The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar
Michelin- starred chef Jean- Georges Vongerichten’s recently opened restaurant is exactly what you’d want from a Dempsey eatery – casual yet sophisticated, with airy garden vibes. Before even looking at the Western- with- a- slightly- Asiantwist menu I was already in love with the restaurant for its beautifully eclectic décor – high-backed, white wicker chairs that give a Wonderland feel, mixed with sleek marble tables, colonial-chic black and white tile floors, leafy plants galore and high ceilings adorned with large, geometric lanterns; it’s the perfect setting for a date night, indeed.
Of course, everything on the menu looks equally lovely, and it was honestly quite hard to settle on some dishes ( we noshed on way too much from the amazing bread basket while we pondered). Ultimately, we chose to start with the burrata with Meyer lemon jam, olive oil and black pepper ($18), which I absolutely loved – the taste and texture of the jam complimented the oil-soaked toast and burrata perfectly – the delicious shredded kale salad with lemon, green chili and mint ($15), and the fabulously flavoured black pepper crab dumplings with mint and sugar snap peas ($19) – my husband’s favourite dish of the night.
Looking to split a pizza, we opted for the tomato mozzarella and basil pizza ($15) – yummy, as you’d expect – as we thought the delicious-sounding black truffle and fontina pizza ($26) might be too rich for our already-full stomachs. In addition, we shared the roasted cod with broccoli rabe and herbal coconut broth ($30), which we’d highly recommend – the flavour was excellent, and had a nice kick to it, transforming your typical fish dish into something extra special.
We washed everything down with a tasty, house- made passion- chili soda ($12) for me (though, if I weren’t pregnant, I would have gone for the lychee raspberry Bellini, $22) and a Passion Whisky Fizz (Maker’s Mark, passionfruit and lemon, $ 22) for my husband. Must-try: Although Chef Jean-george is known for his warm chocolate cake ($15), it’s the very generously-portioned salted caramel ice cream sundae with popcorn and hot fudge ($14) that you can’t leave without trying – perfectly salty and sweet with a nice crunch. Even if you’re in a food coma, like we were, order it anyway!
Tip: This hotspot was definitely hopping on a Saturday night, so be sure to book ahead! The restaurant also offers weekend brunch, which sees the addition of dishes like fish tacos ($22) and a spicy grilled chicken sandwich ($24).