Le Coq and Fish (French Bistro) — Restaurant in Sydney

Balance and simplicity ($65 three course degustation)

True to its name, this is French Bistro in its original meaning; simple, rustic dishes in a modest setting. Yet I am not entirely truthful when I say that. The entree was scallops. I was given a wine list. The service was professional. It was an elevated kind of Bistro, hinting at its ability to dance between the country and the city, the casual and the fine dining. I'd guess that the chef had worked in both in the past.

Too much of the Australian dining scene tries way too hard. This is understandable, because it has become popular to eat for your instagram. It has become popular to choose places which can fit as many colours as possible on a plate. It is, in my opinion, a confused, consumerist approach to cuisine. Le Coq and Fish is a strong counter to that culture. Allow me to explain:

Just looking at the photos I have uploaded, the Bistro does not rely of flare and loud bright colours to advertise itself. The entree was grilled scallops with chorizo and a sweet corn puree. I found it quite interesting that the meal began with savoury, spicy and silky textures, which are ordinarily reserved for the main in many restaurants. I think the warmness of the chorizo and the buttery sweetness of the scallops did very well in welcoming my appetite.

Then when I was presented the main, I was again intrigued. The balance in contrast was executed perfectly: the crispiness of the porchetta was softened by the smoothness of the potatoes, the savoury fat was brightened by the acidity and sweetness of the sauce. I was also recommended a French Riesling wine. The dryness of the wine was able to cut through the fat of the pork. Again, a sign that the place understood balance.

For dessert, I had a warm apple tarte Tartin. It closed the meal with sweet and sour notes in a very classic way. Some people feel the need to present dessert like fireworks, but that's because they cannot see the beauty in simplicity. Life can be enjoyable without every day being like New Year's.

So it is my assessment that Le Coq and Fish is very conscious of balance and simplicity. It teaches what many have failed to learn; pay attention to the food. Not the colours, the reputation, the rankings, the noise. Look for substance.

If I had one point of feedback (and I'm not even sure if it's fair but I thought I should point it out), the sauce of the porchetta had a tendency to drown out the potatoes at the bottom. I understand this was a very classic and homey way to present the sauce, which I appreciate, but I think it could be used more strategically over the meat. It may even add to the elevated Bistro theme. Regardless, it was a very well executed dish.

I will definitely be bringing my friends here and coming back. Thank you for...

We went for a father's Day dinner and absolutely loved it.

To be honest, the star of the show was the energetic and attentive wait staff. They were always on the lookout and you never felt bothered.

The house wine recommendation was spot on, and paired well with our dinner.

Entrees: Escargot: 5 stars, loved by all. Good amount of butter Scallops: 4.5 stars, wonderful texture and taste, but the pea puree was a little overpowering, everything else worked well together. Chicken liver parfait: 4.5 stars, I really enjoyed the chicken liver parfait, but I felt there could have been more parfait, it was refreshing having salad on the side though.

Mains: Mushroom tarte tartin: 5 stars, this really hit the spot for me, I rarely eat meat and this was bursting with flavour and I enjoyed the mix of flavours from the mushroom, caramelized onions and the romesci sauce. Steak frites: 4 stars, in typical french fashion, all orders are blue or rare, the medium rares were more towards the rare side. The scotch had a lot of flavour, but the pepper corn sauce didn't do it for me. French fries were moreish.

We were pretty full and couldn't eat dessert. It the apple tarte tartin looked popular.

Would definately come back. I'm hoping to try the porchetta and the fish and chips...

We celebrated a double birthday dinner at a local French bistro, and the experience was delightful. The ambience was charming, with dimmed lighting creating a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. It was a quiet Tuesday evening, nestled between two long weekends, so the restaurant wasn’t overly crowded but had a pleasant buzz with a reasonable number of customers.

The menu offered A La Carte options as well as two or three-course set dinners. I chose the French onion soup and the duck confit. Both dishes were enjoyable—the soup was rich and flavorful, and while the duck may have been slightly overcooked, it was still very tasty.

The highlight of the evening was the exceptional customer service. Our waiter was warm, attentive, and went out of his way to make the birthday girls feel special. He surprised them with two desserts, each thoughtfully topped with a birthday candle, and even offered to take several group photos for us.

One area for improvement would be the font size on the menu. Considering the low-light environment, it was a bit challenging to read without my reading glasses.

Overall, the combination of delicious food, a lovely setting, and outstanding service made for a memorable evening. I’d be happy to return for another relaxed dinner...