Restaurant Assiette

I  recently posted about Warren Turnbull's District Dining -  the venue for a rather long and delicious Friday luncheon....  Since then his Restaurant Assiette has been on my mind. It has always been one of my favourites but sadly, with new restaurants opening every second day and my spending a fair whack of time in Japan, I haven't managed to eat there for over 18 months.  

As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and it was lovely to connect again on Sunday night.

The food is consistently great but on this night it was possibly better than ever and the cool weather outside made the cosy nook even more inviting. 

The restaurant earns extra points for being open on a Sunday night and being very accommodating for a vegetarian friend. 

Here's what we ate....

Truffled white bean soup with parsley oil

Butternut pumpkin tortellini with goat curd and parsley/pine nut pesto

Alaskan King Crab with wasabi panna cotta, tempura and pickled avocado

Hiramasa Kingfish with dashi jelly 

Caramelised chicken wings and veal sweetbreads with sweet pea puree and deep fried quail eggs

Vegetarian entree - polenta with mushrooms and truffle

Seared boudin noir ( unbelievably good) with marmalade prawns and pickled carrot - superb dish!

Venison with parsnip and chestnut croquette

Amazing wagyu brisket ( oh god, I am drooling just thinking about it) cooked in miso with cauliflower puree and parmesan gnocchi

Mulloway with curried mussels

Pork with Jerusalem artichokes

Vegetarian main of parmesan gnocchi with greens, chestnut and curd

pre dessert of pineapple/lychee jelly and coconut foam

Apple walnut pudding with maple caramel, praline ice cream and marshmallow

Passionfruit jellies

District Dining

Oh just go. Seriously yum. 

 I'm a huge fan of Warren Turnbull's food and his restaurant Assiette (although I don't get there as often as I would like - too many restaurants, too little time...ah the problems of life) so I was rather excited about the opening of his more casual venue District Dining. I wasn't disappointed. Fuelled by great food, several (?) glasses of wine and much laughter we managed to outstay all other patrons... If we'd lingered any longer we would have been ordering dinner  (either that or the waitstaff may have needed to pour us into a cab). It is the kind of place where time can slip away all too easily. I love a menu that encourages grazing and a long leisurely lunch without feeling stuffed to the gills. 

I will, naturally, be back in the evening hours for cocktails and more fabulous share plates - including crispy pigs ear with szechuan salt,  beef chimichangas or pickled veal tongue with salsa verde - oh and dessert of course... 

Crisp school prawns with lime mayo and excellent prawn toast - no brainer

Perfectly seared scallops, Jerusalem artichoke puree, crisp pancetta, prune - great combination of flavours and textures

Crisp zucchini/courgette flower, Kervella goat curd and truffled honey

Lamb rump, caponata, crisp polenta and mint gravy.... mmmm

Carrot salad with salted yoghurt and dukkah  - I could almost turn vego for this

cheese and housemade crispbreads