Puase in Sydney at Selah Restaurant

Selah

Selah is stylish relaxed city dining offering contemporary Australian cuisine. With the trend to healthy eating these days it is good to see that the focus of Selah is on sustainable, seasonal and unprocessed ingredients. Many Australian primary producers are suffering from the importation of overseas produce. Selah is doing its bit to help Aussie farmers by believing in the quality of Australian produce. Selah sources from Australian growers, artisan producers, winemakers and brewers with the benefit being that there are less food miles involved and the produce is the freshest it can be. 

Selah is committed to supporting Australian producers and their menu includes Riverina lamb and beef, free-range Berkshire pork from Byron Bay, Murray Darling Flats salt, far north QLD black pepper, Mildura olive oil, Australian and NZ seafood, Australian cheeses including Woodside, and Beloka Mineral Water from the Snowy Mountains in NSW. They are sourced from small producers to present simple, tasty dishes. Some of the suppliers include Andrews Meats, Claudio's Seafoods, Fountaindale Free-range Eggs, and Sonoma Artisan Bakers.

Sam Pask, the Proprietor, of Selah, started off in the hospitality industry more than 20 years ago. His first job was a as dish washer in a restauran6t in New Zealand. He has since worked in a variety of restaurants, hotels, clubs, his own café and just before starting Selah, the acclaimed Quay restaurant.

Selah

Sam opened Selah in May 2003. The name Selah is an ancient Hebrew musical term meaning ‘to pause’. The word “selah” is found in two books of the Bible, but is most prevalent in the Psalms, where it appears 71 times. The concept of the Selah restaurant is to provide Sydney locals and visitors to Sydney with a relaxed dining experience, a pause, in one of the busiest and most vibrant cities in the world. I found other meanings of the word Selah in the dictionary that all seem to apply to this restaurant: "to hang" - it was a good venue to be at; “to raise the voice” - it is worthy of spreading the word around, "forever" - my memories of my first dining experience at Selah will last forever.

The decor of Selah is warm, earthy and inviting with an intimate feel to it. On a cold winters night outside it was cosy and warm inside. Exposed sandstone blocks make up one wall and large prints echoing red and gold colours of the restaurant signage mark another There is a good view of the kitchen which is quite open to the seating area.

Selah

The restaurant is dimly lit with a few intricate lanterns hanging from the ceiling emitting a warm yellow glow about the place, giving the establishment a casual, homely feel.

I was seated at a front table with a view out the window towards the leafy park. At the bus stop a parked bus (adorned with advertising signage of the supermarket I have casual employment at) reminded me that this was only a temporary break from my real world back at home.

A variety of diners would find Selah a desired dining option. People dining for different occasions: business, pleasure or the sheer convenience of having a local in the city. People would find Selah ideal for a long lunch, a quick meal before a show; the whole three course dining experience with some old friends or just stopping in for a steak and a soothing glass of red wine on the way home from a busy day at work.

Selah serves superb food and well priced local and international wines. On the evening I dined at Selah the staff provided friendly, attentive, polite and professional service.

I skipped over the entrée and stated the meal with some lovely crusty bread and a glass of red wine from the bar.

Captain Cooks Endeavour Anchor

For my main, I had the roast lamb back strap, spiced pistachio nut crust, pomegranate, freekah salad, piquillo pepper & yoghurt. It was the best lamb I've had in a while. The meat was so tender. The dressing was tangy and complimented the lamb really well. No packaged sauces here!.For the side dish I chose brussels sprouts & crispy speck bacon – cooked to perfection. These were not under or overcooked which is often the case when cooked at home.

For dessert I enjoyed the passion fruit marshmallow meringue with lemon curd, shortbread, and puffed quinoa. Delicious! After a warming cup of coffee I walked the short distance around Circular Quay to the Sydney Opera House to see the current production of Aida.

To sum up my dining at Selah - it was delicious fresh ingredient food in a lovely atmosphere with friendly service. The true test of a restaurant is if people will return to dine another time. For me, I will return when I am next in Sydney.

Details:

Location - 12 Loftus Street in Circular Quay, Sydney, Australia

Prices - Entrée - range in price from $19 - $30, Mains  $30 - $38, and Desserts  $15 - $21.  There is bargain 2 Course Lunch Special of $45 — any 2 dishes from any 2 Courses.

Trading Hours - LUNCH: Monday—Friday 12:00 — 3:00pm, DINNER : Monday—Sunday from 5:30pm.

Selah

Bookings - To reserve a table, contact the restaurant directly on (02) 9247 0097 or send an email to selah@selah.com.au

Website – to see the detailed menu options and other gems like recipes from the Selah kitchen click on the Selah website http://www.selah.com.au