Pu’er

Despite good instructions from enthusiastic floor Manager Quinton Van Schalkwyk, most of my meal is spent debating and creating the perfect cup of tea with my British dining companion. We started with Osmanthus Phoenix  ($9) – a little too flowery for me – but it scrubbed up better in a Peaches & Phoenix ($17) cocktail, where fruit rather than flowers took the lead. By the time we hit our favoured second pot – High Mountain Red Tea ($9) – we’re sure the second steeping produces the best tiny glass cup of tea. While my interest was most captured by the teas (imported from Yunnan, China), this surprisingly charming teahouse tucked under the garish-orange awning also does competent pan-Asian tapas with a bit of a Western twist. Beyond the ever-popular Shanghai Soup Dumplings ($7) you’ll also find wackier Pork and Peanut ($7) versions in their nine-strong dumpling list. Street food options like panko-crumbed pork Hong Kong Mini-Burgers ($15/4) or BBQ Duck ‘Tacos’ ($16/4) in steamed white buns, probably please groups more than couples. Never fear there’s always Stir-Fried Green Beans ($18) with pork mince in XO sauce… Nicely savoury but slightly undercooked black sticky rice let down our Coconut and Kaffir Lime Leaf Sorbet ($10) conclusion, as we alighted our Chinese saddle-stools, well hydrated but slightly stiff-legged.

Pu’er
20a Danks Street, Waterloo
Ph: (02) 8399 1331
Chinese, Yum Cha, Pan Asian $$-$$$

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REVIEW: Karen’s Diner Top Ryde

REVIEW: Karen’s Diner Top Ryde

I am not going to lie, walking into Karen’s Diner, which is reputed to have the worst customer service in the city, can be nerve-wracking. After several minutes of nervous pacing and scrolling through the reservation confirmation with clammy hands, a Karen turned to serve me. Rolling eyes and sass made up most of her demeanour, which finally put me at ease. As I looked around, I realised I was not the only nervous one in the diner. Many of  customers were similarly hesitant to order their food, all of whom were understandably unwilling to invoke the Karens’ wrath but equally keen to experience what this place was all about.

An evening at Karen’s Diner was a fun experience indeed. From aggressive pushes of food on the table to constant f-bombs and booing at customers, Karen’s Diner was a vibe.

The diner decorations were also quite beautiful. Seated at a high-top table with a table full of has-beens next to a comic plastered wall we watched the customers heading out to play the Wheel of Misfortune. Misfortunes that could land you anywhere between model walks to the not-so-fun spicy shots.

I ate a meal called the “Royale Karen” alongside sips of a cocktail called the “Sour Karen” – listening to Good Golly Miss Molly playing overhead. The food was good, but it could have been better.

Ironically, Karen’s Diner was not the worst customer service that I have experienced. From existing Diner videos on YouTube, I was expecting much worse. The Diner has started out well, but it could do much better with more realistic Karens. Overall, it was an enthralling and hilarious experience.

KAREN’S DINER TOP RYDE is a 3 month pop-up located at the Top Ryde Shopping Centre. The pop-up experience ends on July 22. For Bookings head to: www.bemorekaren.com/ryde

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