La Boca Bar and Grill is an Argentinian Restaurant located at the Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport in Mascot.
Except where indicated, photography © by Kevin Burke for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.
The colourful and funky split-level venue is the creation of Argentinean Chef de Cuisine, Nicolas Arriola who has worked in renowned restaurants around the world, from Budapest to New Zealand as well as a 3-starred Michelin restaurant in Spain.
His menu includes rustic Argentinian favourites such as Empanadas and Provolone as well as dishes that reflect the traditional flavours of Argentina. At the heart of La Boca Bar and Grill are the traditional wood-fired Parilla and Asador grills. Prime cuts of beef are sourced from the Riverina, dry aged in-house in the Adelaide restaurant then cooked to give the meat an intense smoky flavour from red wood and charcoal.
La Boca Bar and Grill offers a set menu structure with both two course and three course options available at $59 and $75 respectively. Each main dish includes one accompaniment to be shared. The food menu is complemented by an impressive wine list of local and Argentinean wines including a selection of Malbec from Salta, Mendoza and Patagonia from Artisan Malbec – all served by the glass.
The following is a selection from the menu and suggested wine pairings. It is well worth noting that the photos shown in the gallery above are sampler sized dishes for the purpose of the review. Normal servings for the entrees and mains are quite generous in size..
From the entrees comes the Lime Cured Fish of the Day, a fresh and zingy Kingfish with creamy avocado, sweet corn, , tomato, cucumber and onion; and a tender Octopus with Kipfler potatoes, trussed tomatoes, fennel and balsamic pearls. Both dishes pair well with the 2015 Trumpeteer Torrontes (150mL $17; 250mL $27), a crisp, white wine with a little fruit.
The Beef Carpaccio comes with parmesan, tomato, zucchini and coriander, shown above in a duo with the Provolone, an Argentinean specialty that is often served with grilled meats. The Provolone steals the show and you might find yourself ordering another serve. The melted cheese with oregano, chilli spice packs a punch and comes with candied almonds, radish, sun-dried tomatoes , red vein sorrel, honey and Lime. Pair it with 2014 Viniterra Serie Terra Chardonnay (150mL $12; 250mL $19), a fruit forward wine with good balance and structure.
From the mains comes a Corn and Zucchini Pancake complemented with goats curd and beetroot, a vegetarian option that is on the underwhelming side. The dish is paired with 2015 La Vuelta Malbec Rosé, a fruity and semi dry rose with soft tannins on the finish.
The Fish of the Day is a perfectly cooked grilled barramundi with salsa verde, a crisp and well-seasoned skin, moist, flaky flesh and a flavour that is so fresh that it makes this dish a standout.
Moving to the grilled meats, there’s the Asador Pork Belly & Lamb Leg, tender and succulent with a subtle smoke flavour that runs throughout the meat paired with a full-bodied 2011 Marcelo Pelleriti Reserve Malbec (150mL $19; 250mL $31). Equally flavoursome is the Beef Skirt Steak paired with a sessionable and red fruit-driven 2013 Bodega Bressia Monteagrelo Malbec (150mL $25; 250mL $41).
For dessert, choose from the Coconut Calamansi Panacotta with passion fruit and pineapple, or the pretty Strawberry Pillow with chocolate soil, raspberry, meringue and mint. If you like chocolate, the Hazelnut Stone with coffee anglaise, orange segments and lemon balm hits the right spot. Alternatively, go all out with the rich, decadent and addictive Caramel Custard with a side of Chantilly Cream and berries.
La Boca Bar & Grill
Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport
Cnr O’Riordan & Robey Streets
Mascot, NSW, 2020
sydney.laboca.com.au
