Devon by Night, Surry Hills

Renowned for being one of Sydney’s favourite breakfast and lunch café, Devon Café in Surry Hills is launching Devon by Night with a dinner service drawing on Pan Asian influences.

Devon Cafe by Night

Chef Zacharay Tan (ex Pier in Rose Bay, Guillaume at Bennelong and Bistro Guillaume) is at the helm and is bringing a delightful menu with Peninsular Malaysian and dishes cooked using Japanese charcoal barbecue.

The menu is divided into Raw, Solo Eats which are individual portions, Smaller, Larger, Sides and Sweets with each category all keeping to a good price point that offers value for money.

You’ll find a range of Asian and local beers, a concise but impressive wine list designed specifically to complement the spicy dishes, and Hibiki 12 YO Japanese whisky.

Start with Echigo Koshihikari Rice Beer and Kacang Kuda, spiced crispy chickpeas ($3) or an Indian-flavoured snack mix with fried noodles and peanuts.

Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi

From the Raw section comes Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi ($15) with dollops of avocado, tomato jelly, ikura and chives. fresh and light, the tomato jelly adds a lovely tang to the dish.

Prawn and Scallop Wontons

Next is the zingy Prawn and Scallop Wontons ($16) or scallop and prawn ceviche, served with large crispy wontons, shavings of green mango, apple and nahm jim, a hot, sour and tangy sauce.

Chargrilled Baby Corn on the Cob, Coffee Miso Butter

From the Solo Eats comes Chargrilled Baby Corn on the Cob ($5 each) topped with a coffee miso butter, dusted with coffee. The coffee miso butter works its way well into the baby corn giving the dish originality and a delicate umami flavour.

Devon’s Lobster Roll

The Devon’s Lobster Roll ($15) is destined to become the most popular dish. The soft brioche bun holds a generous amount of lobster medallions with radish, tatsoi and kewpie mayonnaise. There is flavour and value for money in every bite.

KJI Fried Chicken Korean Style

From the Smaller items on the menu, KJI Fried Chicken Korean Style ($15) offers crunchy skinned chicken wings with Go Chujang, a sweet and tangy peanut sauce. Incidentally, KJI stands for Kim Jong Il.

Chargrilled Prawns with Penang Hokkien Mee Flavours

Larger dishes include Chargrilled Prawns with Penang Hokkien Mee Flavours ($29), a hot spicy and tangy sauce that makes the dish.

Chinese Egg Custard with Fresh WA Truffle

The go-to dish is the Mum’s Chinese Egg Custard ($28) with shiitaki, black fungus and yellow needle flower, topped with shavings of fresh WA black truffle served with Chinese fried bread. The savoury custard is silky smooth and redolent with earthy aromas and flavours. A sensational dish, it is best shared with just one other person.

Wagyu 6+ Striploin

The Wagyu 6+ Striploin ($29) is succulent and pink, with ponzu and fried garlic.

Cultivated Mushroom Parcels

From the sides come the Steamed Jasmine Rice ($4) and the irresistible Cultivated Mushroom Parcels ($10), with a foil pocket hiding an earthy mix of Asian mushrooms with soy sauce and lemon zest.

Tamarind and Chilli Popsicles

If you have room for dessert and you have a sense of culinary adventure, the Tamarind and Chilli Popsicle ($5) in plum wine is an intense flavour experience.

Devon by Night brings casual dining with delightful dishes and robust flavours to Sydney’s dining scene. You may be dining in a converted garage with graffiti walls and concrete floor, but the flavours shine, the dishes leave a lasting impression and the experience will bring you back.

Devon by Night opens from Thursday, July 3 2014.

Devon Cafe
76 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills
(02) 9211 8777
devoncafe.com.au
Devon by Night: Thursday to Saturday from 6pm to 10pm