Sushi with a Twist may be a bit too on-the-nose to be a catchy name for Woollahra’s newest sushi train, but it certainly lets you know what to expect once you enter that brightly lit space of life-sized illuminated soy sauce bottles. Left-field and experimental rolls are the forte here, but the owners and Chef have been careful not to go overboard with their surprising combinations, maintaining that quality take precedence over the need to differentiate from the many sushi trains found across Sydney. The result is a good mixture of traditional and contemporary sushi plates which have been inspired by classic, yet odd, combinations like Prosciutto & Fig.
Having only been open for a few months, Sushi with a Twist has built an impressive local following, many of whom I’m told make up a regular fan base. It’s good to hear that curiosity isn’t the only thing driving the business here. The decor would be fairly standard for any bright sushi train if it wasn’t for the genius idea of hanging dozens of illuminated soy sauce bottles above the train, adding a bit of theatre and fun to the familiar experience of sitting on an uncomfortable stool and either waiting for plates of sushi to slowly drive by, or ordering fresh off the menu (the obvious way to go for any sushi train veteran).
There are the expected rolls of soft shell crab, cooked tuna, chicken and avocado, alongside essentials like the Seared Salmon Nigiri and flavour-rich sashimi, but any non-locals visiting will most likely want to save space for the “Special Sushi Roll” and “Contemporary Twist” sections of the menu.
The Bulgogi Beef ($7) roll is nice and sweet from the Korean-style beef but the meat (and flavour) is much too thin to make any sort of lasting impact. More worthwhile is the Lion King ($9) which is soft shell crab with cream cheese, salmon, and crispy fried leek, the Mango Crab ($9) roll, the refreshing Thai-ger Prawn ($9), a roll of crab salad with king prawn, asparagus, and Thai salad, and the aforementioned Proscuitto & Fig ($9) roll (headline image). The proscuitto used on the latter is full of flavour, blending the savoury with the sweet, creamy fig.
More substantial plates can be found on the “Contemporary Twist” menu; items like the Seafood Ceviche ($12) and Salmon Zuke ($9) speak highly for the kitchens skills with fresh seafood, while the gorgeous Tuna Tataki ($9), which is seared tuna shaped with avocado and topped with cherry tomato and a lotus chip, and Harmony Tatar ($9), a mix of salmon belly, scallop, and wasabi citrus dressing, highlight the balance that seems to be the focus at Sushi With A Twist.
Also available you have Gyoza ($5) with either wagyu and pork or seafood, some crunchy Vegetable Chips ($4), and Agadeshi Tofu ($5) on the “From the Kitchen” menu, so you can widen your scope a bit more than just sushi. It’s also on this part of the menu where you’ll find the excellent Rock Prawn & Honey Chips ($9) and the Slow Cooked Pork Belly Kakuni ($7) which is strong in both aroma and taste. The best plate, however, is the Kataifi Prawn ($9), the MVP of the evening with two big, juicy prawns wrapped in crispy vermicelli shells with flakes of seasalt sprinkled on top.
Sushi trains are always welcome additions to any area, but few have the point of difference as Sushi With A Twist. Clearly, the team are self-aware and cautious about coming across as too gimmicky, and apart from the name, I think they are well on their way to becoming an essential stop for any lover of casual sushi dining. Woollahra’s Queen Street has needed a bit of a shake up, and something like that is the perfect addition to the leafy neighbourhood strip.
Sushi With A Twist
Address: 146 Queen Street Woollahra NSW 2015
Contact 02 9363 0219
Website: http://www.sushiwithatwist.com.au/
Opening Hours:
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