Etch Restaurant

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

I love this place, it is one of my favourite restaurants in Sydney. I have been here several times and they always provide an excellent meal. It's a great restaurant to go to for high quality food without blowing your budget. The caramalised date tart is one my favourite desserts in Sydney. Thinking about it is making me drool.

Jan 24, 2012 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  7     

Well we returned to Etch for one of the Regional dinners that they regularly hold. This one was for the Alsace region. Each course seemed to get better, and the wines matched perfectly - though the cauliflower mousseline with white asparagus and hazelnut and bacon crumb with its matched wine (the name escapes me at this point) was simply mind blowing. A table visit by head chef James Metcalfe capped off a wonderful culinary experience.

Dec 05, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  9     

Like many reviewers below, we also came here with the 3 course voucher, and like many reviewers below we also found the food outstanding. We went for the Pork Belly with crispy prawn, and the ocean trout with smoked scallop to start, and both were extremely good, for varying reasons, the pork was hearty with strong flavours and textures, while the trout was light with many simple ingredients coming together naturally to produce great flavour combinations.

For mains we opted for the burnt spinach lasagne and the baked snapper, scallop and squid curry. From across the table, the lasagne looked unique, and innovatively assembled and the reviews were just as complimentary, fresh and satisfying. The seafood "curry" was one of the nicest dishes I have had in a long time, the curry foam was airily light, with just enough curry to let you know it's there but delicate enough to allow the seafood flavours to come through and make the dish. Spectacular.

For dessert we ordered the Caramelised Date Tart and the Savarin Cheesecake. Both were very nice, without being outstanding. Petit Fours were an interesting finish, with a peanut/honeycomb brittle, and a citrus fizz being served with tea. An amusing end to a fantastic dinner. I have rated value so highly due to the voucher, but obviously this decreases as the price goes up!

Service was efficient (although I would have expected a little more hospitality through the offer of a towel, or not having to retrieve my own umbrella from behind the counter, after battling an unmerciful downpour on the way to the restaurant), and not as personable as it could have been. The dining room is intimate with old 1920's style decor which I found a little uncomfortable to sit on. With only minor grievances, Etch is an all round first-rate experience.

Nov 23, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

We went for our anniversary dinner on a Saturday night. We had the tasting menu and every dish was delicious! Absolutely fantastic restaurant would highly recommend and will be going back.

Nov 17, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Loved our lunch here.

Read more on my blog

Nov 06, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

My husband and I went to Etch for dinner last night using the voucher for a 3 course meal.

Food: The meal selection was excellent. There was even a vegetarian option for each course so I could see that the menu was well thought out (even though I am not a vegetarian). We chose Confit of Ocean Trout and Pork Belly for entrees. The Ocean trout was brilliant and fresh, and the Pork Belly had perfect crackling and lovely flavors.

For mains we had the Lamb rump and Snapper. Both were excellent. Dessert was brilliant. We chose the Caramel date tart and the cheese cake. My husband usually doesn't like too much dessert, but even he finished all the dessert! In each course, the food presentation was beautiful and creative. My husband and I thought this had been one of the best restaurant food and experience we have had in a long time.

Ambiance: excellent attention to detail and definitely has a great relaxed luxurious feel in the decor and lighting. Also gives an intimate feel as well.

Service: All the wait staff were excellent and very attentive. What I noticed was that they took great care in placing your dish in front of you and turning it to make sure it was straight/symmetrical. Could not fault service at all.

Value: I have given this 10 stars because we thought the combination of the food/service/ambiance and value for money using the voucher was excellent.

Even though we used a voucher, after dining here we had such a great experience we will definitely be coming back again with no need for voucher!

Oct 14, 2011 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Went to Etch for my birthday and it truly was a special treat. For a group of 4 we had a voucher for a 3 course meal. The food was so great that we were anticipating with excitement as each dish came out, matching with great service. How I wish I bought more of this vouchers as is definitely value for money.

Oct 06, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

We dined at Etch on Saturday night with a party of 15 in the private dining room and we were all blown away by the food and the attentive staff. We all enjoy dining out in our great city but this was the first time for all of us at Etch. As the hostess of this party I was quite nervous that Etch would not deliver to my expectations, however, I was left well and beyond content. Thankyou Keiron and your amazing team.

All our dishes were perfectly cooked and executed and the staff attentive to our needs. There was never a glass left waiting to be filled or any request for extra dishes that went unmet. Here is what our menu choices were, Entree: Rabbit/chicken terrine, caramelised pork belly, scallop/scampi tortellini, Main: baked snapper/squid/scallop, roast lamb rump, braised wagyu beef shin,
Dessert: caramel date tart, triple choc delice, brillat savarin cheesecake.

Every dish was mouth-wateringly good. I don't know how the good food judges stopped at just one hat. Whoever was in charge of the kitchen Saturday night needs to be applauded and to you Justin North I hope you are aware of what an amazingly great job your team is doing on your behalf. My only gripe, that our party could not be seated on 1 long table despite our request that this was what we wanted.

Dear readers, this is definitely a restaurant worth visiting.

Oct 04, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  7     

Came with a large group and were seated near the bar where service was few and far between. We did not have anyone check in on us without several attempts to catch the passing staff. Surely we could have had one person look after our large table for the night. Very dissapointing.

The food and wine was excellent. Delicately balanced flavours and beaut presentation. Highly recommend the rabbit terrine and veal main. Great choice on the wine list. Great cheese selection. Might consider returning only with a smaller table to be seated in the main room where attentive service is provided.

Sep 23, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Being from out of town, this was my second visit to Etch as I enjoyed the first visit and wanted a consistent experience but this time wanted to share it with the family. The staff and food did not disappoint. The food was well presented, interesting and incredibly tasteful. The staff were very attentive to everything but not annoying in any way at all. It was a very comfortable night with great food, wine and service.

Sep 17, 2011