It’s been a bit frustrating going on IG these days because most of the “foodie” accounts are walking advertisements and I can’t trust their ‘honest review’. Luckily my friend J knows some hidden gems and took me to Bellbird Dining and Bar for a delicious dinner on Saturday 😊.
The restaurant is located in the Powerhouse Casula (South West Sydney) and has recently opened up its service to include Friday and Saturday dinner. They’ve also won a few awards and have been visited by some Master Chefs.
We had the 2 course dinner for $49 per person. This included the staple bread and butter, 4 entrées, a main each and 2 complementary salads. We also ordered a dessert and a cocktail, ending with a $69 bill each.
The restaurant is located in the Powerhouse Casula (South West Sydney) and has recently opened up its service to include Friday and Saturday dinner. They’ve also won a few awards and have been visited by some Master Chefs.
We had the 2 course dinner for $49 per person. This included the staple bread and butter, 4 entrées, a main each and 2 complementary salads. We also ordered a dessert and a cocktail, ending with a $69 bill each.
Entrée
Oops, forgot to take a photo of the sourdough bread. There was a small dish of butter, virgin oil and olives to go with the bread. The butter was plain with no seasoning.
We got to choose between the carnivore and vegetarian entrées. Obviously, carnivore 🤭.
We got to choose between the carnivore and vegetarian entrées. Obviously, carnivore 🤭.
Starting with my least favourite, this was the textures of beetroot, goat cheese and honey walnuts. I haven’t developed a cultivated taste for goat cheese yet but surprisingly the flavour was tolerable and only moderately infused throughout the bite. It was balanced well by the refreshing sweetness of the beetroot, which there was plenty of to mask the goat stench. The honey walnuts were a nice crunchy element but they did not add much flavour. Overall, it was really enjoyable.
The cured salmon, brioche, black garlic and sesame seeds was a deliciously savoury bite. The black garlic sauce was slightly textured, with a sweet and smoky flavour, similar to aged balsamic. The brioche had been baked so it was like eating a crispy biscuit. And the soft salmon cubes contrasted the crunch, filling the mouth with a sweet fishy aroma.
Wow, this Leppington Valley figs, blue cheese, walnuts & truffle honey was scrumptious 🤤. The fig was so sweet and light, it felt like eating an airy salad, if that was possible. My friend and I devoured it so fast, we didn’t even realise we were done. The fig was buttery soft with the slightest baked skin, embracing my tastebuds with a refreshing, fruity sweetness. The blue cheese and truffle honey were subtle in comparison to the fig flavour.
This one was definitely the favourite of the night, the Bonito cured swordfish, wasabi aioli, pickled fennel & crisps. At first, I thought it was meat and I had to take a second glance at the menu to realise I was eating fish. WOW! The umami flavours were outstanding and the flesh was very tender, almost like eating a piece of wagyu 😲. Combined with the crunchy baked kale crisp and the hints of wasabi, this was an amazing bite and one I would definitely come back for.
Main Course
We were recommended the pan fried Northern Queensland Coral Trout, Skull Island prawns, pea puree and prawn crumb by the staff. The trout was really fresh and moist, with the crispiest thick skin. It was well seasoned, highlighted by the sweet corn embellishments. The prawn was thick and succulent, oozing a minimal amount of oils when cut open. Everything was cooked perfectly and paired well with each other 🤤.
This was the herb crusted Cowra lamb loin, carrot purée, confit tomatoes and olive salt. The lamb was not gamey at all. The chefs did a great job masking the overwhelming lamb stench with the earthy, garlicky herb crust. The carrot was mildly sweet and elevated the herbal crust further. And the confit tomatoes, grown from their own garden, was roasted perfectly to give off a baked sweet touch 👌🏻.
For our complementary salads, we had the fried cauliflower and sesame dressing and the pickled fennel and shaved cucumber salad (sorry for the blurry picture 😅). The fried cauliflower was so good. It was an earthy soft bite, elevated by the nutty and sweet flavours of the sesame seeds. Unfortunately, the fennel/cucumber salad was ordinary, like an acidic vinegar-rocket salad.
Dessert
We got the mango sorbet, passionfruit, blueberries and meringue for an added $10. We wanted something light to finish the meal and this was a great choice. The meringue was perfectly whisked with an airy interior and hardened shell. It was very therapeutic cracking it open with our spoons. The mango sorbet was refreshing and moderately sweet, balanced by the slight tartness of the blueberries 🤤. We ordered this quite late and it arrived within 10 minutes too.
Service
The service was spectacular. The staff were very friendly and attentive, constantly checking up if they could clear our plates and cracking jokes with us. I felt like I was at a fine dining restaurant.
Review
I really enjoyed the dinner. The ambience was soothing and classy. Since the restaurant is located inside the museum, I was encouraged to walk around the museum to admire the artwork because the Powerhouse is free of charge. This was a perfect way to spend time while I waited for my friend to arrive.
Again, the food was delicious. Everything was well thought out and executed. The service was top notch. And the best part is the value of the meal. For $69, I left satisfied and hydrated 😆.
I’m looking forward to bringing Mick here.
Thanks for reading! Happy eating, folks! 💕
Again, the food was delicious. Everything was well thought out and executed. The service was top notch. And the best part is the value of the meal. For $69, I left satisfied and hydrated 😆.
I’m looking forward to bringing Mick here.
Thanks for reading! Happy eating, folks! 💕
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