There is a new kid on the block and he has a funny name… Good food, in fact food with a sense of humour which makes it very interesting. Tomislav, (the chef and the restaurant share the same moniker), dishes up some very good fare. The menu is short and sweet, (you can always trust short and sweet) and the food is quirky and full of flavour.
Tomislav Interior an eclectic mix of textures
The Man himself is as quirky as his food, when I interviewed him on my show I was not allowed to call him Tom, apparently that is only allowed on the third meeting and he is cheeky with a very dry sense of humour. Not surprising given his cuisine.
Tomislav Martinovic Chef and Owner
Set on the corner of Kirketon Road and William Street in Darlinghurst the restaurant interior offers an eclectic mix of colour and concrete, soft and hard surfaces and visual textures. It is in fact warm and intimate and there is a view is of the bridge, the coke sign, the hookers and the pimps. This is the place to watch the colour of the Cross go by.
Tomislav Martinovic has done his time with the big boys, working with Matt Moran at both Moran’s and Aria. He has worked with French-born Guillaume Brahimi at Bennelong and even had a stint with The Fat Duck God, Heston Blumenthal. His journey took him to cook with Eric Chavot at the Capital Hotel in London and finally launched him into his own restaurant. I could wax lyrical about the past but it is the future of this restaurant and this chef that is of interest.
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal as did my BFF(1) Janine. We started with the Rice Crackers think thin Salt and Vinegar crisps and you are partly there. The Basmati Rice Risotto was a treat, light and creamy with grilled succulent Yamba prawns, flavoured with chives and lemon zest, perfectly balanced and plate lickable. The Poached Yellow Fin Tuna was a beautiful deep red on the inside and the accompanying egg linguine can only be described as ‘morish’.
Tuna and Linguine
For mains the BFF(1) and I shared the Pasture Burrawong Duck Breast that was delicious and the Grilled Hereford Scotch Fillet, which was tender and juicy. The plating is not what you expect and the food is easy to share. I think I will leave the desserts as a surprise, suffice to say try the Apple Crumble, there is nothing humble about it.
Duck Breast
I will be going back to Tomislav as soon as the weather warms, as I want to sit on the balcony and eat beautiful fun food with my friends and watch the world go by.
Expect the unexpected and go with a sense of humour.
Name: Tomislav Restaurant Where: 2/13 Kirketon Road Darlinghurst SydneyTelephone: (02) 9356 4535 Website: www.tomislav.com.au
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 6pm – 10pm Price: Entrée from $18, Mains from $29, Desserts from $14 Style: Modern Australian Wine: Licensed Vibe: Smart /Casual Vegetarian: A few options Child-Friendly: No Wheelchair Access: Stairs into the main dining area
