Waqu
32 Falcon St
Crows Nest, NSW 2065
$$$$$
Waqu is “modern Japanese dining offering food which harmonises East with West and traditional with modern, in a nouveau Japanese zen-inspired environment.” Another one of the highest-rated restaurants in my area, it was the place I selected to take Mum and Dad to on their last night in Sydney. It’s a cozy, small restaurant that’s romantically lit, pretty perfect for a date 😉 They serve a degustation dinner for just $49!! Compared to Rise, I would say the quality of the food is the same, but the portions are much larger – I leave feeling a bit unsatisfied after a Rise degustation meal, but Waqu had me full to the brim 🙂
The food is fusion style and artfully presented. I would say it’s not as top-notch as Tetsuya’s degustation (but then again, that does cost ~$200pp) but still very very good, especially when you take the price into consideration. The service was polite and discreet, and the courses were very well-timed. I spied a private dining room near the entrance, and I’m going to keep that in mind…… might have my birthday dinner there with a few close friends 🙂
Waqu
Romantic interior
The menu
Carrot gazpacho with black lumpfish caviar
Green tea soba noodles in Ankake soup
Spicy soft shell crab taco
Seared beef with flying fish roe and ponzu jelly
‘KUROBUTA’ PORK BELLY FILO with teriyaki sauce, whole grain mustard
Inside the pork belly filo
OCEAN TROUT TARTARE with avocado salad, spicy mayonnaise and plum dressing
SCALLOP AND ‘TOFU’ GALETTE with shimeji, enoki and oyster mushroom, anchovy butter sauce
SUSHI salmon and scallop nigiri and eel sushi rolls
BEEF TENDERLOIN STEAK with japanese style risotto and creamy mash potato
MISO MARINATED COD oven baked cod fillet with grilled eggplant and ‘takuan’ pickle rice, ‘saikyo’ miso sauce
Sweet sake creme caramel
Chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream
Beverly
Hi Beverly
I have just stumbled across this blog and really enjoyed reading it. You have a great writing style and incorporate some excellent photos.
I thought I would invite you write on mytaste.com.au. This would be a great way to gain exposure for your blog as you are welcome to link back to it from myTaste.
My personal name on mytaste is Brent C. – if you have a look around you will see me there. Drop by and say hi.
Thanks for the great dining tips. If you do end up registering on mytaste i will add myself as a fan of you and therefore be notified whenever you do a review.
Cheers. Brent
Re: Beverly
Hi Brent, I’m actually a regular visitor at mytaste.com.au – great site! 🙂
Beverly
Hi Beverly
I have just stumbled across this blog and really enjoyed reading it. You have a great writing style and incorporate some excellent photos.
I thought I would invite you write on mytaste.com.au. This would be a great way to gain exposure for your blog as you are welcome to link back to it from myTaste.
My personal name on mytaste is Brent C. – if you have a look around you will see me there. Drop by and say hi.
Thanks for the great dining tips. If you do end up registering on mytaste i will add myself as a fan of you and therefore be notified whenever you do a review.
Cheers. Brent
Re: Beverly
Hi Brent, I’m actually a regular visitor at mytaste.com.au – great site! 🙂
I wouldn’t actually eat anything except the dessert, but your pics are AMAZING!!
Hhehehe I wonder if they have vego options.. at least those would suit 😛
Wow! Very reasonable price!!
Love medium rare too.
It’s not often Sydney has reasonbly priced food, and really good food at that. So happy it’s nearby!
How good is Waqu?! Such a great little restuarant. I agree with you – the servings are a great size for the price!
Looks like they changed their menu – that pork belly filo looks awesome!
I think they change their menu rarely and subtly, but that’s ok, I def wouldn’t mind going back for the same food, it was great!
wow they do look good and the price is so reasonable!
I wish i’d known about them before! i love finding cool places 😛
Yep, gotta try that place…looks so fresh!
you could go when Matt gets back! a nice date place to welcome him home 😛
I wouldn’t actually eat anything except the dessert, but your pics are AMAZING!!
Hhehehe I wonder if they have vego options.. at least those would suit 😛
Wow! Very reasonable price!!
Love medium rare too.
It’s not often Sydney has reasonbly priced food, and really good food at that. So happy it’s nearby!
what camera are u using?? great shots!
It’s a sony cybershot! Buuut some of the pics I pinched off their websites, those professional looking ones 😉
My goodness! My mouth is watering!
It was a fab dinner! A great way to celebrate and not totally blow the budget 🙂
So what does it mean when you list $$$$? Does that mean expensive? Is there a scale? I’m curious if it’s different there than in the States.
Yeah $ is generally under $5 or so … and then it goes upwards where $$$$ is the most expensive 😉
Everything is so pretty and $49, that’s a good deal!
I want to go back with friends and get that private room, that plus the degustation for $49pp is awesome!
How good is Waqu?! Such a great little restuarant. I agree with you – the servings are a great size for the price!
Looks like they changed their menu – that pork belly filo looks awesome!
I think they change their menu rarely and subtly, but that’s ok, I def wouldn’t mind going back for the same food, it was great!
woah that beef looks so raw inside!
and a degustation meal for $49pp? that’s the cheapest thing i’ve heard. definitely going there, thanks for the tip 😉
That’s medium rare.. my favourite 🙂
It’s a very good deal eh, so happy it’s really close to my place too!
wow they do look good and the price is so reasonable!
I wish i’d known about them before! i love finding cool places 😛
Yep, gotta try that place…looks so fresh!
you could go when Matt gets back! a nice date place to welcome him home 😛
wah the beef looks rocks socks!!
It was really nice and tender, and fortunately not just one tiny mouthful like they tend to give at degustations!
quite decent huh like that!
what camera are u using?? great shots!
It’s a sony cybershot! Buuut some of the pics I pinched off their websites, those professional looking ones 😉
My goodness! My mouth is watering!
It was a fab dinner! A great way to celebrate and not totally blow the budget 🙂
So what does it mean when you list $$$$? Does that mean expensive? Is there a scale? I’m curious if it’s different there than in the States.
Yeah $ is generally under $5 or so … and then it goes upwards where $$$$ is the most expensive 😉
Everything is so pretty and $49, that’s a good deal!
I want to go back with friends and get that private room, that plus the degustation for $49pp is awesome!
woah that beef looks so raw inside!
and a degustation meal for $49pp? that’s the cheapest thing i’ve heard. definitely going there, thanks for the tip 😉
That’s medium rare.. my favourite 🙂
It’s a very good deal eh, so happy it’s really close to my place too!
wah the beef looks rocks socks!!
It was really nice and tender, and fortunately not just one tiny mouthful like they tend to give at degustations!
quite decent huh like that!