Welcome back to those Dear Readers that are back at work after Christmas holidays! I hope you all had a relaxing, wonderful time! And to those in bushfire affected areas, I hope you are all ok 
Mr NQN and I had a relaxing holiday which consisted of cycling and kite surfing. Well, for Mr NQN anyway 
I mostly caught up on the season’s worth of Downton Abbey on the couch. Well, you know me right?
I couldn’t do nothing the whole time and of course cakes were baked, feasts were plated up, people were visited and birthdays and new years was celebrated and then it all came to a slow moving halt yesterday when we both realised that it would be the last day of the holidays and we would be back the next day-today. So we packed up the car with kite surfing gear and a picnic rug and we drove south to Dolls Point for a spot of kite surfing for Mr NQN. It was around 5.30pm when he finished and then I turned to him and asked if he wanted to go to Alphabet Street with me since we were in the area. I had first heard about it on Tania’s blog and it went straight on the “to eat” list. I rang at about 5:45pm and booked a table for 6:30 that evening.
I hadn’t been to Cronulla for the longest time. So long that everything looks quite new to me and kind of like we were on holiday. Alphabet Street is on the corner of The Kingsway and Elouera Road. Named after the Prince song “Alphabet Street”, owner Oriana tells us that it came to her partner Joe as a restaurant name choice when he was listening to the song. It seemed to suit the place as the lyrics” I’m going down to Alphabet Street” suggest a place at which to hang. It isn’t their first restaurant; Joe had Rambutan in Darlinghurst’s Oxford Street. Oriana tells us that the menu is cleaner and fresher and they have brought the chef from Rambutan with them.
It’s a small restaurant but mercifully, it takes bookings and the prize tables are the ones on the balcony facing the water. As we had just booked and those tables were reserved, we’re led further into the restaurant past the bar with the wall of plants (the park), the wooden cube outlines (the buildings) and the drop lights (the streetlamps). The concrete is of course the pavement and everything is designed to look like a street. Diners can also see into the open kitchen along the back wall.
The menu is different from your standard Thai and and this is perhaps why everyone seems to be flocking to it in droves. And I make a mental note that when I come back, I should dress up as Cronulla girls are very fashionably dolled up and here I am without a lot of makeup wearing thongs and a sun dress.
Betel Leaf smoked trout $5
Ordering was easy and we were recommended a few things by the bartender while we were waiting for our table. There are two betel leaf miangs, the first one is one topped with a neat pile of flaked, smoked trout which is balanced with tomato, fried shallots and capsicum relish. The mouthful is full of flavour with a soft texture.
Betel Leaf Prawn $6
The showgirl sister of the above is the betel leaf with prawn and arrives in a bird cage no less. Placed in a small Chinese teacup and wrapped around with an egg net, like a eggy lace pancake, it is sweet and crunchy with roasted coconut, herbs and fresh prawns inside.
Roti Mataba $14
The roti mataba is a stuffed roti pastry filled with chicken and without the peanut and cucumber achar it tasted like a buttery chicken pie but add the spicy and sweet cucumber achar and the peanut sauce and it takes on a new flavour profile. The only complaint? The four quarters were a little on the small side and we could have easily had more.
Pla Dib $18
Initially, we had only ordered the roti and the two miangs but when we saw this arrive at another table, we quickly put an order in for the Pla Dib. With three salmon and three kingfish sashimi slices wrapped around green apple batons, at first I thought that they might have been too sweet but a careful balancing of flavours and the addition of red onion, herbs and green chillies makes these spicy little morsels very good indeed.
Seared Scallops $24
The mains arrived soon after and the first was really somewhere between an entree and a main in terms of size and price. The seared scallops were soft and sat atop a mound of banana blossom, caramelised eschallots and herbs. It’s rich and sweet and comes with a scarlet chilli sauce with the aroma of belachan or fish and coconut cream that is worth mopping up (alas, that’s the only problem with sharing and that’s getting all of the sauces). We used the sticky rice to do that.
Sticky rice (in basket) and coconut rice $4 each
There are actually four types of rice available here: white jasmine, brown, coconut and sticky rice. We went for the last two and I particularly liked the sticky rice whilst Mr NQN preferred the coconut rice.
Slow Cooked Beef Cheek $32
“I wish we had gotten the lamb” I said to Mr NQN, while ladling some of this into my bowl. We had seen countless plates of the lamb shank massaman go past us with a lit cinnamon quill imparting a delicious fragrance into the air. I take a mouthful of the beef cheek that has so easily parted with a nudge of the fork and spoon. “Oh ok, I see,” I said between mouthfuls. “Oh no, well I’m glad that we got this one, I’ll shut up now,” I finish. The slow cooked beef cheek is a generously portioned size with a rich star anise aroma and if I could liken it to any dish it would be Vietnamese Pho with a richly flavoured aromatic broth and softer than soft beef.
Brulee of mango risotto $18
There are two desserts on the menu and both seemed quite different to each other so we decided to try both. Alas, we hit a bit of a road block with one of the desserts and the love affair stalled a little. The sticky rice risotto cake is dry and has a slightly rocky layer of caramel on top. There’s a tart mango coulis, a raspberry sauce, mango cubes and a little coconut cream but it’s the only course that we don’t finish. It’s also quite expensive in comparison to the other courses.
Thai-ra-mi-su $15
Even though I’m not a huge chocolate orange lover, this cute flower topped version of a tiramisu is the pick of the desserts. It’s a moussey, light orange layer on the bottom and crunchy chocolate crumbs on top. It doesn’t have the layers upon layers as does a traditional tiramisu but it’s well balanced in both texture and flavour.
Very happily full, Mr NQN and I venture off into the busy streets of Cronulla. And yes I still want to come back for that lamb curry!
So tell me Dear Reader, are you back at work yet? And what was the most exciting thing that you did? And is anyone else watching Downton Abbey? If so, which is your favourite character?
Alphabet Street
5/8 Kingsway, Cronulla, NSW 2230
Tel: +61 (02) 9544 0756
Bar open 7 nights from 5:30pm
Dinner: 7 nights from 6pm
Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm
http://alphabetst.net
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34 Comments | Add your own
I haven’t started Downtown Abbey is it good? This looks seriously delicious, we have some Thai restaurants down the road and they are nothing like this.
This is some of the most appealing Thai food I’ve ever seen, and I am a great fan of even the most humble Thai street food. Lovely presentation, except for the birdcage, which seems a wee bit over the top. I haven’t caught up yet from having been away, but am trying. I am NOT happy with Downton’s 3rd season Christmas Special. Not one little bit. Favorite character??? So hard, of course Lady Violet has all of the great lines and is fabulous, but I am particularly fond of Lady Mary–she is an iconoclast as well.
Can’t say I’m not a fan of anything that reminds me of the Jackson’s song
This restaurant looks gourmet but totally cute!
Glad you had such a great holiday my friend!
Happy New Year
Choc Chip Uru
I have only seen the first series of Downton Abbey, I bought the DVD series as I am not here when it goes to air. I will be looking out for series 2.
Lot of creativity in dishes, plating and naming.
I keep telling myself I’m going to watch DA but it hasn’t happened yet. Since we both work from home, sadly no holiday here but we did have John’s parents for a visit.
I have two opinions about Alphabet Street. One, the food looks really good and 2 it’s a bit kitschy. If I get down there I’ll remember to dress up.
I remember Tania reviewing this restaurant. What a great and surprising find. I love the twist on the typical and expected Thai – this has so much more interest and theatre. Love the birdcage and the dessert with the daisy. I would go back for the lamb too xx
Thankyou for this review Nigella,
I have been trying to think of where I can send my niece and her husband for her impending Birthday, near her home town of Cronulla. Now I have the solution. Perfect!!! Happy New Year also.
I did start to roll my eyes, how ridiculous, at the Betel Leaf Prawn in a bird cage but the rest of the menu looks so impressive that I now forgive them. Lovely review
HAHA I love your little conversation with yourself over the beef cheek. Good to know I’m not the only person who does this in the face of a somewhat less talkative partner!
Happy New Year Lorraine! First day back for me today. We had a wonderful break at the beach with perfect weather the whole time. Looking forward to getting back into it though.
Back at work today. Love Downton – favourite character is Lady Mary. The food looks so good here – I do love the drama of the betel leaf prawn.
Such fun sounding food indeed! The bird cage and flower pot are cute little touches, and the food sounds like it has a lot of flavour. I am so trying the lit cinnamon stick next time I make a massaman too!
Hubby has one more week off thank goodness, as my mother arrives this week and I need the moral support!
love the looks of the seared scallops!
I must have read Tania’s blog too, as the name of the restaurant was quite familiar. Hate to think how long I have not been to Cronulla! Absolutely love the look of the food here: a lot of it unusual for me. Well plated on the whole tho’ agree with Victoria that the birdcage was a wee bit over the top for a serious foodie place! Loved the look of the beef cheek tho’ and would not hesitate to visit the place next time up north!! Meanwhile hope everyone keeps fingers crossed for us in country NSW tomorrow: temperatures soaring to records of 43-44 C where I live almost in a National Park, hot winds at 60-80 kms/hr and bushfire threat ‘catastrophic’ according to the Fire Authorities. Been there once, will be happy not to have been evacuated by tomorrow night
!!!
That bird cage presentation is pretty wild. Not sure it’s truly needed, but it does its job in making the dish memorable. And yes, $18 for a dessert definitely is pushing the price envelope. Yowza!
When I hear the Alphabet Song, I too think of Michael Jackson’s ABC’S song, TRUE!
Now will be singing it all day too!
What lovely dishes, your photo always make food come alive!
Most exciting thing I did? I followed my passions and on those I THRIVE!
Thanks for the review. I’ll be trying out this place when I visit my family back in Cronulla next week
I have a friend who loves Thai, so this will be worth the trip back. The Shire has come a long way in recent years.
Only had a week off before clients started emailing me again, so relaxed in the mornings and worked in the afternoons.
Lovin Downton Abbey as well. Also hooked on Revenge (but I don’t admit that to everyone).
* Also meant to tell you about a fabulous Italian style high tea I tried before Christmas at a place called Via Leoni in Russell Lea. It is now going to be a regular Saturday/Sunday thing.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THE POINT OF THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL UGH SO BUNK.
Hi Lorraine, back at work today unfortunately
You and Mr NQN remind me of hubby and I, he wants to get outdoors and do some kind of activity and I just want to relax with a good show and some food! Food looks very impressive here, will have to try if I am in the area. Nothing exciting over holidays, just lots of eating 
Innovative tiramisu and birdcaged prawn
like the look of the vibrant dishes
Nice pics, they really make the food look delicious. And hey, you’d make a lovely Shire girl!
Isn’t Downton Abbey great? I’ve been reading the summaries in Tatler.com (massive spoilers) and can’t wait till we get season 3 out here.
Yum! Yes, I’m back into the hustle and bustle- actually last week that happened and it was a depressing reality hahaha. Atleast I get to live vicariously through you
I laughed so much I actually snorted! It was the comment that Cronulla girls are so fashionable & classy…..and I couldn’t get that dreadful TV show out of my mind, the one with the plastic boobs and awful airheads. Lorraine you have more class in your little toenail than all of them put together.
PS adored the bird cage, albeit a little odd.
This is definitely different from your usual Thai joints! Warrants a trip to Cronulla to try this restaurant
Though I will avoid the mango risotto despite the dish itself sparking my curiosity.
Looked like a fun place, if bordering on pretentiousness, lol. Reading your posts makes me feel as I am there.
Love Downton Abbey; I am caught up to the latest episode (Christmas). Naturally I love Cousin Violet.
Mrs. Hughes and Carson are lovely too!
Yes, pretty pricey but the food looks fabulous! I have to start eating out more often; your review posts always make me hungry for a similar experience. And I’ve not watched Downton Abbey yet, either…
Love Love Downton Abbey! My favourite character is definately Violet! Cronulla is a bit far from the Hills, but I love the look of the Pla Dib, so fresh!
Dear Lorraine,
Without makeup, I think you would stand out among all the dolled up Cronulla girls with your natural beauty.
Dear Lorraine,
Without makeup, I think you will stand out among all the dolled up Cronulla girls with your natural beauty.
Hi Lorraine,we were back at it last week, but that’s ok. Heard you were having some super hot weather; it’s finally a sunny day in Toronto and they’re predicting a thaw with 9C by Friday.
The dinner you had looks wonderful, all the flavours I would thoroughly enjoy.
We are Downton Abbey fans, we started season three last night. Lady Mary and Matthew are my fav’s.
So great to hear that you’ve had a lovely break
Just like you, I can’t just sit around and do nothing and even though I’m in HK and eating and shopping way too much hahaha I have also started to watch a Chinese series and it’s SO addictive!
I’ve never heard of Cronullla and I honestly thought it was not a place in Australia hehe I’m not really sure why it just doesn’t look like NSW
I’m very lucky and I have a couple of weeks left before I get back to work YAY!
Great review.
I had been to Rambutans in Oxford Street and have been a fan of Joe and his team for a few years now.
I am wrapped that he is back and the amazing betal leaf is alive and well.
I am yet to try this new restaurant but trust me, Joe and his team are amazing with what they do with the humble cocktail and even better with food. I am sure they will succeed here and I am heading there this weekend.
Enjoy and well done Joe and Oriana.
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