The Thousands

You would’ve read about Spice Temple by now. Pony-tailed celebrity chefs don’t drop $35 million on a restaurant development in Sydney without it achieving saturation coverage in our weekend lifestyle supplements.

Spice Temple might only have accounted for a fraction of that astronomical investment, but the dosh has been put to good use. The basics are done right: the room is sumptuous, the staff capable and friendly, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Phoenix are on rotation.**A la carte is available, but the banquet is where it’s at. From the simplicity of cucumber with smashed garlic to the theatre of Three Shot Chicken, every dish succeeds. Importantly, the chilli level is spot on each time.

More importantly, the wine list has been put together in such a way that merely closing your eyes and pointing at a bottle will result in a food-beverage match to impress for years. It’s all pretty affordable too.

Without making a frail ‘worship‘ joke to end, is it worth the hype? Yes.