Okay. Okay okay okay. I barely know where to start with Crane. Ex-Bayswater Brasserie (Yep. It's seen some *history*, man) and newly refurbed mod-Japanese bar and restaurant . . actually, more bar tha... Read More
Okay. Okay okay okay. I barely know where to start with Crane. Ex-Bayswater Brasserie (Yep. It's seen some *history*, man) and newly refurbed mod-Japanese bar and restaurant . . actually, more bar than restaurant, and only subtly Japanese . . . just a real rad place to kick back and hang out with some seriously bad-ass cocktails and light and creative share plates with a heavy focus on seafood, which is never a bad thing. Disclosure: my English friend and I came on a famil . . . and I think I now know why they call it that, because the Crane family welcomed us into their home and made it damn near impossible to leave. Not even joking - Thiago the bar manager is one of the happiest, funniest, most energetic cats you'll ever come across, Lloyd the dapper barman took the time to show us his home-made ginger beer and insane home-made sherbet, Tai Chi the chef cruised over and hung out and told us about the dishes (for instance, did you know soy sauce gets weaker the darker it is? SO white soy is the most potent soy on the market), and Erin the waitress gave us a hug on the way out. A hug! No waitress has ever done that to me before. If I was capable of crying, I would have shed an actual tear. I'm not though. I like beer and football and tossing cabers and other such things. Here's what we got through (any by got through I mean just barely finished, we ate a ton but it was so light and the flavours so subtle, delicate and structured that every dish was a pleasure):- Edamame with truffle oil and chilli salt. So simple, but with such a creative garnish. Most delicious and moreish edamame I've ever tried, hands down. The truffle & chilli... whuf. Good. - Balmain bug with miso emulsion sauce (big chunks of succulent bug flesh smothered in sauce, my companion's favourite dish). - Sea barramundi with whit soy- Scallops ponzu - Daikon fettuccine with chili tomato sauce (a type of radish done up to look like Italian pasta)- Crane's take on Duck L'Orange, slathered with truffle honey and citrus salad. (Epic). - Kingfish sashimi with umame and jalapeno (this bad boy isn't on the menu but was my pick of the night, ask for it and they might whip it up for you if you're lucky).And the cocktails . . . dear lord, the cocktails. I hope I do justice to these as I don't have the menu descriptions for them all:- 'Geisha' with green tea and salted coconut syrup, lychee, kernel one citron.- A smashed-gin number- A big, ballsy whisky-based bad boy with yuzu (Jpanese lemon)- A cucumber-spiked take on the MuleOh, and there was these tiny white things that expanded and turned into warm hand towels when hot water was poured on them.Oh, and they do huge $25 platters on Sundays.Oh, and you get to take home the 180ml sake cups decorated with ace artwork. Just, go. You'll be a regular in no time once you do. Read Less