Becasse

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  9      Value  1     

My dinner was tetsuya price but not tetsuya taste. Matching wines were awful, 2 Spanish wines and one from Portugal, dull. Service impeccable but left feeling bloated, only one dish from the degustation was truly memorable. The rest over thought on the details and forgotten about the taste.

Mar 27, 2012 

5.5 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  4     

Recently ate at Becasse, food was good but the overall experience was disappointing. Firstly, I don't expect to be told to wait outside in a shopping center while the hostess seats someone! The waiting staff were friendly but lacking in confidence and grooming for a restaurant such as this.

Mar 20, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Dining here with a group of friends on a special occasion was a delight even though the degustation was not to everyone's taste.

The matched wine course was probably the highlight for me and after a recent poor experience at another venue I have a newfound respect for how important this is.

The new venue is beautifully appointed but it is (in Australia at least) an unusual experience to visit a fine diner in a mall. Something that we may just have to get used to.

Mar 10, 2012 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

This two hatted Sydney restaurant gave us a lunch to remember. Justin and Georgia North have not allowed Becasse Restaurant to falter one iota with the move from Clarence St and in the process, have set a new benchmark for fine dining in Sydney.

Read more on my blog

Mar 04, 2012 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

IF you want to spoil or get spoiled this is it! this is truly prefection! we had the degustation with matching wine. Each dish was made to its own unique taste and presentation. The interior was extremely gorgeous and romantic. The secret door covered in leaves with a single waiter waiting for you to enter gave you a magical feeling. I recommend this to anyone wanting to spoil their partners or even a girly dinner out for a very special occasion.

Feb 14, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Went for a celebration dinner with my partner on a Friday evening. Selected the degustation menu. The food was excellent, and only falling slightly short of exceptional. Quality of produce was high and dishes were innovative.

Interesting use of seasonal ingredients. Unusual restaurant layout made it seem more like a private dining club which lent an air of exclusivity. Service was excellent. The wait staff maintained a good balance of professionalism and friendliness.

The restaurant scored a lot of goodwill points with me with an unexpected complimentary course halfway through the degustation menu, complimentary coffee, two lovely little bags with rolls for breakfast, and even from the sheer fact that table water was replenished quickly. Despite the price tag inherently associated with fine dining, I consider Becasse excellent value for money, compared to several other fine dining establishments who serve degustation menus of a similar standard.

It was refreshing to find a restaurant that did not make you feel like it was trying to bleed you out of every cent, hence, a larger than normal tip to reflect my gratitude. What was supposed to be a "have-to-eat-here-at-least-once" has now become a "definitely-must-come-back".

Jan 16, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

In a party of 4 for lunch we had the seven course degustation. The food was exceptional, interesting combinations executed perfectly. I would have rated the food a ten had one of the courses not been to my liking, that's the flame grilled mussels with sweetbread, duck prosciutto and kohl rabi. But every other course was fine dining at its best.

Even the little extras, the amuse bouches, the breads, all very special. They gave us a little bag with two small cakes as we left. Becasse has these lovely extra touches that make it a very special dining experience.

I can't comment on the ambience without mentioning the strange location. It is weird to be finding your way to a fine dining restaurant through a food hall in a shopping centre. To be honest, it's a bit off putting, but once in the restaurant, the setting is very impressive. You walk down a corridor lined with vines into an intimate, luxurious setting.

The service was faultless. Someone else in the party was looking after the wine list, so I can't comment on that but of course our wines were delicious. At $175 for 7 courses with all the extras, the price reflects the quality of the food and the fine dining experience.

A great spot for a special occasion.

Dec 22, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

After reading all the reviews on all sites I finally decided on Becasse my boyfriend's birthday dinner and we were not disappointed.

Food was delicious, service good, ambience pleasant. I was also skeptical about the location but in vain. Although the place is in the shopping center, the moment you enter that door and walk through the pretty corridor with flowers and plants running through the walls (like in Alice in the wonderland) to a softly decorated dining area. The room is not big, just 7-8 tables but it has columns and separations so it’s not exactly one table listening to the details of next table’s conversations, with a big window, nice chandeliers so not claustrophobic but with a sense of exclusivity at the same time.

Service was polite and not irritating. However, I noticed they did walk maybe more than required to and from around the corner with all the dishes yet dinner still took substantial 3 hours, but I guess it minor detail and better than being rushed out, as I read in some review. We went for degustation dinner and I am comparing flavors to Iggys, which is in world’s top 50 so it’s a tough competition.

Food was great, well presented, dishes explained, definitely not something you can cook or try in many places. We asked a few things to be replaced and that was well accommodated by the chef. My top was the main, duck with prosciutto, one of the cold starters with crab and coconut (memorable taste, delicate texture) but the best was the per dessert Zen Still life (WOW) and one of the desserts (Geranium with sorbet and something) that was a Wow too.

So for 2 dishes that you remember and 2 Wow desserts not bad overall! My boyfriends totally agreed on the desserts and his top was main too – Wagyu and a sizzling pig. (Pig was Yum, super tender, amazing taste but crusty on top). Bread was soooo good, better than Iggys! And desserts better, so big respect for that! There was a surprise dish from the chef too (extra to the menu) and a take away present for breakfast, which is Nice!

Iggys flavour combinations were brighter, more exotic. This is the difference, but every place cannot be the best or can it?. Bottom line well done Becasse, I have no regrets and I reckon its one of the top 3 restaurant in Sydney. Expensive yes (almost same as Iggys) but worth for special occasion. I would even consider going for another one and next menu sometime.

Dec 07, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  4     

The service was great (to be expected) and there were some very creative dishes in the degustation. However, I was a little surprised to find that the brilliance of the presentation was let down by the fairly modest flavours.

Nov 30, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

We had the 7 course dego and were not disappointed. We have never eaten at Becasse before and I believe the new restaurant brings with it some of Justin North's finer touches when it comes to flavour combinations. The dishes were excellent from start to finish and displayed Justin's expansive knowledge of ingredients and technique.

We especially loved the cuttlefish, scallop Mouse, lemongrass, dashi, the slow cooked lamb, the amazing pine smoked squab and desserts including pre dessert (Zen still life) was remarkable. Staff were warm, friendly, welcoming and even gave us a tour of the kitchens. We never felt that the experience was pompous or snooty. Overall we liked it better than Est, Quay and Aria. Good on ya Justin and Team.

Nov 10, 2011