Tucked away behind Sydney’s events and entertainment behemoth Darling Harbour, inner city suburb Pyrmont is home to a diversity of quaint and characterful venues for private dining or casual drinks, with planners able to find the majority of top spots along Harris Street and Union Street.
New kid on the block Whirly Bird, which can be found on the latter, has been getting Spice excited to puts its menu of fine poultry and creative cocktails to the test, ever since its grand opening at the end of last year. The spacious venue, which sprawls around a 360-degree beige and gold bar, is billing itself as both a spot for unpretentious fine dining for groups large and small, and a late-night (1am close) bolthole for drinks in a stylish setting.
Event space?
Opened by former Keystone Group Hotels & Bar Management duo Anthony Prior and Simon Barbato, the restaurant can seat a total of 150 guests within the main restaurant. An 80-seat dining room also includes an intimate area for up to 12 guests, ideal for celebratory drinks, lunches and dinners for corporate groups.
What’s on the menu?
A spread of bar snacks, sumptuous starters and larger plates have been thought up with sharing in mind, which is good for groups that want a taste of everything. Spice melted quicker than the baked crumbed Camembert, with duck breast and honeycomb (below)when it landed on our table, while healthier bites from Whirly Bird’s all-veggie menu – No Harm, No Fowl – which included roast balsamic beetroot and buffalo mozzarella, offset our wistful indulgence.
The Main Acts: the five-piece buttermilk fried chicken and grilled lemon chicken breast & pineapple burger were brilliant and the eggplant schnitzel looked just as rewarding from across the table.
On the cocktail-front, confident beverage aficionados who give barely a glance to a drinks menu should look twice at the Whirly Bird’s conceptual cocktail list, inspired by musical greats from Bowie and Neil Young, to Elvis and the Beatles.
Spice recommends a Sgt Pepper (Pisco, pink peppercorn, guava, bitters, and grapefruit twist) and a Blood & Chocolate to finish (sultana rum, blood orange solerno, port & chocolate, and raw cacoa sprinkled on the rim of the glass).
