Flying Fish

4 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  2     

On Saturday night we caught up with friends at Flying Fish. The occasion was a birthday and what a great-looking setting for it. It's situated right at the end of Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont, covering a groundfloor and mezzanine level that overlooks the action below. Fab company, as always, can make the difference between an ordinary meal out and something spectacular. And it hides the fact, sort of, that each course one orders is taking around an hour or more to come out.

We arrived to find our friends waiting for us. They'd ordered a drink that never happened, so we let ourselves be ushered to our seats and had to ask for the wine menu. Our waiter came across as amicable and professional and our entrees (I had scallops from Heaven!) were served with swift precision. The Chardonnay arrived. They presented. They poured. And then they did take away.

At one point our glasses sat empty (shock horror) for more than 20 minutes, clearly no one was watching the table and we had to ask for a refill. The same story for the bottle of red. And the basket of bread. And the lemon finger water.
And I haven't yet mentioned the crab, yet, have I?

Now, for my main I decided on the salt and pepper mudcrab. Naturally I thought this would mean a dressed (or undressed!) crab tossed in said flavours.
Nope. When the monster crustacean was set before me and the implements for cracking armour and digging out flesh were laid out like instruments of dissection, I realised the error of my choice. "But," you ask, "was it at least salt and peppered?"

Oh, yes, its shell was coated in batter, a picture of pointlessness, really. It took me a good hour's work and for that joy it cost some close calls with fillings and $100.
Worse still, I had to wear a bib. Sober. So, would I go back? I'm not sure, if it wasn't as expensive, then perhaps. We've spent a small mortgage at Aria, Altitude and Flower Drum and all three have the exceptional service, atmosphere and cuisine expected to match the bill. Unfortunately, although taking off well, Flying Fish went a bit limp, flailed, and then did an Icarus.

May 03, 2010 

3.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  1     

What a disappointment! We will not be back. On arrival a waitress was sent to check if the table was ready, after she did not come back the Maitre D went off to check. Clearly no communication or it seemed more of a personality clash. Not a great welcoming sign.

On getting to our table, we were given some water and no menus. We had to ask for the menus 20 minutes later after trying to get the attention of a waiter. There was also another wait to order the drinks and get them. It was well after 30 minutes before we had a drink after sitting down. We had to keep asking for our wines to be filled up, which they would fill up with 2 -3 mouthfuls at a time.

The food was good, however, it was overpriced. The restaurant lacked service and it was a real turn off. Especially as there seemed to be more staff than diners.

Apr 25, 2010 

5.5 Average

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  6     

I have dined at Flying Fish several times but why is it when you take a group to a restaurant that there is an off night? Eight of us arrived in the bar area, to find insufficient chairs resulting in a broken one found which we returned. Sushi/ Sashimi entrees shared and mains including prawn curry were very good, although a query about the fish curry brings me to my concern.

The reply was "you should have ordered it in advance" what about "you'll love the prawn curry, it's excellent" instead. The service was generally poor, slow, disinterested and not up to a hatted restaurant. There seemed to be someone dashing around coordinating things but in an ineffectual manner given the outcome on the night.

The birthday cake, the reason for the gathering (and there were two others on Saturday night), was a small 8"/20cm job with Happy Birthday written on a platter below. The cake arrived at the table and the waiter handed over the knife for it to be cut, why not with a candle promoting a spontaneous happy birthday, then the cutting of the cake. We waited a good half hour for it to be returned sliced for 8 with one spoon of ice cream, an ordinary end to a good meal.

We had a moderate four bottles of wine from a good extensive list at $75 and the bill was $1200 including a modest $60 tip. On leaving the restaurant we had to return because the valet parking for two cars which we asked to be put on the bill, had not been included, another $50. Not a disaster but not as spectacular a night as expected at Flying Fish.

Apr 22, 2010 

4.5 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  3     

Updating my review as now the waiting staff has deteriorated to amateur (Query cheap university students, certainly not pro's, at least on a Sunday).

Who gives a flying fig about this place? We will never be back after the last debacle. For this pricepoint, it must be in the bottom 15% of choices.

The food is just hanging on. The progressive deterioration over several years shows someone is over it.

Mar 15, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Fantastic experience here. Loved the set up, location was beautiful, food was incredible, enjoyed the wine selection and saki. Just a side note they do not take EFTPOS.

Mar 12, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  8     

Dined at Flying fish on tuesday night, it was busy but cosy. We had a table of 4 and each had a different dish. The food is presented simply but excecuted and seasoned perfectly. Our sommelier was knowlegeable and our waiter was very helpful and also knowlegeable.

Desserts were sublime, try the souffle, a perfect Autumn combination of flavours.
There is an old saying, you get what you pay for, and I truly believe we got our moneys worth. As we were leaving the lovely hostess informed us about a new lunch promotion for the month of March, all main courses listed on the menu for $29! great value, well done Flying Fish.

Mar 05, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  7      Value  7     

The service was a bit forgetful, but the food was really up to standard. I wanted for a long time to try out flying fish menu, and I am glad I did. The laksa is amazing and the lamb loin was very juicy. Very good overall, except for the parking. But this is Sydney.

Mar 04, 2010 

2 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

I just experienced the degustation menu and feel compelled to write this review. There were six of us at our table, it took one hour before we were even given a glass of wine, the first course from the menu took even longer to arrive.

The food was barely adequate, the servings were laughable and the service was absolutely appalling. We spent $1400 for six people for dinner. For that price I expect service, there was none! The servings were minute (which you do expect for degustation), but this was taking it too far. The cheese course consisted of a 1 cm scraping of cheese with a couple of millimetres of pear.

Dessert wasn't too bad, but it didn't arrive until midnight (4 hours after we got there). Most of the night was spent with empty wine glasses and no food. The guests we had taken were left to stare at empty spaces, we asked if we could have a glass of wine in the meantime and were ignored three times, until one of us actually got up and asked the manager (who didn't seem too happy to help).

What a dreadful experience from what is supposed to be one of Sydney's top restaurants. I urge the owner to send someone he knows incognito one night just to discover how truly dreadful his front of house staff are. This is the third time we've been to Flying Fish, we will never come back and will tell everyone how terrible it now is.

Feb 26, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

Such a wonderful restaurant. Service is perfect. Very friendly and informative. Food is inventive and the taste is to die for. Every dish we had from the entree to dessert was excellent. My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary and the setting was perfect. Even the drive through the wharf to get to the restaurant is something special. Love it.

Feb 24, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Dinner was enjoyed with a group of work colleagues last night. My meal was selected from the website and taken on a post it note, to the surprise of the waiter. My colleagues waited til they arrived at the restaurant to see the menu and hear the delightful specials menu. The waiter was very attentive with a great sense of humour (especially liked how organised I was). All meals were thoroughly enjoyed and the restaurant views enjoyed by the 3 international visitors.

Feb 10, 2010