#thecommonslocaleatinghouse

[its-katrinachao-blog]

A bar that is hidden downstairs in a cave. 🤔 #thecommonslocaleatinghouse #downtown #downtownbar #darlinghurst #oxfordst #birthdaydinner #interestingbar #hiddenbar #uptown #midtown #friendsmeetup #lovelydinner #funnight #weekends #sydney #australia (at The Commons Local Eating House and Downtown Bar)

[eatthiswearthat-blog]

An uncommon dinner.

It’s cold outside, baby. It really is a great time to be holed up somewhere intimate, snuggling, snuffling food and glugging wine.

I was planning a date night around my fave Winter event in Sydney- the Sydney Film Festival. Tickets booked for a thriller about house eviction, and now I needed a dinner booking.

I was on the lookout for places within walking distance to the cinema, that were open on a Sunday and had a fireplace. Not picky at all.

I chanced upon the Winter dining trifecta with The Commons in Darlinghurst.

We were amongst the first people in at 6pm, and kudos to them for operating a cool inner city restaurant on a Sunday night, they are truly in the minority there. As it happened, the table right by the fire was ours. Great news for two reasons, fire = romance, and, I could take off my large jacket and unleash my Klamir at Eve Adorned statement necklace onto the world. Win, bloody win. 

Once my cocktail arrived, ‘The Dutch’- campari, vodka and some skillful bar tending, (delicious), I could take in the ambience of the space. Just off the very  start of Oxford street, was this gorgeous sandstone cottage we found ourselves in. Rustic, warm and so different to my expectations. It felt like a cosy locals spot in a French village. So far, so lovely. They’d also very kindly rustled up some Fino sherry for my beloved from their well stocked, but closed bar downstairs.

Our charming French waiter informed us it actually was ‘locals night’ and as such there was a special of a $5 glass of wine with main courses. Très bien!

He also took us through the unbelievably delicious sounding menu as he was literally chalking the board behind us, and helpfully gave us a little wink on his favourite dishes. We had already ordered the duck liver pate’ to munch on whilst we deliberated, but we asked this of someone other than our French friend and during the dining room set up, so we forgave him for forgetting. Especially as we realised we now had room for more dishes.

We decided to share three dishes and get three $5 glasses of wine to boot. They weren’t just underwhelming house wines either. The white was a great drop from King Valley, and the red - a Merlot from McLaren Vale, really good also. 

The first dish out was Mussels in a creamy curry broth with handcut chips. This elicited a big nudge from our waiter, so we knew it was a must order. And thanks to his beautiful French palate, we were besotted upon first taste.

Such a fragrant, warming dish on a cold night. The chips were incredible, authentically hand cut with a nice salty cut through. The curry broth was gorgeously creamy but had the perfect amount of heat. When the waiter spotted us slurping it like soup, he promptly brought out some bread, and although this was our date night, by this point, we definitely developed a twinkle in our eyes for him. 

Next out was an Angus eye fillet with roasted vegies and a celeriac puree, and it was a beautiful piece of meat, presented simply. Just right.

We also opted for a dish I wouldn’t normally order, the beetroot, blue cheese and walnut risotto. I would expect this to be the type of dish you get a little bit sick of half way through.

I was wrong. We were fighting each other for more of it. So well balanced, somehow light, offset by the crunch of the walnuts and just downright delicious. 

We were having the type of blissful night out you have when you’re on holidays and you discover a locals gem where no other English speakers are plonking around. We were just blown away that we hadn’t been here before.

So, dessert. My dining partner wanted the crème brûlée . I am not always bowled over by them but I agreed, as long as I could order the donuts. Donuts are a retro dessert trend that I really hope stick around.

The crème brûlée was lovely. Light but beautifully flavoured, and gotta admit, I do love the ritual of cracking that toffee open.

The donuts turned out to be quite a large portion, but, somehow we finished them in no time. What’s there to say about an awesomely good donut? They’re best eaten quickly and we complied. Although, I didn’t adore the chocolate dipping sauce. I prefer a creamy accompaniment. Marscapone? Ricotta? Ice cream, even? But rest assured, the sauce didn’t stop me. 

Thankfully, we had a walk to the cinema ahead of us and before we left we checked out both the private room and the bar downstairs. Live music on Wednesday and Saturday nights - we will totally be back to gorge then boogie.

Date nights are always best when there’s love in the food and the waiters are French.

J’adore The Commons!