Plan B. This is what Ju-Rin ended up being for me this evening. I woke up in the morning and said to myself, “Today is the day that I will dine at Waqu.” I called them at 2pm to leave a reservation on their answering machine only to receive an SMS at the last moment that they are fully booked. Damn! I should’ve known I was pushing my luck.
Pizzaboy and I were left wondering around Crows Nest without any plans. We almost sat down at MuMu Grill when I confessed to him that I am now desperate to eat something Japanese. I suggest heading to Ju-Rin and trying our luck there. Pizzaboy is already upset by the Waqu situation and warns me about it happening again.
“If we also get turned down by Ju-Rin we’re going to McDonalds!”
We walk into Ju-Rin without any reservations and the staff welcome us and explain that we must finish by 8pm. That’s fine with me!
We are shown to the sushi bar and get to choose where we sit. Pizzaboy plonks himself down in front of the Sushi Chef and I gladly follow.
We are handed the menu and I’m completely distracted by the intricate knife skills of the chef. Pizzaboy constantly reminds me to pay attention to the menu, order and then stare at the sushi chef afterwards… I failed.
Throughout the evening the sushi chef also nudges me to take photos of dishes that he makes for other patrons.
The menu is full of typical items found at a sushi restaurant. I’m more interested in the items listed on the specials board. There are almost 15 items on the blackboard and are most probably full of ingredients that are fresh from the farmers market.
We finally decide on our order, settle down and enjoy the show.
Grilled Salmon Salad $15.50
I watch the chef put together a salad and blow-torch some slices of salmon. I secretly hope that the salad belongs to us. It looks so delicious and beautifully plated. Our eyes are secured on the dish as it moves around from the sushi bar and towards us. We both slap each other when it lands in front of us.
It was delish!!
The salmon was melt-in-your-mouth. The salad leaves were crispy fresh and the avocados are creamy. The dressing is tangy and carries the entire dish perfectly.
Special - Organic Corn Soup $5.50
The Organic Corn Soup arrives at our table in a wine glass rimmed with salt. It is served chilled and is achingly good. The soup is creamy and has a flecks of corn strewn throughout. This was too good to share, so we order another.
I ask the owner (who is also part of the wait staff) what is in the soup. He has a perplexed expression on his face and disappears into the kitchen. He then reappears and quite proudly tells me (in a very strong japanese accent – which I love very much),
“Corn, cream, egg white, potato, salt and a little bit of white pepper.”
Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab $13.50
The deep fried soft shell crab had the most hypnotic fragrance when the waiter places the dish in front of us. We both ignore every other dish and dive into it. It is wonderfully crunchy and the crab is little more fleshier than other soft shell crab’s that we have eaten in the past. The batter is light and serving is more than what we expected.
I love how this looks all scary claw like
Gyoza $9.50
The gyoza dumplings were fantastic. I am going to make a very bold statement and say that it is the best gyoza dumplings in Sydney. The pastry appears to be handmade and are delicate. The dumplings are fried to golden perfection and the filling is moist and tantalisingly good.
Special - Sake Marinated Black Cod $15.50
The sake marinated black cod is unassuming in its size and presentation. The black cod is incredibly tender and when I bite into it there is a strong aroma of the sake and a sweetness that emanates from it. Pizzaboy and I are completely enamoured by this dish and think it is a shame that it was only on the specials menu.
Premium Wagyu Steak $35.00
The wagyu steak comes out on a sizzling plate and we are wet at the mouth for it. We thought that it would be the pièce de résistance but it ended up being a disappointment. The steak was tough and chewy. It does not compare to other wagyu steaks we have had in the past.
Dessert Platter - Green Tea Ice Cream, Fresh Fruit, Cherry Blossom Pudding $11.80
Pizzaboy is content and does not want dessert. I decide to order a little something even though I am full. We are given the dessert menu and our appetite for something sweet is suddenly whipped into a frenzy. We get the dessert platter to share.
It takes a while for the dessert to appear from the kitchen. However we are entertained by the sushi chef who puts on a little show for my camera.
The dessert finally arrives and it is romantically decorated the way only the japanese know how to do. The green tea ice cream is ethereal in texture and pairs flawlessly with the azuki bean paste. The fresh fruits are delightfully arranged. Pizzaboy isn’t a big fan of fruit so he leaves them to me. The cherry blossom pudding is a strange wet mixture of azuki beans and rice. It was quite claggy in texture and stuck to the roof of my mouth.
The verdict
This is a lovely little japanese eatery in Crows Nest. Although there was one disappointing dish it did not dampen my exuberant feelings for the restaurant. It is named Best Asian Restaurant by the Sydney Morning herald Good Food Guide 2010 for a good reason!
Ju-Rin Japanese Restaurant
316 Pacific Hwy
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Phone (02) 9966 5811
www.jurin.com.au
Comments
Angie’s Recipes
May 27, 2010 at 10:56 pmGive me that plate of grilled salmon! Beautifully presented!
tasteofbeirut
May 27, 2010 at 11:24 pmLove so many of these dishes it is hard to pick; I think I will just have a bite of everything!
Maria
May 28, 2010 at 4:32 amYes I’ve been here, very very nice food! Both lunch and dinner menus are awesome 😀
Elina
May 28, 2010 at 5:23 amThese pictures are gorgeous! I can’t believe you were able to get such amazing shots while the chef was prepping. Not bad for plan B 😉
betty
May 28, 2010 at 9:39 ami havent been here yet but ive heard so many good things about this place! so glad u were able to get a seat as maccas for dinner would suck HARD .. lolz
OohLookBel
May 28, 2010 at 9:48 amThank goodness for plan B! What a great meal you had – I will have to keep Ju-Rin in mind for next time I’m in Crows Nest.
YW
May 28, 2010 at 11:33 amahhh.. I went there once without booking and they wouldn’t let us in .. :(( now I know what I’ve missed out.. definitely have to go back again !! this time I’ll book in advance..
Anita
May 28, 2010 at 9:14 pmPass me some of those gyoza dumplings please 🙂
Kitchen Butterfly
May 29, 2010 at 6:32 amIt looks lovely…..the sushi and the matcha ice-cream sounds yummy!!!!!!! Glad you got a place to eat!
john@heneedsfood
May 29, 2010 at 10:26 amTough and chewy wagyu?! That’s enough to make you start crying. That salmon salad looks incredible!
mademoiselle délicieuse
May 29, 2010 at 10:34 amI don’t mind that they have two dining sessions – as long as you’re aware beforehand then eveyrthing’s cool. They really place a lot of care into their food though.
cityhippyfarmgirl
May 29, 2010 at 12:49 pmWhat a great sounding restaurant. I love Japanese, and my undaring attempts at making sushi the other day didn’t really cut the mustard.
Beautiful photos.
Adrian @ Food Rehab
May 29, 2010 at 10:17 pmwowzer! Check out the corn soup martini. Love the detail they put in here, esp with the glass rimmed with salt.
Ellie (Almost Bourdain)
May 31, 2010 at 9:36 amI heard so much good reviews about them. It’s really time for me to visit this place. Great review 🙂
angie
June 3, 2010 at 6:46 amMmm sounds like a great place though I don’t know when I will ever be in Crow’s Nest again hehe =)
Shanks
June 3, 2010 at 7:54 amNice action shots!! I wanna try Waqu too and I’m adding Ju-Rin to the list. 🙂
damaris
June 3, 2010 at 1:48 pmfeed me!
please.
That corn soup is exactly what I would like to be eating right about now. Dang it, I’m settling for veggie chips instead. At least the kids are asleep.
JT @areyouhungary
July 23, 2010 at 2:36 pmOh another good find, but just down the road from me. Ellie is right, it is time for me also to visit this place!