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Location
226 West 79th Street
Neighborhoods
Burke & Wills 1 Australian Upper West Side

In 1860, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills set out with a team of men to cross Australia from south to north - they were the first non-indigenous men to make the crossing. When Australian nationals Tim Harris and Matilda Boland decided to open a new restaurant, they called it "Burke and Wills," drawing on the adventurous spirit of colonial Australia. Unlike the Australian exploring duo, however, who died on their journey home, the restaurant has been thriving. So much so that a few months after taking over the space in 2013, Tim Harris and Matilda Boland decided to open the Manhattan Cricket Club upstairs.

Guests are welcomed into Burke and Wills by the long stretch of bar and booths that are lit with lamps decorated with Australian maps. The cartographic theme continues into the back dining room. While chatting with Matilda, she pointed to a southern Australian city on a nearby map, noting that both she and Tim are from Melbourne.

When I asked how she and Tim had met, Matilda told me that she had moved to New York in 2010 after graduating from university in Australia. Her first job was working for the Sunburnt Cow downtown, a casual Australian pub-style restaurant where Tim was also employed. When Hurricane Sandy caused the restaurant to close, along with its uptown location, the Sunburnt Calf, the two decided to go into business together and take over the 79th Street spot. Greg Seider, author of Alchemy in a Glass, also joined them and it was he who developed the cocktail menu for both Burke and Wills and the Manhattan Cricket Club.

The restaurant quickly became a local hangout. "The neighborhood is our bread and butter," Matilda said, but added that she gets a mix of people each night. Though fellow Australians occasionally visit, she admitted, "Expats are not our target." Burke and Wills is a place where people can "tick kangaroo off their culinary bucket list." The menu is "Australian-inspired" and the restaurant buys Australian products whenever possible, but mostly Matilda is proud to fill a niche in the neighborhood. "No one is doing this level of casual fine dining."

During the years since it has opened, the food at Burke and Wills has become more refined. Matilda's personal favorite is the Roasted Spiced Duck. "I need to have it at least once a week," she said with a smile. Since Australia is such a young country, she is excited that Australian dishes are still morphing and becoming their own beast, and that Burke and Wills is playing a part in that shaping process. "We're creating our own cuisine."

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Burke & Wills 1 Australian Upper West Side

More places on 79th Street

Lost Gem
Sojourn 1 Brunch American undefined

Sojourn

Sojourn calls itself the Upper East Side’s “sexiest restaurant, ” and it is hard to argue: the color scheme, in coppers browns and reds, gives the restaurant a warm, intimate feeling. The name, which means “a temporary stay, ” hints at the fact that visitors can expect a full dining experience. Olivia, a member of the Manhattan Sideways team, was excited to return to Sojourn. She and her family had discovered the restaurant, tucked behind a residential-looking doorway, right before Thanksgiving and had visited two more times by the New Year. Along with the friendly staff, warm ambience, and delectable, seasonal food, what makes Sojourn stand out is its approach to courses: all menu items can be ordered as sharable tapas, with just the right number for the table. For example, when Olivia went with a group of seven family members and ordered the chorizo croquettes, the waiter said he would bring out two orders at three to a plate... plus one extra. Using this innovative way of ordering, each party can essentially create their own tasting menu. As for beverages, the cocktail menu is sophisticated and diverse. The restaurant not only has a large selection of wine, but also keeps some of their grapes in barrels rather than bottles, a more environmentally friendly method of storing and serving it. Among the many menu items that Olivia’s family tasted were the zesty arugula salad, crispy fish tacos, and Kobe beef sliders. Despite being thoroughly full, they made sure to have enough room for the warm, fluffy churros served with Mexican chocolate dipping sauce. We spoke to Johnny Musovic, who owns Sojourn with his father, Sami. They originally opened a Mexican restaurant called Santa Fe in the same location, but discovered that the neighborhood did not have a strong need for casual Mexican food. Instead, the father and son duo reopened with a higher-end concept which has been wholly embraced. Johnny proudly told me that his father is no newcomer to the restaurant world, having been the Head Maitre D’ at Sparks Steakhouse and Mr. Chow’s. He also has two other restaurants nearby. As for Johnny himself, he told me “In this industry, you can’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, ” referencing his time spent as everything from dishwasher to delivery boy to co-owner. He is clearly very proud of Sojourn for a variety of reasons, beginning with the food. “Most chefs are into fresh, local ingredients, but these chefs really are. ” He is also happy to have cultivated a chic, relaxing space, which includes live music on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Though he proclaims that the Upper East Side is his favorite part of the city, Johnny’s dream is to open up a Sojourn in Midtown one day. Until then, his goal is to integrate his bar crowd and his dining crowd. One night, he held a two hour open bar as his way of “giving back” to the neighborhood. Along with drinks, he offered his customers a series of hors d’oeuvres. He was surprised by how many of his bar regulars approached him and said, “I didn’t realize you had such great food! ”

Lost Gem
Temple Shaaray Tefila 1 Synagogues undefined

Temple Shaaray Tefila

Shaaray Tefila has a very special place in my heart. For well over twenty years, beginning in the early 1970's, this was a home away from home for my grandparents. Reaching 79th Street and having the opportunity to write about this synagogue has brought tears to my eyes again and again. Rabbi Tattelbaum played an important role not only in my grandparent's lives, but in mine as well, when I was a young, impressionable teenager. It was Chip Schrager, the Communications Coordinator for the temple in 2015, who kindly guided the Manhattan Sideways team through the space, beginning with the main sanctuary. The room is expansive, seating 400 people downstairs and 200 in the balcony, and Chip was proud to say that it was filled to the rafters during the recent Hanukkah services. Something that I did not know was that the building used to be a movie theater until the temple took over in 1958. The old projector room is now used as an office for the parenting programs. Founded in 1845 as a strict Orthodox temple, Shaaray Tefila has shifted locations throughout the city, becoming Reform along the way. Stepping into the chapel, where smaller services are held, I saw bold stained glass ornaments on one side of the room with the names and symbols of characters from Jewish lore. In the meeting room nearby, well-polished Judaic pieces, along with artifacts dating back to the temple's founding were displayed. In addition, we took note of photographs of the old temple on West 82nd Street, the Seal of the Congregation, and even the trowel that the rabbi used to lay the cornerstone of the Temple. Leaving the room, Chip gestured to photographs of six men who were senior rabbis at Temple Shaaray Tefila. The temple has a strong children's program, including a nursery school, kindergarten, and religious school that extends through high school. We appreciated getting to observe the room used for art class. A giant paint pallet decorated the wall and colorful supplies lined the room. We then ventured up to the roof where the playground is located, surrounded by a fence that still allowed for a beautiful view of the winter sunset. It was here that Chip continued to speak of the various programs offered to every age group, including senior citizens. This is what my grandparents took advantage of so many years ago, and it warmed my heart to know that people are still participating in the various classes that Shaaray Tefila has to offer. As Chip beautifully stated, "Whatever your Jewish journey is, we want to be a part of it. "