Grand National

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

The restaurant part of Grand National is closed, but the bistro is open and its fantastic! The lovely guy who works behind the bar through the day is warm and friendly and this is without doubt the best pub grub in Paddington. The duck pasta is honestly the best duck (and lashings of it) in years! Their curry is fab. A must for good pub grub! They are I believe renovating over the next year or so so that will be great but in the meantime I'm there for lunch every week!

Feb 03, 2010 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  7     

Now that they have opened up the back part of The National you no longer have the battle for a table. Although this has taken away some of the "fun" it does make the experience a lot less stressful. Unfortunately, the back bar does lack something in ambience and lacks the hussle and bussle of the front bar, but if you are looking for decent food at reasonable prices then the National is still the place to go.

Sep 22, 2009 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

We went to the Grand National a year ago for an early dinner before a Rugby match (all being absolute Waratah tragics) and have been back twice this year. Food is excellent but the service is outstanding. Each time, we've actually regretted having to leave and keep promising to return so we can loll about for hours trying all the fabulous food.

The service staff are efficient, professional and friendly. Every meal has been of exceptional quality and beautifully presented. As each visit has been constrained by a time limit, we have been extremely impressed that all meals arrived quickly but without undue haste.

Would highly recommend the Grand National Dining Room and we'll be there again this weekend before the Barbarians game!

Jun 01, 2009 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  7     

Have always liked this restaurant and also love the pub next door, however, when myself and 3 friends dined a couple of Wednesday’s ago I was surprised at how quiet the place was. Other than us there were only 3 other tables occupied. The service is great but the food took a long time to come out. The kitchen was busy and it seems they now give precedence to the pub over the restaurant and we sat watching meal after meal go out to the pub whilst we sat hungry.

The wine list is good and the recommendations given we were very happy with. The staff could see we were wondering where our meals were and kept us supplied with bread but sadly that wasn’t enough to placate us. Once the food arrived it was good, or we were drunk enough by this point and would’ve enjoyed anything!

As I said, I do like this restaurant and I’m sad that it’s always so quiet now but, perhaps, if they put some emphasis back in that direction as opposed to concentrating on the pub traffic then maybe it will go back to how it once was.

May 14, 2009 

6 Average

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  6     

While the food was very good, it was disappointing to wait 2 hours for our meals and to experience some communication problems with the staff over our bill.

May 27, 2008 

4.5 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  1     

While the service is pretty decent, don't go here expecting good food. The food is average, disappointing and overpriced. I left feeling hungry and over charged. Not a place I would go back to, despite the professional service.

May 11, 2008 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

Have been here several times in the last 5 or 6 years and have always had a good experience. Food is very good, but the welcoming & professional service really makes it stand out in terms of Sydney dining options. The space is quite classy, so don't worry about the restaurant being attached to a pub - the pub is another world away. I agree with previous comments - the Maitre d' is outstanding.

Feb 12, 2008 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I have eaten in the Grand National Restaurant consistently for 8 years and I have to say I had my best meal ever there on January 5 2008. Whether it is the greeting from Emmanuel (who is finally getting the credit in the industry media he deserves) to the food (portions are always perfect for me), to the wine (in my opinion it is hands down the best and most reasonable when compared to other restaurants of the same or even lesser calibre).

I truly hope this meal marks the benchmark standard of quality for the years to come at the Grand National as if so, it should soon be ranked as one of the best restaurants in the state if not country. Congratulations. PS - even though this gem is aligned and operated in tandem with the pub next door, it is entirely a miss judgement to pigeonhole it as a pub restaurant, perhaps, it is this stereotype that stops the awarding of 2 or even 3 hats!

Jan 20, 2008 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

Loved the food, the taste combinations were excellent. The only problem for me, and I should clearly caveat that this is for me personally because I am a big eater, was that the portion sizes were not very big. I left a little hungry which one really doesn't want to do after spending 80 bucks on a gastronomic treat.

The service was top notch from all the staff, attentive and very friendly but not invasive . Again from my own egalitarian perspective, I cringe every time I am called "sir" because I don't like to think I am any better than the person bringing the plates out to me, so I found it a little obsequious for my palate. This really is something that unsettles me but won't unsettle anyone who wants to be treated royally in this beautiful place.

Ambience was smart, clean & aesthetically pleasing. The table we were at was a little on the pokey side but that's the only slight criticism that stopped it gettting a 10 score here.

Value - pretty good value for money in terms of all of the above but I would really like to be replete by the time I leave and spend the money I spent. The one last thing is personal for me - I hate coriander passionately and all the starters and mains were thankfully clear of the Green Evil but it came in the Dessert! What's that about!?

Jan 10, 2008 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Recently went to the 'nash' after a longish break. Veritable truth is spoken in the papers; Emmanuel Benardos is Sydney's best Maitre d'. Some may come close, but to experience true first class service make a reservation at The Grand National. The food is of a standard you would not expect in a pub restaurant. There are restaurants in Sydney that have been awarded more than one hat that are not as consistent. Go for the service!

Dec 12, 2007