Going out to lunch in the CBD means that restaurant meals are delivered quickly and you’re usually seated next to a table of people in suits. If you venture further out, outside of the CBD your fellow patrons change and the further east you go and reach the leafy surrounds of Woollahra, well instead of grey and dark suits surrounding you, there are chicly dressed ladies that lunch.
It’s a busy week day lunch time at Chiswick, the newest place from Aria’s Matt Moran. In the conservatory style building that was formerly Pruniers. Chiswick is at the back of small but pretty Chiswick Gardens. The restaurant is light and airy and this past week, it was still warm enough so that when they open up the windows at the front, the breeze is welcome. Service is very friendly and recommendations are forthcoming.
Alas my poor dining companion Joan Holloway is feeling under the weather and will be eating lightly so the prized dish the Moran family shoulder of lamb for two has to wait for another visit only a few days later as I couldn’t resist but come back. And like Joan Holloway herself might notice, Joan notices that there are a couple of media personalities dining at another table.
The menu is printed on a folded piece of paper and points us to the side garden which diners can peer at through the window. It’s mostly a herb garden and the menu also makes note of the cherry tomatoes and rose radishes also grown there. Recycled items like wine bottle glasses are used throughout the restaurant, there is a lobster pot light above the large communal table. Chairs are tables are made up of benches, outdoor tables and other conservatory and garden furniture. Music is from the boxed vinyl collection and there are echoes of the 80s and today there is the Eurythmics.
Veal Slider “vitello tonnato” $8
Our food arrives quickly and the vitello tonnato slider is the first to arrive. I could eat vitello tonnato every day for the rest of my life and be happy. The outer is a warm black and white sesame seed toasted bun with a juicy veal patty, semi dried tomatoes, green beans and tuna flavoured sauce. It has a really good balance of flavours and slightly tangier than vitello tonnato usually is from the tomato and lemon rather than lemon alone.
Crisp butter milk chicken, cabbage, harissa, mayonnaise $20
The chicken comes as several pieces of crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside chicken that falls apart easily when bitten into. Ms Holloway reports back that the cabbage salad was good but we both felt that the harissa mayonnaise wasn’t quite the match that we wanted for the chicken.
Char grilled Moran family grass fed beef, fresh horseradish $35
The steak, using grass fed beef raised on the Moran family farm “Green Hills” on the Central Tablelands in Rockley, NSW is a neat piece of sirloin steak adorned with a side slice of lemon and a lovely fresh horseradish. The steak is good, and perfectly cooked medium rare with just a little chewy bit on one end.
Hand cut chips, thyme, black garlic aioli $9
Once I saw the steak I quickly put in an order for chips as I like the flavour of black garlic which is rich and earthy and wanted to see what it would be like in an aioli. It turns out that it is really delicious and the unusual taste of the black garlic aoili goes well with the bronzed batons of crispy hand cut chips.
Steamed broccolini with garlic and chilli $10
The steamed broccoli with garlic and chilli was very good (but not broccolini as the menu suggested).
Wood roasted Moran family lamb, chick peas, mint $59 for two
A few nights later, with the lure of the shoulder of lamb too strong, I revisited Chiswick with my friend, lamb lover, Christie. We knew exactly what we wanted and ordered the wood roasted Moran family lamb with chick peas and mint sauce and a side salad. It is a nice sized shoulder, perhaps too ambitiously sized for two of us although two hungry Mr NQN’s could happily devour it. When Christie goes to take the fork out the meat just falls apart and we smile at its supple, soft texture. The chick peas come as literally a few chick peas (we got about three) and a chick pea puree but an inquiry with our fantastic waiter brings more chick peas (which he tells us it should have had). There is mint sauce on top as well as a small side salad of onion, tomato and basil. We both thought that some more of the puree or a sauce might have been good to help cut the richness of the lamb.
Salad of baby cos, crushed hazeluts, pomegranate $13
The salad was just the thing to pair with the lamb as it gave the rich, unctuous lamb acidity and crunch.
Tea
Herbal tisanes and drinks are served in vintage mismatched cups and saucers and herbal teas are by Penelope Sachs and regular teas are by The Tea Centre. They come in clear glass teapots and both of us manage to inelegantly spill a little on the table on the way to the cup.
Caramelia éclair, almonds, sugar plums $15
The caramelia eclair is delicious, topped with a crunchy sweet sable biscuit topping and filled with what tastes like a milk chocolate caramel mousse and is apparently named after Moran’s daughter Amelia. To the side there are toasted almonds and sliced red wine soused plum slices although they do appear as more regular plums than sugar plums.
Oven baked pavlova, yuzu and Granny Smith $15
This dessert is from my dinner with Christie and we were so full with the lamb that we thought that something light and tangy would do. The pavlova round is just the order and is filled with a smooth and tangy yuzu custard inside and topped with a fantastic granny smith sorbet which has just the right balance of sweet and tart. Some yuzu jelly cubes finish off this refreshing dessert.
After dinner mints
Ahh remember those Red Tulip after dinner mints that came in the thin paper sleeves? Well here they’ve got an updated version and served complimentary with tea and coffee. I do like them a tad mintier but I might go off and see if I can buy one of those boxes on my way home…
So tell me Dear Reader, do you think you’d like to be a lady that lunches or do you think you would get bored? And do you remember those after dinner mints? I couldn’t find any at the store…
Chiswick
65 Ocean Street, Woollahra, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 8388 8688
Booking is recommended
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55 Comments | Add your own
What a lovely experience, Lorraine. I think I could do the lunching thing only for so long…I’d have to work out equally as frequently! I love the black garlic aioli.
We have similar mints in Canada, but they are called After 8′s.
after dinner mints are chocolate? 0_0
how delightful!!!
Ah, the plate! That’s a really beautiful plate for serving the chocolates. It looks like you lunched on a beautiful day. The gardens look amazing and I love how they’re growing their own herbs. I always wonder what happens to Red Tulip after Easter. They just seem to disappear. I haven’t seen those after dinner mints for years but they should bring them back because they’d be quite retro now. When my parents were having dinner parties I think everyone arrived with a box of either the mint or the orange thins under their arm. Wonderful dark chocolate from memory xx
I love the atmosphere of this place – it’s gorgeous. The lamb looks simply devine. I could happily be a lady that lunches, but unfortunately is never likely to happen for financial reasons.
I’m taking my mum here for mother’s day lunch, I can’t wait!
We just finished a box of those mints.. every year they come with our ham hamper from Chrisco. I stash them away in the back of the linen cupboard so my choccy loving hubby doesnt eat my share.
I could easily be a lady who lunched. Easily. I have been wanting to go here so thanks for the review!
I like the idea of ladies lunching as long as I’ve one of them. I do remember those mints I have seen them at either Coles or woolworths I’m sure.
Dining out daily with the ladies would be a novelty for a while, but I think my real life would have to be probably way more exciting that the Eastern Suburbs Elite Ladies set!
Pruniers was a great restaurant, beautiful setting, we had a family get together there years ago when they used to have Jazz groups playing at Sunday lunch times.
We have read elsewhere about this new Matt Moran venture and looking at your foodie photos will definitely see us giving it a go.
PS – I have never stopped serving some kind of Choc After Dinner Mint when folks are around, even after a BBQ, they love them!
The best thing about my parents’ dinner parties when I was growing up was mum always had a box of after dinner mints and my brother and I always got to have one or two. Must add Chiswick to the ever growing list of Sydney restaurants that need to be visited…
I could def be a lady who lunches. Well i think at least depending on the company.
This place looks so delicious, would love to try it! After dinner mints! I remember those fondly
That lamb and the salad look sensational – I don’t think I could wind down into a luncheon lady, although it’d be nice for a few weeks (sigh).
I want that vintage tea cup and mismatched saucer for my collection! And also the pavlova, because I do love green apples and their tartness
Isn’t it just stunning? I’m keen to try the steak and chips next time
I actually had some of those dinner mints last week, however they don’t seem to come individually wrapped in the box anymore….I loved unwrapping each one when I was a child..
Weird they couldn’t get broccolini! That steak looks massive, and good!
Oh, Lorraine, thank you, thank you, thank you
! Today you took me back to my home turf of about three decades. ‘Pruniers’ was a delightful home-away-from-home about a kilometre up the road, albeit usually for fabulous dinners. The beauty of the setting has not changed and Matt Moran should know what the current locals want. The food looks ‘real’ if a tad expensive: well, it is Woollahra!! I have never been a ‘lady who lunches’, but used to ‘do’ business lunches 3-5 times a week most of my life – one of the huge perks of a pretty stressful work situation. Tax deductible in the olden days too 
!
Ahhh Chiswick looks as delicious as I’d hoped! Now to plan a visit there after my Bali holiday – I want that lamb!
I loved after dinner mints growing up, they (along with mint slices) are the exceptions to my usual aversion to mint.
Ohhh I didn’t know Matt Moran opened up a new place
I m surprised That prices are quite reasonable ~ and everything looks delicious!!! Yum!!!
I d love to check it out one day!
I m definitely someone who can do lunches hehe
Its so relaxing to lunch with girlfriends hehe
I don’t remember the mints but know Mr Bao would love them hehe
It would be fun at first but I think it would get a bit dull after a while. Yes I remember those mints, I could never eat just one!
The food looks spectacular and so reasonably priced. I aspire to be a lady who lunches, but alas, that wasn’t meant to be. In the meantime, I do like to eat lunch — and this looks like a great spot to do so!
That lamb looks perfect, I would have a piece of that myself
I want nothing more than to go for lunch here. It looks quaint, the food looks delicious and I can imagine the good company and great food is all one needs to make the afternoon complete.
Oh my goodness – that lamb! I’m booking this place for date night!
I’m not a lady who lunches, but when my kids are all in school, I can see that as a very tempting occupation!
I miss those after dinner mints.
We used to have them at Christmas as a child and I continued the tradition until one year they weren’t there.
Makes me sad. We should start a petition.
What a great review and despite the few small differences I would love to go there!
What a lovely lunch! I love the look of that perfect pavlova and Granny Smith sorbet.
I love the idea of being a lady who lunches, but in reality I think I’d get bored of it quickly.
–No Hesitation whatsoever…
I want to be a lady that lunches! & I want to go to this restaurant and order the Wood roasted Moran family lamb & the Pavlova <3
Come for lunch w/ me, Lorraine.
We can talk about Dexter, Vampires, Sex and the City & Food! Xx
That oven baked pavlova looks beautiful. I love the color of the green sorbet.
I don’t exactly appreciate lunch– it’s a meal in the middle of the day that slows me down with lethargy and food coma. So unless I get a major personality and career change, I don’t think I could ever be a lady who lunches!
I am drooling over that lamb! I cannot wait to visit, but from what I hear this place is next to impossible to get into. I’ll have to wait until all the well deserved hype settles (if ever)!
The buttermilk chicken looks so divine. Chiswicks is on my to do list, thanks for giving me a preview.
I love your restaurant reviews. I could get hungry just from your words. All the food looks wonderful.
I could very easily be a lady who lunches. Does it include a chauffeur? Those mints were amazing. I always comment when I’m given a little something extra with my tea or the bill. It’s not a hard thing to do but makes such a difference to my perception of a place.
I’d happily be a lunching lady once a month maybe. I’d hate it to become too repetitive and remove some of the shine.
After 8s are what those mints are also called in the UK. The Brits love them. I must admit they are yum and a bit moreish.
That pavlova looks amazing. I adore meringue. You can take the girl out of Australia …
Woah. A vitello tonnato slider? Sounds divine, I really want to try. I only go introduced to this fresh amazingness recently in Bali and I hooked I want more!
Oh that lamb! I made the leftovers into a delicious pasta sauce the following night
I just made my own crispy chicken recently. That one is a bit different to my thai one. The pavlova looks so refreshing! It Looks like a great restaurant.
Mm delicious! I especially love the look of the dessert, I like when there is an option other than chocolate.
An excuse to dress up in the middle of the day and spend time with agreeable companions over a delicious meal? You betcha I can be a lady who lunches!
The food sounds and looks delicious. Just curious why its called “Oven baked pavlova”, I thought all pavlova was baked in the oven.
I don’t want to be a lady that lunches, happy to remain a man:)
I spent more than two years living about a one minute walk away from Chiswick Park! If only this gem had been there when I was a neighbour. Not sure I’d like to be a lady-who-lunches, but I’d like to have time to have lunch with my ladies more often!
Oh that Pavlova – looks so good. I’m jealous of the lush raised gardens – ours look terribly sparse in comparison.
Thanks as always, for the mouthwatering photos.
Vitello Tonnato Sliders????? Be still my heart. And I am still trying to figure out how to duplicate that Caramelia éclair!
I could be a lady who lunches…for a while anyway. Actually, there is much of that where I live. And after dinner mints just remind me of my mother, who loved them…and why not?
Lorraine, again u v made me want to take a flight right away to australia, just to visit this place!
The slider looks so cute and I want the tea pot. what a treat.
I love the style of Chiswick, especially those jars of preserves above.
Your photos in this post are exceptional, by the way!
I could happily be a lady who lunches, but I might need to upgrade my wardrobe for some of these swankier suburbs!
The lamb looks incredible indeed, but I hate the idea of paying $10 for some chunks of broccoli- smaller brocolini is much more elegant
Those after dinner mints were the best treat when I was a kid! I haven’t seen them for a while though, I might have to look now.
The lamb and salad here look sensational & the granny smith sorbet has me wanting some now.
Look awesome! Must go there.
On another note red tulip was bought by Cadbury and they no longer produce the after dinner mints. There’s nothing even close to being like them in the market at the moment
I’ve sent an email asking them to come back lol
I think I would be bored if I were a lady who lunches… usually I sit infront of my computer screen and eat my boring sandwich at work.. lol The pavlova and granny smith apple dessert looks devine!!
would love to go and try it some day!! ;D As for after dinner mints… seriously haven’t seen them around for a while now you’ve made me think about it.. hmmm 
It’s such a lovely location but I was a bit disappointed with the food. It is what it is, but I found it a bit lacking (the lamb, buttermilk chicken, etc). Perhaps it’s worth another visit?
Fabulous post. I loved Woollahra the last time I visited Sydney – it has such a different feel from the CBD!
This is on my go to list, and after your review and looking at the lamb I can’t wait to go.
I love to lunch only with the right friends who are willing to set aside a good part of the day.
I love a good lunch – my cousins have nicknamed their mother Lady Lunchalot!!
We were married here back when it was Pruniers…the most amazing wedding I’ve ever been to! (although I am a little bias…but truely it was amazing!) I’ve heard it’s changed hands a couple of times since, so i’m glad to see it’s in good hands and we really should pay it a visit again…for old times sake
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