Fresh User Reviews for Fine Dining in Sydney

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  3     

Sigh! My general belief that restaurants that appeal to tourists are not much good, has sadly been proved correct on many occasions. For a long time, Catalina was a noble exception. Alas, on last visit the food, although good, was no longer great and the service was, how can I put it politely? Disappointing. bye bye Catalina.

May 31, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  9     

Very fresh Sushi/Sashimi and a great Sake selection! Must go back soon.

May 31, 2012

2 Not Recommended

Food  1      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  1     

I have been there, as Tom B. says the service was very very poor, also, small amount of food in the huge plate, you can finish it with one forg action, it was $40 and for small amount of food.

I can tell that, it was the worst and poor service I have ever had. If you want to have this experience, don't hesitate to be at Efendy.

May 31, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Superb Food! love going there! Chef is v friendly and comes to greet you when food is served. Yeah! you won't find many people there on weekdays as this place suits more for big parties with a spl place for dance. Would always prefer it for my parties and recommend my friends too!

May 31, 2012

9.2 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

We went here for my boyfriend's birthday and it was perfect. Exactly what I was hoping for. We went for the 8.15pm sitting as we didn't want to be rushed. The staff were fantastic, not pushy and offered some great tapas (mushrooms, squid and meatballs). We followed this with the chciken skewers. The vibe was dark, sexy and romantic in the resturant. The sangria was great! It would be good though if it came in a jug as opposed to buying it by the glass ($15 per glass).
I would definitely go back again.

May 31, 2012

8.4 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Drinks  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Went Saturday with friends for my birthday. The design is stylish and inviting which seemed to suit the diverse crowd. Lots of tasty tapas arrived hot and fast (prawns wrapped in jamon and paella sensational). We all had a great night so a big thanks to all!

May 30, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  7     

Great location. Perfect backdrop. I like the food but it is a little on the expensive side for what you get. Service is always solid. Good winelist.

May 30, 2012

4.3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  3     

Firstly – the view is spectacular. However, this isn’t enough to make up for the incredibly slow service, the tatty furniture and the average food at ridiculous prices.

We were seated along a couch on one side of the table and although it was stuffed with cushions you could see all the wear and tear on it, making it look like furniture from a youth hostel rather than a nice restaurant. Similarly the metal surfaces needed polishing and there were crumbs on the chairs.

We arrived at 12pm for our lunch booking and didn’t get our entrees until 1.30pm. It then took another hour for mains. We had asked repeatedly about the delay and in the end we wanted to leave before the mains even came. When they did arrive they were really average and somehow things which should have been flavour-packed were bland. The only mains that some of our group enjoyed were the simple grilled fish, although again the sauces served with them were nothing special. And for $35+ dishes you feel ripped off.

I wouldn’t come back here, there are far better places around.

May 30, 2012

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

My husband took me to Otto's for a surprise birthday dinner, and it was such an impressive dining experience. The food is exceptional and well deserving of their One Chef's Hat (although personally I think it matches the criteria of Two Chef's hats). The service was professional and charming from our arrival right through to the end of the meal.

I highly recommend the souffle with truffle for entree. It was exquisite, with the right feathery and silky texture you would expect from a perfectly baked souffle. My main of smoked duck breast, raisin puree and roasted hazelnuts was absolutely gorgeous, the meat was beautifully tender, moist and melted in the mouth. Absolutely one of the best duck dishes I've eaten. A side order of truffle infused potato mash was so delicious and creamy my husband and I were fighting over the last spoonful.

The dessert menu is innovative and creative. I ordered the Amaretto liqueur brûlée with cocoa meringue, amaretti biscuits, cherries and sour cherry sorbet. Such a complex and quirky dessert item sounds impossible to execute but it was simply delightful. It's cheeky presentation looked like a little campfire on the plate.

I highly recommend Otto's if you are after a memorable dinner. Ask for seating upstairs if you are seeking a quiet, romantic dinner. My only complaint is to do with the furniture, the tables are too small which warrants the need for extra caution not to knock something onto the floor, and the chairs were uncomfortable. Othwerwise, Otto's gets a huge tick of approval.

May 30, 2012

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Booked in for a mid-week meal for a special occasion. We were the only couple in the entire restaurant, so felt a little awkward. The waiter we had was absolutely professional. Pity about his colleague who kept pacing the restaurant with obviously nothing to do. Food, however, was delicious (duck entree was nice) and worth the slight awkwardness. Furnishings were impressive. Worth trying, it has promise.

May 29, 2012

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

We went here on the weekend with my work colleagues as it was recommended by a very close friend of mine. Service was terrible, we had to ask everything at least 3 times before it got delivered to our table.

Food quality was really average, massive plates with very small amount of food. I also didn’t expect the prices to be 5 star restaurant for this place.

Overall it was a very bad experience for everyone at the table, the place looked nice but bad management!

May 29, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

The food was so delicious and plenty enough to go around. Staff were friendly and explained us for many details. Your staff were just brilliant. So friendly yet very professional.

May 29, 2012

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  7     

Good location, always busy with full of customers. Nice and fast service but a little bit pricey. We are regulars here and would always go back.

May 28, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  10     

We were a group of 6 eating here 26/5 and were worried after reading previous review. Not sure if they went to the same place but the food was great tasting, fresh and came quickly. Servers were pleasant, came back with plenty of rice and cold water for the table. Altogether a pleasant experience and would return and recommend to others.

May 28, 2012

5.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  5     

Have been to this restaurant on many occasions with mixed results. The couple we were dining with arrived a few minutes before us, and their pre-dinner drink had just arrived as we got to the table.

The inability to get the attention of someone to allow us to order a drink set the precedence for the evening. Our companions mentioned several times the inability to get service when required, (quote "the staff here are very good at not making eye contact). We had a white and a red wine (not the cheapest restaurant for wines).

The red was "stored" by the staff and I think this is fine, as long as they take responsibility for ensuring the glasses are replenished, since the bottle isn't at the table to allow you to do this yourself. Waiters emerge when they want to sell you something, or you become invisible.

Food was Ok. I think the service and food is better at lunchtimes. I note other reviews mention the oysters as not fresh, however, I found them fine on this occasion.

I ordered the special steak (the carcass got 2nd place at the Easter Show and they "were sure to sell the final cuts of it tonight"). It wasn't as good as I've had there, and I was a little envious of the steaks everyone else ordered. (I don't learn - I've been trick into this before, and am invariably disappointed).

Steaks were well cooked. One comment about the accompanying sauce. At $3.50 each, being a small individual serving of the Bearnaise or Green Peppercorn of about 30 mls - adds $14 to a bill for 4. If you want to really enjoy the view, go for lunch.

I'll certainly be back, probably for a business lunch. I'm less sure about the venue for a social night out.

May 28, 2012

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  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  10     

Degustation for $49 is a very good value by chef Kevin Seo. Also had a additional courses, blue cheese ice cream course with pretzel was our favorite of the night.

May 28, 2012

7.7 Recommended

Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

Took the Mrs here on Sat night and was pretty impressed, the room is long and thin but has a nice ambience with the open kitchen being a good thing to watch. Wine list is ok and the menu is pretty good if not a little safe but you can hardly complain if good produce is well cooked and presented.

Shared a few things from the small bites menu: calamari, caramelised onion tart and prawns. All were very nice, light and flavoursome, the highlight was the crispy fried prawns which were huge and delicious. All of these items came quickly.

Mains were just as good, wifey had the salmon and I had the lamb, both were from the wood grill thingy. Very nicely done and it had a great smokey flavour, coupled with the fennel salad, it was pretty much perfect amount of food. Prices were at the top end for serving size but again, no dramas for me if it is well cooked and done well.

Had a few glasses of wine from the list, not many choices but enough to get through a meal and all were brought quickly to the table. Service was a little rushed and they reminded you at booking, upon seating and at meal that you must clear the table by a certain time. Busy Saturday so no grudge there.

May 28, 2012

3.8 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  2      Service  5      Value  1     

We had not been to Beppi's for a few years and decided to visit last Saturday night. The restaurant was very overcrowded with tables packed closely together.

The food portion sizes were tiny, however, the bill certainly was not. Cost for garlic bread, 3 veal and 1 lamb dish, 2 beers and the cheapest red wine on the list was $300. The main course was on the table within 10 minutes of our order and I had the feeling they wanted the table back as quickly as possible. I had fond memories of Beppi's being a fine dining restaurant in the past, however, I was disappointed to find that although the food was quite good, it is now simply an overcrowded, overpriced establishment.

May 28, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Went there for a quick Sunday lunch in the. The place was quite full around 1:30 pm.

Ambience: The atrium was the only area servicing lunch, like a courtyard it was not a bad area to spend a couple of hours.

Food: Had three kinds of their home-made terrines, two were really nice, but the foie gras/mushroon/veal roll was sort of tasteless and too fatty, would not recommend. I ordered it because it looked good on the board, look can be deceptive!

Beverage: Had several wines by the glass, not a bad selection.

Service: Our waitress was very friendly and the service was good.

Value: $70 for a light lunch and two wines, it was okay. Might go back to try the full menu.

May 28, 2012