Felix Bar and Bistro
Felix Bar and Bistro – A moody hidden Parisian/New York Bistro in Sydney CBD
As you turn into the laneway – Ash Street – off George Street, you almost instantly feel you’ve been transported into another place. Away from the hustle and bustle of the Sydney CBD is Felix Bar and Bistro – tucked away on the left.
It’s moody lighting and French inspired décor (with a touch of New York) gives it the almost perfect ambience. Perhaps it’s the tiled floors and walls – or the wine, not! – but as the night progressed, we found it increasingly difficult to hear each other, let alone have a conversation. All the clamouring, chatter and background music (which was not French) was all a bit too noisy; especially if you’re on a date.
We shared the white sardines on toast – dressed in parsley, olives, capers and anchovies mayonnaise. It was delicious, with a generous douse of lemon juice, olive oil and fresh herbs. Mopping it all up with the freshly baked sourdough, it was a nice entrée into the evening.
For mains, we had the duck confit with pickled pears and grilled radicchio and crumbed rabbit, carrot salad and shallot vinaigrette.
The duck was beautifully cooked with a light crispy skin, and the grilled radicchio was probably a nice accompaniment, but I’m not a fan of it, and the bitter taste is too overpowering for me. The pickled pears were however divine! Nicely spiced – probably with cinnamon, cloves and aniseed/fennel – and lightly sweetened, it was a lovely finish with the duck.
The rabbit though disappointing that it was not deboned – slightly barbaric with a *big* bone – was beautifully crumbed. Though it came with a vinaigrette on the side, which would’ve been nice with the meat, we both found it too garlicky/oniony to have it.
For dessert, we shared a coconut meringue layered with mango, strawberries and passionfruit. It was Summer on a plate! …and the beautiful fragrance of the passionfruit lingered on well after the plate was polished clean. Washed down with a 2007 Paul Jaboulet Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Southern Rhône, it ended our meal on a perfect note.
Overall, we’re unfortunately not in a hurry to go back. However, if we were to, we’d have a selection of entrées instead of having individual mains – somehow that seems more appealing and interesting. …but we do love the atmosphere it exudes (bar the noise level), and it is a bit like being in Paris/NY without being there…
Reservations: advisable
Felix Bar and Bistro
Ash Street (off George Street), Sydney 2000.
Phone: +612-9240 3000
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