Casa Esquina
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My little foodie crew often try to do a catch up at one of the hot spots on our list, and this month, it was Casa Esquina. The Argentinian restaurant has taken up a huge site on the corner of Balmain's Elliott and Darling Streets with plenty of outdoor seating, and two stories inside. When you check out the inside, you can also see the amazing open flame parilla and kitchen preparing all the food. The venue has beautiful terracotta and light green hues which totally fit the space and theming, it looks especially great in the garden with the greenery. We’ve travelled to Argentina and it’s one of our favourite foodie places, for the meat cooked over fire is one of the most natural and tastiest ways to have it. So, the fact that Casa Esquina do this type of food intrigued us. We found the smokiness woven into every menu item we ordered, even the cocktails. They’re all about shared meals, so we ordered a range of dishes to share (but a banquet would also be suitable). We mostly skipped on the entrees, keen for the proteins but did have the kingfish and a couple of empanadas. For the empanadas, we opted for chicken and chorizo as well as the kangaroo. The beautiful meat was inside a delicious salad rustic pastry shell and absolutely a must try. For the larger dishes, we had a 700g slow cooked lamb shoulder with a tomato salsa, fire roasted chicken with salsa chambota, and Riverina Angus Picanha (steak). The meat was perfect, charred on the outside, medium on the inside and so good, we needed to order a second one. As the sides; fried Brussel Sprouts, ajo blanco, espelette pepper as well as their Old Bay seasoned fries with chipotle aioli and also their charred sugarloaf cabbage with romesco, candied hazelnut, Pedro Ximenez glaze and Mahon cheese. This was a great selection and one that could easily be shared. There is a dessert menu, yet we were very full, so just one alfajores for the dessert lovers amongst us. The Argentinian dulce de leche shortbread here was slathered with a melted chocolate and a winning choice. Service is friendly and super attentive, the food does take a while to come, but when it does, it’s worth it.
Sarah charles (Thewhereto)Sarah charles (Thewhereto)
00
I have a story about Casa Esquina from last weekend. “Oh yeah I heard the Argentinian restaurant down the road is sooo good, you should go there everyone says so.” Upon this glowing recommendation on where to go for lunch, I bravely walked through the grizzly rain of Balmain last weekend to Casa Esquina thinking it was a small casual cafe or corner pub. While walking down the road I thought to myself yep I will go get lunch for a pub type counter meal. I get taken upstairs, looked around saw the earpieces on the staff and thought “omg whoops it is so fancy, oh no do I leave now?” I was all by myself and it was the moment to run but after five minutes and looking at the menu realised it was definitely the place to have an experience with friends. So I had a quandary, leave or stay? Anyway I thought to myself awkwardly while watching the space fill up with stylish people ‘ok you are all in, embrace the experience completely’. So from that logic I ordered a few dishes. Well low and behold was blown away. Yes it is pricey for supposedly thinking I was going into a pub meal, but after having my first entree of the empanada I had an epiphany and realised some things in life are worth it. The quality and produce was beyond even the best standards. I could write an exogenous on the empanada alone but I won’t bore you. Lol Anyway after a while I bravely told the attentive maître de my original intention for heading to a pub or cafe and getting confused. In response he made me feel so comfortable and we laughed saying “you should have just gotten a coffee”. Anyway I am glad I didn’t. I told my friends about this place and we will definitely be back for a special occasion to have the set menu for sure. I finish with my favourite quote from movie Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), “Embrace the chaos and life just might astonish you”.
Kate WhiteKate White
00
(3.5 stars) It’s exciting to see the former Efendy site in Balmain return to a convivial indoor-outdoor eating destination. Casa Esquina is the latest venture by Atticus Hospitality and it branches away from the Mexican food and mezcal they are famous for at Esteban and Tequila Mockingbird. This time they have been inspired by Argentinean barbeque, or parrilla, creating a menu that centres upon meat. But first, there are empanadas in rustic pastry, given an Australian twist by head chef Will Quartel in the standout kangaroo and maraschino cherry ($12/each). Each empanada, including the more standard beef, olive and raisin ($10/each) comes with a tiny pot of Will’s DC hot sauce (a smoky-sweet barbeque sauce with a mild level of heat) and fresh salsa criolla where tomatoes, peppers, onions and enough red wine vinegar help to cut through the richness. Take them with cocktails plucked from an interesting list—as you’d expect for an Atticus Hospitality venue—that includes the fractionally-too-sweet I’ve Gochu Now ($23). Think of it as Mexico meeting Asia in a rumble between Aguas Mansas mezcal, Choya umeshu and gochujang smoothed out by mandarin. It’s bested by In a Pickle ($24), a pour-it-yourself Old Youngs Gingin gin martini that’s hard to untangle, but is a briny, maritime drink with a hint of floral interest. It’s so good, I want to go back just to drink it again. There’s also something to be said for drinking outside in an attractive courtyard setting, seated on a smooth poured concrete banquette under the deep blue night sky with lights reflecting on green camphor laurel trees: though a seat cushion on the hard, cold surface wouldn’t go astray. Casa Esquina has a lot of staff, who are very friendly but emanate confusion that hopefully time will address: it’s still early days. Cowra lamb sweetbreads ($32/150 grams) were deliciously simple, but we should have been advised to take them with Penny Fours’ excellent sourdough bread ($4/each). Vongole pasta ($20/$40) described (and ordered) as an entree arrived as a main, and disappointed with gluggy strands of pasta, partially rescued by shellfish and uni sauce baked onto the vongole clams. The main event—Tajima wagyu picanha ($76/275 grams)— had a good crust of char but rump cap warrants the interior being taken a little further (we left it to the chef). Fried Brussels sprouts ($16) were so undercooked they were inedible, with a few crisp leaves hiding tough raw green cores.
Jackie McMillanJackie McMillan
00
A Mixture of Promise and Disappointment Our recent dining experience at Casa Esquina left us with a blend of feelings, reflecting the restaurant's status as not quite an Argentinian gem, despite its marketing promises. Ambiance and Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ The restaurant's ambiance is delightful, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The decor and seating arrangements transport you to a charming setting, setting the stage for a pleasant evening. Culinary Identity Crisis: ⭐☆☆☆☆ While Casa Esquina bills itself as an Argentinian restaurant, the culinary experience tells a different story. Beyond a few menu items, the authenticity seems to be lost in translation. The promise of Argentinian flavors is overshadowed by a menu that lacks focus and fails to deliver on its cultural identity. Service Quandaries: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ Our experience was marred by inconsistent service. The waitstaff seemed unsure about the menu, offering mixed information on what was available and even forgetting a dish we ordered. The lack of coordination in service is an area that needs urgent attention. Marketing vs. Execution: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ Casa Esquina excels in marketing itself as a culinary destination. However, the execution in the kitchen falls short of the promises made in promotional materials. It's crucial for the restaurant to align its marketing hype with the actual dining experience to build trust among patrons. Recommendation: Casa Esquina has the potential to shine as a unique dining spot, but it needs to reassess its culinary identity, streamline its menu offerings, and address service inconsistencies. For those seeking an authentic Argentinian experience, it might be worth exploring other options until Casa Esquina refines its approach. In the world of culinary delights, consistency is key, and we hope Casa Esquina can refine its approach to truly capture the essence of Argentinian cuisine.
Ivan LloretIvan Lloret
30
I was so excited to see after they had huge renovation on old Efendy building. I was there with a friend on their 3th day opening so it was normal to see a few hick up here and there. Our server (Spanish waiter, I forgot his name) was very friendly and helpful. He took his time to explaining the menu and dishes and made sure we were happy during our visit but I cannot say the same for other staff members. Host wasn't friendly at all or other staff running food and drinks. 2 cocktails we tired both were not really good. I wouldn't order them again so that's why rather then trying some other cocktail on menu we switch to wines. Food was actually good. They forgot our side dish and came way after we actually finished our main. We were served the side dish while there was not anything on table. As I said it was their 3th day I get it but no apology at all as well as we were charged for the late side dish. We spend around $240 for 2 people. I wouldn't rush back for an expensive lunch or dinner but it could be good place to have drinks outside and have some nibbles instead.
ismail kayaismail kaya
20
Lovely restaurant with a really relaxing atmosphere. Staff were attentive and friendly. Prices were a tad high but the food was good. The slow cooked lamb shoulder was disappointing in that the meat was tough and did not come across as you would expect if it had been slow cooked. However when we told the staff member, they were super apologetic and helpful in making things right. The kitchen brought out a replacement and although it was much more better than the first, I still wouldn’t say it melts off the bone. All other food was cooked nicely and the flavours great. One thing to note, at the time of booking, the system asks if it is for a special occasion which we indicated it was, but there was nothing from it. Usually restaurants provide a little cake for the occasion but this was not offered so why ask at time of booking? Overall a pleasant experience with the service making up for the disappointing one dish. Budget in surcharges for CC payment and Sunday dining.
Mel LMel L
00
Nearby Attractions Of Casa Esquina
Birkenhead Point
Rozelle Collectors Markets
Elkington Park
Gladstone Park
Penny Four's
Dawn Fraser Baths
DOGUE Balmain
Egg Of The Universe Yoga Studio
Convict Precinct
Deep Blue Charters Australia - Deep Sea Fishing Charters Sydney

Birkenhead Point
4.3
(3.9K)Click for details

Rozelle Collectors Markets
4.2
(448)Click for details

Elkington Park
4.6
(245)Click for details

Gladstone Park
4.3
(197)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Casa Esquina
Alegrias
The Cottage Balmain
The Welcome Hotel
Gigi's Pizza Balmain
Rosso Balmain
The Riverview Hotel
DiCK's Hotel Balmain
The Dry Dock
The Balmain Hotel
Sackville Hotel

Alegrias
4.4
(681)Click for details

The Cottage Balmain
4.6
(464)$$
Click for details

The Welcome Hotel
4.5
(451)Click for details

Gigi's Pizza Balmain
3.9
(472)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
79 Elliott St, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia
Map
Phone
+61 2 9290 7033
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Website
casaesquina.au
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Reviews
Overview
4.6
(215 reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: Birkenhead Point, Rozelle Collectors Markets, Elkington Park, Gladstone Park, Penny Four's, Dawn Fraser Baths, DOGUE Balmain, Egg Of The Universe Yoga Studio, Convict Precinct, Deep Blue Charters Australia - Deep Sea Fishing Charters Sydney, restaurants: Alegrias, The Cottage Balmain, The Welcome Hotel, Gigi's Pizza Balmain, Rosso Balmain, The Riverview Hotel, DiCK's Hotel Balmain, The Dry Dock, The Balmain Hotel, Sackville Hotel

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