17. à vivre

Universal Experience
Mr.D

Christine Man-field's Command Performance

"How did she do that?"

This is the question left hanging when you commence your gastronomic experience at the uber cool restaurant Universal Sydney.
There are very few restaurants in Australia that offer such a highly evolved state of flavor, Universal restaurant pulls this off every night the curtain goes up on this leading Sydney restaurant.
So what's wrong with Universal?
That it did not receive 3 hats in the 2009/10 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide of which it is most deserving.
I had the pleasure of meeting Christine Mansfield when I indulged late last year when I discussed with Christine the deserts on offer, which are very much adults only deserts, and the interesting choice of venue and the decor for what is a fine dinning restaurant with a genuinely comfortable feel to it.
Universal - Chic Fun With Seriously Good Food & Service.

P. S . For those who enjoy celebrity spotting then this restaurant is a must.

www.universalrestaurant.com

*Photo copyright Universal Restaurant

16. à vivre

Without Pier In Australia

Mr.D

If the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide could award a fourth hat for excellence in food & service then Pier Restaurant Rose Bay Sydney would most surely be the winner.
Studio Obscura directors make it a regular habit to get along and pay homage to a restaurant that shows the very best of what Australia has to offer for the serious food lover.
A long Saturday lunch whiling away the hours with good friends is both a relaxed and great fun experience with staff who know just when to float to your table and top up your wine, clear your plates, even return the odd misplaced pair of sunglasses from the deck to your table.
The only way to arrive for your long lunch at Pier is by water taxi and same for when you depart late in the afternoon.

www.pierrestaurant.com.au

*Photo copyright Jacquilewis.com.au.

15. à vivre

Marco Polo @ Pool Club Ivy Sydney
Mr.D

There are some things that money cannot buy for the rest there is Mastercard, so the saying goes.
Marco Polo membership at Ivy is just one such thing that your Mastercard cannot buy you - nor even your Centurion Amex.
The Merivale group has created a world of levels of membership at it's venues, these include the entry level Ivy loyalty card, the Ivy Lounge Bar membership, Hemmesphere membership, Pool Club membership and finally Marco Polo membership.
There can be no doubt that Pool Club is the No.1 club membership to have in Sydney.
Why?
Unlike De Nom, which asked back in 2006 it's first 100 members a joining fee of $10,000, Pool Club is free and by invite only so far more exclusive than De Nom and clubs like it.
Simply charging huge sums of money for membership attracts a certain type of member to night clubs/bars - Pool Club has avoided this and enjoys patronage by some of Sydney's wealthiest as a result, not because they had to pay, but because they were invited.
Recently I attended the summer party launch of Verve Clicquot champagne at Pool Club which was both professional and great fun - and the 2009/2010 NYE party was impressive.
No other venue in Sydney comes even close to Pool Club, the preferred club by Studio Obscura directors.

*Photo copyright Merivale.