It's Showtime - Let's Eat

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday July 4, 2006

Jacqui Taffel

Sydney's entertainers know just where to go for a good, quick feed.

So you've ditched the telly, Tim Tams and slipper-socks, and booked some tickets - you're going out. Whether you've chosen a musical, play, ballet, opera, stand-up comedy, cabaret or that semi-nude Brazilian dance revue, whether it cost $12 or $220 a ticket, there's only one thing better than seeing a show - and that's dinner and a show. After all, what's the point of dressing up just to sit in the dark?

Working on the trusty principle that "there's no people like show people", we asked the troupers who entertain you and those behind the scenes for their favourite pre-show and post-show watering holes.

Caroline O'Connor, actor and singer

"I'm a good eater," O'Connor says, but she's also a night owl, so instead of "breakfast, lunch, dinner" her schedule is "brunch, late lunch, supper".

And when she's tackling a huge role, as she did recently playing Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow, O'Connor doesn't like to travel far after the show. This means she loves the Opera Bar under the Opera House and ordering the tasting plate for two. It's perfect, she says, "if you don't want to have a great big meal. And, of course, the view is stunning down there and they've got live music, so it's kind of got all the elements."

After a show at the Capitol Theatre, being so close to Chinatown, "you have to go to BBQ King and be bossed around. 'Sit down! What do you want?!"' She also likes Golden Century and a small Malaysian restaurant called Indigo.

At Star City, where O'Connor has performed at the Lyric Theatre, she goes to the nearby Cafe XXII for the food and atmosphere but also because it's so close to the stage door. "If you're theatre people, you don't always want to stay in the same building. Sometimes you want to get out and go somewhere else that's convenient and local." Another favourite is Oscar's Bar and Restaurant, which she says is comfortable, with hearty food and the option of lounging around on couches.

John Woodland, artistic administrator, Belvoir Street Theatre

With renovations under way at Belvoir Street's Surry Hills theatre, the company is temporarily working at the Seymour Centre. But when it moves back home in August, Belvoir's staff will return to their old foodie haunts. Woodland consulted his colleagues in marketing, technical, box office and administration for their local picks.

In the upmarket range, Vini got the

most votes. "It's fresh, inventive, it's yummy. They do all sorts of interesting stuff, not just traditional Italian," Woodland says. Vini's staff will suggest certain dishes to pre-show diners who are in a hurry. Also praised in the medium-to-high price range is Jazushi, "a modern fusion between Australian and Japanese".

Nepalese Kitchen and Red Lantern (Vietnamese) on Crown Street are nominated for cheaper feeds, as is Mohr Fish for eating in or take-away. The neighbouring Shakespeare Hotel has a bistro, with the steak and mash for $6 particularly popular with Belvoir's techies. Of the nearby Lebanese restaurants, the Belvoir crew favours Abdul's, though Woodland says "it's just a habit - there are other good ones".

Once Belvoir's bar has closed, the place to go for a drink is the Shakespeare or the Strawberry Hills Hotel. "Especially after opening nights you'll see actors and crew going there," Woodland says.

Michelle Doake, actor

As one of those envied thesps who always seems to be working, Doake has trodden the boards at many professional theatres in Sydney. Now, after opening at Parramatta's Riverside Theatres, she's in the middle of a national tour playing Portia in Bell Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.

At Parramatta she frequents Istana, a Malaysian restaurant that does "fantastic nasi goreng, brilliant salt and pepper squid and sambal spinach, which will really burn your mouth out before a performance [and] clear those sinuses".

Near Penrith's Q Theatre is Osso. With white tablecloths and a mod-Oz menu, it's not cheap, Doake says, but it's friendly and happy to accommodate pre-show diners.

For the Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay, Sydney Dance Cafe is an easy option for a quick, cheap, healthy meal. "It's nice to sit down there on the water with people milling about - there's a nice air of something's going to happen."

Just up the hill is the Lord Nelson. "It's terrific for pie and mash or soda bread with cheese, a really traditional, warming hearty meal, and good beer." More upmarket is the Palisade Hotel, where Doake says the food is lovely, the dining space intimate and the service impeccable.

When she's at the Opera House, a quick bowl of noodles from Wagamama on Bridge Street often does the trick, and for post-show drinks she suggests two options. The Lenin Bar does a mean lychee martini and tends to be quieter than the Opera Bar. Or there's Cafe Sydney for cocktails. "Sitting out on the balcony there looking at the water and Sydney, it's just gorgeous."

Connor Dowling, dancer, Sydney Dance Company

If asking a dancer where to eat seems optimistic, Dowling is quick to stomp on that cliche. "When they get to a professional level, a dancer would be stupid not to eat properly," he says. However, he adds, the average dancer tends to be rather "unadventurous" when it comes to food.

After rehearsals at The Wharf, particularly in summer, dancers congregate at nearby Firefly. The small bar with views across the harbour has "great little tapas plates and a brilliant wine list", and is ideal for a snack before or after a show at The Wharf or Sydney Theatre.

When he's performing, Dowling eats after the show. Having a big meal beforehand doesn't work, he says, "when I'm onstage wearing next to nothing".

During an Opera House season, he gets his pre-show coffee from Portobello Caffe and heads for the Opera Bar afterwards.

In The Rocks he suggests Costi's Famous Fish Cafe, where customers can get take-away or eat at the communal tables. For pre- or post-show drinks, the views from Blu Horizon Bar are worth the trek to the top of the Shangri-La Hotel.

Later this year, when he will be dancing at the Theatre Royal, he's looking forward to getting his pre-show coffee hit from Mecca Espresso. When he goes to the Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, he reckons nothing beats beer and nachos at Dean's on Kellett Street, or a slice of pizza and glass of wine at Mad Pizza (the nickname for MADe in Italia).

Phil Scott, actor-writer, Wharf Revue

For six years, Scott and his fellow Wharf Revuers have presented an annual socio-political satire, which has also had seasons at the Riverside and Glen Street theatres. Scott has performed theatre and cabaret all over the city and eats out a lot. "Too much - I can't afford it."

In the Wharf area, he likes Firefly for drinks and nibbles, but for a more solid feed heads to the Harbour View Hotel, where the dining room on the second floor serves "good, hearty food" at smallish prices.

"When I was doing shows at the Sydney Theatre we'd go there between the 2pm and 8pm shows for an early dinner."

He also suggests Fish at The Rocks. "It's a little restaurant, fantastic for seafood." He has noticed locals eating there including the Aussie Home Loans managing director, John Symond, who lives at the nearby Pier Apartments) and takes this as a good sign.

During a run at the Darlinghurst Theatre recently, he discovered Maggie's at Potts Point, run by Maggie, former owner of the legendary Una's on Victoria Street. "It's the same kind of food, only better," Scott says, and service is fast. "So you can eat before a show and there's no chance you'll be left until the last minute with your food."

For Glen Street patrons who don't mind eating on the run, he confirms that Wholey Mackerel, the take-away fish-and-chip shop opposite the theatre, does a tasty piece of grilled fish. "You can scoff it in the car."

THEATRE RESTAURANTS

Sydney Theatre Company

The Wharf, Pier 4, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, 9250 1761. Pre-theatre dinner from 6pm, lunch available for matinees. Interval desserts available and supper on Friday and Saturday nights (depending on show finish time). Mains from $31.50.

Sydney Theatre

Hickson Road Bistro, 20 Hickson Rd, 9250 1990. Open two hours before performances and for post-show supper Friday and Saturday. Interval coffee and dessert available for pre-theatre diners. Mains from $30. Bookings essential.

Old Fitzroy Theatre

Old Fitzroy Hotel, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, 9356 3848. Bistro menu (mainly Asian plus pub staples) with nothing over $11. Beer, laksa and show deal usually $33, less for previews.

Ensemble Theatre

Bayly's Restaurant, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli, 9956 8250. Two courses $45 ($41 for Ensemble subscribers), three courses $52 ($48 subscribers). Bookings essential.

Glen Street Theatre

Sorlies, Glen St, Belrose, 9975 1455.

Pre-show menu from 6pm. Diners running late or large groups can order by phone. Mains $27.50. Bookings essential.

Riverside Theatres, Parramatta

Transistor Cafe, Bar and Lounge, corner Church and Market streets, 9630 2434. Pre-theatre menu, two courses $29.90, three courses $34.90, children $15.

AROUND THE CORNER

Theatre Royal, State Theatre

Mecca Espresso, 67 King St, 9299 8828.

Mezes at Omega Restaurant, 161 King St, 9223 0242.

Bistro 163, 163 King St, 9231 0013.

Sky Phoenix, Level 3, Skygarden,

77 Castlereagh St, 9223 8822.

Belvoir Street, Performance Space, Seymour Centre

Jazushi, 145 Devonshire St, 9699 8977.

Mohr Fish, 202 Devonshire St, 9318 1326.

Nepalese Kitchen, 481 Crown St, 9319 4264.

Vini, 118 Devonshire St, 9698 5131.

Red Lantern, 545 Crown St, 9698 4355.

Abdul's Lebanese Restaurant, corner Elizabeth and Cleveland streets, 9698 1275.

Shakespeare Hotel Bistro, 200 Devonshire St, 9699 1294.

Strawberry Hills Hotel, 453 Elizabeth St, 9698 2997.

Capitol Theatre

BBQ King, 18 Goulburn St, 9267 2586.

Indigo, Metro Hotel, 431-439 Pitt St, 9416 1229.

Golden Century Seafood Restaurant, 393 Sussex St, 9212 3901.

Lyric

Cafe XXII, 22 Union St, Pyrmont, 9552 3093.

Oscar's bar and restaurant, 84 Union St, Pyrmont, 9660 5933.

Astral Restaurant, Level 17, Star City Hotel, 9657 8767.

Stables, Darlinghurst Theatre

Tropicana Caffe, 227 Victoria St, 9360 9809.

Dean's Cafe, 5 Kellett St, 9368 0953.

MADe in Italia, 312 Victoria St, 9020 7186.

Maggie's at Potts Point, 50 Macleay St, 9331 2226.

Victoria Room, 231a Victoria St, 9357 4488.

Old Fitzroy

Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Cowper

Wharf Rd, 9357 3074.

Tilbury Hotel, 12-18 Nicholson St,

9368 1955.

Aki's Indian Restaurant, 6 Cowper

Wharf Rd, 9332 4600.

Ensemble Theatre

Kirribilli Hotel, 35-37 Broughton St, Milsons Point, 9955 1415.

Garfish, 21 Broughton St, Kirribilli,

9922 4322.

Glen Street Theatre

Wholey Mackerel, Glenrose Shopping Centre, Glen St, Belrose, 9451 9962.

Riverside Theatres

Istana Restaurant, 277 Church St, 9687 5113.

Kouzina Greco, 16 Phillip St, 9687 3669.

El-Phoenician, 316 Church St, 9633 1611.

Temasek, 71 George St, 9633 9926.

Q Theatre

Osso Bar & Restaurant, 19 Lawson St, 4722 6102.

Three Junction Thai Food, 375 High St, 4731 5128.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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