Recommended based on 132 votes
(The Overall Rating is calculated using a Weighted Average)
Awards
2009
Galileo Restaurant awarded one Chef’s Hat – The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010
2008
Named best hotel in Australia by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine (US), January 2008
2007
Named “Best Five-Star Hotel” – Australian Gourmet Traveller – Sydney, May 2007
Overview of Galileo
Galileo is Sydney's leading five-star hotel restaurant with a proud record of excellence since its opening. It has been consistently recognised for its fine food and excellent wine list.
After a long-awaited and much anticipated arrival of new Executive Chef, Masahiko Yomoda to Galileo Restaurant at The Observatory Hotel, a new menu has been launched reflecting Yomoda’s signature French style yet surprisingly seasoned with international influences.
The interior of the restaurant is antique style which is very impressive. The degustation 8 course menu was ok but after 8 courses I still felt hungry, eventhough I'm not a big eater. I think a satiate is one of important part of meal.
My husband and I dined at the Galileo Restaurant this week, with a special price dining offer through a travel website. We have dined there before at their ala carte prices a few years ago, so know their very high standard. This time, I rather expected a reduced level of service for such a modest price of the two-course meal plus a bottle of premium wine shared, $58 per head, the equivalent cost of our food and wine being only a few dollars more than of one of their ala carte main courses. This assumption of, perhaps, receiving lesser service was very quickly dispelled.
The entree and main course were selections that are on the full ala carte menu, and were of outstanding quality and presentation. Not only were there delicate seeded pastry sticks served at the table in a wine glass containing a base of seasalt, but a divine appetiser of a small cube of chilled trout in a light citrus (?) sauce served in a martini glass was presented before the entree.
A choice of two types of freshly baked warm dinner rolls were also served. The chef's signature dish of crab mille feuille was a beautifully flavoursome entree, the spicy tomato coulis a perfect touch with the delicate crab and avocado. Equally delicious was the finely sliced tender lamb, rolled in a crisp coating and served with pureed parnips for the main course.
Our waiter, a delightful Czech man, was both charming and gracious who served us impeccably and with superb subtlety. Brilliant coffee and exquisite petit fours purchased additionally, completed the meal. An exceptional evening with exceptional food and service.
We will definitely return, next time to try the Degustation Menu.
Ate here as part of the Observatory Hotels stay and dine package, 1 nights accommodation, degustation dinner for two (beverages not included) and full Australian breakfast for two people.
At time of booking I asked if I could have the matching wines at the set price and was told no problems. Be warned. The wines as a part of this package are charged by the glass. And with 8 courses and 16 100ml pourings of wine makes for a very expensive night out. For example $55.00 for 200ml of champagne. The degustation courses were all cold and nothing to rave about.
Of course I could have had just the Degustation on its own but I thought I was getting the wines at the set price and wanted the complete experience. The service was mediocre but I've rated it a six because the breakfast staff were excellent. Great place to stay but I will not be in a hurry to return to Galileo Restaurant.
Had a special weekend in the city and dined at Galileo's. Although it was a bit hard to get the waiter's attention to get a drink, the food was fantastic. Meals took along time to get to our tables considering our booking was late and there were only 4 other tables by the time our order was taken.
Ambience would have been a 9 but we has to listen to the table next to us complaining numerous times, loudly why they still didn't have their food. We were in no hurry so overall thought the food was worth the wait. Good to try but in no rush to go back as value for us wasn't there and there are so many other restaurants at this level in the city to try.
Exceptional service. The wine list was good. Food was also very good. Effectively three degustation choices. Beef was well cooked but lobster was deep fried which masked the flavour of the lobster. Dessert (the peach soup and cheese) was slightly disappointing. Most patrons may have been from the hotel but worth travelling to this gem.
Ate here recently and was not impress. The decor was quite old fashion, a bit like eating in a restaurant at the back of an old pub. My entree of scallop was good and recommended, but the main of fish wrapped in pantry then deep fried was dry and fairly tasteless. My partner's lamb was ok, a bit on the raw side. The wait staffs meant well and were attentive.
A recent Saturday night dinner for two was very impressive. The degustation meal was all it promised to be, the matching wines were just that and we were very happy with the whole evening. Service was to a very high standard and the ambience reminded us both of much higher priced European restaurants. The restaurant certainly deserves one hat and is, in our opinion, well on the way to two.
Went there for Mr Man's birthday. When I called to book the table and inform them about his allergies, they asked if it was a birthday. When I said yes, the person who took my call mentioned that they'll do something special for him on the night. That sounds cool. Anyway, we make our way to the dining area and greeted by a maitre d' who was so distracted that he said no (abruptly) when I asked for my table. He has the cheek to ask "do you have reservations". Dude, I can see my own name on the register.
Bad start. So we order one of the best scallops and wagyu we have both ever tasted, except that the service was extremely haphazard. I was not asked what water I wanted, and was automatically given Italian mineral water. That was presumptuous when the water jug is located near our table. We were then offered bread which never came. We had pomme frites (spuds) which were undercooked.
When we mentioned this to the waiter, he said "oh, thats a shame". Nothing was done about it and we didn't finish it. We did the Good Food deal of 2 main courses for $49, so we were preparing to leave but I remembered the offer when I booked the table about "doing something special for mr man". Well, nothing eventuated. We declined dessert and responded that we had a birthday cake at home, and the response was also "oh" nonchalantly.
Bill came and we were charged for yuck pommes. Do the chefs know about this? It really marred the experience for us, though the food was fantastic. The service somewhere else was so much better even though they had a full house when we were there just 4 days ago.
I've been to Galileo several times now, and I think that the food and service both fluctuate. The food can be absolutely divine at times (try the soups for entrees, generally always lovely, the unbelievably tender lamb for the main, or the mindblowing chocolate fondant dessert). A further note on ta chocolate fondant, actually one of the best desserts I have tried in my entire life. Service can be amazing too, incredibly polite and thoughtful (such as offering hot water and lemon when I mentioned I had a sore throat).
However, both aspects can take also be less than impressive. The foie gras pie was burnt and overly rich, the wagyu, dare I say it, chewy and almost dry. You may also encounter slow service between courses, or a peculiar indecipherable mumbling waiter who steadfastly refuses eye-contact.
Overall, though, Galileo is a wonderful restaurant, and of particular value with the new midweek special, we will definitely be returning!
Full Australian $49 pp
Continental $39 pp
Children (under 12) $22.50
Dinner
Table d'Hote Menu
Includes cofee & petit fours
Set Menu
3 courses for $88.00
Degustation
8 courses
Without wine $110.00
With wine $190.00
8 Course Galileo Degustation Menu
Prices last updated: 11/2009
Bookings
Bookings Essential
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday: 6:30pm-10pm
For all reservations and inquiries please contact us on:
Ph: 02 8248 5250
Email: crm@observatoryhotel.com.au