Big Stone

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

I've been here a few times and just love this place. Japanese fusion food that does not disappoint. Very good value and good service.

May 29, 2012 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Great service, nice atmosphere and environment, delicious and unique European/Japanese fusion food, and good value. Very affordable meal for special occasions! Spent $86.50 for both myself and my girlfriend. They are very welcoming.

May 22, 2012 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

I met some friends and went here last Friday night and we all loved it. The restaurant is set up nicely and it quite dark and romantic. Again, we had a nice welcome note of our table and the service was great.

The food was lovely, we decided not to have the paella based on the reviews I had read so we had all tapas. Hot Tip - try the zucchini flowers, they are expensive at $5.50 each but worth every cent as they are absolutely amazing! The meals are small but I didn't mind this too much as you get a bit of everything, they probably should note on the menu how many of everything you get for that price.

The only disappointment was the size of the dessert. We had the Churros which was Yum but way too small, even for one person. All in all it was a nice night. Suitable for couples as well as small groups. I wouldn't suggest going there in a big group as it may be difficult to share the small meals. We ate and drank all we could fit in and the bill was $260 for 5 of us, we were really happy and would happily return to Big Stone.

May 15, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  7     

In terms of food, the dishes here are a bit on the smaller side and they are quite pricey for the servings. however, everything I tasted here was tasty, croquette, pacific oysters, sashimi, tataki, tempura, meatloaf and desserts.
The oysters are a nice surprise with the added watermelon granita, but my palate is more used to having oysters with a salty or sour element, not sweet.
The tataki was excellent, lightly seared wagyu and the dashi jelly made the whole dish taste amazing.

The squid ink aioli that came with the tempura was amazing, however, I suspect the cuttlefish was frozen and it help becoming detached from the tempura.

The restaurant is quite hidden in the building, but the inside is dark and intimate. However, we were seated near the door and the constant draft for 2 hours made it hard to be comfortable. Like the review below, we were also provided with blankets to help keep us warm, but I don't understand why the door couldn't just be kept shut.

The waitress was lovely. She was accommodating and so friendly to us. She was also very attentive, checking if our teapots needed more water, and refilling our cups for us.

Overall, this restaurant serves great food, but I don't believe there is a big spanish influence. The food is tasty, but with the small servings, it is easy to rack up quite a large bill. It's worth a try.

May 12, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  10     

Two friends and I visited for dinner last night.

The staff were very attentive even though it was very busy. The front door was left ajar which created a cold draft but the staff quickly brought over some blankets to keep the ladies warm.

If you're not driving then definitely try the sangria, it was one of the best I've ever had. The tapas dishes were amazing, especially the kingfish sashimi.
We decided to share a paella as our main and were a little disappointed. The dish was adequate but after the great tapas we were expecting it to dazzle and it didn't.

Desserts were also very good. If we'd stuck to the tapas dishes this place would have been perfect. I'll definitely be going back again soon to try some more.

May 04, 2012 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

Start to finish, great experience. Highly recommended. From hand written table reservations and menus, to a basket to put your handbag in, the welcoming atmosphere is matched by the friendly, efficient and courteous service. To boot, the food exceeds expectations. Not every dish delights the palette exactly but 80 percent were fantastic. It is not often though that a single dish can leave such an outstanding impression, rendering oneself completely incapable of eating the dish in any other restaurant ever again.

Yes, the perfect Whitebait and Aoili. Apparently I raved so much another diner overheard then changed his order. He came up to thank me after his meal. Unequivocally, this restaurant is worth not only a revisit but could potentially be the new fave.

Apr 19, 2012 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Found this place by accident. Had two small kids, both tired and hungry in tow. We (3 adults plus the kids) ordered the banquet of $40 pp. Every dish was just spectacular. And the very considerate, attentive and thoughtful staff prepared kid friendly variations of the hotter dishes. We all appreciated the absence if rice as it allowed us to savor the flavours without feeling over stuffed by the time we left.

The fresh oysters with watermelon sorbet were inspired, and had me doing a little happy dance in my chair. I was not convinced about the whole Japanese/ Spanish fusion thing at the beginning, but I'm totally convinced, at least at this venue. It's not cheap so I'd save this for a special treat. Having said that, we all felt we got value for money, and were quite happy to leave a healthy tip for the fantastic service.

Mar 24, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Rarely does Japanese/Spanish fusion work - but Big Stone does a great take on it. We had their Tasting Platter for lunch and it was a cute little way to try a few of their dishes, their sweet corn soup is creamy and wagyu tataki and skewers were tender. Their churros were also interesting, especially with the caramel and chocolate cream dip!

Read more on my blog

Mar 15, 2012 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

Impeccable Japanese food, tapas style. I reckon everyone fond of Japanese food should put this little gem in their bucket list.

For the quality you get, the price is reasonable (there is no good a la carte Japanese food on the cheap side in Sydney). Beautiful presentation, taste, and accommodating waiters. The staffs are very genuine and take care of you throughout the night, making you feel welcomed, and I appreciate those extra little details they provide you with (e.g. providing a basket you could put your bags/belonging into, so you could enjoy your meal without struggling with your handbag on your lap).

From the special menu, we got to try their Turban Shell (cooked in garlic sauce, divine!), and I even got to bring the shell home (after they cleaned it up, ofc!). The chef even greeted us briefly to ensure we enjoy our meal.

The extensive selection from the main menu also did not disappoint, their pork belly and ocean trout sashimi are different and tasty. We only managed to squeeze in their churros for dessert (which by the way, also delicious), but will definitely be back to try more and also their other dishes.

Feb 21, 2012 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

Wow what a fantastic experience at Big Stone last night with my wife. Didn't know anything about this place and took a chance. To be greeted at the door by a smiling happy waiter eager to make your evening a great experience is very unique in Sydney where you are mostly greeted by surly, disinterested staff.

The food was outstanding and service was equally good. Two fantastically friendly waiters who got everything right! Thanks guys! Will definitely be back!

Jan 29, 2012