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Restaurants

Ananas Bar and Brasserie

Anniversaries are wondrous occasions. Choosing where to celebrate that special date is an important decision. Whether it is a milestone anniversary at Le Jules Verne in Paris, amidst the grandeur of Le Grand Vefour in Paris, or a Tahitian wedding ceremony in Moorea, the experience is long-lived and committed to memory. And when you can’t be in the city of lights, you can now have the next best thing.

Brasserie Ananas
Brasserie Ananas 

Enter Ananas Bar and Brasserie, and you are greeted with a musical bonsoir and a glamorous décor reminiscent of brasseries in Paris that have stood the test of time. The late night venue in the Rocks boasts a sweeping pewter bar, leather-clad banquettes, antique hanging mirrors and painted murals on mirrored walls just to name a few. The ambience is welcoming and inviting, and on a Sunday night, the venue is humming with patrons enjoying drinks at the bar, dining in lavish surrounds, and simply celebrating the joie de vivre.

The bar at Ananas is the place to sit and admire the range of spirits and the bottles of champagne that grace the central shelves. From the cocktail list, choose Ananas’ signature drink, the Absolutely Ananas, made with a vodka base, shaken and served in a martini glass with a fresh pineapple slice or the elegant Fleurette, made with Crème Yvette, a Berry liqueur, shaken with gin and topped with champagne.

Brasserie Ananas
Champagne Ruinart ‘R’ de Ruinart Brut

Anniversaries demand a glass of champagne and the Ruinart ‘R’ de Ruinart Brut is served at the table.

The food menu is created by executive chef, Jerome Lagarde. Light, modern and produce-centric, it draws on a style of contemporary French brasseries and his experiences at Pavilion Costes in Shanghai.

The wine list at Ananas is presented in an easy to read format on an iPad. Wines are available by the glass and have mainly a French and Australian focus.

Brasserie Ananas
Oysters du jour

From the oyster bar comes a selection of Oysters du Jour ($3.50 per piece), with Porto Bay Pacific oysters, Cape Hawke Sydney Rock and Narooma Sydney Rock. Presented as it is done traditionally in Paris bistros, the freshly-shucked oysters are served on a bed of ice with a vinaigrette sauce, a piquant tomato sauce and a compote-like citrus accompaniment. The medley of oysters are equally flavoursome on their own, with a squeeze of lemon.

If you’re in the mood for a seafood indulgence, try the Plateau de fruits de mer ($158 for two), a sizeable dish to share between two persons.

Brasserie Ananas
Lobster and scallop carpaccio

From the entrée menu comes the elegantly presented, lobster and scallop carpaccio with yuzu trufle dressing ($38). Thinly-sliced, the dish is redolent with the fresh flavours of the sea.

Brasserie Ananas
Steak tartare

The steak tartare with hand cut pommes allumettes ($22) is served with instructions from the kitchen to combine the two together. Light in texture, tender and flavoursome, the thin and crisp potatoes adds an extra seasoning to the dish.

Brasserie Ananas
Scallop, black pudding, apple marmalade and lobster jus

From the main course, the scallop, black pudding, apple marmalade and lobster jus ($30) is the standout dish. Plump and juicy scallops are lightly seared and sit on rounds of black pudding amidst a scattering of lobster jus and crisp apple discs. The aroma from this dish is seductive, and the concentrated lobster jus makes each mouthful more luxurious.

Brasserie Ananas
Chateaubriand

The Chateaubriand fillet with confit onion and pommes maximes ($36) is a perfectly cooked dish,

Brasserie Ananas
Truffle mash

that goes well with the truffle mash ($10), a thick and luxurious serve that packs a lot of flavour.

Brasserie Ananas
Éclair salt caramel

The choice of dessert is tempting but when you can’t manage another bite, the Éclair salt caramel ($12) shared between two is a must. The choux pastry with salted caramel simply melts in the mouth.

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Ananas is part of Urban Purveyor Group’s multi-level Argyle dining and nightlife precinct in The Rocks district which includes Saké Restaurant & Bar, The Cut Bar & Grill, the Argyle, Lowenbrau Keller and Bavarian Bier Café. Their latest venture brings a part of la belle France to Sydney’s shores.

There is much to love at Ananas. From the warm welcome/acceuil chaleureux at the entrance, the relaxed ambience with the DJ spinning French Lifestyle House music, the French accents that float around to being addressed as madame/monsieur, it is the closest experience to being in Paris.

Ananas Bar and Brasserie
18 Argyle St
The Rocks, Sydney 2000
www.ananas.com.au

Photography © by Kevin Burke for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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