The lighting is dim, the dining room is dark chic, all low lying banquet seats and lanterns, and the cocktails are on point. The menu is modern Asian at its best – small plates, signature dishes, big, bold, but most importantly balanced flavours. We could be in Surry Hills, Potts Point, Barangaroo. But no. We’re in Campbelltown. That’s right. The West has long been known as the authentic melting pot of flavours but the name of the game is usually family style, not fine dining. That’s all changed since the Campbelltown Catholic Cub overhauled its approach to food.
These days the club is looking pretty chic. With a revamped Rydges on site, the hotel’s bar is on point – it’s actually a microbrewery. OTIS Brewing Co brews five beers out the back. We give them extra points for the live acoustic guitar on the Friday we pop in for a visit.
It’s a nice way to get acquainted with the club – the intimate space is a bit different to the club’s grand main entrance. You’ll leave those crowds behind once you walk through the doors at Kyūbi. Chef Peter Sheppard was lured away from his famed Wollongong restaurants MoChi and Caveau to take the helm at the Club’s signature Asian restaurant and so far the move seems to have panned our spectacularly.
The menu gives a little bit of everything from the Mekong – vital to Club CEO Michael Lavorato, who wanted as many options as what you’d find in the local community. The result is a melting pot of the highest order. There’s pork and shrimp egg nets, salmon pla bon parilla leaf, Xiao Long Bao dumplings, and Korean lamb ribs. That’s just the small plates. We scrape the plate clean on roasted duck breast with pickled Japanese pear and fight over melt in your mouth miso eggplant.
Japanese gin cocktails get the night started, Aussie wine helps us finish things off, all the way through to a chocolate veloute dessert.
This is just one part of the club, so you might find a few clever diners doing a pre theatre sitting. The CUBE is the club’s live venue, hosting international and live acts. We get lucky and get a few belly laughs watching American comedian Arj Barker keep the crowd very happy.
Opening hours:
Lunch: Fri and Sun 12pm – 3pm
Dinner: Weds – Sun 6pm – 9pm
http://www.kyubi.com.au/
Campbelltown Catholic Club
Opening hours:
Daily 10am – 4am
20-22 Camden Rd
Campbelltown
http://www.kingofclubs.com.au
