Blue Angel Restaurant

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

This is my 2nd time back to this fine establishment. I have at dinner some friend for a special occasion table of 6. I have trust the suggestion of Marcello the owner something special....Lobster sashimi and misto crudo Wagyu beef crab salt and pepper. Freshness and quality superb!

Apr 01, 2012 

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  3     

I was at this restaurant recently with a 30+group, having lobster, oyster n fish as starter, fresh but disappointed on the arrangement. Second the lobster soup, 30+ plate with all different quantity. Main course claimed 12+ wagyu was cooked in a way no better than a local pub or myself. And the thickness for my table all have different thickness and sizes, and cooked to not to your prefer, eat it or not attitude.

Service, can't feel any there, worst some guest had order coffee or tea end up going home without. The host was being skinned.

Feb 16, 2012 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  4      Value  2     

I'd sum up our experience as a combination of confusion, paranoia, food envy and disappointment - we won't go back for a second try.

Blue Angel have misunderstood the concept of a fusion restaurant. A good fusion restaurant takes the flavours and techniques of multiple cooking traditions and finds new and creative ways to combine them to produce unique and exciting offerings. Fusion food is something Sydney does really well.

But not at Blue Angel. Rather their menu is an eclectic mix of old fashioned staples (sorry "classics") from Italy, France, Japan, Korea, Thailand and China.

Beef Tartare, Filetto Rossini and Thai Beef Salad in one column and Lobster Sashimi listed with Lobster Thermidor in another.

Blue Angel was recommended by a friend of ours as a favourite Greek Restaurant. On arrival we discovered that it was actually self-described as Italian Fusion - we both like Italian food and the photos on the menu outside look good so with a minor adjustment of expectation we enter in good spirits.

We're shown to a table set with chop sticks, a fork and a spoon. Yep getting more confused. A quick google reveals a bilingual Chinese / Japanese / Korean and English website and an article about a critic being sued for defamation over a bad review back in the 80s (from around the time the decor was probably considered modern) - which apparently the owner hasn't gotten over yet as his website states "we are still awaiting a public apology after 20 years". Read the review on wiki despite the high court ruling, it said something about slow service and over cooked meals.

We order and after 45 minutes of waiting and watching other diners receive their third and fourth courses before we receive our first (without seeing anyone actually order anything) my first thought is will I be sued for $100k if I include this fact in my review (should I feel the urge to write one)?

My second thought is a peak in my curiosity when we realise we are the only two diners in the packed restaurant that aren't Asian, including all of the wait staff sans one. And everyone else seems to have ordered one of two meals.

Just as I'm hatching wild theories about secret social clubs or inner city demographics with inside information about the house specialities, the obvious dawns on us. We've had the misfortune of timing our reservation with two large tour groups - one Chinese and one Japanese - the respective tour guides later confirm this. This at least explains why an Italian restaurant offers so many straight Asian meal options and the bilingual website - the owners are perhaps catering for tourists who want a mix of home and something "western" to try.

The lobster sashimi looked good and lobster bisque smelt nice. Our first course finally arrives and unfortunately we had the Antipasto. Good quality produce, but poor choice of cheese varieties for eating by the hunk (ie. parmesans) and it's a preserved meats overload. If you want a nice Antipasto, go to Portofinos in Liechardt - a third of the price and ten times better.

I now have full blown food envy and am worried about my choice of main - which was based on the photo I saw on the way in.

Our mains arrive another half hour later -salt and pepper lobster and scampi spaghetti. The lobster looks nothing like the picture (a modern looking stack in a light tempura batter) - instead it's a large plate with a quartered 1kg lobster in a typical batter (heavy, oily and maple brown) buried under a sea of battered and deep fried vegetables - the whole dish is one colour bar a lonely wedge of lemon. The batter tastes only of oil and there is literally a small dish of salt and pepper on the side - to self season I assume. I can't help feel very disappointed and ripped off, but note to self - well... as advertised!

Perhaps I've been spoilt by amazing variations of Salt and Pepper dishes around Glebe and Newtown's Vietnamese and Thai Restaurants.

I eat two pieces and my wife has a bit and then I push it aside thinking "what a waste of a good lobster". The waitress asks if I want to take it home in a doggy bag, I say no thanks and think to myself - to be honest, that was shit and debate internally if I should recommend they remove it from the menu.

We share half of my wife's $45 scampi spaghetti - which was alright, but very basic. On the way out I see someone with the wagyu steak option I was considering and lamenting as a road untraveled. It didn't look very nice either despite being grade 9 wagyu, lost under a thick brown sauce, with next to no sides. My food envy turned convincingly into a conclusion not to complain because I wouldn't be back.

The meal cost $256, which included one 375ml red wine only, and we were there for over 2 hours - mostly waiting for meals. I also had to take a break from writing this review to rush to the bathroom - twice. Cause vs correlation? Who knows - but something didn't sit right - maybe the oil maybe the bill.

My wife commented on the way home: "For the same price we could of had a 5 course degustation at Oscillate Wildly in Newtown with matching wines."

My advice, give this place a miss or at the very least - don't order the salt and pepper lobster.

Jan 22, 2012 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

We have dined at Blue Angel a few times now. No it is not a cheap eat because it serves top quality food but it represents real value for us because it offers the finest at a fare price especially in comparison to other well named restaurants.

Jan 19, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Not many Restaurants have given me the sort of satisfaction that The Blue Angel Restaurant has to my family and all of my special guests, from International musicians and there managers to sporting and television personality's.

The reason for choosing the restaurant for such guests is that it there is nothing left to chance and offers a class of distinction second to none, with all the history and comfortable surroundings, not to mention the cutlery is solid silver, the china and crystal impeccable. They restaurant serves only the best of everything from live lobster, live King Crab and they only serve Wagyu Beef 9+ at very reasonable price's.

We started our dinner on this occasion with any amazing Misto Crudo (sashimi , tuna king fish, salmon, oyster's, scampi with fresh wasabi served) on a venetian plate from Murano Italy, never seen such a beautiful plate used in any restaurant around the world.

Included was two plates of lobster carpaccio made ala carte, another specialty only found here, followed by an exquisite lobster bisque. At this stage my guest are left speechless, Marcello (the owner) then suggests a "lobster Marco Polo", which he personally will prepare at the table . The art of table cooking is long gone at many other restaurants but not here, there is something about the aromas' of table cooking that excite's everyone of the feast that is about to served, and once again to perfection.

Thinking that the lobster is going to be hard to beat, Marcello brings to the table Blackmores Wagyu Beef, he confirms with one of the guests that he only serves 9+ and we decided on the cut that we would like, it was Sirloin it was weighed in front of us and then taken to the kitchen, on returning to our table the Wagyu was cooked medium rare with roasted rosemary potatoes again another great success. As usual it is very hard to leave without having the signature "Crepe Suzette" once again prepared by Marcello at our table immaculately finished with a splash of Cognac.

Many people talk about value all I can say is that when you can have a Live Lobster cooked at your table for less than the market price of the SFM that's value, as for the Wagyu Beef it also is inexpensive compared to another city restaurant at half their price. Mark Twain once said " If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything" and I have written my comments of this amazing restaurant with integrity and truth which made it easy because i didn't have to remember a thing.

Finally I congratulate The Blue Angel Restaurant on its 50th anniversary, and the milestones of history it has given many a local and oversea's guests, you are a true Ambassador to all Restaurateurs for you have served Australia well. Good Luck and enjoy the 50th Anniversary and many more to come.

Nov 24, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

I am at odds with the last couple of reviews in many ways and it's such a shame that it's so easy to defame the reputation of a Sydney icon restaurant in such a deliberate way. Blue Angel has defended its reputation in the past and been clearly vindicated in the supreme court from past attempts to defame by so called food critics.

Having dined at Blue Angel a number of times, I think it's time to make a comment, from my very first visit, I was particularly impressed with the warmth and atmosphere which is quite unique to Blue Angel. Intimate fine dining was my impression and if you are lucky enough to have Marcello visit your table, he has many stories of famous and infamous people that have dined at Blue Angel and he loves to share them with you, there is a lot of history that surrounds this icon restaurant!

The food is just superb and in particular the freshness and quality of the product is second to none, my favourite is Blue Angel's signature dish "Lobster Carpaccio" and I always include the mouth watering Wagyu as part of the main course.

Its a special occasion restaurant for me and I try to find many special occasions!
Highly recommended, a must visit!

Nov 24, 2010 

2 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

This is a restaurant that seemingly is a "has been". With such poor service, overpriced food and seemingly below par steaks, it confuses me how they survive.

The service was quite shocking for a restaurant of this supposed class. The waitress definitely lacks logic in balancing drinks, as she dropped and spilt a whole bottle of beer onto one of our guests, with the spray going across two other people.
They also served us chipped wine glasses. Not just once, but multiple times when they gave us new glasses for the different wines we had purchased. It was quite hilarious for us at the table when we watched the waiter place the entrees on the table, as he clipped a wine glass, it explained the chipped glasses.

The waiter also asked whether we wanted him to pour the wine for us! For such a restaurant with a price tag so high, that should not even be a question. Overall, their attitude towards improving and possibly learning from their mistakes was appalling, they seem like student waiters on their first day of school.

The ambience was poor as well. We expected the two tables that we booked to be at least within distance, yet they gave it to us in two different rooms. Not the best idea for "a group". Even more confusing was the lack of music that was provided. Without the good conversations our table had, it would have been silent. They managed to realise this by 10 pm, when the music was switched on.

When the food did come out, it was pretty standard. Apart from the fact that the dishes came out over a period of 40 minutes, the taste lacked the rating supposedly parallel of the price tag. The Diane Wagyu I ordered was not a steak. It was cut like a medallion only being 4 mm thick. No wonder they couldn't cook it to the medium that I ordered.

What was more baffling was the fact that they couldn't provide more diane sauce than what was on the plate already. How can a restaurant of this class not have more sauce? Their pasta was overcooked as well, a novice mistake that anyone can fix.

As for the value, for a $58 Wagyu steak that wasn't even a steak cut, I'd gladly go to Churchills Bar and pay $15 for a great T-Bone, with additional sauce and waiters that don't even drop things at such a level. Avoid this place at all costs (or whatever you have left after being there once).

Aug 28, 2010 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  1     

I went to this restaurant after hearing all the good reviews on it. However, I was really really disappointed. The food was average, I would not say it was excellent because the price tag could have bought better dishes at some accredited restaurants.

On the night I was there, there was a tour group booking so the restaurant was full but not overcrowded. Service was absolutely appalling. I had 2 entree meals in the span of 1.5 hrs from the time I ordered. I had question the waiter on this and he had assured me is would be coming out in 5 minutes. In another 45 minutes we had 2 more main meals with another 2 more which had yet to come. I had then asked the manager weather this was normal to which he replied it was perfectly normal to have your complete meal in 2.5 hrs -3 hrs not including dessert. I had not heard of this before, and clearly was annoyed with the waiting.

The value of the dishes, I expect to see the quality of at least a 2 chefs hat from SMH or more, but the food was average. So, in conclusion, if you willing to wait and be overcharged just to eat lobster, then Blue Angel will be your place.

Jul 09, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Visited this restaurant last week and was pleasantly surprised by their lobster set. It was fantastic, will visit again.

Mar 01, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

The Blue Angel is a Sydney pearl. I've had the pleasure of dining here twice now, but the last visit surpassed my wildest dreams. The service was attentive without being pushy and impeccable. The food isn't cheap, but worth every cent, the lobster carpaccio is a rare and special treat, and the mud crab was cooked to perfection. Topped off with a sinful crepe suzette at the table, it was a night that will go down in dining history for me and my partner, it's going to be a tough one to beat and the yardstick future meals will be measured against.

Oct 21, 2009