Overview
CBD foodies are in for a treat, with the imminent launch of Lotus Dining spinoff Papa Bo Min. Now open in Grosvenor Place, Lotus' little brother is a slightly more laidback affair, serving casual Chinese and cocktails. But as with its sibling, Papa's real drawcard is its eye-popping selection of desserts.
Standout sweets at the 50-seat eatery include the macaron ice cream sandwich featuring lemongrass ice cream and burnt vanilla pineapple jelly, as well as an Asian-inspired lamington made from a flourless chocolate cake with black sesame, chocolate mousse and raspberry and hibiscus jam. They've also got a lime number with white beer mousse (which is shaped to look like an actual lime — similar to their passionfruit dessert at Barangaroo), and deep-fried mini ice cream cones in three different flavours. Chose from banana caramel, peanut butter chocolate, and passionfruit with salted vanilla marshmallow. Or, y'know, you could just get all three.
Assuming you don't want to just gorge yourself on dessert, savoury dishes include BBQ duck with pancake and sweet and sour plum sauce, and vegetable san choy bao. "My take on san choy bao is made with zucchini, green apple, shiitake mushroom and water chestnut to create a lighter, healthier version of the popular dish," said Head Chef John Leong, who joins Papa Bo Min on the back of his tenure at Billy Kwong.
On the beverage front, Papa Bo Min serves cocktails courtesy of cocktail artist Kate McGraw. A frozen rosé with orange blossom and rhubarb seems like an obvious choice for summer, although it'll be hard to say no to the Smokin' Coco made with coconut washed mescal, native flora, passionfruit and lavender bitters. Groups of four or more might also want to try one of Papa's cocktails to share. Kate's Hard Lemonade, for example, more than lives up to its name, blending gin, lemonade, lemon aspen, milk oolong and Prosecco.
Papa Bo Min is the fourth restaurant to be added to Lotus' portfolio after their Mediterranean venture The Resident suddenly closed after just five months — they currently have Lotus outposts at The Galeries, Walsh Bay and Barangaroo. At Grosvenor Place they join Sake Restaurant's Sake Jr, who have also opened a casual spinoff for lunches and takeaway.
Papa Bo Min is now open for lunch and dinner at Shop 3, Grosvenor Place, 225 George Street, Sydney. For more information, visit their website.
Images: Alana Dimou. Updated: February 1, 2017.