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Back in the Land Down Under

· Food,Australia

Saturday morning, I returned bright and early to Sydney. A friend from back home met me here for a week, so I have plenty of catching up to do! That means the next few days will be catch up posts of all the activities we accomplished.

First up though is some of the restaurants and nightlife we tried out. I have a fair amount of new places!

Hotaru Sushi - has two locations in Sydney. One in the Galleries shopping center, and a newer one on Bathurst St. There's a lot of variety to find on the conveyer-belt style restaurant. Each seat comes with a computer as well, to place orders for drinks and other items.

Strike -Is a bowling alley chain that offers an upscale twist on the traditional game. The also offer karaoke rooms, a bar, and in some locations, laser tag. They have the lights set low, with TVs showing music videos at the end of the lanes. Sunday's they run a great special, a free game of bowling with every drink purchase of $6 or more. Perfect option if you're looking for something on the cheap or a laid back way to end your weekend.

Sydney Cove Oyster Bar - A great view of the harbor, we just had some drinks and wedges here. Their menu had a good variety though, and the atmosphere was great for a nice weather day.

Grill'd - This is an Australian chain boasting a varied menu of natural ingredient based burgers. Beef, Chicken, and Lamb are some of the patty options. My two favorites are the Summer Sunset, a beef burger with pineapple and more...and the goat's cheese and hummus lamb burger. Their chips are nicely seasoned as well, and there's a choice of 3 dipping sauces (I'm a huge fan of the sweet chili mayo!)

The Australian Hotel - Perfect location if you're going to or coming from the Bridge Climb, as it's only a block down the road. They have a hefty selection of beers and ciders (all Australian brewed!) They also have a great menu of pizzas, especially if you're in the market for some of Australians more exotic outback meats. We devoured the Pepper Kangaroo, which came with peppers, kangaroo, and cranberries. We also tried the Saltwater Crocodile with coconut cream and Thai herbs. Other options included Emu, Tandoori Chicken, and Chorizo. If you're feeling overwhelmed with all the options, they've helped you out a bit as all the menu items come with a suggestion in the beer department. The staff is also super friendly as well.

The SG (formally the Spooning Goats) - This bar/restaurant located at 32 York Street, is a bit hard to find if you don't know it's there. Located on the lower floor, look for the star wars memorabilia in the window. Their decor panders to your inner-90s child. Walls covered with pop-art/graffiti style Star Wars paintings, an Atari and high score board for Galaga. There's plenty of cozy furniture that reminds you of the comforts of your friend's basement as a child. This bar is a great little nook. There's live music at times, as well as what I've heard are excellent pies.