If you’re in search for a more contemporary Asian inspired dining experience, my recent trip to Marble BBQ in Barangaroo where we had some very yummy (and surprisingly homely) food, may be the place for you. Opened by the same people who run Tokki in Surry Hills, the upmarket sister version is set in Barangaroo, a place that after working hours turned out to be a nice and quiet part of the city. The restaurant had a nice calm ambience, it wasn’t too busy and the music was playing at just the right level for conversation.

Location: Shop T1/05, 100 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Price: Approximately $130 per person, including 2 drinks each
Social: https://www.instagram.com/marblebbq_syd/?hl=en
Website: http://www.marblebbq.com.au

Melissa: 3.5/5 – some misses on the menu but enough unique fusion dishes done well that would make it worth a return trip

We started off with some rock oysters which were small and creamy. They were accompanied by a wasabi and white balsamic vinaigrette, slathered in olive oil. It was delicious but I did find them too generous with the olive oil for the delicate oyster flavour.

The kingfish was a nice, light starter dish as well. Again very acidic flavours in the dish, served with jalapeño but not spicy at all. Kingfish isn’t my favourite type of fish to eat raw, but the lime and coriander oil did go down very well. Again a fairly oily sauce for the dish.

The wagyu tartare was an interesting Korean inspired dish, served with Gochujang and nashi pear. It wasn’t the creamiest I’ve ever had, but the nori crisp gave it a nice twist. The next dish we ordered was probably the most unique of all, the Jerusalem artichoke carpaccio served onto a bed of shiso pesto. I personally did not enjoy this dish and would not order it again. To other palettes it might taste a lot better, but overall it was too acidic and the artichoke wasn’t a good vessel for the flavours. If you are a particular artichoke fan, I would recommend you order it given it is quite a creative dish.

For some heartier side dishes, we ordered the organic potato which was a creamy, brown butter mash of potato and truffle. It was divine, creamy and delicious. When was potato and brown butter ever a bad combo? The baos were glazed with Gochujang and had a lovely smokey flavour from the grill, but were sadly overcooked for me. I think Ippudo’s baos were a lot better executed (and consistently) than the ones they served here.

And finally the pièce de résistance(s) of the night – the wagyu tongue and wagyu striploin. The wagyu tongue was served in three rows, all offering a different level of cooking from rare, medium and well done. The best level for me was well done, where the meat was no longer as raw – I found the rare version to be a bit too chewy for me. There was a lovely smokey flavour and the salt alone was enough to bring out the beefiness. The wasabi mustard was a nice accompaniment, but adding this I felt overwhelmed the meat.

The most expensive dish on the menu was the wagyu striploin, served on top of rice with a sweet butter and soy sauce and spring onions. This dish was very homey, and the rice accompaniment is definitely a rare one for a restaurant in Australia. It reminded me of how I sometimes have my steaks cooked at home, with some rice on the side and the spring onion gave it a uniquely Asian flavour. A very interesting dish, however I didn’t think it was worth the price, mainly because I have had greater steaks for much less.

Overall, a unique restaurant catering to Asian flavours. Some misses for me in the carpaccio and many dishes I wouldn’t order again (wagyu tongue, wagyu tartare, kingfish) but overall I thought the flavours and creativity in the dishes made for a very interesting experience. There were a couple of other things that caught my eye that I didn’t try so I can definitely see myself coming back to check it out.