Lotus Group Welcome Papa Bo Min to the family
Having already opened three successful venues at The Galleries, Walsh Bay and Barangaroo, the Lotus Dining Group have opened a new venue in the Sydney CBD. Papa Bo Min opened late last year and is a casual eatery and bar located at the bottom of Grosvenor Place. It offers a more relaxed menu, focusing on modern Chinese food and cocktails. So far, they’re popular with the city worker crowd for lunch and after work dinner and drinks. They also offer a grab-and-go takeaway menu for those time poor days.
The name Papa Bo Min has a warm, family origin being the nickname given to owner Michael Jiang’s father. We’re told he’s constantly interacting with the staff and has become somewhat of a team mascot for the new restaurant.
Executive Chef of the group Chris Yan has designed the current menu with plenty of those delicious dumplings we’ve come to love from this chef. It’s all really good sharing food so grab a buddy and go crazy. Try the crispy prawn, garlic and chive wraps ($14) and steamed BBQ pork buns ($9) to start. They also have delicious prawn dumplings and BBQ duck pancakes. Try at least one of the heavier dishes like the half BBQ duck or the wok-fried beef fillet with native pepper berry and asparagus ($29).
Whatever you do, leave room for dessert. Group pastry chef and dessert queen, Tiffany Jones, is a woman after my own heart. Her sweet creations are devilishly good, a visual feast and oh so creative. She’s made an Asian twist on the lamington ($9) along with the firecracker macaron sandwich served with lemongrass ice-cream ($9). But for me it’s all about the deep fried mini ice cream cones ($12). The three flavours include peanut butter and chocolate, banana caramel and passionfruit, and salted vanilla marshmallow. Think you’ll have just one? Don’t kid yourself – try all three and have no regrets!
The ever-changing wine list by sommelier Annette Lacey is all quiet reasonable starting with bottles at $50 through to $120 for Champagne. Currently Vic, SA, WA, France, Italy and Spain are all represented with no mention of any NSW producers unfortunately. But there’s definitely something in there for everyone and the list is constantly changing.
Award winning cocktail artist and Group bar Operations Manager, Kate McGraw is responsible for the seasonal cocktail menu. Having tried McGraw’s creations at several Lotus owned venues we can safely say you’re in for a treat. Everything this woman seems to create is well balanced and carefully crafted. For something visually intriguing try the Dragon’s Jealousy- a striking drink served in a hollowed out dragonfruit filled with Italian aperitif, peach, dragonfruit, yuzu and salt bitters. For something a little smokier try the Smokin’ Coco made with coconut washed mescal, passionfruit, native flora and lavender bitters.
All cocktails are $20 with two share style cocktails ($50) available for minimum four people. They also have a number of alcoholic sodas bottled and carbonated in house for $15 (hello Cosmo in a bottle!). For those non-drinkers, try one of their refreshing $10 mocktails.
Papa Bo Min is a great spot for a lunch time catch up or afterwork dinner. They’ve got a few initiatives in place which also tick the good vibes box. They have a star next to a few dishes on the menu and every time someone orders one of those they donate $2 to the Barnardos Australia Reconnect Program. All takeaway packaging is biodegradable and for every six takeaway soda bottles you bring back they’ll give you a soda on the house.
For those feeling lazy and not wanting to leave the house, Papa Bo Min will be on Deliveroo in the next week so keep an eye out.
Papa Bo Min
3/225 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000
See Website
