Neutral Bay Bar & Dining

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

After moving to Neutral Bay recently, we finally dined at this wonderful restaurant last Friday night. The service was outstanding and the the food was incredibly good value. Shared bread to start, my partner's Trout Tartare was beautiful, I had the signature slow cooked pork shoulder & my partner had the pork rack, both were absolutely divine, cooked to perfection. We declined dessert as too full. They let us sit and drink our wine and brought over a complimentary pineapple granita, was a lovely touch. The bill was very reasonable, and on exiting, they gave a little bag with 2 pistachio nougats. We will definitely be back for dinner and also for happy hour & a burger at the bar. Well done!

Apr 23, 2012 

3.5 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  3     

What can I say, I have been here a few times and lastnight was the worst experience ever. The service was horrible. We ordered entrees and the "waitress" ordered 2 wrong dishes. Finally after 1 hour we received our mains. Pork was amazing as always but that was it. We won't be back.

Mar 18, 2012 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

Went for a celebration dinner and had the $65 banquet menu. The service before we arrived was great and on the night all the staff were really friendly and accommodating.

The food was delicious and there was heaps of it. The staff gauged what pace to bring the food out and kept checking in to ensure everything was ok.

The only downside was the bill at the end of the night, we think that may have been to do with the amount we drank and our choice of wine though. A few cheaper bottles of wine on the menu would have been good.

We will definitely go back.

Jan 29, 2012 

6.8 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  7     

A nice "safe" venue where you can take nanna and the kids, and everyone will find something to order, get a nicely cooked meal, and a good serving. My daughter and I had the squid, and the jamon entrees, both nice, then a couple of steaks.

The steaks came with 2 free "sides", and the salad was excellent. we found the service almost perfect, the recommended wines were fantastic, and our biggest surprise was 2 free desserts after our meal. Pretty much faultless night and would not hesitate to go back. $180 for two.

Dec 08, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  10     

We dined for the first time Saturday night, no preconceived ideas. Found the restaurant a must return. We ordered the pumpkin bread and four main meals four different vegetable dishes and dessert. Pumpkin bread really yummy, but the pork shoulder! Oh my God absolutely fantastic. The vegetable side dishes unbelievably tasty, then our last taste sensation was the chocolate pudding! The booths were novel, quite cosy, we enjoyed the ambience. Service was prompt although our dessert took it's time, not that we worried too much it was good to savour the main meal. Wine prices are what you would expect BYO probably be much more popular. Price wise excellent value, enjoying a night out having the best dinner, Priceless.

Jul 31, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Ambience  7      Service  2     

What a shocker! I would love to comment on the food and value, but as we were asked to wait in the bar for "about 20 minutes", and then ignored for the next hour, even by bar staff after finishing our drinks, I can't add a comment. It may have excusable if the bar area was full and we were lost in the crowd, but at 9.30 with no other patrons in the bar and a congregation of staff showing no interest in offering a further drink or seating us in the restaurant, we left for the far more welcoming atmosphere of Enopizzeria. An unfortunate experience, but thankfully there are plenty of other offerings in Neutral Bay.

Jun 26, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Second time back and we'll be back again soon! the veggie pie is crazy good as was the pork shoulder. The squid entree was so fresh and cannot be beaten anywhere. Even the pumpkin sourdough is delicious. Most surprising is that whoever selects the music at the venue has terrific taste! only bummer is the chips are average.

Jun 14, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  10     

Terrific food. Perhaps, the fitout is not quite as flash as some other restaurants in the area but it still has its own charm. But it's what on the plate that really counts and NBBD is in the same league as their sister restaurant Glebe Point Diner and significantly less expensive. Whole lamb cooked over hot coals was a highlight (how nice to be able to eat meat cooked on real fire!

I personally cannot stand this new fad for cooking meat in vacuumed plastic bags in water baths. Man first used fire to cook meat, and it's still the best way in my view), and my date's vegetarian pie (I think it had the cute name of 'Autumn Pie') was sensational. Who knew vegetables could be so tasty? We thought value was strong too, most mains in the mid-$20s, and a decent selection of wines for $35 and under.

That said there were some issues. It's a deceptively large restaurant with a few too many hard surfaces for my liking and the extractor fans make a pretty noticeable racket, a necessary evil if you're cooking with real fire I guess. So I would agree with other reviewers that the restaurant can get noisy. The service we received was efficient but don't expect any frills. This works for us as we don't like to be fussed over too much but high-maintenance diners might find the service harried.

But for food this good I for one am happy to put up with it. Very good to great experience overall.

May 18, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  9     

We have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while as we heard great things, and it did not disappoint. Apart from the noisy atmosphere everything else was perfect. We chose to go with the set menu and at $65 pp (or $55) you definitely get your money's worth. They put slightly new twists on each dish and everything was delicious and fresh. We're not big dessert people so we asked if we could alter the menu a little to substitute some extra entree's and they were more than accommodating. They then also gave us cheese platters to finish off the meal. Our waitress was lovely (Vassa) and very attentive. The wine list could have been slightly more extensive but the pricing was within reason for a fine dining restaurant. All in all I am itching for the opportunity to go back!

May 09, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

Tried this for the first time last night. Laid-back and relaxed atmosphere which was good for catching up with friends, though, perhaps, a little too noisy for a first date. We shared entrees and ordered our own mains, everything was wonderful though it was the whole suckling pig special that really got me, I'm a 'sucker' for perfect crackling and the accompanying salad of radish and apple nicely offset the moist pork.

We ordered a spread of desserts and 'small treats' to finish so were able to try about half a dozen or so sweet things, which was a great way to finish. Even with 3 bottles of wine and cocktails the bill was about $400 plus tip for six of us, which we all agreed was very reasonable. Service was charming and happily informal. Recommended.

Apr 22, 2011