Etch Restaurant

5.5 Average

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  4     

Food was excellent, however the whole experience was tainted by the poor service. Our waiter was quite abrupt with us on a number of occasions for no reason - at one stage he practically snatched the menu out of my fellow diner's hand while she was still reading it. For the prices and its association with Becasse, I just expected a higher level of service.

Mar 12, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  7     

Went there for Valentine's day 2009. It was set menu consisting of 2 entrees, 2 mains and 2 pre desserts at $150 a head without matching wine, another $60 with matching wine. Included is a long-stem rose. Attentive service and great ambience with food worth waiting for. Waited about 45 minutes for first entree which was deep fried goat cheese, followed by crab and corn soup which was delicious.

Our main was kingfish sashimi and tender lamb fillet which is the best lamb I've ever tasted. The pre-dessert were lovely too (coconut mousse with passionfruit and some kind of cake with ice-cream). We had a great evening.

Feb 22, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  5      Value  9     

Excellent food and wine. We dined when the restaurant first opened, so I think they were still sorting out the service. I would definitely go back.

Feb 20, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

I am always sceptical about restaurants attached to hotels and I realise that Etch is not part of the Intercontinental but an excellent venue! A fantastic and eclectic international wine list, innovative food and good service. Decor a bit sombre but well worth a visit . Enjoyed a very good dinner here!

Feb 18, 2009 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  6     

This is what dining out is all about. The service at Etch was impeccable from taking jackets and umbrellas to knowledge of the food, wine and simple things like refilling water glasses regularly. The waiting staff let you take your time and just enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. The food here is amazing and I particularly recommend the goat's cheese and grilled quail and their special beef entrees. Serving sizes are on the small side so you will be able to fit in a three course meal with ease, which is a refreshing change if you plan to make a night out of dinner.

The menu choices are definitely more approachable than Becasse. Things that made it on the menu include burger and fries, fish and chips, fried potatoes. Don't be deterred by this because they also have the more standard fare for fancy restaurants like wagyu beef steak, risotto and roast pork. Main were average around $40 and entrees $20.

Overall, this is a great place for an excellent dining experience.

Feb 18, 2009 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

From the moment we entered the restaurant we felt very welcome. We were seated by the manager who was very helpful in assisting us choose a pre dinner drink. Our friendly waiter took us through the specials and guided us through the menu. We were encouraged by our waiter to order appetisers which we would not normally have done but which we thoroughly enjoyed (the goats cheese is a must!).

We followed this with entrees (corn soup and quail), mains (summer fish stew and the daily special-Pork). These were all too die for as was the caramel date tart which we shared. I am very much looking forward to my next Etch experience.

Feb 09, 2009 

4 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  3     

Extremely disappointed. Rang for booking to be told could only be seated at 12 pm. My colleague got us in for 12.15 pm only to have the place 3/4 full at 1 pm. Service was terrible and portions were a joke. Wagu beef burger? You get them from the cnr shop now. I thought I was going for reasonably fine dining. Toilets were broken so needed to walk about 1/2 km to the hotel bathrooms. Embarrassed myself in front of client. Won't ever be back.

Feb 03, 2009 

3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  2     

What started out as a very promising lunch turned out to be very disappointing. We are great fans of Becasse! A group of us had the local morwong wrapped in gladbake. Basically this just tasted like steamed fish served together with a few iceberg lettuce leaves, a couple of onion rings and radishes...very unimaginative, bland and not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Essentially it reminded us of convalescent food served in a hospital with the price tag to match ($32).

However, we were willing to try the caramel tart together with the burnt butter ice cream. The problem was that the waiters were totally disinterested. We noticed one waiter having a conversation with a diner for about 20 minutes disregarding everyone else, the others were congregated in a group at the front having their own little conversation and totally oblivious to the job they were supposed to be doing. We had had the same trouble trying to order wine at the beginning of the courses.

Eventually we gave up trying to get their attention so decide to go elsewhere for coffee and cake. We constantly fine dine in the city and would honestly say this was the worst restaurant for service/food that we have ever been to.

Jan 30, 2009 

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  3     

My small group (of five, including myself) entered at 7:30 pm and were asked to wait half an hour. We decided to have drinks in the hotel (same building) and the senior staff promised to come and find us when out table was ready. After half an hour - no senior staff. After an hour - senior staff. I went to investigate only to be told our table wasn't yet free. It was after 9 pm when we were finally seated. The staff were inattentive and ignored our existence, it was another hour before any food found its way to our table.

The 'trendy' (read: tiny) food portions were more of an insult than a meal, for which we were charged handsomely and hastily. Etch didn't appear to have any reasonable desserts and the cheese that several people from my table ordered was merely a joke. An outrageously expensive joke. My colleagues, clients, and friends were (thankfully) very forgiving. I will never attend this restaurant again.

Jan 26, 2009 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  6     

Came here for a lunch during the working week. Very comfortable setting, fairly relaxed. Found the service to be very good, efficient, professional and not over the top. Had the prawn cocktail for entree, wagyu beef and brisket with Cafe de Paris butter and green beans for main and a caramel tart for dessert. I was so impressed particularly with the beef and the dessert. I will be back again.

Jan 20, 2009