Aria

After getting home from work on Tuesday I was browsing a video game messageboard thread about French Laundry, looking at some high res photos of their nine course degustation.  It was around this time that Jen got home, looked over my shoulder and decided she felt like going out to dinner.  I called around and managed to get an impromptu booking for four at Aria.  Owned by celebrity chef Matt Moran (My Restaurant Rules, The Chopping Block) Aria is the second restaurant of its kind to open in Australia, the original being in Sydney.  It carried a reputation for being both high quality and a tad pricey.  Their lunch menu features a $43 meat pie 0_o.

Pea soup

freshly shucked Stradbroke Island rock served oysters

Tuna sashimi with quail egg

twice cooked Bangalow Sweet Pork belly with apple purée and black pudding

Peking duck consommé with duck dumplings and mushrooms

Blackmore wagyu (200g)

Roasted lamb rack with cumin spiced neck confit, labna and eggplant

Two dudes stuffing their faces

Flat white – We were too stuffed to have any dessert

All up, we had a fantastic night.  All of the entree courses were incredible.  Jen was a little down the lamb rack.  While tender and juicy, it didn’t quite have as strong a flavour as she would have liked.  The steaks on the other hand were incredible.  The service was awesome and the meals prepared in timely fashion.  I’d definitely go back.