Ian S.

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  8      Value  7     

Wow, what happened to this place, nothing apparently. Nothing for 5 years. It feels tired and boring and the food matched.

We went early midweek, as we had somewhere to be down the street later, so there was no ambience, but the manager/host, made us feel welcome and was attentive throughout.

But that's where the compliments stop. This place might hustle and bustle on a fri/sat night, but I think that hides the fact it has become so boring and tired that even when the waiter told me about the dishes, I couldn't help but get the feeling that he wasn't buying the spiel either.

Needs a freshen up, as this was, and could be, a great restaurant again. Go when its busy and take your own wine.

Apr 27, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8     

A great space that you can lose hours in. Food was fresh, paced well, and the drinks came after a couple of little mix ups. This place really does a good job at taking you somewhere. I could have been in London West End, Milan, anywhere, as it's that enveloping.

Also great as a pre dinner stop in the lounge if you want a quality cocktail, just be careful you don't ditch your original eating plans after watching the chefs slice the fish and sizzle the grill.

Going back asap. (no rating on value as I didn't pay or take notice... bonus!).

Apr 27, 2012

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

We had an early booking which meant we were spoiled for service, but I'm not complaining. Took a seat at the bench and watched the chef's finish their mise en place, which was impressive.

Great fried pork belly, Kingfish and choc fondant. Everything else was good but not standout. Great ambience, great service and good food. I'll be back.

Feb 27, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Took my time but finally got to The Winery a few weeks back. Its got a great vibe, its warm buzzing al fresco at its best. Good wine, good food and just a rich, inviting and warm feel to it, very much like a winery with big rustic wood, brick and fireplaces. I don't know if it has all of those things, but it felt like it did.

Chicken Pie and Eye Fillet were rich and hearty, couple with great wine, Finished with a great banana and date pudding, when can I come back?

Staff were confident, warm and friendly. Ended up sharing a bottle of wine with the table next to us who were complete strangers, that's just the kind of place it is. When can I come back?

Feb 27, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  7     

A big group for a birthday went on Saturday.

Was an organised banquet, and being at Darling Harbour, I was expecting it to be a little touristy, a little overpriced and a little generic. And it was all three but I did like it.

The food was tasty, there was plenty of it, and the staff were attentive, albeit, they didn't get everything right. The ambience was a little hollow for lunch on a weekend, but it could work if it was busy.

Overall enjoyable and I would come back if invited, but I probably would be trying something else if it were my pick.

Feb 27, 2012

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  8      Value  7     

Wow, what happened to this place, nothing apparently. Nothing for 5 years. It feels tired and boring and the food matched.

We went early midweek, as we had somewhere to be down the street later, so there was no ambience, but the manager/host, made us feel welcome and was attentive throughout.

But that's where the compliments stop. This place might hustle and bustle on a fri/sat night, but I think that hides the fact it has become so boring and tired that even when the waiter told me about the dishes, I couldn't help but get the feeling that he wasn't buying the spiel either.

Needs a freshen up, as this was, and could be, a great restaurant again. Go when its busy and take your own wine.

Apr 27, 2012

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8     

A great space that you can lose hours in. Food was fresh, paced well, and the drinks came after a couple of little mix ups. This place really does a good job at taking you somewhere. I could have been in London West End, Milan, anywhere, as it's that enveloping.

Also great as a pre dinner stop in the lounge if you want a quality cocktail, just be careful you don't ditch your original eating plans after watching the chefs slice the fish and sizzle the grill.

Going back asap. (no rating on value as I didn't pay or take notice... bonus!).

Apr 27, 2012

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

We had an early booking which meant we were spoiled for service, but I'm not complaining. Took a seat at the bench and watched the chef's finish their mise en place, which was impressive.

Great fried pork belly, Kingfish and choc fondant. Everything else was good but not standout. Great ambience, great service and good food. I'll be back.

Feb 27, 2012

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Took my time but finally got to The Winery a few weeks back. Its got a great vibe, its warm buzzing al fresco at its best. Good wine, good food and just a rich, inviting and warm feel to it, very much like a winery with big rustic wood, brick and fireplaces. I don't know if it has all of those things, but it felt like it did.

Chicken Pie and Eye Fillet were rich and hearty, couple with great wine, Finished with a great banana and date pudding, when can I come back?

Staff were confident, warm and friendly. Ended up sharing a bottle of wine with the table next to us who were complete strangers, that's just the kind of place it is. When can I come back?

Feb 27, 2012

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  7     

A big group for a birthday went on Saturday.

Was an organised banquet, and being at Darling Harbour, I was expecting it to be a little touristy, a little overpriced and a little generic. And it was all three but I did like it.

The food was tasty, there was plenty of it, and the staff were attentive, albeit, they didn't get everything right. The ambience was a little hollow for lunch on a weekend, but it could work if it was busy.

Overall enjoyable and I would come back if invited, but I probably would be trying something else if it were my pick.

Feb 27, 2012

4.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  4     

Went on Valentines' Day and decided to go for the full al a carte rather than the special.

First impression was that the restaurant has a split personality. One side of it is bright and buzzing with the kitchen and bar and on entry, everything seems great. However, upon seating, we realised it was dark and feels like you've been put in the corner, whatever table you're on. The lighting and decor is boring, almost clinical, its a shame, because they got the kitchen side of the restaurant right.

The food showed skill and potential, but we both felt it missed the mark, on every dish. I really wanted to like it, but left feeling disappointed after every dish. I believe I could have had a different experience if I tried different dishes, or came on another night and that is kind of how the night felt, a little hit and miss, a little inconsistent.

The highlight was definitely the spicy margarita I opened with. Magnificent cocktail. Alpaca carpaccio didn't really work for me, it was a little 'wet' and needed something to lift the meat flavour.

My wife liked her octopus salad, however, I found it had way too much dressing which limited the other flavours coming through. Standout was the baby chillies, which give a great smoky burst of intense heat and flavour.

I had barramundi for main and it was a nice piece of fish, a little dry, but otherwise enjoyable. My wife's duck looked great, but was chewy, like it had been sitting on the counter way too long.

The service went from great to terrible to great to terrible all in one night. A warm greeting an explanation of the menus and then pooof! We became invisible. After 20 minutes I attracted some attention and ordered without any problems. The staff were patchy when it comes to dining service, some plates were served correctly, sometimes the staff reached across us, not the end of the world, but it seems like they are trying for something and not quite pulling it off.

I think this place could be a good relaxed eatery or a high end south american gem, but it can't be both. There need to figure out what they want to be.

Feb 27, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

It reminds me a little of eating Chinese in London's Chinatown. Its hustle and bustle and the staff don't seem very friendly and are pushing people in and out of the door and that's what I love about it.

Get the Pippis in XO and the Peking Duck and sit and watch the chaotic room whirr. And don't forget to get your parking validated!

Oct 27, 2011

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Definitely a diamond in the rough as it doubles as their warehouse bakery in semi industrial area. But great Saturday morning breakfast, relaxed, orders come fast, and you can take something home with you from their patisserie counter.

You can easily knock over a few good coffees while reading the paper and forget your worries. Good for families too.

Oct 27, 2011

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

I guess I could have been expecting more, but I wasn't wowed like I thought I would be. Sure the food was good, a lot of skill and effort in presentation, but at the end of the evening and now, a week later, I couldn't tell you something that stood out.

Sorry guys, I wanted to rate you higher, but I just wasn't feeling it.

Oct 27, 2011

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  10     

As a tourist, if you stumbled on this place, had a coffee and a sandwich, its the kind of place you will talk about the rest of your life. Its a truly unique, buzzy, but relaxed epitome of what an inner city Saturday morning should be. Go out of your way to go, but take the paper, you could be waiting in line for 10 minutes.

Oct 27, 2011