HAL2100

7.3 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

If you avoid busy times and pick good weather it's a great restaurant. During busy times it can start to fall flat and stay away in bad weather.

The location is superb and the food is generally good, but not great. On a nice evening (almost all seating is outdoors) you can have a memorable time. Good food, good wine, good atmosphere, great views. Once it was memorable for the torrential downpour that hit while we were eating. The outdoor area is covered and they have side walls that can drop down, but it isn't waterproof! Wet feet testify to that.

If the weather isn't good (wind or rain) avoid avoid avoid! If it's cold they often have woollen blankets for your knees in addition to the overhead gas heating.

Mar 31, 2011

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Fantastic location with asian-inspired, predominately seafood. Relaxed but professional. We used to go there a lot, but it's become harder and harder to get in, and the absence of other places nearby means we now tend to go elsewhere.

Mar 31, 2011

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

On a quiet night the place lacked atmosphere. Despite have reasonable views, you're a little bit removed from the hustle and bustle of Darling Harbour (which can be a good thing occasionally). The balcony was closed so we were inside. It's subdued but classy decor needs a room full of people to give it some life.

Service was fine, food was good. It's reasonable value. Worth a visit, perhaps, midweek when it's busy but not over-flowing.

Mar 31, 2011

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  7     

This is a perfect place to take out of town guests to show off the food and the harbour (if you get the better seats). I love it. The pool, the harbour, the bridge, the trains, the Opera house. It's an intense glipse of Sydney.

I've been there half a dozen times either as a couple or for business entertaining. Only once was I disappointed and the Maitre D' fixed that as soon as he could. We'd booked for a special occasion months in advance and got given the worst table in the restaurant. Free glass of champagne and shifted us after 15 minutes when a better table became available. Good response.

The mainly fish menu is usually relatively simple, but very well executed. Wine list is good, but verges on the expensive side. If you can get a table outside on the balcony on a nice evening it can be one of the best spots in Sydney.

Mar 31, 2011

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  8     

We requested an outdoor table for two (on a Saturday) and got it, snuggled up side-by-side looking out onto the road. Service was good, food was very good. I had the pate and then the steak. Pate managed to avoid the slight bitter after taste you usually get, but wasn't diluted into a creamy 'dip' that is the other extreme. The steak was perfect.

Good selection of wine by the glass. We had a great evening and I'd definitely go back, even though it's well off our normal turf.

Mar 23, 2011

7.3 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

If you avoid busy times and pick good weather it's a great restaurant. During busy times it can start to fall flat and stay away in bad weather.

The location is superb and the food is generally good, but not great. On a nice evening (almost all seating is outdoors) you can have a memorable time. Good food, good wine, good atmosphere, great views. Once it was memorable for the torrential downpour that hit while we were eating. The outdoor area is covered and they have side walls that can drop down, but it isn't waterproof! Wet feet testify to that.

If the weather isn't good (wind or rain) avoid avoid avoid! If it's cold they often have woollen blankets for your knees in addition to the overhead gas heating.

Mar 31, 2011

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Fantastic location with asian-inspired, predominately seafood. Relaxed but professional. We used to go there a lot, but it's become harder and harder to get in, and the absence of other places nearby means we now tend to go elsewhere.

Mar 31, 2011

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

On a quiet night the place lacked atmosphere. Despite have reasonable views, you're a little bit removed from the hustle and bustle of Darling Harbour (which can be a good thing occasionally). The balcony was closed so we were inside. It's subdued but classy decor needs a room full of people to give it some life.

Service was fine, food was good. It's reasonable value. Worth a visit, perhaps, midweek when it's busy but not over-flowing.

Mar 31, 2011

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  7     

This is a perfect place to take out of town guests to show off the food and the harbour (if you get the better seats). I love it. The pool, the harbour, the bridge, the trains, the Opera house. It's an intense glipse of Sydney.

I've been there half a dozen times either as a couple or for business entertaining. Only once was I disappointed and the Maitre D' fixed that as soon as he could. We'd booked for a special occasion months in advance and got given the worst table in the restaurant. Free glass of champagne and shifted us after 15 minutes when a better table became available. Good response.

The mainly fish menu is usually relatively simple, but very well executed. Wine list is good, but verges on the expensive side. If you can get a table outside on the balcony on a nice evening it can be one of the best spots in Sydney.

Mar 31, 2011

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  8     

We requested an outdoor table for two (on a Saturday) and got it, snuggled up side-by-side looking out onto the road. Service was good, food was very good. I had the pate and then the steak. Pate managed to avoid the slight bitter after taste you usually get, but wasn't diluted into a creamy 'dip' that is the other extreme. The steak was perfect.

Good selection of wine by the glass. We had a great evening and I'd definitely go back, even though it's well off our normal turf.

Mar 23, 2011

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Good Japanese. We took young kids in early on a Friday, but that probably wasn't a good idea. The restaurant is quite quiet, so I felt a bit self-conscious with our noisy two year old. It'd be better for couples and small groups.

Mar 23, 2011

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Busy bistro atmosphere. We had a booking, but still had to wait for 20 minutes in the very busy bar to get our table. The bar is not a relaxing environment, but that can be good too. Food was really good. Steak was delicious, the omelette in bisque is to die for, the fish was good but not especially memorable. Great decor.

Mar 23, 2011

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

24 hours cafe. Tends to get crowded by "young" people, but a great spot for dessert, a coffee or a light meal. The kitchen seems to be in the pigeon coop and food comes down on a basket. Staff always friendly.

Mar 23, 2011

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  6     

"French" bakery. It's not bad by Australian standards but would struggle in France. The cakes, tarts etc a fairly good, the bread is mediocre and the croissants a bit limp.

Mar 23, 2011

7.5 Recommended

Drinks  7      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

Great bar/cafe/bistro. Lively, European-influenced cafe. Good to drop off for a coffee or a drink. Popular for Friday/Saturday.

Mar 23, 2011