Gastronomous Anonymous

I was looking for a new place to eat in Surry Hills when I stumbled across Lee Tran’s blog and her post on Youeni Foodstore. I never knew this place existed let alone know that there were boutiques and offices on Hill Street. It is a spin off from Youeni Provides which is a few blocks away – which I have yet to visit! Both places are run by Chris Starke, formally chef at Marque.

I was catching up with the lovely DC, he is moving to London soon and I wanted one last catch up – so sad but I am sure we will see each other in either London or Hong Kong. The menu is small but there is definitely something for everyone. For breakfast, there is bircher, eggs, anchovies toast and croque monsieur. For lunch, soup, sandwiches, salads and one of the nicest and yummiest beef brisket I have ever had.

They stop serving breakfast at 11.30am, so it was lunch for the both of us. We both couldn’t go past the beef brisket, blackened caramelised onions, pomme puree, green salad ($14 eat in only) and OH MY GOODNESS! WOW!

The beef brisket was melt in your mouth tender, the pomme puree deliciously creamy and the caramelised onions a wonderful complement and the salad with cottage cheese was a nice touch.

I could have definitely eaten another serving of this! It is their specialty and apparently their beef brisket sandwich served on soy and linseed is one of their best sellers!

We also ordered a salad to share, roasted pumpkin, salted rosemary breadcrumbs, cottage cheese, and olive oil ($12). The roasted pumpkin was cooked to perfection and I LOVED the rosemary breadcrumbs, it was absolutely wonderful. The cottage cheese was a wonderful complement, and it went perfectly with our beef brisket.

DC had the coffee – I forgot to ask if it was any good?

I had their grapefruit juice and it was excellent.

Service was friendly, and food – EXCELLENT! I really can’t wait to go back to try their scrambled eggs and their white anchovies on toast, tomato citrus salsa, house-made creme fraiche and chorizo! yum! They also have delicious looking lemon tart – damn it, I really should have bought one for afternoon tea!

I love the courtyard area, pity there is no sun (as the courtyard is between two tall buildings), otherwise it would be perfect to sip coffee, have brunch and read the paper under the sun! Regardless, I can see myself coming back here again and again! They haven’t ‘officially’ opened, their opening date is this Saturday 2nd June – I am definitely coming back, possibly before then!

GA’s ratings: 8 / 10

Youeni Foodstore

Shop 3, 8 Hill Street

Surry Hills 2010

Ph: +61 9380 7575