The Smith; Prahran.
The Smith
213 High Street
Prahran
The Smith is sleek, intimate and sexy. A gorgeous bar area up front. And the restaurant is up the back. It gets noisier as the night wears on, but a good kind of noisy. There’s a buzz about the place and you know everyone else is having just as good a time as you are.
Freshly Shucked Oyster with Blue Swimmer Crab Salad & Green Jalapeno Hit ($5)
We start with the mouthfuls. The oyster and swimmer crab have crisp flavours but could be fresher, it’s slightly peppery and you feel the jalapeno hit come through. 
Betel Leaves with Crispy Fish Salad, Chilli & Salmon Pearls ($6)
The crispy fish crumbs were delicious, with bursts of salmon roe and lemongrass and the betel leaves are the perfect low carb wrap, and more importantly don’t detract from the flavours of the toppings.
Steamed Atlantic Scallops with Housemade XO, Spring Onions & Fried Ginger ($19.5)
After the Mouthfuls, we moved onto the Tastes. The scallops are small and sweet, bouncier than the luscious texture of seared scallops, with fragrant xo flavours and dried shrimp.
Soft Fajitas with Cuban Braised Wagyu Osso Bucco, Avocado & Spicy Corn ($18.5)
Don’t taste each component individually, heap on the tender little chunks of osso bucco, and rolled up together it all works. The mustard tang, the soft fajita wrap, the tender juicy braise, creamy avo and fragrant coriander.
Rare Breed Sticky Pork Belly with Seared Scallops & Red Chilli Dressing ($20)
I’m quite wary of pork belly. I’m not a true pork belly lover. But when it’s done right, I’m in love. This was one of those moments. Crispy chewy glazed skin, luscious silky fat beneath with delicious strands of pork - it was about 2/3 pork and 1/3 fat, with seared scallops. Both went well with the slightly spicy chilli.
Thai Style Blackened Snapper Fillet with Prawns, Fennel & Star Anise Broth ($36)
Crispy golden and soft silky flesh.
Raspberry Souffle with Dark Chocolate Sorbet ($17)
This souffle was divine. It rose beautifully and was a gorgeous dusty pink. A slight crackle on the surfaces, fluffy floaty raspberry dream. Unlike the souffle at Bistro Vue which was more mousse-like in texture. I don’t profess to be a souffle expert but for me, this would be my dream souffle. The dark chocolate sorbet was silky creamy with addictive sticky crunchy hazelnut flavoured bits.
The menu at the Smith reads beautifully and is enticing. The food is consistently good, and I admit it caters to my palate - dainty and pretty plates with some of my favourite ingredients. And my dessert was sublime.
There are a few Mouthfuls I was eyeing, like the Tempura Prawn Shiso Leaf and the Soft Shell Crab Fajita, but the Easter break seems to have wreaked havoc on supplies and sadly I was left wanting. But there’s nothing I love more than a good excuse to be back. Prahran isn’t far from me, and I’m glad I have this in my back pocket for a drink and a good night out.
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