Sydney’s Backyard @ Opera Bar, Circular Quay

The summer sun, an Aussie barbeque and grand views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House – there really is no other venue like Opera Bar! This month, they’ve transformed their outer seating into “Sydney’s Backyard” – think picnic dining tables, Hills Hoists (complete with laundry strung up), native plants and of course a barbeque serving up Aussie favourites. It’s family friendly with a kids area (Twister and giant Connect Four), live entertainment and even a lemonade and slushie stand. This fun set up is only going to be around until the end of January so it’s best to check it out soon.

We headed over on a Sunday at 12pm and we were lucky to be able to nab a seat right in between the bar and kids area. By this time most of the tables were already taken and by 12:30pm there were groups of people trying to stalk down the seats with some shade. Thankfully for those caught out in the sun, there’s some free sunscreen at the outdoor bar.

Organic Excuse (watermelon liqueur, coconut rum, ‘C’ organic coconut water, fresh lime) – $18

To kickstart, I grabbed the Organic Excuse cocktail which was served short with a slice of watermelon. It’s light, fruity and refreshing with sweet watermelon undertones. You can barely even taste the alcohol with the taste masked by the coconut water.

Sydney Rock Oysters, White Balsamic, Pear (1/2 dozen) – $22

Prawn Popcorn, Harissa Mayonnaise – $16

Following this we start on some small nibbles straight from the Opera Bar menu. First are some fresh oysters which are accompanied with a pear vinaigrette giving the oysters a fruity kick with the small crunchy pear pieces. Then there’s also the prawn popcorn which are lightly fried and not overly oily. It’s quite meaty and goes wonderfully with the lime wedge and mayonnaise, although the mayonnaise doesn’t taste spicy at all despite containing harissa.

Corn on the Cob – $5 Sausage in a roll – $8 Prawn Skewer – $10

After this we hit the specially set up Aussie barbeque, trying one of each of the menu items on offer. The classic sausage sizzle is my favourite, with perfectly caramelised onions and two juicy sausages. The prawn skewers are easy to eat since they been pre-peeled, but I find it a tad on the salty side. The final item is the corn cob which contains shaved parmesan and a lime wedge. The lime juice sinks right in between the corn kernels providing bursts of flavour when you bite into it, yum!

Mango, Vanilla Bean Bombe Alaska – $12

To finish off the meal, we got the bombe alaska as a dessert. Underneath the silky smooth meringue is a mango and vanilla sorbet ball on a biscuit base. It’s a sweet and cooling dessert, perfect for summer. The accompanying freshly sliced mango is a great finishing touch to complement the sorbet.

Opera Bar really has managed to encapsulate the spirit of summer through their “Sydney’s Backyard” set up. It’s family friendly, fun and sure to keep you entertained and full for quite a while. Pairing this with magnificent harbour views and perfect weather, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser this month.

Visit the Opera Bar website for more information on Sydney’s Backyard and the entertainment schedule.

Excuse Me Waiter visited Sydney’s Backyard as guests of Opera Bar

Opera Bar Lower Concourse level, Sydney Opera House
Sydney CBD New South Wales 2000
Ph:(02) 9247 1666

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