Shinara Grill and Lounge

12:57am Wednesday 25 August 2010 Sydney (gmt+10)

Because it seemed a bit early for dinner, Sheila and I went to JB Hi-Fi. And while she browsed through the hundreds of DVD's that they have on sale I read the latest edition of MX. Soon enough we got hungry and we went to Shinara Grill and Lounge at Pitt Street.

For Sheila and myself nothing is more exciting than discovering a new Eat All You Can destination. Although I must admit I'm sure I did walk past Shinara plenty of times before but never took note of it. I did came across it online, primarily through Billy and Shez. But I had to check twice because I wasn't sure if it was the same Shinara that they talked about.

As compared to their blogs, the pictures look different. The built-in table top grills were not there. Instead they have grill plates mounted on portable stoves. The decors look different. I don't remember seeing an open 'raw meat and seafood' buffet on any of their photos. And the price was a lot cheaper. Just $19.50 per person, instead of $30 plus before. My guess is that it was probably sold. And I'm pretty sure that's the new owner... manning the cash register, watching our table, and giving me dirty looks every time I go back to the buffet area. Well... he can stand there and stare as I eat his PROFITS away. (Evil Grin!) Hehehe!

Service was non-existent. And there are laminated notes on the table reminding everyone not to "bother" the staff too much. You pay as you go. Before you even get in you have to pay up. And if you want to drink coke or anything in a bottle or can you have to pay at the counter first. The two guys who are sort of clearing the tables and refilling the buffet were quite helpful. But they can only do much so I guess everyone's left to their own devices.

Because they're mounted on low-powered portable gas burners, the grill plates couldn't reach the optimum temperature needed to cook most of the stuff. The thinly sliced meats are ok. But the seafood, especially the mussels, take ages to cook. The hotdogs too! But maybe that's what the scissors were for. So we just cut everything up into tiny pieces.

The whole set up is rudimentary at best. It's like going to someone's birthday party and not a proper restaurant. The food doesn't taste too good. And the way they're kept on the buffet area is a bit suspicious. If you know a bit about Food Hygiene Standards and Storage Temperature Rules you'd probably ask for your money back. And I'm sure the health inspector will have a field day when he sees how the food are displayed.

But after grilling over two kilograms of Squid and Hotdogs and other stuff I must say that I was pretty full. And for $19.50 (plus $3 for a can of coke) that's not too bad. I'd probably come back, if I feel like filling my tummy up with something cheap. But I wouldn't come back for the taste, the service nor the ambiance. That's for sure!

Shinara Grill Lounge

Shop 1, 338 Pitt Street

Sydney