Restaurant Sojourn (CLOSED)
Whilst the food here is expensive, the extra touches like a complimentary amuse bouche (for us, a carrot soup with thyme, hazelnuts and hazelnut oil) and pre-dessert to each diner soften the prices. You will sample the cuisine of Paul Camilleri in a small yet atmospheric sandstone room, to a great soundtrack. A vegetarian entrée of Twice Cooked Olive and Chive Soufflé ($23) with soft goat’s curd and tomato sorbet was a tad overpowered by the bed of olive tapenade; however the Tortellini of Lyonnaise Onion and Lemon Thyme ($24) shone, combining flawlessly with tasty Hawkesbury River Prawns, wafer thin garlic bread and burnt butter. My favourite was easily a main of Slow Roasted Lamb Rack, Caramelised Lamb Breast, Pea Puree, Marjoram Gnocchi and Sweetbreads ($35), particularly for the slow-cooked and nicely caramelised piece of flavoursome lamb breast. The round slices of Chicken Breast with Creamed Sprouts, Boudin Noir and Pancetta ($36) also proved a winning combination. Kim Camilleri’s desserts are well-designed, though it was the pre-dessert salad of mango, passionfruit and lychee with mango sorbet that impressed the most. Wines range from $40-$126 bottle, with the 2005 Kelleri Kaltern Pinot Bianco ($12/glass, $55 bottle) gaining my wine of the night.
Restaurant Sojourn
79 Darling Street, Balmain
Ph: (02) 9555 9764
Modern European $$$$
