A glass of fragrant lavender and rosemary marks the spot at our table at Martin Place Bar, the recent winner of the Bistro of the Year at the I love Food Awards. Even on this Wednesday afternoon it’s crowded with people eating and taking advantage of the “Lunch Within the Hour” where diners can book and pre-order what they want and within 5 minutes of sitting down they can eat their meals and for the rest of the time can enjoy themselves rather than feel rushed and anxious if their meal will arrive. Today we’ve got a bit more time to enjoy things though and are partaking of a 3 course sampler lunch.
Asian Style Duck Salad with Tatsoi, coriander, chilli, shallots and bean shoots
My Asian Style Duck Salad arrives in a flurry of greenery with slivers of red chilli. The duck is shredded amongst the foliage which consists of tatsoi, coriander and shallots as well as crisp bean sprouts and there’s a crunchy texture sprinkled on top of the salad from the fried shallots. It’s light and refreshing although I’d like perhaps a touch more dressing to it.
Salad of Rosemary Roasted Pears with rocket, radicchio, coppa and Manchego cheese $20
Char Grilled Grass Fed “Cape Grim” Sirloin
The dish that intrigued me was the Char grilled Grass Fed “Cape Grim” Sirloin. I’ve seen Cape Grim beef pop up on many restaurant menus. Cape Grim is an area on the North Coast area of Tasmania where the beef is left to roam free range and grass fed rather than grain fed producing a distinct taste and a lower percentage of fat. I ordered it medium rare and it’s perfectly cooked. The 250g steak is a great size.
Chicken Schnitzel with salad, fries and aioli $18
I see Jordan’s chicken schnitzel which he adores and they tell me that often 2 people will order the schnitzel but ask for two plates it’s so large. I ask if they mind people doing that and on the contrary, they endorse it.
Caramelised onion, tomato and goats cheese tart $17
Roasted Hapuku with White Beans, Chorizo and Gremolata $25
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch sauce $10
Although I’ve been a rather big glutton eating the whole steak, I can’t resist sinking my spoon into the sticky toffee pudding-just for a taste you see and for research purposes and then the damn spoon takes on a life of its own and keep going back for more with my mouth in cahoots. It’s a soft cake with dates topped with a sprinkling of walnuts on top and a blanket of thick butterscotch caramel sauce. Oh so good yes especially with the quenelle of double cream (which is essential for sticky toffee pudding isn’t it, I mean we’re not kidding ourselves, the diet is on hold with this pudding).
Lemon Lime Tart wiht double cream $10
I try some of Jordan’s lemon and lime tart and it’s great although I only have eyes for the sticky toffee pudding.
Head Chef John Docherty comes out from the kitchen to chat about the menu. He’s formerly from the Dolphin hotel and he has been cooking in pubs since 1990 when there were only 3 pubs in Sydney that served decent fare. Here they’re conscious of the cost and the casualness. It’s all seasonal produce and good value with mains starting from $14 up to $29 for the sirloin. Wines are from the owner Peter Wynne’s personal collection of 500 bottles and at much lower prices than other restaurants.
So tell me Dear Reader, how big is your wine collection? Mine is pretty small at about 20 – certainly not 500 bottles worth!
NQN dined as a guest of Martin Place Bar
Martin Place Bar
51 Martin Place, corner of Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9231 5575
Open: Monday to Friday 9am until late, Saturday 10am until late
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27 Comments | Add your own
That’s a really good idea, “lunch within the hour”. So easy to order ahead now with the internet, and so many office workers just can’t sit there for 2 hours while the kitchen copes with the lunchtime crowd. The food looks delicious and not very expensive either. Top marks for this one, I’d say.
And, my wine collection is one bottle of white, a cleanskin, which lives in the outside fridge for when I’m making risotto or something else requiring wine. I hate wine, it tastes awful!
Another nice place to put on the list; the roasted hapuku looks good. And I still do not get why chefs still insist on putting huge slabs of protein (in this case the schnitzel) on top of a mound of fries/chips. Makes them all soggy and yucky.
What a fantastic idea! I only wish more places would have initiatives like this in Brisbane! V.Jealous of all your Sydney adventures!
All of the food looks fabulous, Lorraine!! I have only eyes on the last dessert: the yummie looking lime tarte!!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,….
That Asian duck salad looks amazing… but so does the schnitzel! You know, they don’t know what schnitzel is over here in the UK??? I was shocked.
This place is our local for pretty much all of our office functions! It is so easy to fax in everyone’s orders in advance, turn up on time and be served almost straight away. So easy when you have limited lunch hours! I often wonder why other restaurants in the CBD don’t offer the same sensible service.
Nice place! Very good prices indeed.
My wine collection is quite small actually. I have one of those 24 racks from Howards Storage World which is currently full.
Oh yum…Lorraine, stop giving me more places to add to my list of places I want to visit when I have money!! LOL
Looks like you had a good meal
Our family’s wine collection…hmmm…I think we have a Coolabah cask red wine (lol) and maybe 2 bottles of my grandfather’s homemade vino. We can’t afford the more expensive stuff (although, sometimes we get some given to us for Christmas and/or birthdays…well, my parents get it, not me! But I enjoy half a glass when the bottle gets opened! LOL)
I love the table bouquet! I think fragrent herbs make the best bouquets. Everything looks fabulous, and I also had my eye on the sticky toffee pudding!
Great line up of food. Sounds like the perfect lunch spot for busy city workers.
Wine collection? Dare I say, very small indeed. Without a wine fridge, not the climate up here to accumulate too much!
The schnitzel is just fabulous there, i have to say – as is the salt and pepper squid (not sure it’s still on the menu though!)
Only problem I have with the place is that the barstools you often have to sit on for lunch are VERY uncomfortable and make you want to eat and leave quickly – I prefer to be comfy while I’m eating, don’t know about anyone else!!
I want that Roasted Hapuku with White Beans, Chorizo and Gremolata!! Wow, that was a mouthful!
wine collection?
oh im rather dull and dont drink anymore… so my wine collection is non existant!
that pudding looks amazing i love sticky toffee pudding when its done well, ive been disappointed many times when ordering this and ended up with something that tastes only of sugar!
Pear and Rocket are such a great match. the salad looks delicious.
Damn that spoon! I think it must be related to some spoons I’ve used over the years
My wine “collection” is merely half a dozen or so bottles that I’ve been given as gifts and saving for a special occasion, whatever that may be!
Oooh, look at those desserts!! Sticky date is my fave. My mine collection consists of a few poor odds and sods that my friends have given me.
Hi lorraine thanks for the sharing of this restaurant ! I am fond of the salads you have enjoyed and alos the lemon tart !!!
I am french so it is easy for me to get very good wine and cheaper because I can go and buy from the people who make it ! I have more than 200 bottles which are stocked to my parents’ houses and when I need I destock ! I have some bottles from the 70s years which I have been offered as a present!
and I do not include champagne because this latter does not age so i consume what I buy every year
Pierre
Oh, wow, the food just looks heavenly!
Lavendar is my favourite scent, but mixing it with rosemary!!?? I never would have thought.
As for my wine collection… max 3 XD
schnitzel (sans noodles), caramelized onion tarts, sticky toffee pudding–yep, i’d fill up real nice at this place.
Ommgg that steak and sticky date pudding XD!!! But esp that puddinngg yummmmm smothered in butterscotchhhh *drooool*
This all looks beautiful, but I must say that lemon tart really caught my eye! Thanks for the post.
Everthing looks really good! I like the presentation of the pie. and the pudding…..yum!
How was the roast pear salad and the caramelised onion tart? They both look fantastic! Did your companion let you try any of them?
My wine cellar currently consists of about 2 bottles – I don’t have the patience/room in my apartment for any sort of meaningful collection!
i always feel kinda turn off to dine in central business district area, you know it reminds u of the city, and work. but this place looks good!
not a big fan of sticky date pudding, i will go with the lemon tart please! hee
even if im so so full, i can still squeeze in that last bit of dessert. and those two deserts look so good! especially the stickydate with the overflow of sauce
I have eaten here a number of times and have never ever seen the food looking that good !!
Hi Alison-I know, isn’t it great? I always worry that I can’t get back in time and therefore can’t relax! Hehe you are so funny!
Hi joey-Ahhh yes that is true isn’t it! A separate bowl is best I find
Hi gastronomygal-Hehe you can come to Sydney!
Hi Sophie-Oh yes that was areally nice tart!
Hi SarahKate-Ph really? That’s amazing!
I would have thought they’d know it well being so close to Germany and Austria!
Hi Moya-Ahh brilliant, good to know that it works! Yes they need to do things like that!
Hi Esz-Yes the prices are fabulous indeed! That actually sounds like a decent sized wine collection compared to ours!
Hi Liv-Hehe sorry!
Aww well your granddad’s wine sounds interesting!
Hi Faith-Yes so true and so achievable too! That was amazingly good
Hi Julia-Yes indeed and really central too. Ahh that is true!
Hi Lulu-I think they’ve changed the menu now so who knows although I’ll give teh S&P squid a try if I go bacl
Oh yes there’s no back support is there!
Hi sophia-Hehe come over here then!
Hi buggy-Hey that’s cool, ours is small!
Oh that’s no good at all, it should have butterscotch sauce so a nice vanilla sauce!
Hi Katherine-it was really good!
Hi Conor-hehe tha’s kind of like our wine collection!
Hi Cakelaw-Hehe me too! Although I’ve bought some and been given some nice ones
Hi pierre-You’re welcome! Yes I can imagine you’d have a great collection
hehe good on you! 
Hi ArtemisIII-hehe it was very good! Hehe yes who knew huh? Haha!
Hi grace-Yup it’s that kind of place!
Hi FFichiban-The pudding is a definite must eat!
Hi Lea Ann-thanks and you’re welcome!
Hi pigpigscorner-Yes both were a feast for the eyes and mouth
Hi Alex-I didn’t get to try them all I’m afraid! I didn’t know them so I didn’t ask. I don’t have the space for it!
Hi ladyironchef-hehe sometimes there isn’t enough time to eat elsewhere during the work day but yes I know what you mean on weekends!
how about you take one and I take the other? 
Hi Betty-Good girl! I’m the same
Hi BD-Oh really? Haha!
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