Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon

If you’re familiar with the Slide (Cabaret bar) on Oxford Street, you may already be familiar with Marc Kuzma, aka Claire de Lune.  He’s been running it for the last 6 years.  Now, Marc/Claire has started a new venture, and opened a french restaurant a few doors down from Slide, appropriately named Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon.

Step through the doors from Oxford Street, and enter a world of glamour, decadence and french chic.  Soaring ceilings, imported wallpapers, chandeliers and french antiques.  Worlds away from the chaos of Oxford Street outside.

Upstairs, you will find Le Salon.  The perfect space for a cocktail party, or a large dinner party and complete with its own bar.

We arrive, and are greeted by a charming French waiter (note: all waiters are French – a nice touch).  We are escorted to a table by the window, and settle back into ornate couches.

A night such as this is appropriately commenced with a glass of bubbles:

Royal Germain – St Germain Elderflower Liquor and french sparkling wine

Le menu, described as a traditional french brasserie menu with a few modern twists, makes our choices difficult.  We decide to share a few entrees:

Coquilles Sant Jacques Au Poitron – Roasted scallops with pumpkin sabayon and micro herbs

Steak Tartare – served with condiments and toasted french baguette

Souffle Aux Fromages – Twice cooked three cheese souffle

The dishes were spectacular, and I was particularly impressed with Ms L and Mr A trying steak tartare for the first time.  They just may be converted!

The wine list, is exclusively French, and we enlist the assistance of our French waiter to help with our decision.  A refreshingly crisp wine from Alsace goes down a treat.

Soon, it was time for main course.

Mr M and Mr A both choose the beef fillet, Ms L chooses the pork belly, and I cannot go past their signature dish, the Duck Pinot Noir pie.

Filet de Boeuf – Tasmanian grass fed beef fillet with truffled mash and shiraz and star anise jus

Poitrine de Porc – Braised pork belly served with Puy lentils and drizzled with beetroot reduction

Canard en Croute – Duck and Pinot Noir pie with melted brie under the puff pastry crust

We pair our mains with sides:

Puree Mousseline de Pomme de Terre – potato mash with lashings of butter and cream

Poelee D’haricots Verts a la Moutarde – Sauteed green been with grain mustard

The food is beautifully presented, very impressive and particularly well priced for the quality.

When it comes time for desert, we decide to retire to Le Salon upstairs.  We settle back into luxurious chesterfields by the fire and indulge in deserts and cheeses paired with a ‘Claire de Lune’ cocktail:

Le Salon

Creme Brulee served with creme fraiche ice-cream

Plateu de fromages

French macarons

‘Claire de Lune’ cocktail

We loved dining at Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon – it was a magical evening and I can’t wait to return.  Marc is the perfect host and chef.

vous devez dîner leur bientôt!

Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon, 35 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
+61 2 9283 1891
Tues – Sat – 6pm – 12am, Sun – 11am – 3pm

http://www.facebook.com/#!/claireskitchen

Tags: Darlinghurst, Dinner, East, European, French, Restaurant

Category: Eat & Drink