Take a seat on the covered outdoor balcony or in the Eastern-inspired dining room and enjoy the cooling sea breeze, perhaps with a chilled glass of sake or a spice-friendly wine from a succinct, well-considered list. You may need a refreshing beverage or two, as Spice Bar lives up to its name. It specialises in share plates, and some hotter dishes are not for the faint-hearted, but knowledgeable waitstaff can steer you in the right direction. Test chopstick skills with slippery rice noodle rolls stuffed with Chinese lap cheong sausage in a flavoursome broth, or opt for the likes of sweet and sticky crisp pork belly, served on papaya salad with a generous dash of chilli caramel – the latter may have you wishing you’d ordered two of these small plates. Sichuan pepper duck will set your tastebuds (and lips) tingling. Can’t decide what to order? Multicourse banquets offer excellent value, as do those large and beautifully balanced custard buns for dessert.
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide
Wine: ★
Gourmet Traveller’s star-ratings, which range from zero to three stars, reflect reviewers’ first-hand experiences. The best-rated restaurants form our national Top 100. Our wine ratings, from zero to three stars, are made by wine editor Max Allen on the strength of the quality of the restaurant’s wine list. View our rating key here.
