During this week, I felt more adventurous in my appetite and choose experiences that were further away from Darling Harbour. I had the opportunity to eat at the Nichi Getsu Do ramen restaurant and the Park Hyatt’s Living Room restaurant.
Nichi Getsu Do is a little ramen shop just several blocks northeast away from Darling Harbour on a smaller side street. Remembering the advice of our Melbourne tour guide Lucky that the best dining and drinking establishments in Australia are often tucked on quiet side streets, I decided to give this place a shot on Monday evening.
Something I noticed immediately are that many of the staff members are actually Japanese and that there are many Japanese customers dining there. This contrasted to many “Japanese” restaurants in Western countries where they are owned and operated by non-Japanese people. Service was friendly and quick. I had the Chicken Karage and their Special Miso Ramen, which is quite different from what one would expect for ramen. It was satisfying to watch the ramen rise up from the hot miso broth as I pick them up with chopsticks. Both were really filling and had the perfect blend of flavors. Their “large” ramen bowl was actually large. I left satisfied and very full.
Last Saturday, I decided to treat myself to a solo-date to Park Hyatt’s Living Room. I peered into the Living Room through the floor-ceiling slightly tinted windows at the end of our Sydney Rocks group tour on our first weekend as we walked by. It had an amazing view of the Sydney Opera House and I knew I had to go.
The environment was really elegant and there was a calming continuous stream of vaguely white noise-like sound from the continuous motion from the adjacent lobby. Food and drinks took some time to be served, but when it came, it was so worth the wait. I started off with the Granny Smith cocktail, which obviously, tasted and smelled just like a crispy Granny Smith apple. I then ordered the Fabbricca Conchiglie as my main dish which was really good. Lastly, I ended off with a heavenly, albeit small, slice of spongey Basque Cheesecake. I slowly enjoyed my food and drinks with a partial view of the Sydney Opera House because my view was partially obstructed by a large pillar. After a hearty meal and a happy belly, I walked around outside at the promenade and looked on with my unobstructed view of the Sydney Opera House. In sum, I finished the week with all five of my senses satisfied.
