The Sunburnt Cow

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The Sunburnt Cow

Photo: The Sunburnt Cow

Contact Info:

Address: 137 Avenue C
City: New York, NY
Zip: 10009
map: View the Map
Phone: 212-529-0005

Food Info:

Cuisine: Australian

Cititour Review:

Just as you shouldn’t judge the proverbial book by its cover, don’t judge The Sunburnt Cow by its rather dark, tent-like entrance on Avenue C, or the dimly-lit bar area in front. For once you venture into this Australian-themed restaurant’s charming back room, reminiscent of an Outback hut (albeit one with a big screen showing surfing films), you will quickly leave your first impressions behind. Indeed, owner Heathe St. Clair, a handsome, charming (and happily married) Aussie is doing everything right here, offering excellent food, beautifully presented, at unbelievably reasonable prices. If you’re feeling playful, order one of the Cow’s specialty “Moo Juice” cocktails, which arrive, yes, in baby bottles (along with a glass for those who want to drink like an adult). There’s also a fine selection of wines by the glass -- many from Down Under -- and beers (including Foster’s) to satisfy your thirst. As for the food, everything here is considered a “small” plate (although a party of two will do fine with three or four of them), and the menu is thoughtfully divided into two categories: fast food (meaning it can arrive more quickly) and slow food. From the former section, do not miss the Cow Salad, which boasts chunks of fresh mango, slices of avocado, lardons of delicious bacon, pecans, and -- oh yes, lettuce -- in a light mango/mustard dressing. The Fisherman’s Basket -- the menu’s priciest item at $15 -- is a white bowl filled with four beautifully fried shrimp, a slab of fried mako shark, and a bed of first-rate fried calamari given extra kick by a jalapeno-kiwi salsa. We sampled three dishes from the “slow” part of the menu, with equally happy results: a delicious trio of not-too-sweetly sauced wild boar ribs, perched atop a square of fried polenta and surrounded by an addictive pineapple salsa; a lovely plate of grilled Barramundi (an Australian fish) mingled with fried potato cubes and bits of bacon; and a split Kangaroo sausage (which comes from Colorado), lean and not too gamy, set atop a mound of smashed potatoes with caramelized onions. Tempting as these dishes can be, make sure to leave room for dessert. Not only do they turn out to be the menu’s biggest bargain -- they each cost only $4 and are easily splittable by two diners – each is worth every single calorie. Sticky Date Pudding, crowned with a yummy caramel sauce, is rich as can be. Mum’s Pavlova, made from Heathe’s mother’s own recipe, is a large disc of superb meringue topped with a pile of fresh whipped cream and chopped fruit, while another “motherly” Aussie specialty, Lamingtons, turns out to be a trio of ultra-moist sponge cake cubes, layered with raspberry jam, and rolled in cocoa and coconut. I think I grew up in the wrong place!

 

Review By: Brian Scott Lipton

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