The Grounds of Alexandria has been, for years, one of the most instagrammable locations in Sydney - as well as being home to the famous Kevin Bacon. With its rustic decor and multitude of food options, it was something of an indie child's dreamland. Then, the Grounds moved into the heart of Sydney's CBD, and has since then been one of the most popular locations on Sydney's ever expanding food scene.
With its old-timey, cosy, dim-lit interior and charming quaintness (a dessert trolley, anyone?), I am immediately attracted to it like a moth to a flame; but another part of me suspected that it might be over-hyped. I couldn't risk the disappointment, so I never went - until the suggestion was made my friend today, and I finally succumbed.
 |
| Coffee, $4 |
One of the things that made me turn up my nose at The Grounds of the City is their claim of having a "coffee sommelier". That's far too quaint, even for my taste. What is undeniable, however, is that the coffee at the Grounds is actually amazing. Rich, suitably bitter and smooth, at a price that's actually not too bad for its location and the way inflation is going in Sydney.
 |
| Campari Grapefruit, $16 |
The cocktail menu is beautifully illustrated and quite inventive. There are a couple of classic there, such as the esperesso martini and the negroni, but the menu also boasts some pretty creative and beautiful-looking cocktails. If I didn't have to work the weekend, I would have tried one. Next time.
 |
| Salt & Pepper Squid, $22 |
Is there anything better than a good salt & pepper squid? The difference between a good one and a bad one is pronounced - at the worst it can be rubbery, chewy and heavily battered; but the one at the Grounds is light, fresh and beautifully tender.
 |
| Linguini, $26 |
I love a good pasta. It is easily my favourite meal, and the linguine at the Grounds is like nothing I've had before - it didn't even occur to me that pulled pork could be paired with pasta, but it works! The flavour is perfectly balanced, and the amount of meat in the dish is pleasantly hearty. The pasta is fresh egg linguine, with a lovely bouncy texture; and the crushed tomatoes balances the otherwise protein-heavy dish to perfection.
 |
| Heirloom Tomatoes, $11 |
Fresh, juicy, nicely salted. Simple but delicious.
 |
| Lime Meringue Tart, $8.50 |
The aforementioned dessert trolley is hard to resist indeed. I also just love the idea of someone coming to you with a trolley loaded with beautiful creations - like yum cha, but elegant (the pushy, no-nonsense trolley-wielders of yum cha have their own charms, of course). The lim curd is suitably tart, and the meringues taste honest - in the sense that you can really taste the egg white, and it's not over-sugared. Delightful.
 |
| Chocolate caramel tart, $8.50 |
Apart from being an absolute delight to the eyes, the chocolate caramel tart with its perfect whipped cream topping is a nice surprise in that it's not overly sweet. I do wish the caramel flavour were more pronounced and the different components to the cake more obvious. What I mean by this is that the description of the cake makes it sound complex, but when you eat it you can only taste the cream and chocolate. For the amount of work that goes into creating this cake, I would like the different textures and flavours to be more pronounced so I can appreciate it more fully.
 |
| Chai, $5. Amber's cameo, priceless. |
This is a good chai. Strong, full-bodied, and oh so fragrant.
Score: 4.5 / 5
Wonderful atmosphere, lovely decor, good food.
Price: around $50pp (excluding alcohol)
Address: Shop RG 12, 500 George Street, Sydney
Website: https://thegroundscity.com.au/
Comments
Post a Comment