bel mondo
Editorial
If you want to get to bel mondo prepare for a journey through Sydney’s historic Rocks area. You’ll have to traverse down Argyle Street, up an old-world staircase, down a narrow alley and into a heritage-listed warehouse. The effort is well worth it. This shy restaurant offers some of Sydney’s most prized views with a side of fine dining that’ll have you keen to relive the adventure. The interiors aren’t too shabby either. Finding a balance between modern and heritage-listed elements, bel mondo is reminiscent of a refined New York-style loft with a side of Alice in Wonderland quirk.
The first thing you notice when you come in is the breeze that dances from the entry, past a teardrop-shaped bar, ruffles the napkins of the dining room and sprints out to join the Harbour Bridge on a breezy balcony. The decor it touches surprises with little bursts of colour. The bar claims focus with its oblique shape and silver bookshelf of liquors (the first hints of a 30-strong cocktail list). Behind the bar a row of gold- and mauve-coloured curtains billow around baroque-style armchairs. To their right are two whimsical orange Potenza chairs, an open kitchen (raised on a platform for emphasis) and finally a dining room filled with polite beige table settings and very respectable views of the Opera House. From here you can also spy entrees like carpaccio of beef tenderloin with pear, walnuts and gorgonzola rocket salad, mains like fresh herb linguini with sauteed prawns, dry-aged chorizo, asparagus and basil pesto, and desserts like passionfruit and lime brulee with macerated strawberries and sweet pastry twists. Order two courses for a reasonable $45 and indulge in the freshness of the seasonal menu. Alternatively treat yourself to the five-course degustation menu prepared daily according to seasonal market produce.
Agnes Gajewska, January 2010
User Feedback
Your Feedback
0 User review (add yours)