My readers will be aware that as a matter of principle, I do not go seeking restaurant invitations, so when the instagram hype starts up for new restaurants, often I sit back and wait for the wave to pass before going on a self funded venture. However in the case of Aunty, we were graciously invited to dine and try out their set menu, which we keenly accepted.
As with all Tassis ventures, the banquets were the main event, with three tiers to choose from. We opted for the Eat More Banquet which was priced at $88pp. Other than the banquets we also were able to try their happy hour menu which offered good deals on a few bar snacks and drinks.
Starting off with drinks from the happy hour menu, this was the Mando Spritz. It was fruity and very potent. We really liked how refreshing it was and how much there was, allowing us to enjoy the beverage throughout our meal.
Also from the bar menu was the lobster rolls. Usually they sell for $26 each but during happy hour it is reduced to $12. The lobster salad is reminiscent of the Taiwanese iteration I often have which is mixed with mayonnaise and tobiko. For the happy hour price, it was a generous serving with quite a lot of lobster in the fluffy bread roll.
Moving onto items from the banquet, this was the prawn toast. It was served straight from the fryer and garnished with spring onion. Like the lobster roll, there was a generous amount of prawn paste that was well seasoned and had adequate bounce when you bit into it.
Second course was the wagyu tartare. This wasn't particularly asian fusion except it was served with lotus chips rather than the usual bread or crisps. It was topped with smoked duck egg yolk for added umami. Although not really an asian dish by my estimate, I do enjoy tartare and this was an enjoyable iteration.
This was the golden sand calamari, also coming with a generous dusting of salty egg yolk and served with a side of aioli. The portion was fairly big and more than enough to share between two. I enjoyed the crispiness but did find the batter to be on the thicker side.
This was the cauliflower and mushroom eggplant served with a side of miso dipping sauce. The vegetarian filling made for a far lighter dish compared to your usual pork mince spring roll. The mushrooms offered umami which was then amplified further by the miso dip.
Our mains came in three parts. First of which was the chilli crab shanghai noodles. This was probably the least impressive of the meal. I'm fairly certain a whole crab did not get mixed into the dish, given there wasn't too much crab meat in the dish. That aside, the noodles were done well, tender but not overly soft and the crab butter bisque was tasty.
In contrast the highlight of my meal was the pork neck char siu. This came with the perfect cut, partially fatty and partially lean. It was well marinated with flavours absorbing deep into the meat. It was probably as good as or even better than anything I could get from the butchers at Sunnybank.
To balance our mains was of course a dish of greens. This was done well and seasoned with ample amounts of oyster sauce. The portion was fairly large and went well with our noodles and char siu.
Dessert was the creative five spice caramel crunch bar. Each piece was but one bite but the five spice scent definitely dominated the morsel with the sweetness of caramel and chocolate coming through after the spicy hit. It was unique and I'd be interested in trying out their other desserts.
Although I was skeptical to try fusion Asian food, Aunty has proven herself to be capable of surprises. Although hardly traditional, each dish was executed with precision and we had an enjoyable evening that I wouldn't mind returning for.
Espresso and Matcha were invited guests of Aunty, but as always, our opinions are solely our own.
Price: $100 - $120pp
Taste: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Service: 8/10
Environment: 7/10
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