Having worked and lived in the CBD, I thought I had found every quality bistro dining venue worth visiting. Apparently, not so.
My friend invited me out for an early Christmas dinner in the CBD and suggested The Flynn on Bligh Street. I hadn't heard of that place before but, what a stroke of luck that turned out to be.
The Flynn is a 1940s themed restaurant and bar. The menu has a strong Italian fusion, with pasta and pizza dishes as well as popular pub offerings. It is situated right in the middle of CBD banking district.
The bar section is located at the front with large flat-screen TVs with non-stop sport programs; while the cosy restaurant area is hidden at the back. The ambiance of the restaurant looks comfortable and romantic with candle-lights and mirrors. It is definitely suitable for a date or for a friendly catch-up.
When we arrived, the place was jammed packed with office workers with their happy hour drinks. Always a good sign.
A brief glance at the menu revealed the biggest draw card - the prices looked reasonable. The 12 hours pull-pork burgers and the various artisan pizzas sounded hearty and homey on this stormy Summer night.
It was a hectic day so I ordered Flynn's Martini ($12) to ease myself into the night
Happy Hour - Flynn Martini $12
We ordered a couple of starters to share. The twice cooked polenta chips ($10) were hand cut, cooked to a golden crunch perfection. They were served with an amazing creamy gorgonzola sauce.
These are SO good!
I was pleasantly surprised at this gluten-free vegetarian dish. I have to recommend these polenta chips, they were really one of the best in Sydney and they were so much better than potato chips.
These lamb tacos ($12) were filling starters.
The tacos were filled with fragrant pulled lamb shoulder, guacamole, yogurt & chimichurri sauce. My friend thoroughly enjoyed the tender soft pulled lamb. I was feeling full after one of these hearty tacos.
The Lamb Taco $12 x 2
The service was friendly throughout and we could see some of the chefs at work in the open kitchen.
Our starters...
We got a Tuna Nicoise salad ($22) to share and it was mighty fine. The sesame crust albacore (rare) tuna looked fresh and full of luster.
The flavour of the salad was mild with a light hint of saltiness from the olives and the anchovies. The potato cubes, fresh green beans, cherry tomatoes & seeded mustard vinaigrette tasted great together with the seared tuna.
Tuna Nicoise salad $22
This salad was scrumptious as its presentation. We absolutely devoured it.
The mains were definitely a comfort food affair and The Flynn strategically priced their dinner meals. There were heaps of selections in the $20-25 vicinity and they were very reasonably for Sydney CBD dining.
Duck Pie $22
My friend aimed for the Duck Pie ($22) which contained duck ragou, porcini mushrooms, thyme, confit garlic mash & red wine jus.
The golden flaky pie pastry was absolutely a winner. The duck ragou pie filling was full of flavour.
When my Alaskan King Crab Pasta ($26) arrived, I was stunned by how much crab meat was on the plate.
Alaskan King Crab Pasta $26
The angel hair pasta I ordered was generously served with alaskan king crab, chilli, garlic, cherry tomatoes & herb crumb. This was a great mix of delicious flavours and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Our mains...
We ended the evening on a high note with early Christmas gift exchanges.
Dainty Tiffany Key
I would recommend this cosy bistro and there are a number of things to go back for:
1. The Flynn is a great CBD venue for an after-work drink. You can come here with co-workers and friends for a glass of wine to unwind, or you can have some nice dining.
2. There are happy hours every night from 5pm to 7pm with $5 beer, wine or champagne; or $12 handmade cocktails; or $13 jug of beer.
Our meal summary
3. The $13 weekly special is something to keep an eye for. Or you can come back for all-you-can-eat pizza or two for one dinner meal promotion.
4. The service is friendly and quick. The feel of the restaurant area is comfortable and family friendly.
The End
