Sydney Restaurant Review: Souk in the City, Darlinghurst: 29 September 2010

We originally sought one of our fave Vietnamese restaurants in the St Margarets complex in Darlinghurst, An Nam, but were crushed to find it had closed.  A cold wet winter, combined with a too-large restaurant sadly spelled disaster for the lovely folk at An Nam.

Despondent, we sulked into Souk in the City, about which we had heard good things.  One thing we failed to hear about was the rose petals in the face when you walk in.  Pfft, pfft. A nice idea but it did catch me by surprise.

A cocktail was just what the doctor had ordered.  On the recommendation of the waiter, my hubby chose something a little uncharacteristic of him: a girlie drink: Pomegranate & Rose Water Martini: vodka, pomegranate liqueur, pomegranate juice shaken with fragrant rosewater. This is usually something I would love and he would hate.  But it was a little too sweet and perfumey for me.  Too sweet for me? That's saying something.

We loved the menu.  It was adventurous and promised much.  We ordered the Ras el hanout cured ocean trout, rose water pickles with sumac spiced croutons and the spiced seared scallops, zaater crumble, vanilla & watercress, lemon & pear, orange oil.  Both were divine.

Leaving enough room for dessert we ordered the Moroccan version of a sticky date: Moroccan pudding
with dates and figs.  We fought over it.

Uncharacteristically, we ordered less than we actually needed to eat (what's need got to do with eating out?) so vowed to return with friends so we could sample more of the menu. 

Souk in the City
st margaret's | shop 5
'henry' 431 bourke st
surry hills sydney

Tel (02) 93 577 577
dining@soukinthecity.com