Lemon Cafe

Slightly concerning that the name does not appear on the outside of this café, but instead, an oversized novelty yellow replica of the real thing. Even more concerning that there appears to be a weird obsession… an ode to one of the more recognisable members of the citrus family, the lemon. A lemon tree, lemon painted tiled flooring, lemon on the water bottles, lemon walls, a pop art parody of the Communist days replacing red books with you guessed it… gerkins. It’s lemon overload.

Thankfully not everything contains the sour tang that’s so evident in the homemade lemonade. Detoxingly healthy fruit juice available as is, blended or choose from a range of others such as pineapple and mixed berry. Breaky is your morning regulars alongside the more lunchtime friendly options of an Italia (or Euro whatever…) flavour such as Spanish snag risotto topped with a sharp parmesan freshly grated on top, the same garnishing an olive and oil drenched penne, chorizo and sun-dried tomato.

I am surprised that they don’t just slice up the fruit old school compliment styles to a Bombay Gin and serve up after your meal to aid the prevention of scurvy. Not as cheap as the humble Vitamin C provider, but for your coin, this zesty café is certainly no lemon.

2.5 / 5 yums!
------
Where? 393 Crown St, Surry Hills, NSW
What? Under $15







Left to Right : Mixed berry juice, pineapple and lemon juice, banana and toast, chorizo risotto, sun-dried and olive penne

Lansdowne Hotel

The corner pub with a rock history that’s probably as old as Google and some, it’s a haven for uni students or the uni day haunt you’d never had. Cheap meals and even cheaper beers attract the crowds to the massive mess hall, with the age old raffle for a bomb (car) also a puller and makes the search for food and booze a no brainer.

$5 or $10 meals are to be accompanied by at least a drink that’s valued at $3.50 so no cheating if you think you can get away with getting some of the soft sparkling stuff. Not gigantic portions but enough to satisfy, choose from a variety of things such as nachos, spaghetti, wedges, schnitzel or upgrade to a “parma” or rib-eye and other such pub goodies.

Not going to lie to you though… the $5 meals aren’t what they used to be circa 2006… so beware the gristley rumps or chicken breast that come with either mushroom, diane or pepper gravy and chips or mash.

If you’re easy (and I don’t mean in that way), the Lansdowne will do you just fine (not in that way either).


2 / 5 yums!
------
Where? 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale, NSW
What? $5 and $10 meals



Left to Right : $5 steak and chicken breast

Kura

Kura Japanese Dining. The metaphorical teddy bear best friend. Something you can always rely on, to be there for cuddles for better or for worse.

Salmon sashimi begins the healing or joyous process, Gyu (cow) tongue marinaded in a salty soy sauce and sautéed spinach-don continues to warm things up. Feel the snuggles through the garlic and ginger seasoned deep fried karaage or the mirin sweetened sake and soy paste basted on the unagi. More than willing to impart the love is the gently sweet and salty katsu-don, choice of pork and chicken fried crumbed cutlet with egg topping on a foundation of rice. Something a bit fresher and cooler is the slightly vinegary Remen of a garlic ginger stir fried pork and spinach on cool noodles.

Food to replenish any soul in any state. Had Kura had big furry arms, it would wrap them around you and never let you go. Though seeing that ain’t going to happen, share the experience with other lives in a confined space which enforces an intimacy that by the end of your meal, you’ll be more than happy to hug it out after.

3.5 / 5 yums!
------
Where? Shop 3, 76 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket, NSW
What? Under $12







Left to Right : Salmon sashimi, Gyu Don, Karaage, Unagi, Katsu-Don, Remen

I Thai

I hate to get cheated on. Wait wait… let me try that again, because it deserves to be underlined and in capitals. I HATE to get cheated. I hate it like I hate dodgy bankers in Monopoly by instead of going directly to jail and not passing go and collecting $200, as landing on the square clearly states, they would give themselves $500, not to mention mysterious extra hotels popping up on Mayfair when they clearly don’t own the property.

Speaking of royal blue, I Thai is on the prime location that is Kings Street Wharf. But like a majority of its fellow neighbours situated at the gorgeous harbour side, it may be on 400 pound real estate but has Old Kent Road quality (see Cargo Bar). Tacky bamboo and rice paper oriental umbrellas leave me confused as to whether one is dining in the land of Ling Ling, Saigon or Kyoto.

Continuing to perplex is the exorbitant price charged for a banquet of food court food. Entrée consisted of a spring roll which was more than a Chance that it was frozen, an overly baked dry chicken drumstick or wing, and a fried battered prawn. The only thing Thai about the course was the sweet chilli condiment. Stingily rationed between four, more of that sweet chilli is found in basil stir fried beef with vegetables, a no muscles weak water works green curry chicken, “salt and pepper” calamari (note the quotation marks for sarcastic effect) and “haven’t I seen those vegetables before?” vegetable stir fry in a sweetish fish sauce.

Pop into I Thai to feel like the loser to a player with the unfair help of Moneybags if you that’s what you’re into.

1 / 5 yums!
------
Where? 19 Lime Street, Sydney, NSW
What? Basic Banquet $40

Steve and Rose’s Food and Drink

Oh how I wish that these crunchy bread rolls were at hand when I’m sloshed and staggering for food. Reputedly open til late, the lucky people of Cabra are well fed with their choice of chicken, pork or meatballs packed into a white bread roll that flakes on bite with coriander, carrot, cucumber, spring onion, chilli and a black sauce seasoning. Steve and Rose… Sydney needs a late night hero…



------
Where? Cabramatta Rd (opposite the station), Cabramatta, NSW
What? Chicken, Pork Rolls under $3.50

Kaysone Sweets

A place that puts Boost Juice and all the other juicerers to shame. Exotic jewels to be found here, fresh strawberries, rockmelon etc etc not to mention Asian favourites such as durian and jackfruit. They’ll blend it any which way for you at a fraction of the cost.

Pandan waffles from a different store along the way... mmmmmmm



------
Where? 59 Park Rd, Cabramatta, NSW
What? Juices $5 and under

Huong Xua

They say each place in the Cabra wild is special for their own reason. Awwwwww the shops think they are people. Imagine the stories they would tell… but expect all hell to break loose if they decide to grow legs and decide to explore the vast earth.

Huong Xua appears to be the outcast, the poor emo kid that’s been picked on and thus decided to shun civilisation by escaping to the wastelands of Cabra. So what is the quality here? Scanning the menu over a jackfruit ice, nothing really excites. All the things you’d expect at a Vietnamese restaurant. Sliced beef pho is standard, pleasant but certainly no popular kid at the school. What does send the lads and ladettes wild with starry eyed desire is the unassuming spring rolls. Bean curd sheets, encasing onion, carrot laced pork mince, deep fried to a Bondi lifesaver golden brown providing a balanced crunch, served with lukewarm granny hair white strands of vermicelli. Dip this into the clear sauce provided, that’s slightly vinegary, slightly chilli yet slightly sweet and it’ll make you slightly think twice about the humble spring roll. It’s the quiet ones you have to look out for.

3.5 / 5 yums!
------
Where? 180 Cabramatta Rd, Cabramatta, NSW
What? Under $10





Left to Right : Jackfruit Ice, Sliced Beef Pho, Spring Rolls