J'adore Lounge Bar and Restaurant

Happy birthday Tim! On Tuesday night, we were here to celebrate Tim's 22nd birthday... well... I was more or less there to flex my photography skills. LOL. And surprise, surprise... Zen and I ended up indulging ourselves with a scrumptious 3 course meal. J'adore restaurant is all about intimacy. There's the fireplace, the slinky booths and the candlelit tables... However, with the Tuesday specials (2 for 1 mains), I was surprised to find that at 8pm, it was still relatively empty. For entrees, Zen decided to go for what I would normally have ordered -the pork belly. He assured me that it was perfectly cooked and so satisfying to devour.

Crispy skinned pork belly & seared Japanese scallops with roasted quince puree & radish escabèche I had the giant quail with ginger syrup glaze. Driven by both curiousity and greed, my temptations overpowered me. How big could a giant quail really be? The quail was ever so tender. Its outside was glossy and tanned with sweetness. It was no longer a question of size. The bigger, the better.

Pan fried giant quail with ginger syrup glaze, spicy sweet corn salsa and baby Swiss chard Next, Zen opted for the chicken. It was too buttery for my liking... but he seemed to enjoy it.

Roast ballontine of chicken with herb butter

Pandan steamed red snapper, Moreton bay bug & seared scallop with a rich Pernod bouillabaisse, smoked tomato petals and a spicy rouille And I went for the bouillabaisse which was rich in flavour. Its distinctive aroma was so delicate... although a little overwhelming without slices of the trusty bread. The potatoes on the other hand were the ideal wedge. Crispy and flavoursome all around with a soft hearty centre.

Kipfler potatoes with spicy citrus and herb salt At this stage, Zen was already prepared to skip desserts... but I had come prepared with my eyes on the brulee with sago and fresh lychees. MmM... It didn't disappoint. The brulee was a creamy mixture of starchy sago and Malibu. Its caramelised crust proportion was perfect.

Pandan infused Malibu crème brûlée with sago & fresh lychees

Zen, me and the birthday boy

Generous servings and with some intriguing dishes. J'adore Lounge Bar & Restaurant 1A Burton Street Darlinghurst Operating hours: Tuesday to Friday - midday till 2.30pm & 6pm till midnight Saturday: 6pm - midnight Sunday & Monday: closed or open for special reservations/function Bookings and enquiries: 0405 395 248 or email anya@jadore.com.au Website: www.jadore.com.au