Seven Lanterns

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Probably one of the best restaurants in the Sutherland Shire! We had a fantastic meal last night with a large group and enjoyed the new 'Royale' menu. Everything was delicious, obviously a great deal of thought has gone into the menu. The sake cocktails are awesome and something a bit different. A few hiccups with the service but overall a great dining experience. David is very attentive and will make sure everyone is happy and enjoying themselves, which is a nice personal touch. Can't wait to go back for a meal at the teppan grill.

Response from Management:
Oh catty80, you came on the night the 'New Royale' was launched and you still have nice things to say about us! It wasn't a hiccup, it was more like a 'throw up'! Thanks for being so understanding. But then maybe it was the Sake Sangria.
David

Nov 06, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

How to review this restaurant. Simply Amazing, we couldn't fault a thing.
The food is just magic, we enjoyed the Grande 6 courses and were glad we did!
The Marble Black Angus Steak is so good we went back for seconds after dessert! It is that good.

The Ambience, it is a small restaurant but is really nice with the Chefs cooking at some of the tables. Certainly an experience.

Service, for us was just impeccable. One of our party was a celiac/gluten intolerant. Everything was checked to ensure compliance, even having the owner bring out the sauces for us to double check. The wait staff are extremely friendly and prompt.

Value is very good, the quality of the food and service is certainly covered by the menu prices, not expensive considering what some local restaurants are charging with only half the quality. We enjoyed our experience so much that we returned within 7 days and again the food was exactly the same, this is how I judge the quality of a restaurant.

We will be back many times over.

Response from Management:
Reading your other reviews, you have dined around everywhere including some really reputable establishments but still scored us very highly. I am so grateful and encouraged but also praying that we never slip and disappoint Seven Lanterns' loyal diners like yourself. Thanks, EatingPleasure.

Oct 07, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

How fantastic it is to have a high quality Japanese restaurant in The Shire. We were a group of seven and we all chose the teppanyaki set menu with salmon. Every dish was delicious. The salmon fillet and the prawn were my favourites. The kids were also accommodated with the children's banquet menu which they all enjoyed. You must try the sake sangria - Yum! Service was faultless. We will definitely be back!

Response from Management:
I'm glad the kids enjoyed their meal and you obviously the Sake Sangria - careful though, it's disalarmingly alcoholic! Thanks for the review, moodforfood.

Sep 21, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  10     

The owner David makes this place what it is. He is incredibly friendly, he regularly does the rounds on the tables, and is the reason people keep coming back.

The wait staff can be a little slow and nervous, but they are improving. The food is amazing and David is obsessed with making sure it is cooked and presently excellently. My favourite is the beef hot pot, simply amazing. The shire is not renowned for good places to eat, 7 lanterns is changing this.

The upper level is fantastic for functions, or for a more casual dinner on the lounges, particularly if you choose the tasting menu.

Response from Management:
I could ask for a raise with a review like this, roosterintheshire! Shame I own the restaurant. Perhaps I should ask CBA...who owns me! Thanks roosterintheshire.
David

Sep 21, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8      Drinks  8     

I selected 8 for drinks as you can byo and I like that, didn't drink anything else other than water from the restaurant. Food was nice particularly the entrees. Hope to go back sometime for the Teppanyaki bar. Service was friendly and helpful.

Went back again on Saturday night and the main I choose was even better this time, the sizzling hot pot rice dish, it was amazing. My friends loved their meals too, and the service is good and so friendly. Can't wait to go back.

OK, so just went back for the 3rd time and once again the food was amazing - this has become my fav restaurant and I hope to get back often! My friends & I kept raving about it the next day when we caught up.

Response from Management:
1. Glad you like our BYO policy and yes, pls do try our Teppan menus!

2. It's such a confidence booster when you let us know you returned AND enjoyed the experience as much. Welcome back, bab10j!

3. Goodness me, bab10j, readers gonna think we're related! You have become my fav customer. Thanks for the 'raving'
David

Sep 15, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

I decided to have my leaving party here as I'm going travelling for several months through Asia. I've heard so much about Seven Lanterns that I had to make it my last big night out in Sydney. We dined upstairs which is recommended and most in the group went for the 7 course Degustation menu. Each course was beautifully prepared using the finest and freshest produce available. The food portions were perfectly sized and the elegant and sophisticated flavours are a testament to the team in the Kitchen. Does not shun BYO, which is a nice feature to this great restaurant.

Response from Management:
Have a safe trip, jtito! And I do expect you to bring back some great photos & recipes. Thanks for the review!

My friend and I, on the way to Eastwood dined at Il Vicolo after reading your review. Superb, jtito!

David

Sep 10, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Went here last night with my fiancée and sat at the teppan bar for the 6 course Grande set menu. Everything came out well timed. The food was fresh and amazingly delicious.

The standouts were the large king prawn, the clear noodles (vegan and gluten free) and the scotch fillet steak... Yum!

We also had a jug of the sake sangria named "My name's David and I'm an alcoholic". This was refreshing with no overpowering tastes of alcohol, sweet or sourness. Everything was very well balanced.

Now, if you think that teppanyaki is messy and that you should avoid wearing white clothes, you will be pleasantly surprised with Seven Lanterns. The teppanyaki chefs don't throw fried rice and eggs at you. It's more of a show of cooking techniques rather than throwing techniques.

David, our host for the evening was very friendly and looked after all diners in the restaurant with a pleasant friendliness. I will definitely be back here. A credit to David and the team at Seven Lanterns. This restaurant is about quality not quantity. We left feeling satisfied and not bloated and horrible like when you leave other restaurants.

Response from Management:
Thanks for your review, jndk! I'm particularly impressed with your knowledge of Sangria. Perhaps you can make one up for us and name it "Here is Johnny"

Aug 31, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

Just come back from an impromptu 1st visit to this local Asian fusion restaurant and we are quietly impressed. We took the full degustation option to try dishes on offer and the kids were thankful for a Junior degustation option. There a many places offering tasting menus that could pick this up as a good idea. There are families out there who enjoy fine dining with their kids and have children who appreciate it as well.

The upstairs has a totally different ambience to what passersby see downstairs and far more cosy and inviting. The food is elegantly presented and prepared with a light touch in flavours. The Marble beef steak was the standout course for the kids with the Emperor's prawn a close second. Both are must-try's.

Seven Lanterns is culinary gem to the Shire and needs to be better supported by those over the bridge. As with many Japanese cuisines, do not come here expecting buckets of food for communal shovelling. Visit for a contemporary Asian food experience that leaves you wondering what the next menu will have. Well done David & team. Thank you for your gracious hospitality.

Response from Management:
Wow, you took the words right out my mouth - couldn't have described our intentions any better. And so grateful that you appreciated Jnr degustation! Let's teach them young! Thanks KenJo.

Aug 20, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9      Drinks  9     

David thank you for a great night, fabulous food and the Sapporo's felt more than 18 great host, keep up the great experience, regards Graeme and group.

Response from Management:
Dang, those Sapporos..always end up stealing my shows!! Pleasure having you and thanks for your encouragement.

Aug 13, 2011 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9      Drinks  7     

Having lived and dined in some great restaurants in Japan until recently, I was not going to participate in ‘rice bowl catching’ which is considered extremely rude and un-cultured by Japanese. I was all prepared to give a long lecture to my friend who organised the dinner.

Well, by the end of the night I guess my friend cultured me! What an amazing dining experience (there was no food throwing) and an incredibly innovative menu. It was an invitation only 10 course degustation that was supposed to be experimental but I am so sold I want to be on their invitation list for their next experiment! The emperor’s prawn, Softshell crab, Beef rib hot pot…. My goodness, they were all good.

Listening to the owner there was no doubt he and his chefs were passionate about their food and were very keen to be pioneers. The Shire sure has come a long way since I left. Perhaps, only drawback with this place would be the lack of good sake list. With the quality of food they serve it’s surprising they don’t have at least some variety of sakes. Hopefully the management will read this and do something about it. But regardless, I am going back!

Thanks for the sake list!

We're keep going back because Seven Lanterns is the most consistent restaurant I've ever been to in terms of quality and service. And thanks for letting me BYO my sake, David. See you soon!

Response from Management:
Thanks for coming back, foreigner and my sincere apologies for soon to be gone Sake list - there just aren't enough interest. But you can always ask for one of my secret stash!

Aug 04, 2011