Ash St. Cellar

7.8 Recommended

Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7      Drinks  8     

We went for the 4 dishes X 4 matching wines for $40 lunch deal - a different wine with each course. The tartare of ocean trout was a good match with the Muscadet. The Valpolicella complemented the chorizo with peppers. The Pinot Noir was a bit on the light side but was OK with the quails. The chocolate fondant was beautifully rich and teamed well with the Mas Amiel Maury (fortified grenache). Overall very enjoyable and the small courses were perfect for lunch. Service was attentive, knowledgable and friendly. The restaurant is cozy and discrete. Overall highly recommended.

Jul 27, 2011 

7 Recommended

Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  6      Drinks  8     

The wine list is good, and the staff are well informed. Don't go expecting hearty main courses to be available. The menu includes a good variety of nibbles and charcuterie, but be warned, the "To Share" plates are portions that would be considered small as side dishes.

Prices are high given how small the portions are, but the food was very good.
The service was pleasant, but very slow. It's a lovely place to enjoy a leisurely bottle of wine and a snack.

Jun 27, 2011 

6.8 Recommended

Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  4      Drinks  8     

Very expensive for what we ordered. Had a shirz and gin and tonic reasonably priced. Beans were reasonably priced though prawns and lamb, $19 and $24 respectively. Prices are outrageous for 5 pieces of prawn? Lamb was only on 2 skewers on a bed of egg plant and vege.

I would have rather paid that sort of price and eaten a decent sized meal across the street at Felix.

May 05, 2011 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9      Drinks  10     

Came here for the french champagne by the glass and wasn't disappointed. Staff were very attentive, the room was dimly lit and warm (perfect for a date). We also ate the peas, ricotta and pine nut dish and it was beautiful. Planning on returning next week!

Apr 28, 2011 

7.3 Recommended

Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7      Drinks  7     

I'll preface this review with the fact that I didn't pay. I think it was not cheap but......

Good wine selection. We ordered by the glass and the prices there didn't really seem unreasonable at all. The service was quite good and it is a great space. There wasn't much of a buzz although it was a mid-week lunch.

The food was excellent. Kingfish ceviche, pork terrine, chorizo, great olives (I am not usually a fan unless they are really good), lamb skewers, charcuterie platters. All very good. Perhaps, I'll pay myself next time!

Apr 27, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  7      Drinks  10     

This is what a wine bar should be. Great wine-list, food that compliments it and staff that are well-trained and know their stuff. It'll cost you a bit but then if you're not in a mood of spending, not the best place. Otherwise, pretty good!

Apr 12, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7      Drinks  8     

We went for an evening meal and sat out in the laneway on one of those barmy summer nights. Great atmosphere, lots of buzz and people moving around - a little touch of Melbourne style I think. Drinks are not cheap but this is not the place to go hard at it - its more about sitting back and chilling out, having some of the tapas with a glass of champagne or a beer. Food was varied and delicious - some nice choices there. recommend the chorizo and the calamari. Service was attentive and smart despite being very busy. Tables are a bit small for 4 to share drinks and food but thats the only negative. Wine list is a good one with plenty of variety in type and origin. Drinks are fairly expensive particularly wine so we marked down the value for money score.

Jan 14, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

This is a great little laneway wine bar with a lovely atmosphere. I dearly wish there was more of this type of place in Sydney. The food was very good, perfect eating with a nice bottle of wine (the wine list is very good and varied). The portions are quite small for the price but the quality is great so it is still reasonable value (it is not a cheap and cheery kind of place and not at all comparable with the (mostly dingy) places in the so-called Spanish Quarter. The service was very good, they knew their wines, was a slight hiccup with the food arriving a long time before our chosen bottle turned up, but the staff rushed over with complimentary glasses of wine to tide us over. Fun people watching too. Definitely a favourite place in the CBD.

Oct 22, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  10      Service  7      Value  7     

Can't beat the atmosphere. Very European, dare I say Melbournian. Food was nice but a little lacklustre as I was expecting more. Portions are a little small considering the price. Service was genuine yet slightly confused as waiters kept asking each other which plate was for who, but like I said, they were very pleasant and tried their best. Not bad.

Oct 20, 2010 

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  2     

If you are actually hungry, don't go to this restaurant! The food is uninspiring, overpriced and the smallest portions I have ever seen at a tapas restaurant. What they term a 'share plate' would only feed 1 - 2 people max, very little menu selection to choose from and we left very unsatisfied!

The venue was great but there are plenty of better tapas restaurants in Sydney that give you value for money and if I'm paying these sorts of prices I expect to walk out satisfied, we walked out feeling ripped off!

Oct 19, 2010