Bird Cow Fish – Surry Hills, Sydney
Entering the world of Surry Hills is always exciting but annoying at the same time. There are plenty, and I mean plleennntttyyy, of places I want to try out around that area but there is always trouble with parking or just being bothered to get out there in the first place. Finally another one I can cross off my list is Bird Cow Fish. I had been wanting to try this place since Taste of Sydney (along with all the other restaurants that had set up stalls there haha) and it was only a impromptu decision that lead us into this place. I would like to apologize for the photos as it was quite dark in there so for most of the dishes I just kept it at one shot (to stop flashing my focusing light on other people and so I could eat hee hee).
Here Comes the Food
Sonoma sourdough with Coratina extra virgin olive oil ($2.50 pp)
I found that the sourdough was pretty decent but I prefer my bread served warm as it accentuates the fluffy and light interior contrasted against the crusty crust. The olive oil was pretty good as well and I like how they give you the option of sea salt or olive oil.
Salad of mizuna, roaste baby beetroot, hindmarsh valley goats cheese and a brioche crumbed poached egg ($18.50)
The brioche crumbed poached egg was the definite star of this dish, the crumb very interesting and a new experience for me and the egg poached to a nice gooey yolk which matched the brioche crumb beautifully. The salad was enhanced by the beetroot and the soft velvety chunks of goats cheese mmmmm needs more cheese though haha (but that is just me).
Sauteed fresh pasta sheets with braised oxtail, roasted pumpkin, currents and parmesan ($18.50)
I found this dish to be the highlight of the meal. The pasta sheets were very fresh and al dente while the oxtail was gorgeously tender that if there were any bones it would fall of them with the slightest prod. The sticky and sweet jus had bursts of extra sweetness from the currents which was a pleasant surprise for me because I usually don’t like currents in dishes. The shards of parmesan were strong and tasty without being overpowering. I found that everything in this dish just worked well with one another and enjoyed it immensely.
Crispy skinned New Zealand king salmon on parsnip puree with broad bean and almond salsa ($35.50)
Once again the promise of crispy fish skin had captured the eye of Pupu. The crispy skin was done nicely but the fish was a tad undercooked so it was more a bit like a warm tataki which was not the best sort of way to go about it. I also thought it was a tad underseasoned. However the parsnip puree was smooth and creamy and the almond salsa complimented the salmon wonderfully.
Braised cape grim beef cheek pie with roast onions and Jerusalem artichokes, red wine veal jus ($35.50)
I was captivated by the meaty meat dishes of course 
Eyeing the pie on the specials menu I gave in to its’ calling… come on, beef cheek!!The pie had a beautiful crusty and flakey pastry and encompassed a combination of tender beef cheek, potatoes, artichokes and onions. The veal jus added the hint of red wine flavour but also made the bottom slightly soggy, and once again I found this just a tad underseasoned. The pie was very delicious and the contrast between the shreds of meat and flake of the pastry was a texture harmony.
Overall I found the food here good, fair and tasty but nothing really dazzled or amazed me that much. I would like to come back and try more of their menu especially their breakfast menu and some of their desserts/sweets from the counter. I would also like to see a dish which combines a bird, cow (a whole cow XD?) and a fish hee hee
Bird Cow Fish
500 Crown St
Surry Hills, 2010
Ph: (02) 9380 4090
Head Chef: Alex Herbert
FFichiban
September 4th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Mmm… that pie looks so GOOD! And that crumbed egg looks really interesting – I want to try it! Haha I think they should definitely have a ‘bird+cow+fish’ signature dish on their menu as well =P
September 4th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Pie! PiePiePiePiePie!
The crumbed poached egg sounds a real treat! I wonder how they do it…
September 4th, 2009 at 10:39 am
The first thing I thought when I saw the pie is that the bottom might go soggy in the jus, it still looks so yummy though!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:46 am
let’s go breakfast !!
mmm that oxtail looks velly good.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Lol. I’d like to see a bird, cow and fish on the same plate as well! Haha.
The brioche crumbed poached egg sounds amazing! Yum. I want to try their breakfast too!
PArking is pretty easy in the mornings around Surry Hills, in the evening, there’s a few little dark streets OR.. there’s that big parking lot, behind the shopping centre (off Cleveland St, I think), they always have spots (and it’s free
!)
September 4th, 2009 at 10:56 am
wow the brioche crumbed poached egg sounds amazing. the fresh pasta with oxtail sounds divine as well.
September 4th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Now that’s what I call a beef (meat) pie!!!
And a bird, cow and fish dish? HAHAHAHAHA!! Oh dear :/
September 4th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I agree – bring on the tweet-moo-Nemo combo dish! The food looks good, but I’ll take your word that it was only average. Nice review and photos, though!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I must go and try this crumbed poached egg you speak of! Either that or camp out in their kitchen and figure out how to make it hehe
September 5th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Jacq – Hee hee bring on the signature dish!
Shez – PIIEEEEEEEEE XD lo Shez
Steph – Yeah it did on the bottom but the rest was flakey and very good
D – Haha more like brunch man sif we awake that early
Betty – Ahhh ok thx, yeah gotta try brekkie there then
Helen – Eggy was tasty ^^!
Trisha – HAHA you can’t tell me you wouldn’t want to try it
Belle – Hee hee it is worth trying for sure though! Thanks ^^!
Lorraine – Hee hee I know you will manage to figure it out
September 7th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Ahh nice one! I’ve only been for lunch here – braised oxtail looks great!