Bentley Restaurant & Bar – Surry Hills, Sydney
Even though my list of restaurants and places to try is always expanding (like my waistline), it brings me great satisfaction when I am able to cross off a place from the list. Especially when the meal had brought me a great amount of joy ^^! Bentley Restaurant and Bar did seem like an ordinary corner from the outside but as soon as we entered I was surprised by how different it looked from other corner bars. I found about this place after spying it on NQN and immediately added it to the list. As you can see that post was about half a year ago haha but yeah, *crosses Bentley off the list wOOt!*
Pretty wall decor
Even though there was only one other occupied table during this late lunch period, I was not worried though onr of my fellow diners was a bit concerned about the lack of customers. It was probably because it was a late lunch (around 1:45pm) and that most of the people were oogling at the 5000 seamen parading around the city 
?
Mirror!
We browse through their tapas, entree and main menus and opt for the ones that sounded the best, naturally. I was a bit disappointed that there was no pork neck but I am glad that they do change up their menu.
Here Comes the Food
Sourdough
We start of with some beautiful complimentary sourdough, with a gorgeous extra virgin olive oil to match. It was a pity that the bread was not warm as I like it but it was still very tasty.
Parmesan Custard with Truffled Asparagus ($15)
The best possible way to start off such a memorable meal. The custard was rich with the taste of parmesan and with mixed with the crispbread and asparagus, it created a well balance of flavours and textures. The asapragus did not really have much truffle flavour but did provide a fresh bite to the dish.
O L’Orange ($15) – Vanilla infused Havana Reserva, Grand Marnier, Orange and Pistachio
Cocktails on such a fine afternoon and with such fine food, perfect ^^! This cocktail tasted very fresh and exciting with the most delicate hint of vanilla.
Smoked Eel Parfait with White Soy and Seaweed Salad ($14)
This blob of gelatinous goodness surprised us all with a creamy and smokey eel flavour. The flavour was rich without being overpowering and the seaweed salad cleansed the palate though it was very balnd compared to the parfait. The flakes also added another textual dimension to this dish and also the presentation.
Calamari with Squid Ink Rice and Green Chilli ($13)
The squid ink rice was beautifully al dente and wonderful deep black colour. The calamri was also soft and chewy without being over rubbery. The rice was the winner in this dish for me though.
Crown Street Cooler ($15) – Sagatiba Cachaca, Pommeau de Normandie, Apple Liquer and Bubblegum Bubbles
As you probably guessed, I got this for the bubblegum bubbles! Which were very bubblegummy and bubbly mmm ^^! but overall a great smooth drink albeit a bit weak haha.
Elderbuble ($15) – Hendrick’s Gin, Eiderflower cordial and fresh lemon, topped with Sparkling Wine
Kingfish Marinated in Squid Ink with Perfumed Fruit and Coconut ($22)
Oh my goodness, the kingfish was soft and velvety all from the seared outside to the slightly rare middle. The scallop was also very soft and delicious but a pity there was only one haha. The perfumed fruits really tasted like perfume! and the coconut sauce and flower petals have a very light and subtle flavour which complimented the seafood very nicely.
Caramelized Pork Belly with Green Olive, Apple, Tonka and Miso ($23)
This melt-in-your0mouth bite sized piece of pork belly was so tender and tasty I wish I ordered 2-3 for myself haha. It had the perfect ratio of fat to lean meat to make it juicy and flavourful without the icky fatty feeling afterwards. The fried pieces of rice were also a highlight being super crunchy and tasty.
Watermelon and Rose Sangria ($15)
Refreshing with the inital flavour of watermelon but ends with the taste of sangria. I also thought there was a perfumey/flowery taste to it as well.
BMW M3
Mmmmm not edible but still very tasty.
Though the bonnet bump does stick out like a big nose
Fillet of Black Angus Beef with Smoked Beetroot, Mushroom and Horseradish ($40)
Beetroot is really a great accompaniment to this fillet of Angus beef. The meat was cooked to a professional medium rare with the meat juices dripping out and when mixed with the mushrooms and beetroot an explosion of flavour occurs in the mouth.
Roast Pumpkin with Spiced Yogurt and Crushed Almond ($8)
The perfect side as soft pieces of pumpkin on top of a warmly spiced yogurt and crushed almond. The taste of this combination was totally unfathomable until we actually tried it and it worked beautifully. The rich Moroccan spices added to the yogurt so well I will definitely be getting this side again next time.
Slow Cooked Lamb Rump with Jeruselum Artichokes and Hazelnut ($33)
The lamb rump was soft and tender with the right amount of chew. Topped with zucchini flowers and bottomed with a chickpea puree the flavours all complimented each other well and a great array of textures and colours.
Chickpea Chips ($8)
How could we come here and not try the awesome Jenga-style chickpea chips! Not only were they fun to play Jenga with they tasted absolutely fabulous with a rich chickpea flavour especialy when dipped in even more hommous. Not only are these much tastier than normal chips, they are also much healthier yummm!
Suuuggarrrrr
Strawberry and White Chocolate with cracked pepper ($16)
I adored this dessert and regretted for not fighting for more of it! The strawberry filling was so smooth and creamy and the white chocolate was so milky and crumbly. The cracked pepper was an awesome addition as it allowed for a contrast in the flavours. MMmmmm!
Peach and Blueberry ($16)
The blueberry jelly and peach combination was very very good and oozed all these beautiful fruity flavours.
This place may not be considered cheap but the food is definitely worth what you pay for. I absolutely adore the presentation of the food as well, all carefully cooked, positioned, sauced and dusted. I was thoroughly impressed by the food here and will definitely come again to indulge on these tasty treats. The staff were also helpful but in a very professional way but they sure make great cocktails and the food… omg the FOOD mmmmm!
Also I hope you guys have all noticed a difference between this post and all my previous ones! My new baby, Nikon D80, was used to take these much crisper and sharper photos yay! The Canon IXY has served me well but it is time for me to enter the digital world of SLRs hee hee.
Bentley Restaurant & Bar
320 Crown St
Surry Hills 2010
Ph: (02) 9332 2344
Head Chef: Brent Savage
FFichiban
March 17th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Oh cool! Great that you got pics during the day-it’s quite dark at night. Looks like you really enjoyed it. I think I have to be in the right frame of mine (i.e. no cravings for anything in particular). I loved those chickpea chips too and we spent ages trying to figure out how to make them
March 17th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Great stuff!
I haven’t had their pork belly, I may have to go back at some point.
You liked the Kingfish & Squid Ink? When I had it, I didn’t really know what to make of all those floral, perfumey bits.
Co-sign on the smoked eel parfait and the squid/squid-ink combo, though. I really enjoyed them when I had them.
I see in your photo that there actually is some peach sitting under the blueberry! I had it at night (along with some other trippy desserts which I can’t remember) and I couldn’t make out what was what. I thought I was eating black gelantinous peach or something…
Anyway, great photos man~
March 18th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Ahhh Bentley! I have been there for a dinner, and good food month lunch. Their presentation of the food is just sensational isn’t it?
It was a bit disappointing when I had a dinner – not because of services nor food, but loud music and drunken people at outside seats distracted our conversation too much.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Oh, thanks for the write up, now I -really- want to go!
It all looks so interesting! Great pics.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:59 am
your photos are so much brighter & clearer! congrats on the graduation up
loving the decor shots. looks like a really cool (for want of a better word) place to dine at… and look at those cocktails!
March 18th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Pumpkin and spicy yoghurt sounds lovely. I’ll have to try it at home. Congratulations on the new camera. It’ll be heaps of fun playing with it.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
All those dishes looks so beautiful, they must have also tasted out of this world. I love going to lavish lunches, at least that way you have the rest of the day to work off the calorie in tack and your photos always turn out so much better! Go the natural day lighting!
March 18th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Your photos are great – really do the food justice! The desserts looks really unique and imaginative in their presentation too. (*adds Bentley to must eat at list*)
March 18th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Some really nice photos. It’s amazing how much of a difference a good camera can make.
Is the woman’s reflection in the peach & blueberry bowl with your dining party?
March 18th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
*adds to must go take pretty photos of list*
The presentation is simply stunning here, but I’m in a carnivorous mood, so I’m so totally craving the steak, pork belly and bread *licks screen*
March 18th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Lorraine – OOohh did you guys work it out? They are soo tasttyyy mmmmmm Thanks ^^!
Adam – Ahhh thanks man, yeah looking at your posts I wish I tried more dishes haha! Ahh this place really needs a revisit.
Yas – I love their presentation! Ahh yeah since it is a bar as well I can imagine the loud drunks.
Lili – No, Thank you! Yeah his dishes are so fresh and original!
Shez – Hee hee thanks! It is your turn now
and haha “don’t you think we look cooooooooolu?”
Arwen – Thanks ^^! I loved the pumpkin, spiced yogurt and crushed almond combination mmm was so flavoursome
Maria – Hee hee true that! I was very lucky that we had awesome lighting from the window hee hee.
Forager – Thanks ^^! All of their dishes are unique hee hee and do try but don’t wait half a year like I did haha.
Simon – Thanks ^^! Haha are you saying my previous photos made your eyes bleed
jkjk.
HAHAH you mean to the left of the dessert on the bowl? Cos that is actually a guy and yeah that is my cousin haha.
Chris – Hee hee I am always in a carnivorous mood Raarr! Make sure you order all of them cos the dishes are small but very tasty!
March 18th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
hehe. I wasn’t thinking of it that way but now that you mention it…
The thing that stood out for me was how red the sourbet was and the overall clarity of the shots.
About the reflection, it kind of had the look of a low cut top. Low cut top = cleavage. Cleavage = woman. Well, you’d want to hope so. I’m not so partial to male cleavage but maybe that’s a me thing
March 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I am so going to Bentley – well, it’s on the wish list. And I may start going to places for lunch rather than dinner, coz as your photos show, the light is so much better for food photos during the day.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
dude LOVE the photos!!!!!!!!!
and funny how you just took fotos of the beema half way through the review hehehehe
chickpea chips look delish thats got me set – writes down in my to eat list
March 20th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
nice shots man, good to see you’re making good use of the d80. Did you do much post on these?
March 20th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Simon – Ahh yeah I am loving the SLR much crisper and sharper
HAHAH ok I’ll b sure to tell him that 
Belle – Yeah I normally thought dinner is a much better time to go but for natural lighting lunch wins!
Betty – Haha thhx! Food and Cars are both great loves hee hee
Timmeh – Thx bro haha you know it
Just mainly autotone and punch and some crop but some of them didn’t really need to change at all.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
WOWWWWW
LOVE THE PHOTOS! did you get a new camera????? Loving these photosssssss ^_^. Did you say this place is considered cheap? Goodness by the presentation it looks like a really fancy restaurant.
The strawberry desert is to dieeee forrrrrrrrrrrrr It lookss soo beautifulll the way its created.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
Smileona – Haha yup yup ^^! Thx thx
I said this place may not be considered cheap 
but worth trying! Omg that strawberry was so good, I think it was the pepper that made it so spectacular!