Sailors Thai Canteen George Street Sydney

For something different in the Rocks precinct of Sydney there is always Sailors Thai Canteeen. True to form of a canteen there are no seperate tables. A long table from front to back greets the diner on entry into the dining room.


If you really do seek privacy you can always opt for the table outside. The views of the Circular Quay are very good. Indeed Sailors is located on prime real estate in the heart of the Rocks and easy walking distance to Circular Quay.

For a more formal dining experience you can head downstairs to Sailors Thai. The canteen serves up a quick meal. Be aware of the no bookings policy. Again for bookings and a more relaxed dining experience head downstairs.

There is no real order as to which dish arrives first. We ordered the Papaya salad, soft shell crab and pad thai. First to arrive was the papaya salad. In Thailand Som Dtam(pronounced SomTam) as its known is a colurful salad which is deceptive in its appearance. It originates from north east Thailand. The main ingredient is grated green(unripe) papaya and it is combined with chilli, garlic, lime, shrimp and fish sauce. I was very careful in launching into this salad because previous experiences have induced tremendous eye watering, nose running episodes. Tonight's experience was somewhat subdued. It was milder than I had expected but still had the flavours of past experiences. An added bonus was the crispy fried pork which accompanied the salad. The pork added an extra dimension. As with a lot of Thai cooking the sour and sweet is present. On this occasion it was just a little too tangy for my tastes.
Next was the soft shell crab. It was a special, and it was great, though I did not care too much for the sauce that accompanied the dish. My tip is to eat the soft shell crab as it is, and taste the delicious sweetness of the meat. The sauce tends to dominate if combined with the crab.
Finally the ubiquitous Pad Thai. I found it to be reasonable but for the price there was nothing outstanding with the dish.

Another tip, use the supplied flavourings on the table to add some zing to your choices. Come on it is a canteen help yourself!

Service was efficient but lack any warmth. A smile or two would not have gone astray.
For a quick meal, this place is tops. A unique dining atmosphere and a varied crowd where you wouldn't feel out of place in shorts and t-shirt or jacket and shirt.

Rating : ***

Bach Dang Canley Vale

Heading out to Cabramatta/Canley Vale is always a favourite for me. Definitely an ethnically rich area where you can pick up something that you would find hard to pick up in any other area in Sydney. Getting out there on a Friday evening tests patience, as thousands head home or out of Sydney for a weekend getaway.
First impressions of Bach Dang are positive. It's bright exterior and lighting instantly endears you.
At 7pm the restaurant is slowly filling up. One thing I found somewhat intimidating about venturing out here in the past was going to a restaurant and perhaps not being able to understand. I was lucky on this night as one of my friends knew the menu quite well and she was in charge of ordering.
Rice noodles was very much central to our dining experience on this night. Firstly we started off with prawn fritter on a stick in which we removed chunks, combined with lettuce, mint and a couple other greens and rolled up into a rice roll. It was a delicious, fresh start to our meal. Being an interactive in nature, you have control of flavours and the amount of meat in each roll.
Next up was the hightlight of the night. Crab vietnamese style. We went overboard and ordered 3 crabs. It was a feast no doubt, and finger licking good to borrow a catch line! The flavouring was not intense to nullify the sweetness of the meat.
Next up it was meats and rice paper rolls again. Like our first dish, this again provided fresh contrast to the crab.
Finally it was a fish soup to finish off our meal. With some secret flavouring and spices coupled with fresh fish chunks, we prepared the soup. About 10 minutes later, I tasted the soup. It was suprisingly tangy and spicy at the same time. It was quite the spectacular end to our dinner.
Service was efficient despite the crowds. As I sat and observed, I noticed some attractive offerings coming out of the the kitchen.
Definitely a place to return and sample new delights

Rating : ****