Red Salt Restaurant in Parramatta NSW Australia
By Jane Louise
Fine Dining, Modern Australian Restaurant
Address: 30 Phillip Street Parramatta
Phone: (02) 9689 3333
Hours: 7 Days & Nights
Venturing into Parramatta for the first time in a very, very long time, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d find. Back when I was last there, Parramatta was still earning its reputation for being, well, somewhat less than gourmet.
But that was then, and this definitely is now. Redsalt Restaurant, part of the Crowne Plaza Hotel on the edge of Parramatta’s CBD, has turned the area’s old reputation on its head.
With a menu described as ‘modern Australian’ you’d be tempted to think it’s nothing special, but you’d be delightfully wrong. Seafood dishes such as the entrée of seared scallops with asparagus and tomato-tarragon salsa or the Norwegian smoked salmon with watercress and Persian feta on corn fritters are works of culinary art, matching the décor’s modern take on art nouveau perfectly. My entrée, the Redsalt tasting plate, came complete with oyster natural, a seared scallop, their ultra-rich tomato soup, and another Redsalt favourite, the dukka coated lamb fillet on fattoush salad. We decided the Redsalt tasting plate entrée would likely be served as a main in a Sydney CBD restaurant.
Speaking of mains, after much deliberation my choice was the king prawn risotto. With six giant prawns vying for attention on my plate I barely noticed my dining partner’s rib eye steak arrive, with his choice of wild mushroom gravy steaming on the side.
In between courses my dining partner worked his way through the New Zealand wines, while some inner guidance led me to discover yet another fabulous Hunter Valley wine – this time a Bimbadgen sparkling semillion.
Unable to refuse the offer of dessert, we ordered the ricotta cheesecake and another work of art, the chocolate tasting plate. I could visit Redsalt for that alone!
Another highlight was the music. While the Crowne Plaza has specially selected music for the chain, staff choose particular sets to match the moods of the evening, and were spot on. Our night had some chilled jazz.
The icing on the cake, however, was the staff. Friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and confident, the young vibrant staff were a down-to-earth bunch, all making our visit a memorable occasion. Vicky patiently answered all our questions, Josh came over for a quick chat, and everyone humoured us, posing for photos.
Finally, Vicky sent us to the Heritage Bar downstairs for a nightcap. It’s the kind of place you’d go when you want to avoid clubs and just have a few comfortable drinks out with friends - unless a visiting sports team are staying in the hotel, when it gets a little more crowded. But even then I’m told the patrons behave, leaving the unruly behaviour to the pubs and clubs.
All in all, it was an enjoyable evening, and one I wouldn’t mind repeating.
- text by Jane Louise / pics by Stewart Dawes
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