China Doll

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

This place is amazing. Went here with my boyfriend last night and thoroughly enjoyed our night.

I really can't fault the food, we had chilli squid aND chicken coleslaw as an entree. Then the organic stir fried beef which is probably one of the best tasting things I've ever eaten and my partner loved the penang wagu beef curry too. We each tried 2 cocktails, my favourite was the pomegranate margerita. Mmm.

Service was great, we had an awesome waitress that popped over to check on everything every now and again. The food also was brought out promptly. The ambience for the most part was good and while the food is on the pricey side it is definitely worth every cent.

Cannot wait to go back.

May 04, 2012 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Was here earlier in the month and thought this place was top notch. The barman turns out some seriously good cocktails. Service attentive without the obvious upsell. Will be back soon!

Apr 30, 2012 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

I have dined here twice in 3 weeks and have to say I'm hooked. I can't fault the food, service or experience. I have taken my partner both times and have come away wanting more. I went on Friday night with a 9:30pm booking. We arrived at 8:30 and thought we should ask the guy at the entry if they could accommodate us early? He asked us to wait at the bar and will see what he can do. We both got to the bar and the there wasn't much room to sit as others were waiting.

The barman acknowledged this with out me saying anything and asked 2 couples to move over. Nice work! Then we had 2 awesome cocktails. Within 10 minutes we had a table just inside but perfect. Had an awesome pork belly and beef wagyu shin. We were stuffed when asked about dessert. I then asked for the bill only to have a dessert consisting of watermelon, kiwi (and something else I forgot) come out. It was absolutely divine.

Waitress said "she won't take no dessert for an answer so its on the house!). I can't explain in words our delight at the overall experience. Please go there!

Apr 25, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

I have mixed feeling on this one. We enjoyed a lovely meal at dinner on a Thursday night recently. The staff were very polite and explained anything asked of them, in a helpful and friendly manner.

The food was very tasty, very fresh and cooked very well! We all shared our plates and the specials were the fav (Pork and Prawn Dumplings) and the other stand out dish was the duck pancakes! The prices, however, left a bit to be desired *They seemed a fair bit over priced (*$44 for 8 'small' duck pancakes? really?). Between the 8 of us the bill was very pricey, but for a premium venue at a top Sydney location, you really cannot complain. Not sure if I would go there again (based solely on $$).

However, if money is not an issue, then I would recommend dining here no problem. At the end of the day: The view, the staff, the food and the wine were great!

Apr 20, 2012 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Every dish we ordered was very good, my favourite of the day was definitely the sashimi. Food here is fresh and cooked to perfection, and the service was impeccable. Thumbs up to the Chef!

Read more on my blog

Feb 23, 2012 

5.5 Average

Food  4      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  1     

Was I at the same China Doll Woolloomooloo as the other reviewers?! My experience was so different! I found the tea smoked duck to be dry and ordinary. The special of the deep fried school prawns was quite awful, the prawns had not been deep fried at a high enough temperature I don't think, so the shells were almost inedible and uncomfortable to eat, I stabbed the inside of my mouth quite a few times!

I've had better pork belly, rib and duck at my local thai for a fraction of the price. At those astronomical prices I was really expecting something special so I was truly disappointed.

However, the service was fantastic and the cocktails delicious and reasonably priced when you consider the rest of the menu but we will not be returning.

Feb 04, 2012 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

The food is delicious. The ambience is gorgeous. The service is fantastic. I've eaten at China Doll 4 times in 6 weeks and will definitely be going back.

Jan 23, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

The Prawn dumplings - yum, chilli salt squid tender but not crispy. Spicy pork ribs awesome - really delicious and not overly hot. Penang beef delicious. Pork belly yummy but fatty. Duck a llitle strong. Staff lovely but maybe a little too touchey friendly.

Jan 09, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

China Doll is incredible. I have eaten here 4 times now, and I have to say the food is exquisite and the service excellent. The pork belly and Duck are incredible. Beautiful location on the wharf although can be a little noisy. Prices aren't cheap, but you get what you pay for and here the service has always been excellent, and the food.

Dec 22, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

The Food was absolutely sensational. The stand out was the Pork Belly but could not fault the Spatchcock. The Duck was great, a touch dry but still a fantastic addition.

The dessert tasting place with the black sticky rice was absolutely awesome.
Service was great, the restaurant was very full so a tad noisy but still an excellent spot and I wouldn't hesitate to go back for the pork belly alone.

Dec 20, 2011