The Argyle, The Rocks

Tapas, for those of you who don't know, is a style of eating that originated in Spain. Normally included is a wide variety of small dishes or appetisers, and people often order a few of these dishes and make a meal of it. A popular explanation for the origin of Tapas (which translates to "cover" or "lid") is that flat bread or cured ham would be placed on top of a glass of wine as a cover, to protect the drink from fruit flies.

This way of eating is being adapted by more and more bars and restaurants in Sydney (think Subsolo on King St, or El Bulli in Surrey Hills), and for my bestest-best friend Roxy's 21st, I got to experience this cuisine at The Argyle.

Walking in through the stone archway that is the entrance, we walked over the cobblestone floor past the courtyard area, into the building where a bridal party was taking place, and up the stairs. A large area had been reserved for us by one of the bars, and the decor was beautifully eclectic: low, exposed wooden beams adorned the ceilings, faux-fur covered some of the chairs, and mismatching light shades and fairy lights by the bar gave the place a certain charm. There were long tables for large groups of people, and smaller clusters of leatherette chairs for more intimate dining.

When everyone arrived, Roxy gave out the coupons that had been given to her allowing house wine or beer, and believe me, we made use of them. The atmosphere at the start of the night was very cool, laid-back and relaxed, but as the night progressed it started getting a little rowdy - a few uncouth men even started trying to eat our food!

Half an hour after the guests arrived, the food started being served. Roxy had pre-ordered everything:


White Sourdough with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - $5.00

The sourdough was plump and perfectly chewy, and paired with the robust, fruity olive oil, it was a great start to the meal.

House Charcuterie - $19.00

This platter of cold cuts, garnished with pickled gherkins and onions, was quite impressive in its simplicity and its quality. The ham was comforting in its familiarity, sweet and light. The prosciutto was much richer (as usual), much chewier, and had that healthy dark red colour I adore. The salami was slightly fatty, which isn't my cup of tea, but it was pleasantly peppery. I didn't get a chance to try the rest of the dish (it quickly got eaten as I was taking photos).

Chopitos - $14.00

These lightly fried morsels of calamari have a delicate crunch, and a beautifully tender texture and an almost briny flavour on the inside. Perfectly seasoned, they really stood out with a dash of lemon.

Kinkawooka Bay Mussels - $13.00

The mussels were cooked in white wine, bacon and parsley. The texture was soft, tender, yet meaty, and required a few chews to get it down. The mussels had taken on the fruity flavours of the wine and the salty and smoky tones of the bacon.

Crispy Onion Rings with Parmesan Mayonnaise - $9.00
Kalamata and Queen Green Olives - $8.00
Patatas Bravas - $11.00

These were possibly my favourite dishes of the night. The olives were plump, juicy and rich. The kalamata olives were darker in tone, and the queen green more fruity and light. The crispy onion rings were definitely the best I've had, flavoursome onion encased in crisp, thick batter, slightly oily and salty. The parmesan mayo was a perfect accompaniment, creamy and thick, yet light. The sharp, slightly salty taste of the parmesan was the perfect partner for the onion. The patatas bravas were fluffy on the inside, and wonderfully crispy on the edges. It was mildly spicy, and I definitely detected a hit of sweet paprika. They were addictive!

The atmosphere of our designated part of The Argyle on a Saturday is not really conductive to a quietly pleasant evening, sharing tapas and drinking wine, after 8pm. The crowd starts getting a little stupid, and it gets very loud and messy very quickly. However, the food here is something else; high quality, wonderfully put together, and not that expensive, especially if you plan on splitting the cost among friends.

The Argle

18 Argyle Street The Rocks
Sydney
NSW 2000

Phone: 02 9247 5500
Fax: 02 9241 1613

Comments

[Heavenly Housewife]

HI there! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I have to say I love tapas. Hubbs and I went to Barcelona a couple of years ago and had a good old time stuffing our bellies with patatas bravas and pan con tomate. The food was simple, but sooooooo delish! I hope to go back sometime.
*kisses* HH

[Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella]

Another great tapas find! Thanks for the review and will keep the crowd and noise level in mind depending on what we're in the mood for :)

[Jasmyne Tea]

Thanks HH! Gosh, I'd love to go to Barcelona, but travelling is out of the question at the moment - insufficient funds :S Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for the comment Lorraine! There are definitely other areas of The Argyle to try out (I think I counted 4 areas), each with their own atmosphere, so will definitely be giving them a go as well.

[Ellie]

Great to hear about Miguel's new joint. Have been to his Manly El Toro Roco (which is now closed) but heard good things about his new place.