V Rating: V-Ware
Where: 122 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
When: Mon - Sun 6.00pm - 10.30pm
Tel: (02) 9360 992
Price: Entree = $10.50. Main = $18 - $22.50

I feel kind of bad giving the Pink Peppercorn a V-ware rating. The service was friendly, the decor was fun and welcoming and the two vegetarian dishes they offered were fresh and tasty.

But there’s the rub. For a relatively expensive restaurant with a long list of dishes, it was particularly depressing to discover that there was little choice of vegetarian food.

None of the entrees on the menu were vegetarian, although a vegetarian version of the ‘golden rolls’ is available on request. Of the 18 main dishes, only two are vegetarian (and vegan). A green papaya salad is offered as a main, but comes with meat. To be fair, there were two vegetarian side salads so you won’t go hungry. But this is cold comfort wen you’re watching the other patrons salivating over their extensive options.

Despite the lack of veggie options, I enjoyed the Pink Peppercorn. For a start, you don’t see Laotian restaurants every day in Sydney. Added to this, the restaurant has a bright, modern appeal with lonely planetesque canvas photographs adorning the wall, bright pink serviettes and a mirrored bar to give the restaurant some Oxford street glam.

My friend and I ordered both vegetarian mains (one is a mild vegetarian curry and the other is a stir fry). I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh flavours. The stir fry was quickly cooked, releasing the taste of the vegetables and complementing them with a light sauce. The dishes were a good size, and went well with the long grain rice with jasmine. But then, at $18 a pop you expect an above average meal.

Share This