Buns & Balls

There was no way I was going to miss visiting Buns & Balls on my weekend trip to Sydney. With such a cheeky name coupled with my giddiness towards puns, it was unavoidable. That, and the fact that I am in love with burgers, I really am.

Braised Chilli-BBQ Beef Burger 

This burger was fantastic - get it. Fall apart braised beef, cheddar cheese, grilled onions and crunchy coleslaw lathered in chilli - giving rise to an explosion of flavours which left me saying over and over how amazing each bite was. I had however, one tiny little gripe, directed at the bun being slightly stodgy. Nonetheless, I inhaled it. 

Chicken Balls in a Spicy Louisiana Sauce

The juicy golf sized chicken balls were dowsed in a smooth hot sauce which were of considerable heat. Another winner, though were outshone by the Braised Chilli-BBQ Beef Burger.

Spicy Louisiana Wings

We also ordered a three pack of Louisiana Wings, which were rather marvellous. These wings were served with a side of gooey blue cheese sauce - which I didn't touch as blue cheese and my taste-buds do not agree. I happily went without the blue cheese sauce, as the wings were coated in the same delicious sauce as the Chicken balls. What can I say, you can't go wrong with $1 wings.

Pineapple, Ginger Beer, Vodka and Bitters & Passionfruit Amaretto Sour

Both the vibe and service were spot on at Buns & Balls, and given its price point, I think it's a place you could easily visit on a weekly basis. Whether it be for the live music, finger lickin' food, or you're simply on the prowl for some juicy buns and tasty balls - Buns & Balls have got you covered. 

Buns & Balls

33 Bayswater Road
Sydney, NSW

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CHUR Burger & Gelato Messina

My first bite in Sydney was at CHUR Burger, and I would not have wanted it any other way.

Making our way through Surry Hills at 3.00pm, most other restaurants were so quiet that you could've heard a fly fart. On the corner of Albion Street, this was far from the case. Coupled with a lively vibe and atmosphere, CHUR Burgers were up and alive, churning out burgers for all. 

Fish Burger

The fish burger was balanced, delicious and a breath of fresh air . Each ingredient worked well together, the softness of the brioche, the crunch of the crumbled fish fillet and the crisp coolness of the pickled cucumber drizzled in lemon mayo and dill.

Pulled Pork Burger

On the other end of the table was one of the most vibrant and visibly appealing burgers I've seen in a while now. Loaded with crunchy red slaw CHUR BBQ sauce and fennel mayo, each element played a stellar role in supporting the tender pulled pork. The brioche buns were light, which soaked up the juices well. I do have to say that the pork and brioche together was a little too sweet for my liking though.

Sweet Potato Fries

To go with our burgers, we also nibbled on Sweet Potato Fries that were super fresh and fluffy. Dotted with garlic and lime, these were our cheeky way of being healthy. 

Voted the best burgers in Sydney, CHUR Burger is doing plenty right for fixing up those hunger pangs. $10 for a burger and $5 for sides, there isn't much to complain about. Chur, mate !

CHUR Burger

48 Albion Street 
Surry Hills, NSW

With bloated belly burgers, we were still keen to get something sweet to share. With Gelato Messina still top of mind, there was no better place to visit than the original Gelato Messina store at Darlinghurst.

Muum Maam & How Now Brown Cow

The Muum Maam was mm mmm mmmm. Sinful fried bits smothered in a creamy coconut custard gelato and completed with swirlings of banana jam. Every spoonful and every lick left me speechless. 

This is the place where diets go to die.

Gelato Messina

1/241 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst, NSW

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The Piano Restaurant and Bar

Owners Penny and Tommy (previously Longrain) are the guys behind The Piano Restaurant and Bar, offering modern Thai flavours to the patrons of Richmond. Having knowledge of this, coupled with an overdue catch up with T, The Piano Restaurant and Bar was really a no brainer.

Vegetarian Curry Puffs

The night started off with Vegetarian Curry Puffs filled with green peas, juicy corn kernels and sweet potato. Each bite of these golden pastries made both T and I hungrier and hungrier for more. 

Piano Crispy Duck 

The basil's gentle fragrance danced through the entire dish, pairing well with a slightly spicy soy dressing that glazed the duck. Having been slow cooked for 4 hours, the duck meat was tender and moist. At the same time, the skin was still nice and crispy, as suggested in it's name. It was easy to see how this dish has earnt its place as the signature dish.

Crispy Fried Whole Snapper

One of the Specials of the Day was the Crispy Fried Whole Snapper - a dish that we could not look past. The snapper came deep fried with a superior crunch, accompanied by a fresh mango salad. Unfortunately, I did find that said crunch meant that the snapper was a tad on the dry side and was slightly overcooked. The mango salad and the lime wedge did offset this though, offering flavours of spicy, sweet and sour that brought a refreshing zing to the dish. 

Pad Thai

It did not require much thought at all - of course we had to order Pad Thai. Though, I would call this a prawn dish with noodles, rather than noodles stir-fried with prawns. Look at all those prawns ! Together with warm cubes of tofu, the roasted peanuts added a welcomed nutty flavour, and the bean-shoots introduced bursts of crunch and freshness.  

Dishes at The Piano Restaurant and Wine Bar are well portioned and are sure to satisfy any Thai cravings. Unfortunately, I did find that majority of the dishes did sway towards the sweet side. New to Bridge Road, I believe that, given some time to find their feet, The Piano and Restaurant Wine Bar will be hitting the high notes in no time.

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of The Piano Restaurant and Wine Bar.

The Piano Restaurant and Wine Bar
18 Bridge Road
Richmond, VIC

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