55 Liverpool St
Chinatown, Sydney, 2000
(02) 8084 0587
www.thedip.com.au
Category: Cheapo ($0 - $50)
This is an interesting one… Given, it is not a stand alone restaurant, and is paired with a bar perhaps it is designed not be a place to come and eat, but more a place where friends catch up over a drink and order more ‘bar like’ food. Despite this detail, the Dip has its own website and even a name, suggesting that it is serious when it comes to food. Should this be true however, I am sad to report that it does not quite make it… actually, it falls well short…
The ’restaurant’ (it calls itself a canteen) itself is tucked away at the back of the GoodGod small bar. The entrance is dark, and in the basement. The décor is, well… pretty average to be fair and the choice of music in the restaurant area is annoying. To make matters worse, it sounds like the music is on a 30 minute rotation.
The service is something that many restaurants could learn about. The ladies are friendly, co-operative and came with a great smile. Pity about the food…
After some debate, we agree (I enforced actually) on the banquet. This comes in two 2 forms, a $24 option and a $28 option. The a-la carte is ok, however for actually dinner and if you have friends, this is preferred. The extra $4 buys you a desert and an extra side. This banquet includes corn chips with 2 different dips, fries with tomato salsa and cheese, charred corn, nachos, stir fried snows peas, apple coleslaw, cookies and cream and your choice of a hot dog, burger, or bean dish… not bad for $28
Now, let’s dissect it all… the corn chips were fairly average to be fair, tasteless and the accompanying dips tasted like something out of a Woolworths packet. The fries with tomato salsa and cheese are a good-ish idea, however practically is messy, and I did not really see much cheese. The Corn was probably the highlight, it comes with a side of mayo and pepper and all compliments nicely… this was good.
Onto the main event… the burger.
Unfortunately it was a let down… when one eats a burger there should be a sense of enjoyment, a sense of ‘yes, this is it,’ but my kangaroo burger tasted lifeless, and also had a fishy taste to it? My friends informed me the hot dog was good… but not $12 good. A Harry’s Hot Dog De Wheels is only about $6 and I assure you, worth every cent in comparison.
The support acts are mediocre, snow peas were fine, and the apple-coleslaw is ok. The famous pulled pork nachos were a little too sloppy and lacked freshness for my liking and the dessert tastes like 2 subway cookies separated by a scoop of sara lee ice-cream with coles chocolate topping…
Let us keep in mind though, for $28 this was a lot of food… not great food, but food none the less food. So from that perspective, at least you will not hungry.
Given this place is a bar first restaurant later, you expect the drinks to come through trumps, and luckily they do. A quirky cocktail list which you purchase by the jug sets you back around $30 (gives around 4 drinks) and the rest is not bad either, a decent whisky and spirits list hits back to counter the poor décor and food.
Overall, the food is… well, terrible. Sorry. There are several, no lots of places and establishments that make better tasting food for a simnilar price, if not better. Amazingly, this is someplace I would come back with a mate for a drink (just don’t eat) as despite the average decor and music, it works... and their is the whole ‘underground thing’ which I always think adds an element of surprise and sexiness. Plus, the service was very good, efficient, friendly and came with a genuine smile too. I guess also if you are looking for a cheap-ish feed and wanna feel a bit dirty coming out the other side then it ain’t so bad either.
Bottom Line:
If you must come here to eat (god knows why) I would suggest against the a-la carte as it is terribly poorly priced but the banquet will leave you satisfied. $28 will ensure you leave feeling well fed (albeit poorly fed).
Score:
Food 4/10
Service 3/3
Décor etc 1/3
Cleanliness 1.5/2
BONUS 1/2 – This is for the funky cocktail jugs
Total 10.5/20
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