Escape From Oz

Is it possible that South could kick-start citywide Aussie mania? To open the latest SoMa installation, Aussie Liz O'Connell and Kiwi Anna Weinberg paired up with Australian chef Luke Mangan -- a man who already has successful restaurants in Sydney and Tokyo, a cooking series, a few cookbooks under his belt and dozens of appearances on The Today Show. The intimate spot showcases Mangan's modern food, which is peppered with ingredients from Down Under. Those with visions of a menu of 'roo burgers, Vegemite and kiwi fruit will be met with refreshingly simple, Asian-inflected food, complimented by a wine list that, not surprisingly, features options from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Order anything with barramundi (a mild white fish) or the bushman's plate, a sampler that includes hummus, prosciutto, tempura mussels and thin slices of curried eggplant and zucchini. Finish with Mangan's signature black-licorice parfait with lime syrup, a dessert that makes us thankful that he chose to set up shop on our side of the world.