Mad Cow, Sydney CBD for a March Into Merivale

March 23, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella

I see modern fairytales as a twist on the traditional fairytale. Whilst a traditional fairytale would have a us waking up to a Prince’s kiss and an interim modern fairytale would have a Lady that lunches using her husband’s credit card, a truly modern fairytale has us waking up to an alarm and paying for our lunch using our own credit card and then having a facial. I’m sure Snow White didn’t keep her lovely complexion without the aid of a beautician but that’s for another story.

On this day, my partners in crime Gina and Teena are joining me for a lunch at Merivale’s The Ivy complex at Mad Cow and then we’re going for a facial. An ideal day for me and I’m very excited (if only it could be topped off with a visit to nearby Jimmy Choo). During the month of March, Merivale is hosting the March Into Merivale event where for $33 you get a main meal and a glass of wine or beer for lunch or an early dinner. It’s another recession busting winner to help encourage diners to come out and eat more often. The last time I went to a Merivale restaurant was so long ago but I do remember having a fantastic meal at est.-one that I still remember with vivid clarity today.

I’m lost. I find the whole Ivy complex confusing and it doesn’t help that I went to the Establishment building two blocks away looking for it. There is a girl who is asking people if they need directions. Mad Cow is up the stairs and I stand there a touch confused. There’s no signage to speak of and I finally give up and ring my friends. It’s surprisingly full, the inside booth and table sections are all taken with just the outside section empty.

It’s frightfully pretty indeed, with all shades of yellow, gold and lemon and white surrounding it-as with all things Merivale it looks awfully good. We order a combination of things, after all the mains aren’t that much more expensive than the March into Merivale offer starting at $34 for a delicious piece of Top Sirloin Wagyu (but of course they don’t include the wine or side) so we order the March Into Merivale Rosemary grilled quail, crisp polenta, black olives, green beans, The 200g Eye fillet and the Wagyu Top Sirloin as well as a side order of shoestring fries. You can select a sauce to accompany the meats out of a list of Chimichurri, horseradish cream, tarragon shallot jus, Barbeque and Béarnaise.

The bread comes with a creamy, unsalted butter and is particularly good with the sourdough.

March Into Merivale Rosemary grilled quail, crisp polenta, black olives, green beans $33 with a glass of wine

It’s a good 30-40 minutes before our meals arrive but when they do we are happy to see them. My rosemary grilled quail is fragrant with rosemary but a touch heavily salted. The crisp polenta is a fantastic match as is the crunchy green beans and the occasional sliver of olive. I selected the accompanying Chandon red wine which I give to Gina and Teena to share with their steak.

Chandon Red Wine

Wagyu Top Sirloin (Security Foods marbling score 6) 280g $34

I try some of Gina’s Wagyu Top Sirloin with Bernaise sauce and it’s melt in the mouth delicious. I adore Wagyu because of the meltingly tender fat and I wish I had ordered this. The accompanying Béarnaise is warm and fluffy but definitely one of the nicer Béarnaises I have had and fragrant with tarragon.

Eye Fillet grain fed 200grams $38

I try some of Teena’s Eye fillet and it’s also very tender and delicious.

I receive a comeback coin worth $10 which I can use towards any March Into Merivale special festival events. And as the modern fairytale goes, the three career women sipped their lattes, nibbled on buttery shortbread and brownie petit fours and thoroughly enjoyed their days off  and then drove off to have a facial and a massage. Cinderella would’ve loved this ending.

The End.

Mad Cow

330 George Street, Sydney, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9240 3000
Open: Lunch: Monday to Friday
Dinner: Saturday
http://merivale.com/#/ivy/madcow

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Posted in Eating, Modern Australian, Restaurants by cuisine, Steak, Sydney - CBD and inner city

25 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. Y | March 23, 2009 at 7:43 am | #

    Such a chic interior, and great idea with that coin. Are you planning on returning with it?

  • 2. Barbara | March 23, 2009 at 8:09 am | #

    Sounds like a heavenly day. I want to join you next time!

  • 3. Anita | March 23, 2009 at 8:35 am | #

    Great looking place and food. Sounds like you had a wonderful day.

  • 4. belle | March 23, 2009 at 8:51 am | #

    I wish this modern woman had more time to indulge in lunch and a facial! Mad Cow looks like a great place for a girls’ lunch – that wagyu is very fine indeed.

  • 5. Forager | March 23, 2009 at 9:24 am | #

    Love the fairytale twist – but I think the modern day fairytale is missing a massage element :)

    Looks delicious – I’m heading to Mad Cow this week too – really looking forward to the steaks :)

  • 6. Aubrey | March 23, 2009 at 10:26 am | #

    I thought that thisd be out of my budget but I can finally go-wee! =)

  • 7. Teena | March 23, 2009 at 11:05 am | #

    Doll, that yellow and white striped awning is giving me 80’s scent-induced flashbacks of Giorgio Beverly Hills!!! But then again I do love a loud and proud fragrance ;)

  • 8. Reemski | March 23, 2009 at 11:38 am | #

    Hmmm, unhappy much, I didn’t get a coin from Est last week, just the card…I wonder why?

  • 9. Red Neon Hearts | March 23, 2009 at 12:42 pm | #

    I adore the interior – to me it reminds me of a lot of the interior decorating done in the 50’s (not that I was alive then, or even close to it…but I collect a lot of retro interior design books)!

  • 10. FFichiban | March 23, 2009 at 1:58 pm | #

    I love Mad Cow ^^! Esp their Wagyuuu! And photos at lunch r soo much better haha. Dinnertime = yellow haze.

    Yuummm steak craving now :P

  • 11. Brianna | March 23, 2009 at 3:15 pm | #

    It looks so swish and elegant inside. I got confused when finding another of their restaurants so you are in good company!

  • 12. justJENN | March 23, 2009 at 3:36 pm | #

    I suddenly feel the urge to design something with black, white and yellow. Hm…

  • 13. Mike | March 23, 2009 at 5:20 pm | #

    I love my meat-thanks for the intro. It sounds great.

  • 14. SarahKate | March 23, 2009 at 5:50 pm | #

    What a lovely day! The pictures are gorgeous.

  • 15. Arwen from Hoglet K | March 23, 2009 at 6:22 pm | #

    Sounds like you got a better recession buster at Aisette. The comeback coin is a great score though!

  • 16. Simon | March 23, 2009 at 8:28 pm | #

    Nice work, princess. Your selection looks more interesting an appetising than just steak, or perhaps looks are deceiving…? :)

  • 17. Gobbling | March 23, 2009 at 8:34 pm | #

    Looks tasty, though perhaps a little on the bare side?

  • 18. Not Quite Nigella | March 23, 2009 at 9:56 pm | #

    Hi Y-You know I don’t know if I will use it before March 31st but I will try!

    Hi Barbara-Absolutely! By all means :)

    Hi Anita-I only wish every day was like that :P

    Hi belle-Me too, I guess that’s where the fairytale aspect comes into it :lol: The wagyu was delish!

    Hi Forager-Oh there was massage involved too! :) They’ve got all sorts of nice steaks there so I’m sure you’ll be spoiled for choice.

    Hi Aubrey-Yes I wish the March Into Merviale went for another month! It’s almost over now :(

    Hi Teena-Ah yes the ultimate 80s perfume! With white pants of course and a yellow and white striped shirt :P

    Hi Reemski-Oh no, sounds like an oversight! :( Maybe contact them if you want the coin?

    Hi Red Neon Hearts-Yes I know what you mean! :D

    Hi FFichiban-It’s definitely your kind of place isn’t it! All that meat :P

    Hi Brianna-Haha glad to know I am not the only one! :D

    Hi justJENN-Haha yes why not ;) It’s an underused colour combination!

    Hi Mike-Cool! So glad that you found it useful :)

    Hi SarahKate-If only today was like this *sigh* Hehe thankyou! :)

    Hi Arwen-Value wise Assiette was better yes but I think it’s a different experience. I’ll try and use it! :)

    Hi Simon-Why thankyou! It was really delicious and well presented although I was eager to try their steak as that’s what they’re known for but luckily my friends were happy to share :)

    Hi Gobbling-Ah yes the steaks were a bit unadorned and you needed to order sides :)

  • 19. 5 Star Foodie | March 24, 2009 at 12:45 am | #

    What a nice fairytale day! The grilled quail and both sirloin and fillet look wonderful!

  • 20. anna | March 24, 2009 at 1:02 am | #

    That is a gorgeous color scheme! Just about anything with yellow makes me happy right now, though. So sunshiney!

  • 21. Jeff | March 24, 2009 at 3:48 am | #

    I would gladly pay for that quail. Looks amazing!

  • 22. Blond Duck | March 24, 2009 at 5:25 am | #

    See, that’s why I write the stories I do. I want people to believe in fairy tales again.

  • 23. Sophie | March 24, 2009 at 6:13 am | #

    Yes, indeed, great looking place & I love the food!! Especially the quail etc. looked so yummie!!! Beautiful pictures too!!

  • 24. grace | March 24, 2009 at 6:55 am | #

    unfortunately, i associate the phrase “mad cow” with bse, and that’s not a good thing. that bread, however, and all the other offerings, look delicious. :)

  • 25. Not Quite Nigella | March 24, 2009 at 8:16 pm | #

    Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thanks, I wish the rest of my week was filled with days like that! :)

    Hi anna-It’s so sunny and refreshing! I would love to do a room like that :)

    Hi Jeff-It was pretty good value -well for Sydney that is :lol:

    Hi Blond Duck-I do believe in fairytales! :D

    Hi Sophie-Thanks so much! It was a really good meal :)

    Hi grace-Ah yes -not such a great association since they specialise in beef! :lol:

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