Friday night @ Australasia

Friday was "date night" (can't express how much I cringe at that term), which was made significantly better as Australasia had invited me down to review their updated menu. Some people who read my blog (shout out to my dad) might remember when I was last invited to Australasia to review their Sunday menu, or when I took my mum (years ago) for afternoon tea to celebrate Mother's Day. We had a lush meal last time and I was really excited to go on a Friday night when everyone there would be celebrating the arrival of the weekend. 

This had the potential to be a lovely pic had I not been impatient to get to the table haha

When we arrived it was buzzing, really 'chatty' and upbeat, with lots of people looking ready to have a good night. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but the lighting in that place never fails to amaze me. I always forget that I'm underground thanks to the soft, golden glow and white wash walls. They'd also added mirrors since I'd last been, which helped bounce more light around. 

We started off with cocktails: a smokey old fashioned for James and the Australasian porn star martini for me. 

James always gets the smokey old fashioned and I really like it too so it was win win. My martini was gorge - Grey Goose, lychee liqueur, lemon, mango, vanilla, fresh passion fruit and a shot of sparkling Chardonnay (any Belinda Blinked fans out there will know how much excitement that brings!).

We opted to choose from the 'local' menu - (choosing small dishes to share) and our waiter recommended 3-4 dishes each - which is right up my street. I dislike it when you go for the sharing plates option and a waiter recommends a silly number like 2 each. 

So, safe in the knowledge that we had around 6 to 8 dishes to choose from, we got stuck in. 

Salmon sashimi (x6 pieces) was first on the list, it's got to be done. 

We also chose prawn nigiri (x4 pieces) and the Avocado, mango and broccoli Californian rolls (x4 pieces). 

Edamame beans with lashings of lime and salt accompanied this and made up the first part of the meal. 

I love wasabi, and even more so in Australasia when the waiter grates the fresh stuff right in front of you. Please note: I found it so much stronger than usual wasabi, and that's coming from someone who loves spice. There were a good couple of coughing / eye watering fits during this, much to my embarrassment. 

The way the salmon is served is pretty cool, and I was a big fan of the avocado Californian rolls - the floral detailing stamped on the rice made it look really pretty.

We'd also ordered a bottle of sauvignon blanc to go with the meal, and our waiter gave us some good advice on which bottle to have (this didn't feel pushy, it was the same price), but the flavours would compliment our choices better. Or something. Either way, it was lovely.

For our next round of small plates, we chose:

Prawn tempura (a classic), Yakatori chicken skewers and the best named dish... 'ANGRY PRAWNS'  (both from the Robata grill menu). We chose the latter on the name alone, although I did ask what they were, and they're in fact tiger prawns. We also almost ordered scallops sashimi but very quickly changed our minds when we remembered that they would be raw, so opted for the 'hand-dived scallops, cauliflower, carrot and ginger'. 

Let me start with the Angry Prawns. Oh my gosh. If you could only have one dish, make sure it's this one. I feel bad in saying that as all the plates we got were delicious, but these prawns were absolutely insane. Meaty, almost creamy, with a rich sauce, we could've eaten this dish three times over (it's £13.50 for three prawns so make every bite worth it). 

Next up, the chicken skewers. These were right up my street and the portion size was massive. To me, the marinade was almost like a satay, with a spicy but sweet dipping sauce. I really really enjoyed this dish and was pleasantly surprised with how big the skewers were. 

The scallops were lovely too. I have to be in the mood for scallops, and it's one of those food items that I can't really think about what I'm eating when I'm chewing it (anyone else?!), but the texture of these was lovely, not slimy or tough, but had a melt-like quality I've not experienced. The cauli / carrot / ginger puree was a really nice addition too.

We were stuffed. Which naturally meant one thing: dessert menu. 

James was really keen for the Chocolate Dome (it's amazing), and we'd had it last time so you know, needed to try it again, just to be sure we liked it. It comes with molten caramel sauce that they pour over a chocolate dome, it melts and reveals salted caramel icecream and peanuts. YEP. It's actually divine. We demolished it, and also ordered another scoop of icecream to go with it. 

A POOL OF SALTED CARAMEL AND PEANUT SAUCE. Caps lock needed.

Our serving staff were so friendly, offering helpful advice on what to get and generally looking after us to make sure we were having a good time. Looking around as well, the staff are all so busy but calm, there's a real emphasis on making sure people have a relaxed, amazing experience. 

We never once felt rushed or that the waiters were hurrying us up, and so after we'd been chilling out in a dome coma and they asked if we wanted anything else, espresso martinis seemed like a great idea. 

Going on a Friday night was the perfect way to start the weekend (we ended up 'out out' so Saturday morning was a struggle), and I really couldn't recommend it any more if you're looking for a Friday night treat. Also, the playlist was fab - so many Jessie Ware remixes and just generally 'my type' of chilled music.

It's really funny reading this alongside my last review - I'm clearly still a huge fan!

Naturally, I'm reviewing this place and so wouldn't be posting unless I'd had a good time - I'd like to say though that not many of the staff knew we were reviewing and they were so polite and friendly. 

Australasia remains to be a classic favourite of mine on the 'Manchester scene', and I'm so glad that eighteen months on I'm able to give it as glowing a review as I did then. I've been back in between the two reviews for drinks etc and will no doubt be drinking espresso martinis there again soon... 

Sakura House, Manchester

Now, I only took a few photos tonight but just had to share them with you.

I caught up with a long lost friend who I hadn't seen since we left uni three years ago (how have I been a graduate for nearly three years????) 

We went to Sakura House, one of West Didsbury's newest additions. In my opinion, Dids has long been needing a sushi place to add to its cuisine accolade. 

It's small (I think there's only around sixteen covers in the whole restaurant), so make sure you book.

 Chicken Gyoza 

Edamame, Kimuchi, Seaweed salad

Avocado rolls 

Absolute babe 

beeeeeeeeeeer and a smile

We also got king prawn tempura (incredible - huge and crispy and so so tasty),  and a massive portion of chicken teppanyaki. Hunger got the better of me and I forgot to take pics of these, so you'll just have to try them yourself!

I'll definitely be going back - not only is it absolutely authentic, with a real family owned feel to it, the service was great and the food was delicious. It was really good value for money, too.

Next time, definitely trying the katsu curry!

The Grill On New York Street

In my opinion, nothing can make a Monday more bearable than going out for dinner and having a juicy steak and a bottle of red wine. Except perhaps if that meal is paid for by the no.1 man in your life. Cheers Dad!

We needed somewhere close to the train station for him that was nice enough to feel like we were treating ourselves - if you're on a flying visit to Manchester and want to eat somewhere classy near the station, this is the one.

Grill on New York Street is always a winner with me, in fact, all the Blackhouse haunts I've tried have never failed to impress me.

We started with the wine list, choosing a rounded Tempranillo to cheers the end of Monday.

After bread, olives and beer it was time for steak.

Medium rare rump, jacket potato, watercress and French beans.

The meat is always insanely juicy, and the jacket was light and fluffy. Crunchy beans in butter finished this off perfectly.

Just to rack up the calorie count: Blue cheese sauce smothering my steak.

Dad had the same but with chips and mustard.

I seriously can't recommend this place enough. The atmosphere was great; busy but not overcrowded, which for a Monday night, is alright by my standards!

And, in case you need any more tempting, I'll leave you with this...

YUM.

Expo Lounge

I always get a bit panicky when people suggest going for tapas, for fear that it won't fill me up.

So when a friend decided we try the tapas at Expo Lounge for lunch today, I was a little hesitant.

It's silly really because every time I do have it I love it, and am always waaay too stuffed.

Expo Lounge opened in July this year and it's been on my radar to try for months.

It was busy (good sign), but not overcrowded or too rowdy so we nestled down at a table by the window.

At £3.25 per dish, the tapas section is reasonably priced and more than extensive. We chose eight dishes (I know, don't). Your tapas also comes served with warm, crusty sliced ciabatta so don't forget to ask for some balsamic vinegar to dip in.

Patatas bravas. Sometimes this dish can go a little slimy but our potatoes were light inside with a crisp shell, and the relish was punchy.

Spanish chorizo in red wine & garlic, and prawns with sun blushed tomato, chilli & red pepper.
The sauce in the chorizo dish was incredibly rich, but not in a sickly way, in a really really good way. It was quite a thin jus so it was perfect for coating the ciabatta in. I think the prawns were my least favourite dish, but I have to be in a certain mood for prawns so probably not best to judge. Again, the sauce was great: chunky and full of flavour.

Pan-fried halloumi, courgettes & peppers with a rose harissa dressing.
Really light and 'zingy' - the halloumi was taut and flavoursome, rather than bland and squeaky like it sometimes can be.

Sweet potato and basil falafel with cumin and coriander yoghurt. 
This was the first dish I tried - gorgeous. Not too crumbly, but not too densely packed.

Lamb and mint koftas with tzatziki.
I love lamb & I love tzatziki and this dish didn't disappoint, but I would've liked the lamb to have been a bit bigger!

We also ordered roasted sweet potato and butternut squash with goats cheese and this was one of my top three. I'd never think to put goats cheese with a root veg but it worked really well.

The rest of the menu offers your usual; burgers, salads, 'dogs' etc, although I did spot a fruity looking Jambalaya and something called Lounge Dirty Baked Beans which sounds like an insane hangover cure.

I didn't realise but these guys have 'lounges' up and down the UK, so if there's one near you make sure you pay a visit! There are six in Bristol so I'll definitely be paying one of them a visit when I'm next home. 

Dog Bowl

I've eaten at Dog Bowl a few times since it opened but never bowled there. In fact, I haven't been bowling for about ten years, when me and my friends thought rocking up at Hollywood Bowl sans parents on a Saturday was the coolest thing ever.

Forget Hollywood Bowl, Dog Bowl is the coolest bowling bar around. Last Thursday I finally swapped my boots for bowling shoes and got ready to be slated by friends at my appalling inability to get a strike.

The atmosphere is buzzing, the music is right up my street and the cocktails are fruity and exotic. Plus, the bowling lanes have disco lights on!

I went for the Big Kahuna, it was di-vine.

Somehow, I managed to get four strikes (four!), but still lost, by a long way. I'm blaming the rum in my cocktail.

There was no question as to whether we'd stay for food or not.

The boys both had 5 piece fried chicken (which has an amazing lemony taste) and comes with creamed potatoes, gravy and thick, white bread. I went for Cajun chicken fajitas. The peppers were sizzling & the chicken had just the right amount of spice. They're served with amazing home made avocado, sour cream and salsa. I'm all over sweet potato fries at the minute so naturally the greedy girl inside me ordered these as a side - the photo above doesn't do them justice but all you need to know is that they were salty, crisp on the outside, soft inside and incredibly moreish.

The guys at Dog Bowl sent me their latest video, this time it's about bowling shoes - because, no matter who you're wearing, what you're sipping, or if you've rocked up for a first date... You've gotta wear the shoes! It's really funny - yes to those edgy hipsters at 0.29!

What 'tribe' would you be from the video?

Dog Bowl is open from 12pm - 3am on weekdays and from 10am on weekends.

• It's £6 off peak per person per game
• At peak times it's £8 per person per game (from 6pm onwards Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday)
• It's just £4 after midnight 7 days a week

Check out their website for more details.