specialk

1 Not Recommended

Service  1     

We didn't even make it to the table because we stood at the entrance of the restaurant, waiting to be seated as the sign indicated. After what seemed like every waiter on shift passed by without so much as giving eye contact and acknowledging us, we left.

May 13, 2012

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  1     

Wonderful location, but the kitchen was unforgivably slow (45 minutes for soup and antipasto!) and our waiter had excuses but no apologies. We didn't even get a refill of water.

The food was disappointing. The bread didn't seem fresh, and butter came in individual plastic containers. The minestrone was bland and the antipasto was meagre and not fresh (Jatz crackers, ordinary cheese, sun dried tomatoes out of a can). It would have been cheaper and tastier to buy each item separately at the supermarket deli counter.

Our mains were generous and tasted okay. The lasagne was very tomato-ey and salty. The tortellini was a little dense.

Also, I'm almost sure the people at the table next to us returned their seafood pasta. I'm not sure why, but I suspect there was something wrong with the prawns, based on what I overheard.

There are a lot better (and less expensive) places to eat at The Rocks. I just hope tourists don't think this is the best Sydney can offer.

May 13, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  10     

I've only ever had the chicken laksa here. I just can't bear to order anything else. There was a 1-2 week period where the laksa was a bit bland, but I suspect this was an anomaly (maybe the regular chef was away or maybe they changed the stock, I'm not sure). Every other time, the laksa has been awesome. Definitely worth queueing up.

Aug 11, 2011

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I'm in love with beignets, and you'll only (apparently) find them in Sydney if you visit Sucre. Dipped in sugar free thick, hot Spanish-style chocolate (the house special), it's an irresistible combination. The one time I didn't feel like beignets I had the mini lemon tart--good--and the chocolate-dipped orange slice--so yummy. The coffee is okay, but then I've only had it once. If I'm at Sucre it's almost criminal not to order the house special.

(A tip for frequent visitors: Sucre's Facebook page occasionally posts online specials and they're very good value compared to the normal price.)

Aug 11, 2011

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Found this cafe by accident and went in for Sunday lunch. The music, which drew me to the place, turned out to be a live guitar player. I'd eat here just for that! My Vintage Breakfast was good, the poached eggs were runnier than I prefer, but it was no big deal. The chorizos and bacon weren't oily, which was great. My partner had the barramundi and it looked wonderful. I got the first taste and the lemon butter sauce was yummy. He wouldn't let me have a second taste.

My only real issue with our meal was the slow service, the food took ages to come out. The wait staff were friendly and had a chat with us after the meal to invite us to come back for dinner when they have live music, tapas and paella. I'm sure we'll be back.

Oct 17, 2010

1 Not Recommended

Service  1     

We didn't even make it to the table because we stood at the entrance of the restaurant, waiting to be seated as the sign indicated. After what seemed like every waiter on shift passed by without so much as giving eye contact and acknowledging us, we left.

May 13, 2012

3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  1     

Wonderful location, but the kitchen was unforgivably slow (45 minutes for soup and antipasto!) and our waiter had excuses but no apologies. We didn't even get a refill of water.

The food was disappointing. The bread didn't seem fresh, and butter came in individual plastic containers. The minestrone was bland and the antipasto was meagre and not fresh (Jatz crackers, ordinary cheese, sun dried tomatoes out of a can). It would have been cheaper and tastier to buy each item separately at the supermarket deli counter.

Our mains were generous and tasted okay. The lasagne was very tomato-ey and salty. The tortellini was a little dense.

Also, I'm almost sure the people at the table next to us returned their seafood pasta. I'm not sure why, but I suspect there was something wrong with the prawns, based on what I overheard.

There are a lot better (and less expensive) places to eat at The Rocks. I just hope tourists don't think this is the best Sydney can offer.

May 13, 2012

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  10     

I've only ever had the chicken laksa here. I just can't bear to order anything else. There was a 1-2 week period where the laksa was a bit bland, but I suspect this was an anomaly (maybe the regular chef was away or maybe they changed the stock, I'm not sure). Every other time, the laksa has been awesome. Definitely worth queueing up.

Aug 11, 2011

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I'm in love with beignets, and you'll only (apparently) find them in Sydney if you visit Sucre. Dipped in sugar free thick, hot Spanish-style chocolate (the house special), it's an irresistible combination. The one time I didn't feel like beignets I had the mini lemon tart--good--and the chocolate-dipped orange slice--so yummy. The coffee is okay, but then I've only had it once. If I'm at Sucre it's almost criminal not to order the house special.

(A tip for frequent visitors: Sucre's Facebook page occasionally posts online specials and they're very good value compared to the normal price.)

Aug 11, 2011

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Found this cafe by accident and went in for Sunday lunch. The music, which drew me to the place, turned out to be a live guitar player. I'd eat here just for that! My Vintage Breakfast was good, the poached eggs were runnier than I prefer, but it was no big deal. The chorizos and bacon weren't oily, which was great. My partner had the barramundi and it looked wonderful. I got the first taste and the lemon butter sauce was yummy. He wouldn't let me have a second taste.

My only real issue with our meal was the slow service, the food took ages to come out. The wait staff were friendly and had a chat with us after the meal to invite us to come back for dinner when they have live music, tapas and paella. I'm sure we'll be back.

Oct 17, 2010

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  9     

I appreciate a yum cha restaurant that allows diners to book reservations for yum cha. We smugly walked through the long lunchtime queue at the door only to discover that our reservation was made for the wrong time. It took another 15 minutes to get our table (there were a lot of us), and when we were seated the table still had remains of the last party's food. Eek!

The restaurant had no high chairs for children and the seats are low, so children will probably need to be seated on your lap. The waiting time allowed us to check out the new decor - lots of chocolate and brown. It seems like a strange choice for a Chinese restaurant, and doesn't really go well with the pretty average service. (It's a swanky, modern look and I was expecting swanky, modern service.) We were seated in a room but were pleased to see that we didn't miss out on the good trolleys.

Table service was a bit sketchy, as drink orders took a while to serve. We also requested particular dishes that we hadn't seen on the trolleys and we had to ask 2 or 3 times before we got a proper answer from the staff. Value wasn't bad. Nowhere near as good as all you can eat for $15, but yum cha for 9 tallied to $25pp, including special orders. Not bad at all.

Dec 29, 2006

6.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  6     

The hot chocolate is great although frankly, the novelty factor gets points as much as the taste which is not always consistent. Cake slices are divine although hot chocolate and cake is a combination leading straight to diabetes. The waffles are excellent but akin to highway robbery at $11 a pop. I'm told the ice creams are delicious too. Table service can be extremely abrupt and I've had some waiters verging on the rude. A couple of times, I've had to remind them of an order or request. I haven't tried the rest of their menu (sandwiches, etc.) because the cost is appalling. I'd much rather splurge on the chocolate and desserts and get a $5 sandwich elsewhere.

Jun 27, 2006

7.8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

This place is really bad for people on a diet. There was a time when I would pop in after lunch every day for a month to buy a chocolate tart. The pastries and desserts are divine! The chocolate dome is awesome if somewhat pricey. The bread and butter pudding and vanilla slice are value for money as the slices are huge. The croissants, danishes and baguettes are all very good. The mudcake/ cupcake was dry the one time I tried it. The cafe itself is quite sparse and the tables and chairs are utilitarian. I've had take-away coffee three times and it always tasted very cardboard-like. This must be due to the diposable cup it comes in because I didn't notice anything amiss when I had it in the cafe. The staff are friendly but since I mostly take away, I don't expect much in the way of service.

Jun 16, 2006

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  10     

We discovered Oscar's when they had $13 ribs on the menu. The price has gone up slightly but for the size, it's still good value. One friend thought the sauce was too sweet but the general consensus was very positive. The carbonara was also delicious. Pizzas were OK. Steaks were done well compared to other restaurants that charge the same price. I'm told the lobster and champagne for $19 are also excellent. Staff have generally been very good although once or twice the service has been slow and not as pro-active or an order goes astray. Children can dine in for lunch and they accommodate parties very well. Parking around the area is a hassle, though.

Jun 16, 2006

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  10     

Nothing beats a pie that actually tastes like it has real meat and veggies inside. The spinach and ricotta pie is the best I've ever tasted and the meat and chicken pies are chunky and filling. The desserts not only look good but are delicious too. The lunch special (pie, salad, dessert) is value for money especially if you get a normal-sized slice or tart. Staff are friendly although during busy times can be abrupt. Pies sometimes run out or certain types are not available; desserts change by the day although the most popular tend to be there every day.

Jun 16, 2006