By Franz Scheurer
There are days when all the stars are aligned and whatever you touch turns to gold and others when the Gods don’t smile, the kraut doesn’t sour and the soufflé turns into a mangled omelette. This seems to be the norm whenever I try a new suburban restaurant. So on the very rare occasion when everything falls into place I sit up and take notice. Last night we wandered into Goe Mon. This twenty-five seater Japanese restaurant in Mosman Junction is warm, cosy and has immediate appeal. The staff is knowledgable, friendly and attentive. There is an energetic buzz in the place and although there’s a steady stream of people picking up take-away this is neither disturbing nor detracting. The menu is comprehensive and they have a small number of specials which the waiting staff explain right at the start. The Agadashi Tofu is very delicate, the Miso soup above average and the Nigiri Sushi superbly fresh. The wonderfully marbled meat in the Beef Tataki is memorable and the Gyoza juicy and spicy. The Unagi Kabayaki, Grilled Eel with Special Sauce, is one of the best I’ve had and does not come out of a packet, as so often is the case. The daily special, a dish of braised baby calamari is excellent and the mixed tempura a delight. Crisp, light and very well presented. As this is a BYO we can only applaud the staff’s wine service. This place serves simple but superbly fresh food in a friendly atmosphere and they do it extremely well. Value for money is excellent and they’re open from Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Score 7/10
For more information or bookings:
Goe Mon
161 Middlehead Road, Mosman
Tel.: 02 9968 4983