Fresh User Reviews in Sydney

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

I had recently organised a party for 12 people at Sapore, and I couldn't have been happier. The food and service was amazing. We all had different meals and every single person on the table loved the food. It was so fresh and tasty. We'll all be back soon.

May 31, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

We had a fantastic night at the Vanguard. The food is amazing. I had the Braised beef shoulder ravioli and my partner had the smoked ocean trout carpaccio. For our mains we both had the sweet potato risotto. Portion sizes were good and the food tasted amazing.

Unfortunately, we were to full for desserts. They have a great wine list with quirky wines I was not familiar with but the waiter lead me in the right direction with a Pinot Blanc from Alsace France. We can't wait to comeback and check out on of there in house burlesque shows.

May 31, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  8     

Both the trout pate and the BLT were excellent, and so were the chips. Prices may seem a bit steep considering the only menu is at the counter, and that's where you have to order also. But the portions are so large, I'd conisder this place value for money. The lovely setting is just a bonus.

May 31, 2012

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

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

This is an excellent place. Staff are wonderful, the food is simple but so well prepared and delicious. They are local to where we live, so will definitely be a regular customer.

May 31, 2012

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

We live in Narrabeen and have been waiting a while a restaurant like this to start up locally, so we were really excited to try it out. As new parents to a newborn, it was our first (and long awaited) dinner out and as such, we were really looking forward to it. I had walked past numerous times and always seen the beautiful dishes served to people eating there.

The restaurant is beautiful, waitstaff were very friendly and helpful, and the menu had lots of great options. Our only complaint, and the reason we have not returned, is that my husband ordered a $48 wagyu steak and asked for it to come medium/rare, and to his disappointment, it came medium/well-done.

The only reason we did not send it back, is that we were quite pressed for time (with a newborn due to wake up) so, we left feeling a little disappointed. Other than that, the rest of the food was delicious, which is why I have given it a 7/10.

May 31, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

If you are looking for good old-school Chinese food, Dumpling Inn is the place. There is nothing modern about the decor, the service or any other aspect of this restaurant but the reason why it's stood the tests of time in it's obscure location is because the food is delicious and reasonably priced. If you get a chance try the Honey King Prawns and Mongolian Chicken.

May 31, 2012

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Had a great time at Frightnight for my Birthday on Sat night! Didn't stop laughing from the time I arrived. If you want a great night out you can't go past Frightnight.

May 31, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  9     

Ate early at 6:30pm, we came for the Wednesday special, mussels cooked in a variety of way for three. The servings of mussels were enjoyed by the three of us and consumed with gusto. Our fourth member enjoyed a tender steak. Before and as we ate we all enjoyed the fine beers on tap!

The atmosphere is excellent and even though the restaurant area was next to the bar the noise level was acceptable and a good conversation was able to be conducted over the meal.

For visitors to Sydney, easy access to this area is possible by the bus system.

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

3 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

A leopard doesn't change it's spots, I can't think of a better way to sum up the Black Pony Cafe.

The senior staff used to run The Stockmarket Cafe at Leura. Great food at both places, however, the terrible, rude service makes the Black Pony a no go zone for me.

It is such a shame, you would have thought they would have paid attention to the terrible feedback they got in Leura and worked on training up their staff before moving locations and starting again.

Maybe the senior staff just doesn't care but I think they will find they can rely less on one off tourists here and locals just aren't going to put up with plates being slammed down and completely unhelpful rude service. I gave it a go but like my opening sentence stated, nothing has changed here.

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

4 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  1     

Two people working the kitchen, 20 people waiting for meals, needless to say the food arrived some time later and when it did I wish the chef had waited an extra 5 minutes for the pasta to have cooked properly.

The wait staff were good but waiting 45 minutes for a meal at lunchtime in the CBD is not good business.

Besides the food was terrible. Despite being hungry I couldn't finish the meal and I rarely leave a meal not cleared. Didn't have any dessert which did look very good but as I was so late back to work no coffee/dessert for me. Won't go back.

May 31, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  3      Service  2      Value  5     

The arrival of this restaurant in North Turramurra was a welcomed addition to the offerings in the area, replacing the defunct Quattro and hopefully offering more accessible pricing than the upmarket Cooks Garden.

We've eaten there twice and attempted to book for a third time only to find it booked out on a Friday evening.

The menu and the quality of the food are to be commended, this place could be a real gem. The experience, however, is really let down by ambience and most of all service.

The ambience would be greatly enhanced by the installation of a door closer as the door blows open frequently rendering the closest tables useless. The table layout is confusing and cramped but that could easily be turned into an advantage if staff were able to work effectively with it.

The real problem is front of house. Leaving people waiting at the door or outside it causing confusion, the lack of effective table planning (get policy right on reservations), the lack leadership on the floor and the under trained staff who clearly have no game plan to work to. All this can be resolved readily, employ an empowered front of house manager, define a service plan, train the staff, monitor them and provide feedback.

I want to see this place succeed and I hope that they are able to work on this because the food is really good but they are turning off many locals at the moment.

May 31, 2012

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  2     

Thought we'd try somewhere different before a night at the state theatre.

We shared a bottle of wine and were offered water. We were presented with a 600mL bottle of Mt Franklin for $7.00. This would be fine if it was a high end restaurant, but for a restaurant which appears like a diner it was a bit much.

I had the salmon teriyaki which was over cooked and, therefore, too dry. It was served with rice and a single leaf of bok choy. Although the sauce was good, there was not enough.

The service was superficial. The waitress became bitter after we suggested that we'd not requested bottled water. Will not be returning.

May 31, 2012

4.5 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  5      Value  3     

Very disappointing. I was a semi regular visitor. The food was good but the excessive loud Turkish music and heavy smoking which comes back through the open doors really made it a not enjoyable venue. Never again.

May 31, 2012

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

I'm in love with their sushi train and price is fine compared with other such establishments. Highly recommended.

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

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

I have been Thai on Sky for over 5 years. The food are always good. The black board always highly recommended. Massaman lamb shank is to die for. The service is good, they are perfect English. It was full house that Saturday night. Six of us on the table were comfortable. We have a very enjoyable night.

May 31, 2012

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  9      Service  5      Value  5     

This is a beautiful restaurant for a special occasion and a nice dining experience, especially for 'commoners' like me who would not normally have this place on the radar and better still when it's a business 'shout'.

Definitely a place where people come to be seen rather than dine. Fortunately my back was to the Eastern Suburbs faux 'socialites' and the view out to the vegie garden was far more appealing.

The 'Collective Menu' made our 9 person group easy to cater for with all choices covered. Of the 12 small dishes the olives, lamb and rhubarb eclair were the stand outs. We did not go hungry and we were supplied with our left overs for take home and my Jack Russell agreed on the lamb as well!

The service was Ok but the over the top 'flamboyant' waiter was overkill for me and he was trained as a parrot to answer everything, but know nothing. The wine list was as boutique as you could expect with many local choices and of course prices to match.

Would I go again? Yes, if someone else was paying, but No if it was my money, there are better and more 'comfortable' establishments elsewhere.

May 31, 2012