Ms G's

The cleverly named Ms G's is one of my favourite Asian fusion restaurants in Sydney. Apart from delicious food, they also make some killer cocktails - including alcoholic slushies. I came to Ms G's several years ago and just ordered a couple of dishes off the menu, so I figured it's time to try a degustation with them so I can have a more fulsome experience of what they have to offer.

The weekend degustation is hands down one of the best value in this city of ours, which is no easy feat because we are so spoilt with many amazing restaurants and the competition is fierce. Read on, and you'll see why I think Ms G's is really up there. A word of warning, though - I just revisited Ms G's website to check a couple of ingredients when I noticed that the weekend banquet had been taken off! All is not lost - their normal degustation is still on offer at $69 per head. With the normal degustation menu, you do get more than the weekend lunch degustation menu featured below.

Aloe Vera

Now I'm normally not a fan of vodka - but I make an exception for this deceptive cocktail. I say deceptive because it is so sweet, citrusy and easy to drink - when you taste the silky foam (which absolutely reminds you of those aloe vera drinks in large green bottles available at Asian supermarkets, if you've ever tried those) you would be forgiven to think, oh easy, I can down a few of these - do not make that mistake. The vanilla vodka game is strong in this one.

Kingfish sashimi

The kingfish sashimi, drenched in a ponzu sauce, is gorgeously fresh. The ponzu is aged, so it adds a little more depth and smokiness, and pairs perfectly with the umami taste of kombu (a type of seaweed known for its umami-ness) and chives.

Cheeseburger spring roll 

A perfect example of the playful way Ms G's fuses east with west - these spring rolls taste just like a big mac, down to the pickle - the sour taste really brings out the cheesy goodness of these morsels without allowing the dish to veer towards the bland and safe.

Chicken katsu mini bánh mì

Think bánh mì - the shredded, pickled daikon and carrot goodness - paired with soft butter buns and cripsy Japanese-style chicken katsu. It really says something about the quality of Ms G's food when this doesn't even stand out when compared with the other deliciousness on offer.

Burrata “strange flavour style” 

Speaking of "standing out", here's where it's at for me. Don't let the slightly ominous name put you off - "strange flavour style" is a bit hard to explain, but if you are Chinese, you must have come across snacks (usually peanut-based, as this dish is) of this name before. What it means is that it's taking a few seemingly contradictory flavours to create one surprisingly moreish, balanced flavour.

Despite the presence of peanuts (sorry, those of you who are allergic - you are really missing out unfortunately), I would say this dish is more Sichuan-style than properly "strange flavour" style due to the presence of chilli as opposed to black pepper.

The menu simply described this dish as burrata with sesame sauce, chilli oil, spinach & peanus - but oh, it is so much more than that. You just got to try it to get it. Oh, and don't be afraid of the colour - it's actually not that spicy - just tingles the tongue, that's all.

Silken tofu

Here we have another deceptively simple dish: silken tofu with woodear mushrooms, cucumber, tomatoes and a shiso dressing. Shiso is a herb also known as beefsteak plant, not that it helped me understanding what it is or pinpoint what it tastes like - all I know is, the dish was savoury and delicious, while being very refreshing. Perfect for a warm day.

Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs; Stir Fry Asparagus and Sweet Corn

The sweet and sour pork ribs are hugely, hugely satisfying - the kind that makes you want to forget all table manners, pick them right up with your fingers and tear the meat off the bones like an animal. The are coated in a gorgeous tamarind caramel and balanced with some fresh basil.

Now, don't underestimate the asparagus and sweet corn - it may look like an unassuming side-dish, but it is so much more than that. The secret? Salty egg yolk. The dish is umami, savoury, sweet and fresh at the same time. Genius.

Extras

Grilled Hawkesbury Calamari 

One of our dining partners does not eat pork, and Ms G's presented her with this generous dish of calamari drenched in a delicious mussel XO vinaigrette (the XO sauce being another staple in the Chinese - or to be more specific, Cantonese - pantry, being used to add some seafood umami goodness to even the plainest of dishes). Ms G's is very good with catering to dietary requirements. The calamari has the most wonderful BBQ smokiness and is lovely and tender.

Stoner's Delight Part 3, $18; Tea, $4.5

Ms G's is famous for their cheekily named dessert, Stoner's Delight. I'm not sure what Part 3 is referring to - maybe this is third generation of this staple dessert? Whatever the case may be, it certainly lives up to its name - this is exactly the kind of thing I'd imagine I would be craving, if I were ever stoned in the future. I'll just list the ingredients as they appear on the menu because this dish needs no further explanation: doughnut ice cream, peanut dulce de leche, peanut & pretzel brittle, crispy bacon, Mars Bar brownie, raspberry curd, potato chips and deep fried Nutella.

The teas at Ms G's are loose-leaf (big tick) and they come in the cutest little pots, and sauce pots double as tea cups - so kitch, so amazing. My personal recommendation, however, is the fresh mint tea - it is a wonderfully refreshing end to the meal, and strips back the sweetness of Stoner's Delight perfectly.

Score: 5 / 5 
As far as Asian fusion is concerned, Ms G's is still the one to beat (and not yet beaten - at least not at its price range!)
Cost: I won't be listing the weekend lunch banquet price as they appear to have taken that off the menu; but you can have a very decent feed at Ms G's at around $85-$100pp, including a cocktail or two.
Address: 155 Victoria Street, Potts Point,
Website: https://merivale.com/venues/msgs