Vanessa: I often find myself thinking how spoilt for choice we are in Sydney, with the calibre of cafes and restaurants consistently reaching new heights. Our recent visit to the very newly opened Bopp & Tone in Sydney CBD, cemented this thought even further.
Centrally located opposite Wynard Park, Bopp & Tone boasts a charming interior which gives the feeling of old-world grandeur and opulence. This is very much a nod to the grandfathers of the owners and the post world war II era they lived in.
Whilst the interior is opulent, the atmosphere is lively and relaxed. Bianca and I dined on a Thursday night and it was clear that it was a popular place for a post-work day tipple as it was bustling outside when we arrived for our 5.30pm reservation.
We chose to sit outside to take advantage of the natural light but I did clock that they have booths, which I would definitely request next time..who doesn’t love eating in a booth!
The menu is Australian with strong mediterranean influence and many dishes are designed for sharing. We started off our evening with a couple of cocktails. I had the campari and soda which was noticeably light on the Campari..but refreshing none the less.
First up we had the baked mozzarella on lemon leaves with chilli oil ($14). This is a really unique dish. I had never had a lemon leaf before and was pleasantly surprised by how strong the lemon flavor comes through, particularly as you don’t actually eat the leaf. The mozzarella is served warm and melted. I really enjoyed this and not something I would ever think to pair together.
The smoked king salmon fritters with ricotta salt ($18) were a big hit. Super crunchy on the outside with smokey tones and soft salmon on the inside. A very morish starter.
One of the standouts for us were the Mooloolaba king prawns ($8). We tend to steer away from seafood but we were definitely impressed by this dish, not only for the sheer size of the prawns but also for the strong flavor of garlic and chilli that complimented the prawns so well.
The beef sticky short rib basted in aged balsamic and thyme ($22) is exactly what you want from a short rib. Melt in the mouth, soft texture and strong marinade. Somewhat a small portion size particularly if this is designed to be shared.
Moving on to the seafood from the main menu, we had the Whole Hawkesbury River Calamari ($26), served with squid ink aioli, grilled lemon. Now to be completely honest, this didn’t sit well with Bianca or I and not through fault of flavor or texture but due to us misreading it being served as a whole calamari. We like our calamari cut, battered, fried and tossed in copious amounts of salt and pepper, so this was definitely our bad for not paying closer attention to what we were ordering.
It is fair to say that we were both pretty blown away by the rib eye steak ($46). A generous 300g serve of grass-fed, Brooklyn valley meat cooked to a perfect medium rare, well seasoned and deliciously soft and juicy. Everything one could ask for in a steak.
To accompany our mains we also moved on to a glass or red and rose from their extensive wine list.
To accompany the steak from the sides menu we chose the cracked potatoes ($9) served with herb butter. The reference to crack was not lost on us, these are some seriously addictive potatoes with a perfect exterior crunch and soft centre.
The roasted cauliflower served with dukkha, mint and paprika yoghurt ($14) were also delicious and added a distinct middle eastern flavor element to the meal.
As always is the case with us, just when we feel like we have reached a level we manage to dig a little deeper to try the dessert. We were very glad we did.
The chocolate tarte was rich and decadent and a hit for the lovers of Chocolate, I’m sure.
The pineapple tarte tartin, came highly recommended from our waiter and did not disappoint. Light and crispy, butter-laden pastry encased chunky pieces of sweetened pineapple and topped with vanilla bean ice-cream. A dessert worth leaving room for!
Bopp & Tone certainly exceeds dining expectations and is a great venue for either just drinks or a meal as well. With two banquet options, I can see it being a popular location for birthday or special occasions also.
Enjoy!
Vanessa
Photos by Bianca
*For Foods Sake dined as guests of Bopp & Tone
