with a floral citrus from the kaffir lime and that crunch. That’s what a brulee should sound like.
All this, whilst we were serenaded by a violinist playing along to the music in the restaurant. And of course, no washing up.
The Sunday sharer is £30 (each) for two courses, and £37 for three. And as mentioned, this includes a glass of wine, one of two cocktails, or a beer. With thanks to Australasia for the invitation, we loved it.
