Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, The

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  6     

Went here for my partner's birthday. Two friends recommended it (one recommended the snapper pie). Seated promptly, waiter was a bit aloof but fairly pleasant but not friendly, on a table by the window facing the Anzac bridge, a great spot. He brought and poured the wrong beer for my partner and didn't look too pleased with the mistake "I thought you said James Squire". Was pretty busy for a Wednesday night, order took a while to take but we didn't mind as we enjoyed the ambience.

For entree, I had the sand whiting with calamari and consomme. My partner had the king salmon with lime creme fraiche and lobster jelly. Both were really yum, the salmon coming out on top. Entree was served with thin, fresh bread and butter, table water and I had the Reisling, partner had the Chardonnay, both good.

For main, I had the kingfish with lentils and carvalo nero. Was yummy but the presentation and bland colour of the dish was off putting (green puree, brown lentils and grey fish). Most of the dishes weren't too colourful. My partner had the smoked marling with mushrooms and mussel butter. YUM! Another winner. A side of hand cut chips with fennel and salt, yummy but unnecessary.

For dessert, I had the double chocolate pudding with strawberries, my partner the pine nut nougatine with figs. Throw in a port and dessert wine and it was a sumptuous dinner. Value wasn't too good, as the service was 'good enough', food was tasty and interesting but not mind blowing. The setting and ambience of the place are a winner, though parking is a downer.

For $240 for the meal for two, it was okay value. It was not as "swanky" as everyone made it out to be but the usage of the ingredients was interesting. Glad I tried it, probably wouldn't recommend it as #1 to others but definitely worth a try.

Apr 17, 2008 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

So it's famous for the oysters, and quite rightly so. They don't come much fresher and with such good variety. The rest of the menu is kind of what you would expect and can get pricey but for me it's the oysters you would come for. Book ahead and ask for a corner window seat.

Mar 16, 2008 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Always been spot on for me. A safe choice for a special night out, always a selection (seafood in particular) that will be enjoyed and great wine list too.

Mar 15, 2008 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  6     

Everything was very good indeed, including the bread, the marlin and the kingfish. Don't order the tuna entree if you are a hungry male as the portion size defies even "nouvelle cuisine". The truffle oil on the rocket and parmesan salad is a bit overpowering as well. But all in all stunning location, excellent service and top ambience.

Mar 09, 2008 

6.3 Average

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  5     

Lovely meal at this restaurant on Sun evening 2/3/08, disappointed in the service given the cost, waiter was pleasant, didn't place serviette, some wine not available, still on wine list, waiter needed a shower and then expected a tip at the end! (He made a comment!). Poor form in a restaurant that serves wonderful fare, need to employ better standard of wait staff who deserve a tip!

Mar 08, 2008 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  6      Value  6     

I was at the boathouse last night for a large company dinner. We waited in the bar area for quite a while for our table. The cocktails were great and the service very prompt. It took quite a while for our orders to be taken once we were seated but the food was fantastic. I had the goats cheese tuille entree which was unusual but delicious, then shared the gnocci and the pork with a friend of mine.

Both were delicious. The bread and butter also deserves a special mention. YUM! We rounded off the meal with the delicious cheese platter and some port. A very enjoyable meal, I loved the ambience and the view. Waitstaff were a bit mixed, all competent but some were a bit cold.

Mar 01, 2008 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

Went here on a Sunday evening recently and had one of the best restaurant experiences ever! Food, atmosphere, the view, the service was all fantastic! The waiter's personality was a plus, very friendly, very knowledgable about the menu, and his professional service was great.

The food was faultless, there were 5 of us and we all had 3 courses and it was all superb, needless to say the snapper pie was amazing. We all agreed it was one of the best meals ever, and our friends from Melbourne were extremely impressed.

Prices are high but worth it as it was a real dining experience.

Feb 05, 2008 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  7     

Fantastic selection of French champagne, moderately priced, interesting nouveau inner west cuisine. Let's keep this to ourselves. Eastern subs and Mosman guest not welcome. Desserts to die for. Very cold beer. Tables well spread out. Wait staff almost invisible.

Feb 04, 2008 

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  5     

My boyfriend and I came here on a Thursday night and were given a nice, though squashy, spot by the window. Service was professional though cold and no one asked how our meal was or said good bye when we left.

The bread was a disappointment, our entree of grapefruit cured ocean trout was quite nice apart from the crispy skin (but that's just personal taste) and our mains were quite tasty (snapper pie and blue eye trevalla). We ordered a side of rocket, pear and parmesan salad and it was awful!

We didn't stay for dessert but they were kind enough to order us a taxi upon request. Was surprised to see a wine list with only a few Australian wines, instead it was made up of French, Spanish and Italian. Overall it was enjoyable enough and I would give it another go.

Dec 29, 2007 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

Fantastic - the crab & scallop lasagne, delicious. The kingfish was great. A friend had the snapper pie and absolutely raved about it. The room is a bit noisy but the food and service were perfect.

Dec 10, 2007