Only the other day a friend said to me with a loud, dramatic sigh, “Nothing happens on Oxford Street anymore…” He was thinking back say 20 years where the hum of business and people used to make it a vibrant, buzzy place.
Today however, on this sunny Sydney day, there seems to be a lot happening on Oxford Street. And of course it happens when I’m running late to meet my friend Amanda at Le Salon. She had texted me a warning (or was it excitement?) that there were lots of firemen around and that Oxford Street was partially closed down. It turns out that there was a fire at a sex shop. Ahem…well who says nothing happens on Oxford Street? 
I walk past two topiary trees in pots and into the restaurant and Amanda is waiting for me at a table at the front of the restaurant sitting in a black velvet lounge chair that could seat two. That’s definitely the table to sit at if you want to people watch (or just fireman watch!). There are sexy booths out towards the back but these are darker and for those who seek less light.
The decor is lovely and easily covetable with vases of blossoms perched high on the wall, sparkling chandeliers, pressed tin walls and grand mirrors. And do you ever get this familiar feeling when you see something from your home in a restaurant? The F. Champenois poster in the dining room and on the back of the menu is just like the one framed in our apartment.
OK first things first-who is Claire? Well she or he is Claire de Lune aka French chef Marc Kuzma’s alter ego or drag name. He used to do the Kerri Anne Show and one day before Mardi Gras he thought to do the show in drag which was quite a hit with the viewers apparently (with some writing in not realising that it was a man in drag and suggesting that Claire de Lune and Marc do a cooking segment together – bless!).
Carre de saumon au coulis de pouvron rouge $25
At the waiter’s recommendation we choose our dishes. The carre or square of salmon is done confit style with a pink interior. It sits on a delectable red pepper coulis which is sweet with a hint of red pepper char and there are toasted white and black sesame seeds.
Steak tartare $24
I do love a good steak tartare and this comes deconstructed so that you can add your own condiments. There is the steak, finely diced with finely diced pickles, capers, chives, onion and French mustard with a raw egg yolk on top in its shell. The creamy egg yolk slips down between the crevasses of the diced steak and after a bit of mixing action and a dab of mustard and voila, we have steak tartare done just to our liking.
Poisson du jour $32
The fish is the pan fried trevalla fillet on a carrot puree with pickled Japanese ginger straws and red wine butter. The slender fillet is still moist inside and it goes well with the silky smooth and sweet carrot puree. The pickled ginger gives the dish a nice contrast and acidity and the red wine butter is what we’re guessing to be the pool of golden butter sitting on top of the puree – it’s not particularly red winey but adds that lovely butter flavour. Lastly the edible flowers lend a pretty garnish and you can eat them if you wish.
Canard en croute $32
Said to be the chef’s speciality, the duck and pinot noir pie is sumptuous and perfect for the chilly weather that is coming about. Amanda and I are quite smitten. The duck meat, soft as fairy floss with some pieces of duck skin too is tucked into a puff pastry pie shell along with melted double brie on top and a creamy mash on the bottom and a rich, almost black pinot noir sauce.
Dessert trolley $18 for 4 (normally 6)
Oh dessert trolley, how I love thee! Unfortunately if you come for lunch, the dessert trolley may not be in full bloom as we experienced as it is a dinner sort of thing. There were only macarons on offer and we didn’t realise that ordering the macarons, three per person and six in total would be $18. So we only asked for two each so our dessert ended up on the pricey side. They were quite good – well rested and soft although the flavours weren’t particularly strong and were more on the subtle side. There were three flavours, raspberry, strawberry and green tea and the raspberry was my favourite as it was the most distinct.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your drag queen name? To work it out, you take the name of your first pet and the first street you lived on. Mine is Kitty Alma!
Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon
35 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9283 1891
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52 Comments | Add your own
Oh Lorraine can’t believe you only asked for 2 macarons each
how can you ever say not to macarons hahaha just kidding ~ glad that they were good though but too bad that flavours were kind of subtle.
I love the decor of this place ~ I don’t remember Oxford St in Sydney but seems like a great place to hang out!
LOL my drag queen name would be Noddy Newlands
Pookie Chestnut!
That duck pie sits so stunningly on that plate…yum! Love your drag name Lorraine. Mine is Lucky Concord!!
Looks like a fun place! Would love to sample the food here.
I would be Sophie Penrose – Not bad. I love the look of the pie. I don’t think I’ve ever had a duck pie. And the macarons are such pretty colours.
The salmon square on the pepper coulis made me think I need to start painting plates more often, but the duck (always the duck) pino noir pie almost made me faint.
Kitty Alma sounds pretty real, but Thumper First sounds pretty sinister!
Mine is boring!: Sam Campbell! Oh well, the food here looks beautiful and I am loving the decor.
Looks like a lovely moody, atmospheric kind of place Lorraine. I remember seeing Marc in an old episode of Food Lovers Guide To Australia where he changed personas seamlessly!
My name would be Fred Moonbeam, not terribly sexy at all!
Mmm this looks gorgeous. I cant help feeling however that suddenly all of the prices everywhere seem to be creeping skywards. The dishes do look very well crafted and Oxford Street could sure do with a good restaurant
Goodness my frag name is most percular it is S.S. Noorong
What a great name for a restaurant
Mine is Sascha Brown. I does sound like a drag queen but Kitty Alma it great!
I work on Oxford St and wondered about this new edition. I also remember the day that shop caught fire and all the firemen and police around
The report in the paper the next day said the fire was harder to put out due to all the latex and plastics in the shop hehe.
My drag name would be Sooty Illawarra
No drag queen name for me as I’ve never had a pet! LOL
I hope the dessert prices improve here as Claire’s is otherwise quite a good addition to run-down Oxford Street.
I was about to ask you to please roll that trolley over to my house. But $18 for six macarons? OMG! Hope they are worth the price.
LOVE Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon – actually it’s quite funny. We thought we saw NQN on the night we dined there. There was a pretty lady furiously taking snaps of each dish as it arrived! We were there on the second night. I said I didn’t think it was her – and if NQN attended for lunch, then it wasn’t you at all.
We had the Chateau Briande (for 2) – it was the most amazing piece of meat.
Along with the dessert tray, there’s the cheese plate that has some amazing cheeses on it!
Hi mikey-Alas that wasn’t me
I hope I’m a bit more subtle with taking photos but you never know I guess! 
But if you think you see me, please say hello!
Miffy Tincombe…seriously! This looks like a nice restaurant…had no idea it even existed.
Hm, I don’t remember the street name. It would be Tobi Deer?!
I want the duck meat, “soft as fairy floss”. I just love that description. GG
Flopsy Rochford
the duck looks and sounds delicious. I did some Drag King shows as part of DKSY back in the 90.s and my name was Cass Hanova 
great times!
i can’t picture where this restaurant is on oxford street. and here i thought i know the street well!
everything looks lovely, that steak tartare looks fantastic! will have to check it out!
He he! Bunnsie Harrow! I love steak tartare – Rockpool here is Perth make a delicious one that we order everytime we go there!
Oh I would love that deconstructed steak tartare for lunch
! Hate the premixed coming from the kitchen at some places these days! Altogether both the look of the place and the dishes pleased: the salmon with red pepper coulis looks delectable! Oxford Street ebbs and flows, always has, always will – fun place to be bar 3am in the morning 
! My ‘other name’: seeing I come from N Europe, you should not ask: Vahti Kaupmehe – try to get your tongue around that!!!
First things first, my drag name is Molly Rambung. Sentence I never thought will come out from my mouth
Secondly, this restaurant looks gorgeous. I never had steak tartare before… it just never appeals to me. But this one looks really good. I wouldn’t mind giving it a go.
Ooh that tartare looks delicious! I’ve always wanted to try it but never been anywhere that actually serves it.
Ocker Nicholson.
Love the decor!
I must have that duck pie immediately! Disappointing re the dessert trolley though – I still dream about the one at La Rochelle in Tokyo …
My drag queen name would be Pawsie Alexis!
Definitely looks different to the opening week, dishes are looking much better
Haha mine would be Joey Belmore, sounds kinda cool actually!
hehehe fire at a sex shop?? that mustve been a sight to see!! That steak tartare looks awesme!
the food here looks really different. hmm, i think this is something i like.
Having grown up in Paddington, i know Oxford street really well, well i used to.
Hopefully it’ll come back to what it used to be, with places like this to help it along.
I went there recently and was shocked, it didn’t seem to have the same vibrancy it used too
Boom Boom Godstone! Other than the pricey dessert, your lunch sounded lovely! My flavourite is the steak tartar.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaurant. I was treated to a meal here last month and i too had the Duck pie – delish and the scallops for starters were amazing. We went at night so the dessert cart was laden with beautiful cheeses and pastries.
I think my drag name would be Barnie Balaclava! Sounds more suited to Drag King.
Booked my tickets for Aussie, a few days in Sydney too, I guess Oxford street will be included… is it famous for shopping like the London one?
Ciao
A.
That looks like a great place. My drag name would be Natasha Gardenia. I’ve never tried steak tartare. Going to Paris in June, perhaps will finally try it out there…
Woohoo, call me Harvey Fairlawn. *grin*
Thank you, Lorraine! This restaurant is on my list and I’m pushing it up towards the top to visit.
@Alessandra- Oxford St. is a funky shopping destination. Sex shops, heels in size 13 and LOTS of boas make it notable. It might be worth visiting the boutiques (I’m a jeans-wearing gal so I don’t know if it’s fashion chic or crazy chic).
I haven’t had a bad meal there, at least. Oh, and there’s a Swiss bakery which serves Bienenstich aka Bee Stings in individual portions on Oxford St, too.
Iris Plantation
Heidi Longford
I still have never had steak tartare! One day, one day. I hope it’s a ‘mix to taste’ version when I try it, too…
Bridget Dooley. Not a very good drag name. That duck certainly sounds good… it’s making me hungry just thinking about it!
Hi Daisy-I know, but we were so full!
The food that we ordered was very rich indeed. I know I should have taken one to go with me instead 
haha love it! You had a pet called Noddy? How cute!
Hi Temps U.k-Aww that’s cute!
Hi Anna-It was so good! and so fitting for the chilly weather. Haha that sounds very zesty!
Hi Cakelaw-It’s lovely there
Hi Charlie-Oh that sounds very un drag!
Now I want to make one myself 
Hi Victoria-yes isn’t it pretty?
Haha that’s brilliant! And yes scary sounding! 
Hi Anna-That also sounds very un drag and regular which is interesting!
Hi Rebecca-yes it’s very chic! Oh you’ve got a great memory! And it seems like he slips into a new persona easily
Haha sounds very space agey!
Hi Tania-Yes I was surprised I admit at the price of the macarons. I agree, it’s great to have somewhere of that calibre for that end of Oxford street
HI Jenny-wow that sounds like the name of a book!
Hi Claire-Hehe we should have gone there when you came to Sydney!
Oh it reminds me of Beyonce! 
Hi Erin-oh really! I can iamgine the merchandise might have lent a whole new challenge to the firefighters!
Oooh that is very Australian!
Hi joey-really? No goldfish too?
I agree, I think the only thing is the price of the dessert 
Hi Carolyn-hehe mine too! I missed seeing a burgeoning trolley full of sweets!
hi Miss Piggy-Oh my! that is sooo camp- fabulous!
Hi Marina-That sounds quite pretty!
Hi Glamorous Glutton-Oh that was SO good!
Thanks1
Hi Ladybugfunk-Aww was it a rabbit? How fantastic! Cass Hanova is a great name!
Hi gastronomous anonymous-It’s right near The Falconer and near the Yoshinoya too
Cool! I’d love to hear what you think of it! 
Hi Chompchomp-Haha that’s great!
Me too, it’s one of my favourite dishes 
Hi Eha-It’s fun being able to add the bits that you want
Sounds like you know it well! 
And what an amazing name, I think right at home on Oxford Street 
Hi Michael-hehe that sounds like a movie character!
Oh I love it and got hubby addicted to it 
Hi Nic-Oh right, yes it seems to be having a bit of a revival nowadays!
Perhaps at a French restaurant? 
Hi The Hungry Navigatrix-Haha really!
Hi MissA-Oh yes I did recall that one although the one here is very ornate and pretty
Aww so cute!
Hi Vivian-Yes they are, I always find the first few week or two are quite different
Yes it does! 
Hi Rhonda-I know, I wonder how it started?
Hi Michelle-Yes and the decor is lovely too
Hi Leah-yes it has changed quite a bit hasn’t it over the years. Yes they need more places like this
Hi Eva-Wow, that is quite a drag name!
Mine too, we just had to order it 
Hi Corrie-Oh we were tossing up whether to get those scallops or not
Haha yes drag king counts too right? 
Hi Alessandra-depending on what you want to buy, that part of Oxford Street is not really the best for boutique shopping for clothes or accessories (unless you’re after mardi gras outfits). You want to head further up Oxford Street to the Paddington/Woollahra end and also Paddington’s William street.
Hi Anjelica-Oh that is very pretty actually!
That sounds like the perfect place to try it! 
Hi Eva-haha that is quite funny!
Fantastic! And you’re very right 
Oh is that the Grumpy Baker? 
Hi Veronica-Haha very pretty and very floral!
Hi Hannah-That sounds very porn star! Oh you must indeed!
Hi SarahKate-That sounds like a schoolgirl’s name to me
Me too! I’d love one tonight! 
Daisy Walker… Teehee! What do think of the raw egg dealio? I’m not a fan at all… Raw eggs stink.lol!
We have a similar joke in Canada where you combine your first pet’s name and your mother’s maiden name and that is your Porn Star name. Mine is BoomBoom Ledwina! Maybe I’ll start a blog with it!
I’d stick out like a redneck!
Can’t wait to try this place…my name would be Fluffy Canal!!!
Mine would be Speedy St. Denis. Sounds pretty legit to me!
That Duck pie looks and sounds divine.
Tee hee mine would be
Muffy Arooma
Tee hee! Mine is buffy loch maree!
Candy Hart – my drag queen name. Too funny! Lol
I hope we get to meet soon! I want to go on a foodie adventure together
I think I’m in winning stakes with my Drag name of Missy Woodman.
I’m absolutely desperate to go here. Fingers crossed it stays open long enough for me to get in and survives the ridiculous rents on Oxford St that make it impossible for start up restaurants to keep going.
Sandy Floral is mine. Perfect!
Everything looks delish! Thanks NQN.
I always thought that was the rule for your porn name.
On a drunken and fun night back in the 90′s my drag name was M – the next supermodel after (L) Elle….
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