Papi Chulo, Manly - Sydney

Dining with fellow foodies is always fun.

Papi Chulo's BBQ platter

But include some heavenly brisket in the picture and we're talking really good times here. After a few weeks of organizing, some super duper awesome food bloggers made their way to the famous Papi Chulo, another successful daughter of Merivale. It's located just after the exit of the ferry station, and you just can't miss the stylish exterior.

Originally we started with more than 10 people, so I had to make a lunch booking. It was a bit tricky. Moral of the story is that to make your booking way way ahead. Fortunately, Vanny took the early ferry and managed to secure two tables for 12 - 14 people in no time. I was delightfully surprised, I was expecting queues at such time.

Papi Chulo's exterior

If you think the view is great, look at the interior of the place. It is arranged in such a casual manner yet still retaining elegant look with some rustic points here and there. The wide window section lights up the whole room and opposes the yellow lightning that bloggers hate to take pictures under.

Interior

Open kitchen is available for everyone to peep and watch those ribs making their way to the grill.

Open kitchen

Two concoctions were ordered that day, and although El Mani had rich and thick flavour of peanut butter and caramel, it was rather too sweet for me. On the other hand, I rooted deeply for my refreshing and tangy Zalamero, a harmonious marriage between mango and passionfruit.

El Mani (peanut butter, rich caramel, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream) and Zalamero (mango sorbet and fresh passionfruit with coconut milk)

The feast was started with nibbles and bite-sized pieces. Smoked hot wings received so much love from all around the table, specially with such wonderful sauce to dunk the crisp and succulent wings into.

Smoked hot wings with comeback sauce - $16

Curly fries was accepted with glee, maybe too much glee. The potato was fried into magnificent curls of crunchiness that weren't oily at all. We should've ordered a second serving.

Curly fries - $9

Here comes the platter that had everyone sit straight up with forks and knives at the ready. Papi Chulo BBQ platter had everything; lamb ribs, pork belly, smoked wagyu brisket, chopped pork, with soft bread, some tomato-based sauce, and a bowl of colorful pickles.

I didn't try the lamb ribs as I usually steer away from anything from and with lamb, but everything else was ace. Chopped pork might be a wee bit too sweet after a few forkfuls, but it was perfect will some fluffy bread roll.

Pork belly was amazingly tender and had satisfying ribbons of fat, but it was the smoked brisket that I would agree to be married with.

Papi Chulo BBQ platter - $86 (2 - 4 people)

The brisket was extraordinarily tender, it broke apart only with a flick of fork. It was juicy and sufficiently fatty, with smokey perfume and salty rub on top that only made it even better.

Smoked wagyu brisket (300 gr) - $34

We also get acquainted with to burgers; Papi Chulo burger and smoked wagyu brisket sandwich. The former was good with crispy bacon, perfectly cooked patty, and soft bun, but I still had no problem in sharing it. The later looked better but didn't seem to stand out too much either.

L - R: Papi Chulo burger (grain fed beef, bacon, american cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles, soft bun) $18, smoked wagyu brisket sandwich (spicy celery pickle, caramelized onions, horseradish mayo, fried egg, soft bun) $18

My suggestion to get some kind of vegetables was refused strongly (yes, I am looking at you, Isaac), and now I regret not getting the cheesy roasted cauliflower.

What we all have in mind, though, was to get all of the dessert options. One of each, please!

The pear and rhubarb cobbler managed to be the favourites from most foodies in attendance, as not only it was pretty, it was warm and creamy, with hints of citrus and ginger.

Pear and rhubarb cobbler, ginger crumble, crème anglaise, orange and ginger ice cream - $14

Banana split covered everything you want and more, especially with that smooth peanut butter ice cream and crunchy crushed peanut praline.

Banana split (banana, chocolate fudge, peanut praline, banana ice cream, peanut butter ice cream, cherry jam, whipped cream, glace cherry) - $14

Sucker for anything that mentions cookie and chocolate, this one reigned supreme in my book. Warm chocolate chip cookie was a huge cookie served on the plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, butterscotch sauce, and macadamia brittle. I knew I would love this one as soon as I saw the melting chocolate in the cookie.

Warm chocolate chip cookie, vanilla malt ice-cream, butterscotch sauce, macadamia brittle - $14

Our plates were clean but we continued chatting and laughing like crazy. Sitting so close with the open kitchen gave us the perfect spot to see plates and dishes flying around, and we couldn't help but to develop food-envy for some of them. I continuously reminding myself that next time I am definitely getting the roasted cauliflower.

Lamb ribs platter?

Two things that are crystal clear since our visit here: the new man-bikini is horrible and the brisket is a must-order.

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Currency: $1 = IDR 11,000


Rating: 4/5 (Recommended)
Two words: beef brisket. Good and attentive service with great view and really nice ambiance. Price is relatively high, and expect tricky bookings and queues at peak meal times.







Address:

PAPI CHULO

22-23 Manly Wharf 
Manly, NSW 2095 

Phone: (02) 9240 3000

Web: Papi Chulo
Facebook: Papi Chulo