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Arts & Ent.

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Beauty & Spas

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Nightlife

1	.	Bel Mondo
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Restaurants

1	.	AB's Restaurant
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Restaurants:French

So it’s the partner’s birthday and I plan to...

Hot Review

So it’s the partner’s birthday and I plan to take him somewhere special. Our neighbour mentions this great place, Mere Catherine…. French… sounds posh, but I ring and book.
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<br>The night rolls around and we are standing outside a little place wedged between two backpacker hostels. We open the door onto a somewhat dim space no bigger than the average lounge room. There are eight tables, Edith Piaf in the background and a rustic decor. An unbelievable smell wafts from the kitchen. Immediately I am in love.
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<br> “Bonsoir” - we are greeted and quickly seated. Our wine is whisked off to be opened (yes, it’s BYO, always a great plus). Menus arrive and we are relieved by the selection of only 3 or 4 choices for each course.
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<br>My partner says he wants whatever is the most expensive thing  - whole roasted guinea fowl ($45). It’s his birthday; I am paying, so this sounds fair (plus I know we will swap mains half way through too). 
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<br>The entrees arrive within moments. I have ordered the escargot and feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman as I try to get a handle on using the little snail grabbing apparatus. But before long I have mastered it and my first taste of these little slugs in shells is a pleasant surprise, although not sure what they would be like a la natural. The house specialty french onion soup is brought to the table by the chef, along with a raw egg and port which is whisked in. I can’t wait for Gerard (the chef and waiter so it seems) to leave so I can push my opponent out of the way to try it. It is pure indulgence, the best thing I have ever tasted…  
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<br>Then come the mains. The guinea fowl arrives in the pot it was roasted in and served onto a plate with lashings of rich sauce.  I haggle to try a wing first. It is a great choice, as is my steak that is covered (but not too much) in a wonderfully rich and buttery béarnaise sauce. Did I mention the complimentary surprise sides. Potatoes roasted in butter and garlic and creamed spinach, wonderful even if slightly over cheesed. 
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<br>Room for dessert? How do french women stay so slim with food like this? Must be the low fat desserts. So we choose to share the crème caramel and when it comes it is plenty for two.  
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<br>So I loved the food, french home style cooking, but perhaps even more I loved the atmosphere. No need to sit like you have a rod stuck up your back, and who cares if you drop a fork. But don’t get me wrong, this is no “Le McDonalds”. The wine list may not be exactly extensive and the toilet “shared” with hostel next door, but the service if friendly, warm and incredibly efficient for the two man show.
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<br>We agree this is one of the best restaurant experiences we have ever had as we pay the bill. $150 plus a tip - good value for great food, warm service & a night out in Paris.
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<br>Now, after a couple more wines, a few more words from my high school french vocab come to mind. As we leave I say “Merci beaucoup. A bientôt”. I pray that my words come true and I see them again very soon.

Ottoman Cuisine

Restaurants:Turkish

What do you get when you cross a Greek...

Hot Review

What do you get when you cross a Greek meat-lover, a French nutritionist and a fine-dining Turkish restaurant? As the unsuspected duo proceeds to indulge, the findings may surprise you.
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<br>So there you have it, a guy in the more-than-usual situation wanting to take his girl out for a beautiful night. He’s clearly not on the quest for the ridiculously extortionate restaurant, but he can appreciate delicious, out of the ordinary tastes in an idyllic ambience of a down-tempo romantic and elegant setting, while treated with the warmth of an old good friend rather than eating in cold, pompous and pretentious surrounds.
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<br>Entering the Ottoman Cuisine was a bit of a drama, as there was no evident signage on the all-glass exterior, and there was no one to welcome us on the door. To our delight however, this was more or less the end of our troubles for the night. We were escorted to a waterfront window table, where our waiter introduced himself. He instantly made us feel comfortable and took meticulous care of us for the rest of the night. We chatted with him endlessly on the various dishes, their combinations, the highlights, continuously changing our minds until we get it right. The service was a blessing. Dishes would arrive one after the other, one better than the other, in an artfully crafted sequence. The king fish carpaccio, the lamb aubergine, the angus beef ragu, the lentil duck, the spinach prawns, exquisite unusual tastes that finally made sense. Obviously, this was not the Grand Kebab Royale. Instead, it was carefully crafted recipes executed to blissful perfection. It was where the plates grew larger and the portions grew smaller, where gastronomy evolved on solid tradition, where the East met the West. Most of what we were looking at, and what we were tasting, were first timers. But it tasted so damn good – and think about it – what more can you ask from an expensive restaurant when your taste buds go on a raging frenzy while you chit chat to your girl with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and a million dazzling lights setting the background? Hey, not much more, really.
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<br>Desserts showed up, and that was what the night will be remembered for. A long time ago, during my girlfriends’ childhood in the French Provence, an old lady would dig out of her wood-and-metal ice cream push-cart the most delicious pistachio ice cream that back then marked and defined a little girl’s dreams. And on a Friday night, many years later and in a far away land, when she randomly chose the char-grilled figs for dessert in a water-view restaurant, her eyes lit up again as they did back then, when she tasted the pistachio cream that came with those Anatolian figs. And the guy with the last minute speculative booking that was now sipping on his dark creamy Turkish coffee, leaned back reassured that the night was one to remember and to talk about, not only because his girlfriend was honestly impressed, but because he had a really, really good time.

Bondi Junction Massage & Float...

Health & Medical:Massage Therapists

Surprised that float tanks still existed, I...

Hot Review

Surprised that float tanks still existed, I booked my boyfriend and I in for a "2 hours of Bliss" package. 1 hour in the tank followed by 1 hour of massage. When we first walked through the door it was like stepping back in time. Think Swiss Alps chalet with a slight resemblance to a 70s porn set. Pine panelling on the walls, shag pile carpet and an aquarium in the reception.
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<br>We are virgin floaters, so are pleased the receptionist gives us a full run down on what to do. When the door opens onto the float room, we aren't exactly in awe by the decor, but more intrigued by the two capsule like tanks, slightly bigger than coffins. I am wondering whether claustrophobia will get the better of me. Or worse will I drown? 
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<br>I am still not totally convinced this is my thing as I step into the warm water which is about 50cm deep. I am suddenly overcome by pain. Word of warning – salty water is not such a good mix for freshly shaved legs. I try to get past the intense stinging, sit down and roll down the shutter.
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<br>Now in complete darkness I lie face up in the water. The sensation is amazing. Not having been on a recent expedition to the moon, I can only imagine that this is what it feels like to be in zero gravity. Your whole body is completely weightless and floats effortlessly almost right out of the water due to the extremely high salt concentration. I am relieved that drowning will no longer be an option and surprisingly don't feel claustrophobic at all. Whale music plays softly in the background. Pretty much all my thoughts literally float away and before too long, I have fallen into a deep deep sleep. 
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<br>The next thing I am aware of is Norah Jones singing sweetly in my ear at an increasing volume. Slightly disorientated and totally groggy, I feel like I have been asleep for a year. The brochure says that one hour in the float tank is equivalent to 6 hours of sleep. At this point it seems very true.
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<br>We shower to wash off the salt, put on the fresh bath robes and stumble to the massage rooms which again are nothing flash. But with your head stuck through a whole cut into a padded plank of wood, who cares about the room. I ask the masseuse for a firm massage and he is spot on. At the end of the hour (which comes about all too soon) we head out into the waiting room to reacclimatise to the outside world. We leave still slightly drugged by the experience and have trouble locating the car.
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<br>My first time in the float tank was completely satisfying and the massage the icing on the cake. I can't remember ever feeling so relaxed. The 2 hours was truly total bliss, even the bill - $100 each. Incredible value and even better when the health fund kicks in (finally those monthly deductions are starting to seem worthwhile). 
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<br>Now a complete convert, I vow to revisit at least once a month to catch up on that lost sleep. I don't ever dare ask how often they change the tank water. But with all that salt, I feel content enough not to ever know.

Yellow Express

Home Services:Furniture Removal & Store

I used Yellow Express when I moved home. ...

Palace Verona Cinema

Arts & Entertainment:Cinemas

My first date with my boyfriend involved a...

Favoloso Espresso Bar
Restaurants:Cafes, Italian

	true local deli
	Fantastic italian deli right in the middle of our local community. The friendly owner and her staff are rated as high as the delicious food and fantastic coffee. I sit down for a snack, a quiet coffee...

Lynne G / Jul 27, 2008

Restaurants

La Sala
Level Ground
23 Foster St
Surry Hills
NSW 2010
(02) 9281 3352

Nightlife

The Ivy
320 George Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
(02) 9240 3000

Shopping

Ariel Booksellers
42 Oxford St
Paddington
NSW 2021
(02) 9332 4581

Beauty & Spas

Joh Bailey Salon
Lvl 1, Myers
George St
Sydney
NSW 2000
(02) 9231 4411

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