I have to mentally prepare myself when entering hipster joints. I have to tell myself that they’re just hipsters and they mean well enough and that they don’t harm anyone really. For good measure I remember the quote from Seinfeld when they referred to Kramer as the “hipster doofus” and realise that being a hipster is not a state of being for most people. And when I was warned by many that The Corner House was hipster central, well I braced myself. Mr NQN and I were on a date night, just the two of us.
Mr NQN and I walk into one entrance of The Corner House in Bondi which takes up residence where the Old Castile pizza joint used to sit. We’ve dining early at 6pm and we are shown to the empty back room. The maitre’d is brusque and seems as if he has a thousand other important things to do other than seat us. Thankfully the Arctic chill ends there and the waiter and bartender are lovely and everything settles down just nicely. We take a look at the menu (a sheet of paper wooden pegged onto an A4 sized piece of box cardboard) and the waiter gives us some recommendations. Prices are excellent here with most mains hovering around the $30 mark.
This drink is a riot in London $18
The cocktail list has a fun list of names including this one which caught our eye called “This drink is a riot in London” and has Tanquerey, St Germain, Campari, apple and cucumber and is sweet and refreshing and summery. The description reads “All the elements of an English Summer: fresh, floral and a hint of bitter lawlessness.” The bartender that conceived the idea was in London during the riots and was inspired to make this cocktail.
Bread
The bread, two fresh fat fingers, is drizzled in olive oil and salt with roasted pepitas and sunflower seeds.
Crowded House Pizza $23
The crowded house pizza is really a dream come true for me. I love sampling flavours and this has a quarter of four of their most popular pizzas on the one pizza. It also comes with a pair of old fashioned metal bonsai shears for each of us to cut up the pizza. We start with the mildest flavoured quarter with provolone cheese, torn buffalo mozzarella, basil and olive oil and it’s good with a mild milky mozzarella topping and a thin crust all nicely cooked through.
The next quarter we try has sauteed Swiss browns, button mushrooms, thyme , fontina cheese, torn oyster mushrooms and roasted garlic oil. This pizza was divine and the pick of all four quarters the mushrooms perfectly seasoned and singing with a hearty roasted garlic flavour. I was ready to order a whole of this pizza to take away with me.
The third quarter we try is a really interesting one with white anchovies which are milder than brown anchovies, provolone and sour onions and this pizza has an unusual but intriguing sweet, salty and sour element to it. The last quarter is the spicy salami pizza which is made with spicy salami, provolone, kalamata olives and chilli oil and packs flavour and spice with the salami and juicy pitted kalamatas.
Market fish (Mahi Mahi), celeriac and sweetcorn puree, roasted corn and celery salad, smoked tomato sauce $31
The fish came as two crispy skinned pan fried mahi mahi fillets that glisten sitting atop a mound of roasted corn from the cob, celeriac and sweetcorn puree and a smoked tomato sauce. The sauce is chunky with tomatoes which emphasises the sweetness of the tomato and corn. It’s a delicate but delicious dish that is ideal for summer dining and the portions are a good size-not too large and not too small.
Roasted beetroot, ricotta and black pepper gnocchi with braised duck and veal shin ragu $29.50
Both our hearts were stolen by the gnocchi though which was light and spongey and shaded pinky purple from the roasted beetroot, ricotta and black pepper. It was paired with a slow cooked braised duck and veal shin ragu which was soft and melting but not overly rich like the wintry braises with lots of red wine-this one was still quite climate appropriate.
Creme Catalana $16
Although we were stuffed and to be honest the four dessert offerings didn’t really inspire (tiramisu, crema catalana, chocolate torte and a cheese plate) we went with the crema catalana as that sounded the most unusual. The Spanish version of creme brulee it is flavoured with citrus which lightens it and there is a nice toffee layer which cracks when thwacked with a spoon. The custard underneath is silky smooth and although I’m stuffed, I keep spooning.
So tell me Dear Reader, are you a hipster? And do you ever have to mentally prepare yourself up to go to certain places?
Not a hipster…Mr NQN playing with the new Pentax Q camera.
The Corner House
281 Bondi Rd Bondi NSW 2026 (corner Denham St and Bondi Rd)
Tel: +61 (02) 8020 6698
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56 Comments | Add your own
Well well, after becoming a mother, I am very aware of certain places and I have to prepare myself… I wear whatever clothes in daily basis and I don’t belong most places anymore! >_<
Creme Catalana looks yummy and I'd totally eat it too even if I'm full.
Lorraine you look so pretty! I like the picture of you at the end taken by Mr.NQN. Very nice natural smile. =) Looks like you had a good date night! Thanks for sharing the pictures and review (you "worked" even on date night!).
One of my favorite restaurants is a total hipster place, and I am just about as far away from a hipster as you can get, but they’re nice hipsters. Or aliens dressed as hipsters because there are no nice hipsters.
Yay it is acceptable to use the word ‘hipster’ in a blog post:) I have avoided using it, in case the hipsters did not like me talking about them.
I feel uncomfortable in hipster places. They must know that I am an accountant!
hah I think I am the polar opposite of a hipster!!!
I’m not a hipster but Pete is hehe. I love the sound of that pizza – I too love to be able to sample a few different combos from the one dish
Aww, don’t worry Lorraine. The hipsters are just as scared of you as you are of them. I’ve walked past this place so many times. I’ll have to check it out when I’m back home.
I love it, hipster isn’t my natural state of mind at all.
I am bracing myself to go to Momfuku Seiobo….
SSG xxx
What a chilly experience but I’m glad it worked out in the end. I’m always a little surprised at how expensive things are…entrés around $30 are usually at an expensive restaurant and not somewhere quite so casual as this place.
Best gluten free pizza I’ve had in Sydney!!!
Lovely pic of you Lorraine which we haven’t seen for a while
Pinch and Punch ….1st of the month lol
This looks like my kinda place, foodwise that is as I don’t consider myself uber hipster haha
I just rationalise it in this manner, people can be too cool for skool but at the end of the day, we are all equal and there are far more important things in life!
I’d love that pizza for dinner
Date night sounds great, especially if you go to dinner somewhere fun. I love the look of the beetroot gnocchi and am impressed it’s not too heavy for summer.
I’m not much of a hipster, and can be intimidated by these kind of places, but thats what alcohol is for
You are TOO funny, of course you are a hipster!!!
From one to another
Totally understand! One sometimes needs to prepare themselves for hipster central. haha. It is can be a tad painful. Although sometimes I don’t mind.
The crowded house pizza… love it! Such a great idea to mix the different options together. Smart thinking.
P.S You look stunning as always in the final pic.
I want that pizza!
oh my,
great post, the pizza’s sounded amazing and the gnocci…
I totally understand the hipster thing…but glad you went anyways, lovely photo of you thanks
Oh dear
! I honestly and truly must be ‘way out of it’, as I can only guess at the meaning of ‘hipster’! Well, beautiful Lorraine [what a fab photo!], if you are not one, no way in the world do I qualify. Love the look of the food: that pizza has more appeal than any I have seen in a long time 
! And the gnocchi look like a succulent dream! But, if I had to ‘prepare’ myself to go anywhere I much rather would give the place a pass 
! Life is too short and there are an infinite number of places to visit! [Have quite a few friends in that neck of the woods, must ask whether they have been . . .].
Love the look of the fish – mmm. Definitely not a hipster – usually avoid places that have that vibe.
Definitely not a hipster! Never have been and never will be. Can’t begin to pretend now!!!
Lorraine you look so pretty!!
Ha ha Hipsters are ha ha hilarious.
Gahhh hipsters! They make me cringe.
The food at this hipster haven looks fantastic though! Very nice. I use scissors to cut homemade pizza
That doesn’t look like hippie food. I imagined hippie food being a bit like rabbit food:)
I have to mentally prepare myself when I’m off to a function where I won’t know anyone and I know I’m going to have to do the mingling thing all night long. Mr MQN takes a lovely portrait!
I am VERY far from a hipster LOL, actually does it make me a hipster cause I use LOL???
Love the photo, nice and relaxed
A hipster…I think I was when I was single, but not now, I’m more relax.
And I yes, there are place that I have to prepare my mind first before going, specialy the places where my kids want to go…to many kids, to much noice….ummmm
*sigh* it took my partner and I a while to realise (because we just thought we were nerdy dorks with funny haircuts) that yes, we are hipster. Not the hardcore, white-sock and moustache wearing hipsters… but we have facial piercings and vintage glasses and friends who own art galleries.
Accordingly, I am tres comfortable in hipster joints.
I am so not a hipster and I do need to mentally prepare myself to enter places like this. Then I just tell myself to get over it and walk in with confidence even if I’m not feeling it at the time.
I love a really good creme catalana.
Nice pic too!
It’s a long time since I’ve been a hispter, but a smile and a happy attitude seems to transcend all ages and styles when you’re eating out. It’s nice to be nice!
We’ve never been to Australia, but you have provided tons of restaurant recommendations that we can keep on the list. The mahi mahi and crema catalana would be must orders!
a) I am sorry that The Old Castile has gone – it was an institution for a long time b) that bread looks divine – and the pizza seems sublime. Duck and veal shin ragu seems a clever combination. I don’t think any of us can equal Kramer … but I tend to plough ahead irregardless of place or setting determined to have a good time. How about that cocktail – how original! Even better is the picture of you looking serene and gorgeous
x
–Lorraine,
You. Are. Abundantly. Hip.
Seriously. Hip & Groovy. Cute & Cool.
The Creme Catalana is Dreeeeeamy.
xxx
I was not really sure what a hipster was until I was forced to contemplate it in reading this post. I am not a hipster. But I love sub-cultures. I have never belonged to a subculture but I feel most comfortable amongst them. I did suddenly realise that a new acquaintance of mine is a hipster! Wow!
And I had forgotten about Creama Catalana and now I think I have to make it
LOL. Oh I love hipsters. I really do. But I like to observe them from afar. I just feel awkward around them because I SO do not belong! My internship is full of hipsters though…cute ones. I like to goggle at them. I don’t care about female hipsters though. I just like the male ones. Ooh la la.
What a nice date night, hipsterville or not. I realize I don’t even know what a “hipster” is. Maybe I am one and don’t even know it! I love all kinds of restaurants in all price ranges, but I have to prepare myself for ones that take themselves too seriously for any reason.
They have the style and no how the guys behind ‘The Corner House’ ( quite the hipsters themselves). I was just talking about this place with some friends last night, looks good
You look so beautiful in that photo! I’m not a hipster but could be persauded to be to try this restaurant!
I think I’m too old to be a hipster now. LOL But that’s fine with me. I prefer being a classic instead.
Ha ha Lorraine…you always make me smile
I don’t like places that make me feel uncomfortable…but you definitely look comfortable in that last shot…and beautiful…and HIP 
Great photo, Lorraine! Hipsters are my sworn enemy, I haven’t met one I’ve liked yet and can’t palate hipster hangouts…but your review has made me rethink this – that pizza may be worth it!
whoaaa!! that pizza looks crazy! it looks so pretty and the perfect pizza for me considering i like to try a little bit of a lot of things
hipster sound so cool but im not really on to that. The amazing pizza is caught my attention i think its really good to eat many flavor into it and i loved the style.
you look so pretty! wished they were more pictures of you around. hehehee
Oh my gosh, I don’t think I could be further from a hipster! I think I’m more… a grandma in a 24-year-old’s body.
Also, a riot-inspired cocktail? Oh, if only such goodness could come of all social upheavals!
Not a hipster- but if there’s good food, I’ll go anywhere. Love the sound of that cocktail- just bought some St Germain from Soho in London on the weekend. Think might have to give it a whirl tonight.
That pizza looks incredible! More different toppings than you could ever imagine yet it still looks quite light and fresh. Reading your blog always makes me wish I lived in Oz
That four corners pizza is a REAL sampler – all the elements are kept nicely separate!
I’m not totally sure what a hipster is so i’m guessing not!
The mushroom pizza looks divine!
You look so beautiful in that picture Lorraine
The food here looks great and hehe at a great price too!
Hmmm i don’t usually have to prepare myself before going anywhere unless it’s really formal or important e.g. meeting Mr Bao’s family is always something I need to prepare myself for! hahhaa
I’ve never been to a hipster’s restaurant befre so I don’t know what sort of food they serve.
Their pizza, cocktail and creme Catalan looks great.
Nice photo of you Lorraine!
Sounds like the well-meaning hipsters know how to eat!
Crowded House pizza looks YUM!
Now that I’ve read up on what a hipster is, I don’t really care who the crowd is, as long as the food is good. I prefer a younger vibe when I eat out usually and I’m on the ‘cusp’ of the baby boomer gen.
Pizza looks amazing.
I am definitely not a hipster.
Thats a great idea for a pizza doing it in quarters like that.
I just bought a dish like the dessert one in a market in Peru! Now I know what to make in it.
Love the whole crowded house pizza idea…may borrow that!
Oh my.. that pizza looks so freakin awesome!
definitely on the to do list
I’m so old I don’t even know what a hipster is, but this place rocks. We pop in every week for fabulous gluten free pizza and vegies and proseco – and we are dressed all in white after a kundalini yoga class – and no-one cares! Waiters friendly, chefs fabulous! Agree it is the best gluten free pizza in town!
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