Comments on: Waqu, Crows Nest

By: wordofprey

wordofprey — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 10:26:51 +0000

Interesting review…it almost felt that you held off from critising too much. I think I read between the lines and I agree that overall, it is a bit of a letdown. On our visit, we were highly disappointed. First of all, this is not modern Japanese. It is simply European with a few additions of Japanese flavours. Secondly, the restaurnt seems more focused on arresting presentation than getting the flavours right. Having eaten some stellar modern Japanese in Tokyo (ie Molecular Bar at Mandarin Oriental), my palate has been irrevocably spoilt…places like Waqu simply don’t cut it! Sake at Circular Quay is a much finer example of modern Japanese…

By: Wine Esky

Wine Esky — Fri, 21 May 2010 05:14:12 +0000

Great blog! Thanks! I went yesterday for their autumn menu on my 5th wedding anniversary, I agree, it was very very good. I was pleased with every dish they served. I ordered venison for my main and it was absolutely fantastic!

By: squishies

squishies — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:30:37 +0000

campgrenada: Hmm, interesting that your whiting was overcooked too! Haha to be honest, I didn't notice that the desserts weren't Japanese! I think I got distracted by how delicious they were heh... Thanks =) abercrombie: Hahaha seems like we both got distracted with the dessert to notice it wasn't Japanese. Betty: Yeah, feel a bit silly that I missed a great menu. Hopefully the summer one will be as good as the winter one! The service was pretty good - friendly and quite attentive. Felt the food came out a bit too slow for my liking though. FFichiban: How good was that taco! But yeah, some of the dishes were a bit weak in comparison... I'm sure the summer menu would be good =) poptart: LOL @ your suss... I think I'll try their summer menu before deciding if you're right on this =) billy@ATFT: Really! Hopefully Waqu won't be part of that statistic... It's a bit sad to see restaurants go bust =T Jen (jenius.com.au): Oh noes! Really... That's a bit disappointing to hear. Maybe this year will be different? Hope so. chocolatesuze: Hahah I was a bit amused when I was processing the photos because I didn't notice it when I took the photos and wondered if Astroboy was going to be distracting XD Yas: Ooh where was Waqu before it was in Crows Nest?

By: Yas

Yas — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:49:47 +0000

Waqu seems to be doing well after the relocation eh? Have to go back and see their new dishes!

By: chocolatesuze

chocolatesuze — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:47:15 +0000

mmm i loved the soft shell crab taco! and ooh ASTRO BOY!

By: Jen (jenius.com.au)

Jen (jenius.com.au) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:27:26 +0000

the soft shell crab taco has always been the best thing about waqu for me. i had their summer menu last summer which was also a hit and miss :-\

By: billy@ATFT

billy@ATFT — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:10:14 +0000

you know that particular spot in Crows Next is jinxed?! Within 3 years of living in Wollstonecraft, I’ve seen so many different businesses bumping in and out. Hopefully the number 308, will bring some luck to a Chinese/Japanese business.

By: poptart

poptart — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:02:58 +0000

@everyone this post certainly ruffled a few feathers! lol

red bean, green tea = passionflower, bread top. i don’t think they’re ubiquitous japanese as much as ubiquitous accessible and affordable.

a restaurant whose quality of dishes varies/depends on seasonal changes sounds a little suss.

By: Tweets that mention Waqu, Crows Nest - eatshowandtell -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Waqu, Crows Nest - eatshowandtell -- Topsy.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:37:34 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by squishies. squishies said: New EST post: I eat at Waqu… http://bit.ly/H72VA [...]

By: campgrenada

campgrenada — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:28:55 +0000

@Howard – the eel at Sepia was fabtastic, so alas the Waqu one paled in comparison. However, as we had the dish as part of the degustation, it was T-I-N-Y! Maybe next time I’ll order it as a la carte.

@abercrombie – Really liked the desserts too, as it was a great way to end the meal, but I don’t think I had sago balls in my panna cotta though …. hmmm ….

By: abercrombie

abercrombie — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:59:33 +0000

@campgrenada – totally get what you mean. you would think, european or something to that effect when those desserts were mentioned in conversation

the panna cotta did have sago balls *pokes*

hopefully they add a jap twist to their summer desserts. still enjoyed the desserts thoroughly..

By: Howard

Howard — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:24:54 +0000

@campgrenada : The eel at Sepia was amazing wasn’t it ?

Fantastic dish. I also agree with you about Japanese desserts. Having been to Japan twice now, I am perplexed as to why a lot of Sydney Jap restaurants don’t stretch their menu to contain ‘the real deal’ Japanese style desserts such as their cakes. An example is Toko in Surry Hills which serve panna cota and creme brulee, not exactly Japanese but perhaps a fusion.

By: FFichiban

FFichiban — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:20:26 +0000

I really liked Waqu when I first went esp that soft shell crab taco!! So I must go back and try more but I did hear some dishes were average.. hmmm

By: campgrenada

campgrenada — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:03:35 +0000

@abercrombie, I usually expect a little bit of Japan in the dessert in a Japanese eatery; even the ubiquitous green tea ice cream would’ve sufficed. I find it strange that all the previous four courses are Japanese and the desserts not, that’s all. I had the same experience at Azuma Chifley Plaza, although I can see from the review here by Linda that they had green tea rolled cake, red bean zenzai, and green tea creme brulee; see what I mean? If I had told someone I had the three above desserts, they would think of Japan immediately, whereas with white chocolate cheesecake, Belgium chocolate ice cream, and strawberry panna cotta? Not at all.

By: Betty

Betty — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:42:52 +0000

i had tried the winter menu, it was pretty nice. loved the presentation & service

By: abercrombie

abercrombie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:41:55 +0000

to the above ^^^ – never thought about the dessert not being japanese? i think i may have been engrosed in the deliciousness of each of the desserts for that thought to pop in my head when I was there

the dark bitter-sweet choc ice cream though was purrrrfect. bitterness of the choc with the sweetness of the ice cream, match made in heaven

by the sounds of it, big shame i missed the winter menu though also looking forward in seeing what they offer in summer

By: campgrenada

campgrenada — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:30:25 +0000

We were there last Sunday and had the same dishes as you two except the cod main. Everything was lovely except the overcooked and dry whiting. I liked the eel sushi too, but it was nowhere near as nice as the eel at Sepia. The only reservation I had, and this has been applicable to almost all Japanese nosheries in Sydney I’ve frequented, was the desserts. Lovely as they were, they weren’t Japanese enough for me. Great review and photos BTW.