Getting our just desserts at Samuel's

Rick and I are in what I would like to call the pre-empty nest stage. Our little chicks (I use this term very loosely) are getting ready to leave the nest for good. This stage however is characterised by: lots of driving them around to their evening or weekend events; intensive logistic planning in order to carry out all the driving; making sure our phones are charged in case we get last-minute changes to the carefully planned itineraries and then the welcome surprise of an empty house and time to ourselves.

So, once upon a Friday night, after making TWO round trips to Wollongong, I arrived home at 9.30pm and suggested that Rick and I go down the road to Samuel's for dessert. Samuel's is one of a handful of good restaurants in the Northern Suburbs of Wollongong. I have been there for lunch and dinner several times over the last few years and have enjoyed it every time. One of the features of dinner is that you can choose two side dishes to accompany your main course selection, that means four side dishes between two people - a great way to experience a cross-section of dishes.

But tonight was dessert. We walked down to Thirroul, arriving at 9.30pm just as the rain made good its threat to come down. It's always a bit awkward arriving in a busy restaurant when none of the wait-staff acknowledge your presence, and I don't think I imagined a slight raise of the eyebrow when we said we were just there for dessert. However, once we chose our seats in the undercover outdoor area another young waiter promptly brought over menus and water.


With delicacies such as banoffee cheesecake with caramel gelato, toasted apple cake with bonfire apples & chantilly cream and nougat semifreddo it was difficult to decide. However for me the lemon pannacotta with balsamic strawberries sounded spot on for a warm night, and Rick is a sucker for a pineapple fritter especially if it's served with vanilla bean gelato and ginger syrup. We also order coffees - decaffeinated in deference to the late hour. Liquor, dessert and fortified wines are served by the glass and/or bottle and I was almost tempted. Samuel's used to have the liquor or wine suggestions matched to each dessert, a helpful guide that is missed (and might have tipped the temptation into action).

The pannacotta is that perfect balance between creamy and firm, and the lemon has still retained it's tang amongst the sweetness. The strawberries are sweetened by the balsamic vinegar, which is either a very thick variety or a reduction that has been swirled around the plate.


The pineapple fritter is coated with a light sweet batter that is cooked just right - crispy yet the pineapple is not cooked through. The vanilla bean gelato has tell-tale specks of vanilla bean and has good vanilla flavour. The ginger syrup is a bit sweet (well, I guess it is a syrup) and not ginger-y enough for my liking.


The coffee is Withams - a brand I am not very familiar with and I have not tried decaffeinated for a long time, but it is strong and well flavoured (and not just for decaf).

The bill comes just as we are ready to leave and is less than $30. Desserts are $10 each (apart from the Frangelico Affogatto at $12) and coffee is $3.50 - a great bargain in my opinion.

I'm looking forward to going down for a midweek dinner special (Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays) which is $35 for two courses, especially while Dan is doing his hospitality practical hours there for the next few weeks!

Samuel's Restaurant
382 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul NSW 2515
(02) 4268 2244
Open Tuesday-Sunday for lunch and dinner‎