Picture 025

 

Brought to you by The Wow Factor

There are three breaths that will escape you during an evening a Cedar on 15. The first will be taken the moment you step through the entrance into a stylish interior splashed with bold reds and contemporary light fittings, where doors open at the mere push of a button and every chair looks made for your posterior.

The second will be whipped away as you step out to the bar terrace, where a restaurant-long view of the city skyline falls away beyond the balcony and innovative drinks can be sipped as the blue sky fades to pink and black and the city lights flicker into brilliance.

Picture 038

The third moment of astonishment will be when Chef Helmut Lamberger’s food passes your lips. This experienced, Austrian Master Chef may be relaxed and charming, but his edibles are beautifully presented offerings that will surprise and delight with their superiority and simplicity.

With a dining capacity of 80 people (including a gorgeous private Gastronomy Room where 12 diners are served by the chef himself), there is plenty of space in Cedar’s for the many that will surely come for a taste of Master Chef Lamberger’s contemporary cuisine. The dishes range from soups and salads to meat dishes and exquisite steaks, with the meaty chunks being accompanied by gravy so delicious you will want to eat it with a spoon.

Picture 048

My stomach fell in love with the Pumpkin Seed-Crusted Black Cod, where tender flesh meets a crunchy topping, and a mushroom chutney provides an earthy yet lively accompaniment. This is food that sings of creativity and spark, and proves that the man in white knows exactly what he is doing with his materials. “I import some of my ingredients from Europe,” he explains, “and a lot of the meat comes from Australia.” Dishes are dotted with tastes of his homeland, from the divine pumpkin oil to the rich chocolate (from Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria) that is used to make the most sinful dessert you will taste: Chocolate Seduction. Chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache, and a rich, fudge-like sacher torte come together for a pudding to end all chocolate creations, and a silky coffee or hot pot of tea provide the final flourish of comfort.

Even those not in the mood for a long evening of eating should stop by Cedar’s, as the great choice of soft and harder drinks (the mocktails are as enticing as the cocktails) can be enjoyed in the spacious bar with a selection of “bar snacks”. .ese “snacks” are not bowls of greasy chips or mere peanuts – expect Sesame-Coated Chicken Lollipops, Spicy Lamb Merguez Sausage, and Fresh Rock Oysters to be gracing your table, while DJ Aimee Hawker spins the tunes from 9pm to keep the energy flowing until the early hours on the bar terrace.

Picture 049

Comfort meets style, cosiness meets creativity at Cedar on 15, and they are brought together in harmony to offer an evening you won’t forget, whether you choose to spend it watching the twin towers’ lights reflect in your glass of wine or chatting with friends over a meal that will astonish and delight.

First published April, 2013