Pier

3.8 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  3     

I was recently invited to a lunch at Pier as a guest with a small group of ladies recently.

The food was quite average and definitely not the best lunch I have ever had. I found no fault with it, just that it was nothing to rave about. Eyebrows were raised at the 10% non-gratuitous "Gratuity" charged for a Saturday lunch, simply outrageous.
And I didn't feel the love. I had to shout down the waiter who was busy servicing one of the other 2 tables of 4 (obviously a-la-carte and not on the "budget" fixed lunch menu we had) twice. The other table appeared to have walked out. I received my drink part way into being served my entree and was not given a napkin until I asked a couple fo times.

We were charged incorrectly for an non-existent person, then were told that should have checked it prior to payment after we detected their error. (We also didn't know about the surcharge!)

The food was nice but the service was arrogant and unprofessional re a simple and justified bill query.

All in all I had a very average 3 course lunch with one average glass of wine, overlooking a nice not spectacular view, lacklustre service, all for a princely hatted price! (only with no hats!)

won't be going back nor will I recommend which I often do. Maybe I should've stayed home.

May 28, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

1800h booking. My partner and I were right on time and we were taken to our table. A couple of pre dinner drinks, champagne and a gin and tonic, while we decided what to order. Entree was the scallops and the crab lasagne. Very very tasty and beautifully presented. We felt spoilt straight away and felt that this would be a special meal. The three scallops seared Pan fried to perfection, deliciously caramelised on the top and bottom. I was dubious about the crab lasagne but was delightfully surprised at the presentation, taste and texture of this delightful dish.

One of our mains was barramundi served with a mushroom consommé. The fish was cooked perfectly, the skin likewise was crisped to perfection evenly all over. The consommé did not overpower the natural flavor of the fish but rather complimented it to perfection.

Our other main meal was the pot lobster. Now this was a highlight. Perfectly I cooked whole lobster in an Asian inspired broth. What a treat!

Desserts were a blueberry violet crumble that was adventurous but exquisite in taste and presentation. The tapioca noodles provide a complexity in texture and the berries and black grape were the perfect end to a great meal. That said, the other dessert was not one I would order again, the Roqefort Creme Caramel.

I must praise the management here, this dessert comes with a polite warning from the waiter that this is a very strong flavored dessert that is not to everyone's taste. He was right! It appears to be an adventure in culinary creation gone a little awry but I cannot mark the restaurant down on this as it is simply not to my taste and did come with a caution forum the establishment.

All up, our experience was romantic, fulfilling and we certainly did not leave hungry. The service was great, the ambience was likewise and all was only detracted by the price which although expensive was not what I would describe as outrageous. The final dessert apart, everything was entirely edible and I have no doubt that there are many who would relish the Creme caramel with blue cheese where I struggled to understand it or appreciate it.

ALl up, a very very positive experience and highly recommended.

Mar 31, 2012 

3.5 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  4     

Ok so we all know that the view is amazing. The food is delicious and, in my opinion, you get what you pay for.

The service on the other hand is rude and arrogant. I had booked dinner for my girlfriend and I for her birthday. When I booked, I spoke with a lovely man who said that he would put in a request for a nice table.

When we arrived, we were seated on the lower section right next to the kitchen. I then walked up to the senior staff to complain about where we had seated and were told, very rudely I might add, that she would need to look at what was available and "let me know".

I then walked back to the table and overheard her complaining to one of her colleagues about the situation and that they can sit where they've been seated and just 'deal with it'.

The service did not get much better throughout the entire night. We had to keep asking for drinks. Our wine wasn't topped and we had to ask twice for the bill.
It is disappointing that such beautiful food and such an amazing location is let down by such rude, bad service.

Feb 25, 2012 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I suggest you visit Pier for an experience to taste stunning fresh seafood, you can’t go wrong with this place. You are guaranteed a satisfied meal with amazing service.

Read more on my blog

Feb 23, 2012 

4.8 Average

Food  3      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  2     

Just Fish....
Glorious view during the day - fades to black after dark. The scallop entree was beautifully arranged, but very bland. Similarly ocean trout main was quite tasteless (but with very crispy skin). Dessert was delicious - chocolate, cream, ice cream.
Overall, apart from the dessert, very plain food. Lovely view when the sun is out. Boring after dark [can't see anything but the road nearby]. Very expensive for very average fish...

Feb 17, 2012 

3.3 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  3     

Food was delicious, the seafood superbly fresh and everything well presented. The setting, especially at sunset, was lovely and we were having a really fantastic evening until just before dessert when we were asked by the maitre d' to be quiet! We were a group of four, all around 40 and my friends 70 year old mother, hardly a party table, and someone was telling a funny story which we were all laughing quite loudly at I admit.

We were certainly not rowdy all night or even for longer than five minutes and cannot believe such a request was made so rudely by the maitre d' to paying customers. My friends’ mother was mortified, we were all insulted and it completely ruined our night. I will never return and warn you, choose somewhere else if you plan on having even a modicum of fun.

Feb 16, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  7     

Went on a lovely sunny day for lunch. Service was lovely and welcoming. The food was a whole new experience. The food allowed us to taste new flavours and just amazing ideas that great chefs can come up with. This whole experience is what you are paying for. Definitely a place to try for special occasions.

Feb 15, 2012 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  6     

The food was delicious, but it was a little expensive. Well worth it, I would definitely go back on a special occasion.

Feb 08, 2012 

1 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  1     

From the noise of a wedding party of 20 seated in the same room as regular diners making conversation difficult, to the second hand smoke from smokers on the balcony only 10 feet from our table, things did not start well for our table of 6.

As we were seated a winelist was plonked onto the centre of our table and after another 10 minutes the waiter came to give us our menus and announced "You'll get bread after you order." even though no one asked.

Entrees arrived - several of us had scallops which were bland and unevenly cooked. The beetroot garnishes were also completely flavourless.

Main course was the real shock - I ordered roasted barramundi. It was resistant to cut, then I tasted it and nearly had to spit it out as it was so undercooked it was chewy. I pulled apart some of the flesh in the centre to find completely raw fish with blood still showing. When I called the waiter over to show him he patronisingly informed me that it was supposed to be cooked to medium rare.

Whatever the merits of that opinion with a white fish, this was raw and glutinous.

He took it back and several waiters gathered to ask me what I would like. I was not a happy diner by now and told them to bring me the snapper.

When you serve up raw fish to a diner I would think you should just shut up and bring a replacement but the snapper came to me with the bizarre announcement that "This has been professionally cooked for you. You should eat it from the outside in."

This time the fish was cooked adequately but still rather bland. My wife had the crab omelette which she said had the taste of crab but she couldn't find any actual crabmeat in it. There were more bean shoots than anything else and at $42 this is unacceptable. Other members of our party commented that their fish was undercooked and tasteless.

Later the waiter came up next to me and said "Thanks for being a good sport about that." Nobody watching my reaction to them could have possibly thought I was being a good sport so I can only assume he was being passive aggressive and sarcastic.

Mediocre desserts followed and we left.

Bland, poorly cooked, uninspiring food, second hand smoke and arrogant, patronising waiters made this possibly the worst restaurant experience I've ever had in Sydney. I would never go here again and would urge anyone who asked to do the same. Don't be fooled by the enticing images of the food on their website - these are from 2007 when Pier still had 3 hats and bear no resemblance to what is served today.

When you book a hatted restaurant in Sydney you should feel assured of a high standard of food and service. An experience like this does little for the credibility of the system.

The Pier should lose the hat they never deserved but if not, they should continue their tradition and hand it back in shame.

Jan 14, 2012 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Hadn't been to Pier since it dropped a Hat. I'm so glad it did. It has lost that stuffy, uptight air about it and is a bustling, relaxed and fun place for dinner with great food! There were five of us there and all of us were happy with our meals.

I had the Tuna Tartare for entree, which was superb, followed by fish special. This was nice but I am always a little disappointed when I order fish as I don't feel there is anything particularly special about pan frying a nice piece of fish (my fault for ordering it). Would go for the fish curry next time. Sides of fries and zucchini salad both good.

Dessert was spectacular and memorable. I had the Valrhona Chocolate dessert, everyone at the table was jealous! It tasted better than it looked. Yum! Wine list was extensive, wait staff I can't remember much about so they must have been very subtle and all in all, it was a great night out.

Would definitely go back.

Dec 31, 2011