We were sadly nearing the end of our stay in Austria and it hit us today when we realsed that about this time tomorrow, we’ d be lining up for our Emirates flight back to Dubai. We were tired but happy souls enchanted by the land and we just wanted to make it last a bit longer. So whilst I was tired I knew that today was a relatively easy one.

Walking through Vienna we walk past the Muesum of Fine Arts where every Thursday night people can book a table and have dinner under the glass dome. I’ve noticed Austrians like to combine food and other interests which suits me just fine.

Spices

Chanterelle mushrooms

Sweet peppers and other marinated vegetables

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It was that moment of panic. You know the one – where you need to find a place to eat in the immediate vicinity and there are no seemingly viable options. The place that I was taking my mother for her birthday lunch was closed, unexpectedly so and we were driving around Kirribilli trying to figure out where to go. My mum was flexible, anywhere was fine. It was just me that wanted to make it somewhere nice.

“Why don’t we just go to Yum Cha?” Mr NQN says. The only problem was that the Yum Cha I knew was in North Sydney and I had already written about it so I wasn’t in the mood to reblog it.

“Fine but I can’t blog it” I whispered to him.

Mr NQN thought about it and realised that a meal eaten and paid for and not blogged is a missed opportunity so we kept driving. Until we reached Broughton Street. I suggested Garfish guardedly. You see Mr NQN, Queen Viv and Miss America had dined at the Crows Nest branch years ago (B.B.=Before Blog) and had a highly unimpressive meal there. The waiter was rude, the servings were tiny and we left hungry and poorer. But figuring that lightening the wallet in aid of a birthday was probably the best excuse and besides, these people were hungry we decided to go back.

We choose an outdoor table. Our male waiter is friendly and explains the menu. There is the paper fold out menu that sits on the napkin and then there’s the daily specials menu with fresh fish of the day as well as specials. He recommends the Singapore Chilli Crab which at $70 for two including bread and salad is actually not a bad price at all. We choose the crumbed garfish with a coleslaw with apple, pomegranate and dill mayonnaise as well as a salt and pepper squid. The prices thankfully haven’t seemed to risen from our visit the years before.

Salt & Pepper Squid $16

While waiting for out entree, we ask three times for the side flap to be pulled down as the sun is shining directly on us. We’re on the brink of doing it ourselves when the tall waitress does so. Our salt and pepper squid arrives and true to the warning, it’s small. Ahh yes a reminder of our last visit. It is quite good though and the chilli and ginger sauce is moreish. My mum loves it so she asks the waitress if she can keep the chilli sauce and the waitress says that she’ll bring out a fresh one for our mains. She never does and we have to ask for it later when our main arrive. Then the waitress takes my knife and plate but places my used fork back on the left hand side of my setting. She takes my mum’s fork and knife but leaves my father’s fork and knife. Odd.

Crumbed Garfish with apple, pomegranate and dill mayonnaise salad $30

The wait for mains is a little longer than we’d like but it looks to be a small kitchen. The crumbed garfish is quite good although I don’t often go for crumbed fish when dining out (my mum’s choice, she loves crunchy deep fried things). The accompanying salad is very good and we try it with the chilli sauce.

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I feel  a huge responsibility when asked to choose a location for a get together, particularly if it’s for an interstate or overseas guest. I need it to a) suit that person’s likes and dislikes and b)  suit the other people coming along. And since the interstate visitor was Julia from Brisbane and my fellow diner was pastry chef Y it just had to feature something sweet. Lovely reader Crystal emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know about The French House and her quote “The kind (of place) you want to spend a whole afternoon chatting with your  girlfriends and eat their endless desserts ” clinched it for me.

It’s a Sunday afternoon around 1pm and they don’t take bookings. No matter as Y and Julia are there waiting for me having nabbed a prime position in the middle of the room. There’s outside seating in the partially sun dappled balcony that wraps around and inside is a stunning gilt edged French style room. There’s black marble tables edged in gilt, mismatched furniture, black velvet lounges and opulence abounds. I watch a photogenic family of five feeding their children pastries and baguettes.

Ordering is at the counter and we take turns getting up and perving at the selection. As I’ve missed breakfast I start with a ham and cheese croissant and unable to resist pastry I also opt for a mixed berry crumble danish. There are bread loaves available as well (from $4-$5.90) as well as a selection of baguettes and quiches (and one salad) and an array of about a dozen tarts and cakes.

Ham & cheese croissant $5.90

Everything comes out on pretty decorative plates. The ham and cheese croissant has been toasted and filled simply with cheese and ham. I would have liked a bit more filling so that it wasn’t as dry but the pastry is flakey if not particularly buttery. I also prefer ham and cheese croissants to have some of that lovely soft cheese filling.

Mixed Berry crumble Danish $4.50

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