Ad Lib Bistro Pymble, Sydney

Ad Lib Bistro Details

Ad Lib Bistro Address

1047 Pacific Hwy
Pymble NSW 2073
Map
Ad Lib Bistro Menu
Ad Lib Bistro Website

Ad Lib Bistro Contact Info »

Cuisines

French, Modern Australian

Chef

Dietmar Sawyere

Prices

Average Meal Price $50 - based on one entree & main course only
Entrees $10.00-$25.00
Mains $19.00-$45.00
Desserts $12.00

Bookings

Bookings are essential
Maximum group booking size is 90

Hours

Lunch
Mon to Fri Noon - 2:30pm
Dinner
Mon to Sat 5pm - 10pm

Specialties

Onion Soup Gratinee
Shellfish Platter on Ice - Oysters, Prawns, Scallops, Mussels, Yabbies

Ad Lib Bistro Awards

2012

Australian Gourmet Traveller 2012 - One Star

2011

SMH Good Food Guide 2011 - One Chef's Hat

2011

Australian Gourmet Traveller 2011 - One Star

Overview of Ad Lib Bistro

Ad Lib Bistro takes its design hints and style from the classic neighbourhood bistros of Paris. The long banquettes, Thonet chairs, fresh flowers and paper covered tablecloths combine to exude a comfortable and casual atmosphere with a touch of elegance, a place to feel at home and enjoy great food and wine with friends and family.

In the true spirit of a Bistro, Ad Lib is designed to be used for a business lunch, a rendezvous with a friend, an early dinner with the kids, a place to celebrate a special occasion or a romantic dinner for two.

User Reviews of Ad Lib Bistro, Pymble

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next

Displaying: 1 - 10 of 70 reviews

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 7

Pretty good. Generous servings. Very slick operation.

May 22, 2012

ianj
6

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 8 Service 9 Value 9

We have just come in from a delightful lunch at Ad Lib. Food was excellent and service charming and effective. Bisque was superb, steak was cooked to perfection and the chocolate mousse heavenly. We should dine here more often.

Apr 20, 2012

jbburro
25

10 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 10 Service 10 Value 10

My partner brought me to this restaurant as a surprise for my birthday... Wow! I have never reviewed a restaurant before but I was inspired to do so after eating at Ad Lib. We were greeted at the door and seated by tall dark haired staff member (I think it was the manager?). Drinks were served and we were told the night specials in a timely fashion.

For entree we shared the onion soup in all its cheesy yummy goodness, and the garlic prawns... plump prawns cooked to perfection with a gorgeous foam on top. For mains my partner had the fish fillet - barramundi, just as she likes it with crispy skin. Too often she has been disappointed by soggy fish skin, but not here. I had the sirloin... again cooked to perfection as I like it rare, melt in the mouth piece of meat, the cafe de paris butter oozing over the top. Oh to die for!

Serving sizes are deceiving as they look small but are so filling, we hardly touched our sides of spatzli noodles (you've gotta try these) and baby carrots..not because we didn't enjoy them, but because we were so full from our mains! Not full enough to miss dessert though, we shared the raspberry souffle with the surprisingly good raspberry ripple sorbet... souffle was perfect.

Overall what a great night, service was present, knowledgeable and patient. I take along time to decide sometimes! The setting is beautiful, I felt like I just stepped off a Paris street and into my local corner bistro. Highly recommended!

Apr 10, 2012

sweet_eats
1

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 9 Service 9 Value 8

Just what the upper north shore needs. A city quality restaurant in Pymble. Wish there was more. Perfect for a special night out. Staff, food and wine all exceptional.

Mar 23, 2012

curlcurl20
7

3 Below Average

Food 5 Ambience 2 Service 2 Value 3

I've gone here 3 times desperate for it to live up to my expectations, it never does. The service is appalling and you wait so long for your food. I felt completely forgotten once we received our food and there was no music on, so the atmosphere was really flat. So disappointing as it is the only fine dining restaurant nearby.

Feb 15, 2012

joeyj
1

3.5 Below Average

Food 1 Ambience 8 Service 2 Value 3

Service was absent and orders were all wrong. Prawn bisque was very average, as was walnut dessert. Lamb/cabbage main was also disappointing. Food was poor and both food and wine (no BYO) was overpriced.

Feb 04, 2012

Adam J.
1

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 9 Value 7

Good Bistro that reminds me of my French eateries. Too bad it's so far out from the city!

Read more on my blog

Jan 18, 2012

frenchinsydney
12

1 of 1 reader found the following review helpful

7.5 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 7 Value 8

Took my dad here for lunch recently and it did not disappoint. It's basically all classic French bistro dishes, just very well executed. Even the baguette (with a thin, almost crumbly crust) was perfect. Both the prosciutto and pan fried prawn entrees were lovely; the mains - boudin noir with caramalised pear (mine) and veal liver with mushrooms and potato rosti (Dad's) were excellent.

Come to think of it, the rosti was superb - beautifully seasoned and not at all greasy. The desserts were also excellent - a raspberry creme brulee and an apple tarte tatin. The pastry was on the tarte tatin was a teensy bit under done, but I'm quibbling - the flavour was spot on.

All in all it was a great meal - it won't blow your socks off, but it pretty much ticks all the boxes for satisfaction. And the different pour sizes of the wines is much appreciated. It's formal enough to feel special, but casual enough not to be stuffy.Thanks Dietmar - we walked out of there feeling great. Just the right amount of fancy!

Nov 30, 2011

pjredit
4

9 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 8 Service 9 Value 9

Been coming here since it opened and while it dipped a bit earlier this year it is now back to its best. Great food and friendly service. Can be a bit nosy but it is a bistro after all ! Best casual dining option on the north shore by far.

Nov 22, 2011

gourmet wanderer
2

6.8 Recommended

Food 6 Ambience 6 Service 9 Value 6

Fairly average really. We were disappointed after having waited so long to get a booking on a Saturday night. Asparagus entree was only ok - a bit greasy. Chicken fricasse was very plain, like something I would throw together at home really. The flavours were just ordinary. French fries were actually thick cut chips that just didn't taste good. We love our fries and chips but didn't even eat these. Fries are better at Psycho Chicken!

Overall the food was just ok. You can get better in a lot of Sydney pubs. I have no idea how they got a Chef's Hat! Something funky going on there! Service was great but won't go back.

Nov 06, 2011