I once watched a documentary on schoolkids in China. They taunted certain kids because they were slow eaters whilst simultaneously bestowing praise upon the good eaters. I have to admit that as strange an asset as this sounds, I really like choosing dining partners based on whether they’re good eaters. Strict dieters, the terminally fussy or the plain bewildering are just not ideal dining companions. So tonight when we were dining at Sean Connolly’s new restaurant The Morrison, I have Laura, the vegetarian who offers such classic lines as “is it wrong that I will only eat chips cooked in duck fat?” She was bringing along Peta who she claimed was a very good eater. One should never underestimate how much girls can eat…
So it seemed only appropriate that we try a good portion of the menu. “That’s quite a bit of food” our waiter says to us. “You’ve never met us, you’d be surprised what we can eat” we answer. The vibe at The Morrison is quite noisy, slightly meat-marketish with guys perched on bar stools with a ready raised eyebrow and “hey ladies” smile.
Oyster signs ready to be changed
Meat fridge
The main room has dining tables lining the two large windows and a bar area in the middle. To the left of the bar area is the oyster bar where they feature freshly shucked oysters and past that is more dining space. The atmosphere is bathed in warm yellowy tones with glowing upturned jar lights on each table-and heated floors no less which make this windy spring evening very warm indeed!
Ex Astral Chef Sean Connelly is the executive chef at The Morrison although he isn’t in this evening. The menu is one page long although a newspaper sits on the table with the wine list and a back page oyster menu 30 oysters long and at any one time, a selection is served.
Oysters $3.50 each
There are three types of oysters tongiht: Pacific, Rock and the lesser known Angassi. I must admit, I got quite excited about trying Angassi oysters but alas it was not to be. Instead, there were Port Stephens Rocks, Pambula Rocks and Coffin Bay Pacifics. They were served ice cold with fresh lemon and a house made tomato and horseradish sauce which was lovely and spicy. And I wasn’t really joking when I said that we should order a hundred as they tasted of the pure ocean.
Chicken lollipops $16
My mother makes something like these and they disappear in a flash which is what they did here. There are six pieces of Southern fried chicken with a crunchy, golden coating served with an utterly moreish chili & molasses dip. A vegetarian in a class of her own, Laura was lured by these while saying “I’m only eating the skin!” she said dipping it into the heady, sweet sauce.
Crab Toast $18
There was a generous amount of snow crab mixed with crème fraiche, lemon zest & chives on small dark rye toasts. The crab toast had an appealing creaminess although it was a tad watery but had nice, big chunks of crab meat.
Crab and lettuce tacos $16.50
Coming three to a serve, this was a spicy crab meat filled lettuce taco with a chardonnay vinaigrette, a lovely pop of salmon caviar and thinly sliced bird’s eye chillis. I could have eaten a dozen of these and been perfectly happy as they had the balance of spiciness and tang just perfect.
Burrata and beet salad $20
There’s a big pause between entress and mains-made more noticeable only because entrees appeared in a flash. “Oh my god, there’s a guy that looks like Eric from True Blood!” Peta says coming back from the bathroom and we bide our time by going for a walk to the other section before our food arrives. First is the salad. I usually buy burrata as one large mozzarella ball filled with cream but this is a smaller one sliced up with roasted beetroot, chilli flakes and beetroot leaves. The mozzarella and beetroot are a wonderful pairing, the former soft and milky and the latter sweet and earthy.
Free range lamb shoulder $56
A serve for two, the lamb shoulder is served bone in as Connelly likes to serve meat, and is glazed with a lovely sweet raspberry vinegar and star anise. The meat comes off the bone and it is rich and jellied in parts, the prized bits being the sweet raspberry vinegared glazed outer pieces. And try as we might, we couldn’t finish it all so it was packed up in foil to take home.
Chilli crab linguine $24
Laura’s main was the chilli crab linguine, one of the easiest and most satisfying dishes to make at home. Here there is a good amount of snow crab, parsley, mint, chili, lemon with some.
Split scampi sashimi style $30
What is this entree doing in the midst of the main courses? As all of us are seafood freaks, we thought that the meat heavy mains were missing some seafood selections whereas most of the entrees are seafood based. So we thought why not order the split scampi sashimi with chilli, microherbs, extra virgin olive oil & sea salt flakes. Some of the creamy scampi has roe on the legs which was a nice bonus.
Grandma’s carrots $8
Onto sides…what does grandma do with carrots? She slices them vertically and serves them with some chopped parsley and lots of butter. Probably why everyone loves their grandma…
Duck fat chips $10
A must order the duck fat chips come out thinner than expected (I don’t know why I was expecting thicker ones) and are crisp and moreish. They come with a small pot of garlicky aioli.
Wedge salad $8
I got so excited when I saw this on the menu as I had watched an episode of Modern Family that was pretty much devoted to wedge salad. Alas, this wasn’t very interesting, the dressing was mainly on the top and it was served in a small oval metal plate. It really needed a knife to serve this because the fork and spoon given wasn’t suitable and would have just lifted the top layer with the capers and blue cheese and egg dressing. As it was, the pieces that I got were mainly just the lettuce and when I did try a piece from on top, it tasted mainly of capers.
Chocolate brownie $10
There are just three desserts on offer so with three of us, we tried one of each. The brownie is a crackly crusted, rich, fudgey brownie with a generous scoop of malt ice cream and fabulously crunchy caramel popcorn that you just want to buy by the bag.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich $12
Full of promise the peanut butter and jelly sandwich sounded intriguing but it didn’t thrill us as much as the other two desserts. The crunchy toast bread was filled with a peanut butter ice cream and there was a little glass pot of jelly on the side. I don’t think that we quite knew how to eat it. Were we supposed to pick up the sandwich and eat it like an ice cream sandwich? But then what do we do with the jelly (which was really a jelly, and not a jam)? It wasn’t exactly spreadable so I think we just gravitated towards the other desserts instead.
Lemon and raspberry cheesecake $12
Everything seems deconstructed nowadays and this cheesecake has two large quenelles of airy lemon cheesecake mousse, a sprinkling of crunchy biscuit crumbs on top and some dehydrated raspberries for a contrast in texture. This is Peta and my favourite dessert of the three, closely followed by the fudgey brownie.
A nice touch at the end with the bill is the Fortune Teller fish which I haven’t seen for years! We place the fish in the palm of our hand. The fish moves his head and tail which means “in love”!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you gravitate towards seafood, meat or vegetarian choices on a menu? And who remembers those fortune telling fish? Do you think that they’re accurate? 
The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room
225 George Street, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9247 6744
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31 Comments | Add your own
I love fish but then again I have a real soft spot for steak tartar! I saw that episode of modern family too and thought it was funny; too bad about the cutlery service for the salad, I really enjoy a wedge salad particularly if its lightly grilled.
I have one of those fish on my desk!
I promise to be a good eater when I get together with you, Lorraine! And a few nights ago I served a shoulder of lamb on the bone, just like that! We just pulled it apart at the table. And that lollipop chicken looks amazing – what a great name for a chicken dish. Sounds so interesting. I’ve never seen or heard of those fortune fish before – where have I been! xx
What an interesting menu. I have never heard of a Fortune Telling Fish before and I am glad you provided photos because I never would have worked that one out!
I dunno where my fortune telling fish has disappeared to… Love the look of that crab pasta – definitely for next time!
I had Wedge Salad in the US on holiday whenever I could. So simple and soo delicious and quite healthy and filling.
Darling, it’s been too long since an eating adventure with you. I want multiple desserts and my Spay Lady!
I love everything about this story, the feel of the place, the food and the cute little fortune telling fish!!! I will have to pin this restaurant for sure. Sashimi scampi Yum!!! Oh and the desserts!
Crab Lettuce Tacos – love the sound of this dish! I love a balance between seafood and meat but there’s a lot to choose from there! And I think I have one of the original Miracle Fish from my school days, a loooong time ago! : D
Those tacos look amazing! I would have died if I saw someone who looked like Eric
Im slightly obsessed with him haha.
Before I read what you said about the fish I had this flash back seeing the packet. I don’t really remember but must have seen them before!
I love that you choose your dining companions based on their eating habits. I have one friend who is my absolute favourite person to eat with. We both order way too much but it’s always so much fun!
Yummm. I absolutely love oysters!
The chicken looks great as well, as does the linguine, and the duck fat chips, and the split scampis AND the deconstructed cheesecake… haha
I definitely gravitate towards seafood, and choose duck over all other meats. But I like my lasagne vegetarian, which is a bit random!
Definitely meat for me and while I LOVE to eat, I couldn’t begin to hold that much food. You most definitely have a hollow leg.
I have no idea what a Miracle Fish is.
A wedge salad done right is fantastic but in a bowl that size and shape, how could you eat it properly? Gets a tsk from me.
I gravitate with whatever fancies me on the day!
Prefer meat and shell fish! OK?
Never heard of the Fortune Teller fish!
Perhaps I should find one and he might grant me a wish!
I almost always go for a seafood dish. I love it SO much.
DUCK FAT CHIPS!!!!!! Drooling
I find very little joy in dining with companions we are not as passionate about food as I am. Love lovely long dinners trying things off other partakers’ plates
! What one eats surely depends entirely what kind of restaurant one is visiting, what their specialities are and what mood one is in? The lamb shoulder looks delicious, the price would make me cook it at home pronto. And wedge salad? – have never cared for iceberg lettuce and with abject apologies to all writers who disagree with me, cannot see the sense in paying $8 for something which cost the kitchen about 50 cents!! Aren’t I a grouch today 
!
i think i’ll be trying that Chilli crab linguine next time. good to hear it’s got a decent amount of meat in it. yum!
Looks like a fantastic meal. I’m SUPER jealous of those oysters… when the weather warms up like this, all I want is platters of oysters and bottles of bubbles!
What a feast! I love oysters- cant wait to try out the Morrison. I definitley veer towards fish when dining out, but I have to say that lamb looks amazing!!
Lamb shoulder, crab, oysters…. so many amazing choices! I don’t blame you for trying so many yummies
For all my food InTolerances, I think I’m a very good eater. I will try a bit of most things- even if it’s just the sauce, or try my patented “Bit and Spit” method, not pretty but good for trying texture/balance/flavours of those foods I can’t actually consume
I want a chicken lollipop and a taco.
I want ALL of this food, especially the oysters. I feel like I could eat my weight in them.
Seafood. If really fresh. I grew up in Florida and lived on islands in the Middle East where it was all so fresh and good. I miss great seafood. Oh how I miss it. These photos make me drool.
I just ate boring pasta leftovers for lunch and then I read this. I’m drooling here. Sounds like a place to add to my list next time I visit my hometown. I always gravitate towards seafood and I’m a complete sucker for crab so I’m pleased to see that on the menu here. I could eat oysters by the hundred but alas, I would be very poor afterwards. I adore duck fat and use it at home for potatoes.
I do remember those fortune fish. I received one in a recent art supply order. But I got mad with it because it said I was fickle! Me? Never! Really ; )
I would go here just for that brownie my friend but what an extensive menu! And waiters always question my family because we order so much – seriously, we have big appetites
And a fortune telling fish is new to me!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I love burrata too, but I dont think we can get it in the supermarket, only the upmarket restaurants serve it.
Haha, I agree, never underestimate how much a girl can eat. Usually in a restaurant the waiter always brings the bigger dish and serves it to my husband and he always says “that’s her!” and they look shocked when they see the amt tht I can eat. LOL.
Hi Lorraine, looks great would go just based on the oysters they look so fresh. I always gravitate towards seafood as I don’t eat most meats. If Laura’s main was the crab linguine I think that makes her a pescetarian, not a vegetarian
Yum! Everything looks so so good! I want to start off with some chilli crab linguine!
Another fab review and a fab restaurant. I love fish and seafood, and this looks heaven.
Did you like it . I was disappointed and waited for about an hour at lunch time for our maincourses
I tend to gravitate towards seafood because I don’t cook a lot of it at home…but I love it! This restaurant looks great! I am visiting Sydney in November and looking at finding a nice restaurant to go for a Saturday lunch…what would you recommend? One with a nice view or even outdoors eating, casual but really nice food? Preferably CBD, or close to. If you have any suggestions, I would muchly appreciate it…
Hi Tania! I did although I liked the entrees more than the mains as they were quite heavy and it was a warm night
The dishes look really good! I could really do with some of that yummy looking crab pasta and that divine brownie – there’s just something sensational about chocolate combined with the saltiness of caramel!
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