heavenlyfoodseeker

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Went in for lunch for a catchup with a girlfriend. Service was friendly, views of Sydney harbour spectacular (reminds one of how lucky we are to live in Sydney!) and food delicious.

I ordered the signature dish (pork belly), the presentation was impeccable and excited you to taste the different textures present in the dish. The pork skin was perfectly caramelised (best skin I have tasted so far, not normally a fan of pork belly) and loved the sweetness from the gala apple on the side. My friend ordered the lamb racks with Morrocon spices and couscous. Now she normally isn't a fan of couscous but was able to finish every last grain presented to her.

Because we had the MasterChef deal in the end it costed $30 each. They are also having a "credit card lunch" deal for $38 you can enjoy a main, glass of wine and the views. If I were a tourist, why pay $$ to go up the centrepoint tower/bridge climb when you can enjoy a delicious meal and great views of Sydney from The Summit.

Jun 25, 2009

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

Went in with a friend attracted by the $20 main and wine deal. First thing we did was help ourselves to a table and menus as we were left unattended (not a staff in sight). Later it was explained to us that they were a staff short.

I have to agree with snap612 that the $20 deal dishes on offer (fish and chips, homemade chicken and leek pie and sausages and mash) were disappointing and did little to tantalise the tastebuds. Instead I ordered the steak from the ala carte menu but for $29 but found it hard to find anything spectacular about it, would rather have spent it on a steak in a city restaurant.

Overall, Elysium delivers what it sets in the menu but the end product falls short of the "oomph factor" that makes you want to dig in at first sight. An average bistro satisfactory for the after-work meal but not for impressing the guests.

Jun 25, 2009

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Went out for a catch up with the girls, being a Wednesday night we had a cosy fine time chatting away with great harbourside views and nice ambience. Ordered the pan roasted lamb, cooked perfectly medium with lovely pink centre and beautifully tender. (I normally have a love-hate relationship with lamb but am now a fan of this dish, also don't usually eat my asparagus, however, couldn't resist it here!). Also had the side of NY chat potatoes which were again cooked to perfection being crisp on the outside but fluffy potato goodness inside.

Service was friendly and attentive. A very satisfying evening and definitely will be back!

Apr 01, 2009

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I visited this place with my significant other a couple of months back. We booked a 6pm sitting on a weeknight and found the place to be relatively quiet which was really nice given we were celebrating a special occasion.

My boyfriend loves meat. And he sure was not disappointed. Knowing we were going to this buffet style bbq, I had starved myself for the day and managed to even beat the bf at stuffing myself silly with a ridiculous amount of meat. I have no complaints about the variety as regency (below) illustrates and the meat was cooked perfectly tender! There were a few medium-rare sirloin pieces (I prefer my meat to be more medium-well done) but this was not concerning with everything else perfectly tender e.g. chicken.

Service was great (again not many patrons at the time), though I doubt the boys bringing out the meat skewers are well versed in their cuts of meats etc, they are pleasant enough and will accommodate you if you wish to get a particular piece on the skewer that is not right on top! For $35 it is affordable (given it is 1.5hrs of unlimited meat - we threw in the white flag at 1hr). Do expect to eat Meat, meat, meat and more Meat. Salads at an additional cost.

Jan 17, 2009

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

I recently celebrated a friend's birthday where the cake was a La Renaissance White chocolate Monet with Raspberries. It is undeniably the best cake I have tasted in my life! So much so that a friend and I craved for seconds and quite shamelessly helped ourselves to another generous serve. The cake itself was wonderful to look at, white chocolate melts in the mouth and berries a delectable complement.

Will definitely give major hints for where I want my birthday cake to come from and definitely volunteer to book cakes from La Renaissance for future friends' bday parties!

Jan 17, 2009

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Went in for lunch for a catchup with a girlfriend. Service was friendly, views of Sydney harbour spectacular (reminds one of how lucky we are to live in Sydney!) and food delicious.

I ordered the signature dish (pork belly), the presentation was impeccable and excited you to taste the different textures present in the dish. The pork skin was perfectly caramelised (best skin I have tasted so far, not normally a fan of pork belly) and loved the sweetness from the gala apple on the side. My friend ordered the lamb racks with Morrocon spices and couscous. Now she normally isn't a fan of couscous but was able to finish every last grain presented to her.

Because we had the MasterChef deal in the end it costed $30 each. They are also having a "credit card lunch" deal for $38 you can enjoy a main, glass of wine and the views. If I were a tourist, why pay $$ to go up the centrepoint tower/bridge climb when you can enjoy a delicious meal and great views of Sydney from The Summit.

Jun 25, 2009

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

Went in with a friend attracted by the $20 main and wine deal. First thing we did was help ourselves to a table and menus as we were left unattended (not a staff in sight). Later it was explained to us that they were a staff short.

I have to agree with snap612 that the $20 deal dishes on offer (fish and chips, homemade chicken and leek pie and sausages and mash) were disappointing and did little to tantalise the tastebuds. Instead I ordered the steak from the ala carte menu but for $29 but found it hard to find anything spectacular about it, would rather have spent it on a steak in a city restaurant.

Overall, Elysium delivers what it sets in the menu but the end product falls short of the "oomph factor" that makes you want to dig in at first sight. An average bistro satisfactory for the after-work meal but not for impressing the guests.

Jun 25, 2009

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Went out for a catch up with the girls, being a Wednesday night we had a cosy fine time chatting away with great harbourside views and nice ambience. Ordered the pan roasted lamb, cooked perfectly medium with lovely pink centre and beautifully tender. (I normally have a love-hate relationship with lamb but am now a fan of this dish, also don't usually eat my asparagus, however, couldn't resist it here!). Also had the side of NY chat potatoes which were again cooked to perfection being crisp on the outside but fluffy potato goodness inside.

Service was friendly and attentive. A very satisfying evening and definitely will be back!

Apr 01, 2009

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I visited this place with my significant other a couple of months back. We booked a 6pm sitting on a weeknight and found the place to be relatively quiet which was really nice given we were celebrating a special occasion.

My boyfriend loves meat. And he sure was not disappointed. Knowing we were going to this buffet style bbq, I had starved myself for the day and managed to even beat the bf at stuffing myself silly with a ridiculous amount of meat. I have no complaints about the variety as regency (below) illustrates and the meat was cooked perfectly tender! There were a few medium-rare sirloin pieces (I prefer my meat to be more medium-well done) but this was not concerning with everything else perfectly tender e.g. chicken.

Service was great (again not many patrons at the time), though I doubt the boys bringing out the meat skewers are well versed in their cuts of meats etc, they are pleasant enough and will accommodate you if you wish to get a particular piece on the skewer that is not right on top! For $35 it is affordable (given it is 1.5hrs of unlimited meat - we threw in the white flag at 1hr). Do expect to eat Meat, meat, meat and more Meat. Salads at an additional cost.

Jan 17, 2009

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

I recently celebrated a friend's birthday where the cake was a La Renaissance White chocolate Monet with Raspberries. It is undeniably the best cake I have tasted in my life! So much so that a friend and I craved for seconds and quite shamelessly helped ourselves to another generous serve. The cake itself was wonderful to look at, white chocolate melts in the mouth and berries a delectable complement.

Will definitely give major hints for where I want my birthday cake to come from and definitely volunteer to book cakes from La Renaissance for future friends' bday parties!

Jan 17, 2009

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

After discovering Wagaya, I've been back a couple of times. Last was for a surprise birthday party for a good friend of mine. Knowing what the queues are normally like, we had the foresight to book ahead.

Wagaya has introduced the novel concept of electronic touchscreens to Sydney. Service is quickfast, and you can always check what your bill is as going overboard with the vast array of food choices is definitely a possibility. As with schellack, I have to agree that the food is reasonable, a bit on the quirky side but the taste itself is not tastebud electrifying.

We were given a booth (we managed to fit it 10 people) and so it was more of a private atmosphere. That said, you can actually book private rooms for $30 which comes complete with a plasma tv and foxtel (as rumour says) plus the traditional japanese dining experience. There is no fees for cutting cakes, our birthday girl received a complimentary birthday cocktail and they tolerated our extended stay of around 2hours. I've always had enjoyable experiences with Wagaya and will definitely be back!

Jan 16, 2009

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

This place is a little gem in Sydney's CBD. Having worked round the corner for 1yr+, it was only from a friend's recommendation did I stumble open this cosy Japanese restaurant.

We had a party of 7 and as it was a Thursday evening, we all managed to get seats (I can imagine the queues on the busier days though!). I ordered the Wagyu Yaki Bento Box which comprised of 2 skewers of wagyu beef (a bit like kebab sticks), takoyaki, sausage, seaweed salad, salad, rice and miso. It was delicious! so much so that I managed to slow down my eating (normally a fast eater) to savour everything that bit more. Everyone thought the food was tasty, filling and the value superb.

The place is tiny but it all makes up for a cosier atmosphere, staff were pleasant and I will most definitely be coming back here to satiate my cravings for good, affordable japanese food!

Jan 16, 2009

4 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  4     

Disappointed that Pendolino was closed at The Grand early last Sunday evening my friends and I stumbled across The Grace in hopes of a pleasant surprise to our tastebuds and a nice place to wind down the week.

I ordered a medium rump steak ($32). What came out was an overly well done piece of meat. My arm ached from trying to saw pieces off and I tried to imagine a more tender piece of meat as my jaw had trouble grinding it into a more digestible morsel for my stomach.

Service could be improved upon. We were pointed out to a table which had a reserved sign on it and waited several minutes uncertain whether the staff had got this wrong. Throughout the meal it was also difficult to get their attention having to wave our arms as we gave up on eye contact.

What's more, our change was not given back but assumed to be a tip. Being courteous girls as we are, we decided to let it go rather choosing never to grace the irony of The Grace in future.

Nov 22, 2008

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Went last night for a friend's 21st, had a big group 30 or so and so we were on the set menu ($27). Entree was garlic bread and salad with roasted capsicum, nothing special about these. Tapas menu = potato, prawns in tomato salsa, chorizo and garlic mushrooms. Have to say that we all stuffed ourselves silly before realising that the mains (pesto and pizza) were still due for arrival (thinking desserts were the next stop!).

Food was definitely tasty. Chorizo, watch out for the very charcoaled bits (makes you think of colon cancer with every biteful!) but so tasty you still eat it. Pizza was nothing out the ordinary so my recommendations are pesto and tapas. Definitely very filling (maybe because the other girls on my table ain't daintily and I didn't). Had so much left over that I asked for doggy bags to give to the homeless people of Sydney!

Nov 22, 2008

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

My boyfriend and I ate here on his birthday. Firstly be aware that apparently they are under 'new management' and when I rang up seemed unsure about the above voucher offer but decided to kindly honour it.

I ordered the salt and pepper soft shell crab for entree. However, there was no fusion of flavours that made this particular soft shell crab particularly memorable (basically bland, fried, a bit salty). For mains I ordered the ocean trout. This was divine, simply melt in the mouth and perfectly cooked. It had deep fried pork knuckle shavings to add to the variety of texture. My boyfriend ordered the sirloin steak again this was cooked to perfection and melt in the mouth!

Staff were warm and helpful. Decor and ambience was nice (dim lights, comfortable couches). They also have wonderful paintings which you can also purchase.

Nov 20, 2008