I love this place. Alice is amazing, the food is fresh and consists of the best international produce. I have been going here for years and they always amaze me. I live in potts point and if you want to impress your cashed up friends this is the place.
One of my favourites. I like the concept of sharing, the items on the menu and the portion size are just great. I don't know what else I can say to make you go there and try. Just go!
27.05.10 We revisited this place recently, chef changed,not as good as before. We arrived early and had a drink at the bar, a strong stewerage smell came from the back door or sth, not good. The food, disappointing, it wasn't bad if I wasn't comparing with what it was before, smaller portions now, price stayed the same, presentation is different (not better or worse), maybe my expectation was just too high.
Waiters and waitresses was still great, very nice, have knowledge with the food and wine, topped up wine and water all night. No complain~
I went to Aperitif yesterday for an anniversary dinner. When we had booked we had asked for a nice table, however, we were just shown a normal table. However, as it was a cold night we were seated near the fireplace so all was well! We were served by two wonderful servers a young woman and an older gentlemen who were lovely, friendly and attentive without being overbearing. They made us feel very comfortable and even chatted with us which was a lovely touch.
We ordered the Scallops, Stuffed Calamari, mushrooms with bone marrow, Anchovies with Grilled Bread and the Steak Onglet. The stuffed calamari was average and the mushrooms had a very tough crouton, however, the Anchovies more than made up for those dishes. This was definitely the stand out dish for the night and if I had known this would have happily ordered 4 servings and be done with dinner. Overall, great service, great food, great atmosphere!
I love Aperitif, I often meet friends here for a meal or just for a glass of wine and dessert, I love the outdoor seating, the lighting and that it's open late. They have a great wine list, the staff are always nearby when you need something, a beautiful place to escape to when the cross is in full swing.
The food was delicious. We started with some roast tomato and garlic croutons - yummy! The ocean trout gravlax was so fresh and tasty, as were the sea scallops. The duck with lentils was amazing! We also had the suckling pig, which was nice.
Dessert was the best we have ever eaten! The chi chi with chocolate sauce was also fantastic. The creme brulee was was served in four small dishes: two traditional and two strawberry - they were absolutely divine! We thought they were perfect. We will definitely order our own next time because they are too good to share.
Service was also perfect. Waitstaff we passed on the way in were warm and welcoming. We had a very friendly waiter who was helpful, happy and polite. He knew exactly when to come to our table.
Great spot for a romantic date, we went for my boyfriend's birthday. It's not a cheapie, for 2 people who had starter, main and dessert it was $175, before wine. But lovely as a treat. The food was great, the steak perfectly cooked (even for my steak-perfectionist boyfriend), the waitress was attentive without being over the top (it was a very quiet sunday night so this would have been annoying). Will go back next time we have something to celebrate.
I must say I was a little disappointed. I went there with two friend and we all left hungry. The dishes were tasty but overpriced and just not enough. The service, however, was fantastic. We sat outside in the front courtyard so not a lot of ambience, however, inside looked lovely when I walked through to the bathroom. I would recommend if you want a couple of glasses of wine and a snack, not if you are hungry and want a satisfying meal.
The restaurant is a very beautiful place. Service was excellent and wine selection was quite extensive. The only issue was that the food was so small, it did taste good but to leave a restaurant still hungry after paying so much money is never a good thing. Would recommend it as a nice one off thing to try.
Pretty good feel about the place. Nine of us recently dined here on their 'tasting menu' or degustation to celebrate Shultzy's b'thday. Cannot complain about their service which was both friendly and knowledgeable. For $75 per head (wine extra) we were firstly presented with 5 different appetiser dishes which included tasty scallops and prawns and a very tasty crepinette with foie gras and perigueux sauce.
Additionally we had 2 mains, one being a grain fed onglet steak which was sliced and presented medium rare, another highlight. Unfortunately, the other main (paella with chicken and seafood) just did not appeal to our taste-buds and we all agreed was the real let down in their selection.
We finished with 2 tasty dessert dishes (one light and one heavy being cinnamon type doughnuts with a rich chocolate sauce on the side). The delivery of the nine courses was spaced just right with no long waiting in between. When each course was delivered, it stopped Wall-ee flapping his lips for a while which pleased Uncle Festa no end. A good selection of wines offered. Overall, a nice experience with decent value.
My wife and I went to Aperitif a few weeks ago, mid-week, with close friends. I had heard about it a few years ago when it opened, and was aware that there had been some changes in ownership/management/chef since then, but I didn't know what to expect as it hasn't had much publicity lately.
I was really pleasantly surprised. Great decor, very intimate and cosy. An unusual menu when you first look at it. It's a bit of a mix-mainly French, a bit Spanish and a tiny bit middle-Eastern, with what are called "small" and "large" dishes. My first impression was "Nothing on this menu really grabs me" but we chose four or five small dishes to share, as well as a hanger steak large dish for 2, which the maitre d' suggested we order as a serving for 3.
Every dish was delicious. Perfectly cooked scallops and the hanger steak dish was a highlight. Served medium rare in a large pan and carved into slices with a tomato-based sauce. It was a fresh alternative to the usual way this cut is presented.
The wine list is well-chosen and the wait staff helpful and friendly. This restaurant deserves more recognition. It delivers much more style and substance than many better known restaurants in Sydney, l'etoile springs to mind. Maybe the chef at Aperitif could paint his face and ride a unicycle!
By the way, thanks Rita for suggesting we go there.