We had an incredible visit and meal and service, dining here for our 35th anniversary. We last were here 15 years ago for our 20th and they happened, by chance, to sit us at the exact same table! We found out later when the staff came over to congratulate us that we were at table #3 and we could request it when we return! Perhaps we will! They offered us free drinks to start. My wonderful wife got Australian champagne and I asked for mocktail of the bartenders choosing, fruity and not too sweet. On my! The resultant yuzu mocktail was bright, tart and incredible! Too bad it's illegal to import yuzu to the states. Our five course meal of chef's choices was relaxed, delicious, stunningly presented, unusual and memorable. My wonderful wife enjoyed the aged duck with rhubarb and cherry the most. I enjoyed the wagyu which was so tender and tasty and mind blowingly good. My whole meal was dairy and gluten free! No problemo! I presented my wife the anniversary cards I had snuck in with us. She enjoyed them! Two contained hand drawn art from a friend so this made it extra special. Special anniversary free deserts topped off the evening! Life is great with love! I know how lucky we are and I appreciate it. read more

1. We booked a day in advance to get a good view of the Opera House, but when we arrived half an hour early, the staff seated us at the worst window table with a blocked view--see the photo. We asked to move, but were told other tables were reserved. Yet most window seats remained empty the whole time. Tables seemed to be allocated on the spot, which really disappointed us. 2. We ordered the steak medium-well, but it came out well done--overcooked, dry and chewy as cardboard. 3. The complimentary bread before the meal was hardly edible. It was over-toasted, rock-hard on the outside and impossible to bite into. The cheese spread served with it was unbearably sour--just couldn't eat it. So disappointing overall. read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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I came here for an anniversary dinner with a boyfriend. Beautiful service and atmosphere. Can't go past the banana soufflé.

What a let-down to have dined here. We had one night to dine in Sydney this trip and wanted to make it special. We were lured here by the hype and generally good reviews. Got to remember to read the reviews in detail next time. The best things to say about this restaurant are: location (on the pier and proximity to the Opera House), attractive setting, and mostly decorative presentation of the foods. Dinner is a choice of a very small selection of items from a four-course prix fixe menu @ AUS $225 ea. Still water @ $12 ea., four glasses of wine ($140), a side vegetable ($15) and three oysters ($27) and the total came to $656. Food was not nearly as flavorful as the presentation. Service was intermittent, and frequently non-existent. Needless to say, I cannot recommend this restaurant when so many others abound in the local area. read more

The view isn't as good as one would expect given that it is at the end of the pier because there is an overhang from the building that kind of blocks the view, but it was still nice. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was still visible. The service is extremely professional but I am sure some people would call it a bit stuffy. read more

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Food was ok, not great. The fish was good but the side of potatoes were floating in fat. Portions are small, which is not necessarily a bad thing as it was not that good. Quintesential tourist trap. Avoid! read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - My very expensive view from the Aria. - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Stellar 5 star experience. Staff are professional and helpful. Entrees/starters are extraordinary and beautifully presented. The best restaurant experience in Sydney. read more

Simply the best! Everything is perfection at Aria- from service, to the view, to the incredible food. The perfect start before seeing an opera. The elegant dining room overlooks the harbor and the opera house. We did the pre- theater menu which allowed us to taste the best Aria had to offer and make our show without feeling rushed. Our martinis were the perfect start paired with bread service - artisan bread with Australia's incredible butter... and chicken butter! Amazing!! The amuse bouche was the perfect starter of foi Gras mousse and a light ceviche. My starter was the yellowfin tuna with smoked dashi broth and radish. Possibly the best tuna I've had outside of Tokyo. My partner had the Rangers beef tartare with smoked eel served in a sweet potato crust. For the main course my partner enjoyed the O'Conner fillet of beef over Jerusalem artichokes. I had the maremma duck- two ways- perfectly cooked breast and confit. Incredible!! And of course we had to get the royal blue brown butter potatoes- life changing goodness. Mains were followed by a refreshing intermezzo. Dessert was Australian cheese and a light airy caramelized banana soufflé. The entire meal was like an Aria- perfection! read more

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The view was beautiful, the food and service not so hot. We came here before a concert and had the shortened 3 course menu. We arrived before they opened, we were the first served and many people left before us. They took forever to bring our dessert and check. We were almost late to our concert. Food looked elegant and was mostly flavorful, but for the cost it didn't meet expectations. We came on the word of our hotel concierge, but it was such a disappointment. As we went out the door, the hostess went in front of me and didn't hold the door and the door swung back quickly. Thankfully, I quickly threw my hand up or it would have smacked me in the face. Laugh all you want; I share that piece as a word of caution because the door hinge is weird and dangerous. read more

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Worst fine dining experience you will ever experience. Borderline racist! We are on a family vacation visiting Sydney and obviously not caucasian. First off, I have never been to a restaurant, yet fine dining restaurant, where the staff did not say Thank You on the way out of the restaurant. When I say didn't say, I mean none of the staff. Yet I heard the staff said thank you to every other caucasian guests walking out. I dont know if it's because my family doesn't all speak english, but it does not justify the experience I had. Second, I have booked a table at Aria 3 months in advance specifically requesting the Opera House view. However, the staff told us, sorry the request is not guarantee. Therefore, we got the habour view with the sun setting right in my face. Third, the food is not that great. I will admit it is okay (on the better end for just to savory course) but the dessert was overly sweet. I also told the receptionist that it is my mom's birthday. There was nothing special and our waiter didnt even say happy birthday to my mom. Overall, this is a terrible experience, but my parents were happy that I took them just because I have been planning to take them to this restaurant for the past 3 months. In conclusion, if you want a fine dining experience in Sydney, save yourself a trip and go somewhere else read more

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Upscale restaurant with a view of the harbour and Opera House. We tried the tasting menu of 7 courses , Wellworth it. Good service helpful staff explaining every dish they served. Some good wines too. read more

Worthy of a Michelin Star if they gave it out in Australia. Beautiful view of the harbor and opera house, impeccable service and a great wine list. The foie lived up to the surroundings. Started with the crab, which was beautifully presented (but don't expect a traditional crab). Second course was toothfish, very fresh and perfectly prepared. I found the duck okay but not great, presentation left something to be desired and the dish itself was okay but not great. Finished with a nice cheese plate. Overall, great experience. read more

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No Michelin stars for this restaurant? Beggars belief. One of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Everything ( except for the pea dish which was merely good) was fabulous. From cocktails to dessert it was a meal to remember. read more

We made our reservation 5 weeks in advance. When we arrived 10 minutes early, we were shuffled off to a bar area to await our table. The two men behind the bar never even gave us eye contact, let alone a drink. At 5 PM others began to arrive and they were whisked past us directly to their tables. When I asked what had happened to us, a man with a bun on top of his head and horn rimmed glasses (I did not get his name), ushered us to a table by a post, three rows back from windows with the views of the Opera House and Bridge, in spite of the fact that there were empty tables in the second row, and at the window. I declined the table, and he rushed off to consult with someone. When he came back, he grudgingly moved us to the second row. I asked him what the seating criteria were, and he said it was based on how early the reservation had been made. I pointed out our reservation had been made 5 weeks earlier, and that we arrived early as well. He admitted that others in the rows ahead may not have met the advance criteria. Both my wife and I were dressed appropriately for dinner and the opera. Then the man began to drill us: "What part of United States were we from?" I advised that we are Canadians. Then he started to name provinces, not satisfied until we advised that our province is Alberta. He was rude, arrogant, and had pegged us as "Americans". We asked for a wine list and made our choice: a $26 per glass Cabernet Sauvignon. When our Asian Wine Steward arrived with the bottle in hand, she just summarily poured wine directly into my glass and began to do the same with my wife's glass. I asked whether it was not appropriate to at least allow me to taste the wine to ensure that it was good, and more importantly, that I liked it. She just responded: "the wine is good -- I don't offer an advance tasting because it is by the glass". I have never encountered a more ignorant response from a wine server in all of our world travels. The food portions, while small, were very tasty in spite of some ingredients which I did not recognize. The dessert, a chocolate egg with cream inside was outstanding. This is in comparison with the food on the luxurious Regent Seven Seas Explorer from which we had just disembarked. My bottom line is that I have never been made to feel as tawdry as some of the wait staff did, being pegged as an American which seemed undesirable by this restaurant. If you are North American, I suggest you steer clear of Aria. read more

We had an exquisite meal here with some out-of-town guests. The service was fabulous from the moment we walked in the door, and several staff members took the time to talk to us and extend their hospitality, not just the ones who were immediately serving us. We ordered from the four course meal option. Every ingredient of every dish held so much flavour and texture. Even the bread, butter, and sides were superb. Vegetarians beware, though, there were not many options on that menu. The sommelier did a great job of pairing wines to our requests. I, myself, am not a wine expert. One person in our group is, and he was very pleased with the selection. The view and location are obviously great as well. All around this was a great dining experience, and I will recommend this restaurant to other foodies. read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - Pre-entres - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Aloha, Aria came highly recommended by Yelp, as we wanted to have a special dinner before a show at the Opera House. Beautiful almost old-school restaurant with butler-looking servers, white table cloths & dimmed lighting, with an absolutely amazing view of the Opera House & the Sydney Circular Quay harbor, wow! As you enter, you're greeted by a charming host who warmly invites you in. Although bordering on opulence, it's not a "stuffy" restaurant. I do rate restaurants on their bathrooms too & this one reminded my of Jackson Hole's Amangani's, very nice. From the amuse-bouche through the entire meal, all was tasty & fantastically presented. Champagne & wine selections were great too & the service was 5 stars. All desserts were good, but 1 stood out, ribbons of strawberry cream, absolutely gorgeous presentation & delicious. We walked away very happy! read more

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The view is incredible, the food is amazing, but what really sets this fine dining restaurant apart from the rest is the amazing service. My boyfriend and I visited for an early dinner before the opera, and unfortunately he was feeling really sick during the meal. Our waiter was not only professional, but genuinely caring and incredibly accommodating. Top notch service. At our table we started with the swordfish and coral trout - the coral trout was the clear winner dish here, perfectly cooked and incredibly flavorful. For mains we had the filet and John Dory, both were perfection. I'd highly recommend Aria for a special night out, and would absolutely go back if I'm in town again! read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Came here before a concert at the opera house. There are options to do 2 courses or 3 courses out of the total of 3 courses. We got one set of each. The bread was amazing - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They gave us little beet dumplings as intros. I went with the kangaroo tartar for my app. Coming from the US, this is definitely the first time I had kangaroo in this form (I had it one other time in burger form), and I really liked it. My dining partner got the wagyu short rib, which was super tender. For mains, we got the lamb chops and filet mignon. Both were wonderful. We got the souffle for dessert and figured that one dessert would be enough. They also brought over a cute plate of truffles atop a bed of cocoa nibs afterwards. Overall, excellent service, ambiance, and food. read more

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Truly outstanding meal, experience, service and ambiance! Aria is a must visit if you are into fine dining...a truly 5-star experience! We dined as a party of five...two adults and three children. While it is very nice and formal, it was perfectly fine for well-behaved kids that enjoy great food and amazing views (or the Opera, harbor, etc). We were looking for a special evening and Aria certainly delivered! We enjoyed great cocktails and wine, the food was excellent and our favorites were: Oysters, Duck, Lamb Loin and Filet (and the side salad was remarkably excellent too)! If you are looking for fantastic service, great food, beautiful views, excellent ambiance, and all around great dining experience...Aria is your place! read more

Terrible experience. Be prepared to spend a minimum $300 a head and be rushed through your meal. The rushed service overshadowed the view and the food. We were having desert and they repeatedly pressured us to pay the check while we were still eating. We asked to take the desert to go and were denied and shamed for asking. Can't even comment on the quality food because the staff was only focused on us leaving. When we brought this up with staff they were defensive and unapologetic. Very expensive and very disappointing- save your money and go somewhere else. read more

We went there for a special night out. For such a highly rated restaurant I was disappointed. I chose the tasting menu. One of the courses was inedible. I couldn't even cut the lamb. I told the waiter and his response was that he could take it back and have them cook it more. When paying $300 for a meal you shouldn't have to send back food to be "cooked". I would think twice before going here. read more

Went here on a Tuesday night. Wonderful ambiance and a view of the opera house. Service is fantastic We had beetroot and tortellini mushroom for starters. Very nice We had fillet and venison for the main course. Made to order and very tasty. Great place for special events read more

I have been to ARIA twice and it is certainly a Sydney classic. No complaints on the food and they have the added touch of always bringing you a little something compliments of the chef each time (including post meal petit fours!). Among the dishes I enjoyed were: Wagyu Beef, King Salmon Confit, and Roasted Fillet of Toothfish. All very nice and tasty. My other guests had the Abalone, Lamb Fillet and Venison. No complaints. The only downside is that I think the restaurant is a bit dated and therefore not as justified by the prices anymore. I've enjoyed meals just as much for less money. read more

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What do you think of when you hear the word Aria? - Matt Moran? - Harbour bridge views? - 2 hat restaurant? That's what I used to think. Until I went and my excited self with high expectations left not so excited with my expectations not met. FOOD I found the food average. A decent meal but not mouth watering like I'd expected from Matt Moran and his 2 hats. Another case of overpriced food on big plates. SERVICE For the most part it was good. What annoyed me though was that at our table of 10 the waitress came to me first to take my order. When I said I wasn't ready and to start with the person next to me she said oh everyone is in the same position and continued to stand there and wait. Luckily I was saved by the friend next to me who told her to take his order first and she went round the table and came to indecisive me last. OVERALL Don't think I'll be making a repeat trip there unless someone takes me. Next time I'll go in with no hat expectations though. read more

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Booked for my birthday and the dishes there were quite amazing ! ( detail review in pics) However , got a nasty surprise with 10% surcharge on the total bill ( apparently it was according to NSW government requirement ) unheard of .. and the reason I say it was nasty was all because we wouldn't book it for Saturday but when we were told Sunday is available the surcharge was never mentioned . When you have people going for tasting menus and more than 5 people , 10% surcharge did count quite a bit ... So far this has been quite a turn down out of two hatted restaurants ... If you are loaded go for gold but if you are like me just like to enjoy nice food once in awhile please check more carefully .. read more

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Beautiful view of the harbor bridge and opera house! Food and service was very good too! We were lucky enough to get seated without a reservation as I've heard it gets busy. Even during lunch! read more

Booked a table through American Express Centurion with our best friends while we were staying in Sydney (ARIA hold a table for all Centurion members, but must be booked before 10am) Complimentary champagne on arrival (which was a nice touch) and welcomed. I could write a long review of everything we ordered, but, honestly, the food was fantastic. No questions asked. Beautifully presented, exquisite flavors and attention to detail that was perfectly executed. We all chose the 4 course option (there are 2, 3 & 4 course options with additional wine pairing for additional charges), but we decided to choose our own wine (Cullen Diana Cab Sav from Margaret River - just gorgeous). The meal was fantastic, the view just as superb and the wait staff very attentive and helpful. read more

I'm always suspicious of celebrity chef restaurants. I've been to a few and they have always not lived up to the hype. With Matt Moran joining the Masterchef gang, I dearly hoped my favourite chef did not disappoint. He doesn't :) This is without doubt one of my favourite fine dining restaurants, with the only competition in my mind being Quay. I've been coming here over the last few years and have never had a bad experience. The food is always wonderfully cooked and presented with my favourite dish being the pork belly which is listed as an entree but I have previously requested this as a main, which the kitchen happily obliged. But the best experience I had here was when the special of the night was a beef main with the meat originating from Matt Moran's farm. It was one of the best I've ever tasted, so if this is ever on the menu, recommend to order this. For dessert, you cannot go past the souffle, so good!! Then there is the view of course which is amazing. So if you want to impress someone or have an special occasion, this is a great choice. An absolutely beautiful restaurant. Love it! read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Want to take your misses out for a special night out like for Valentines Day? Aria does a bloody good feed but can cost a pretty penny. Can't complain after a nice bottle of wine and great service and food though. Just make sure you book plenty in advance for important dates. read more

Wonderful view if you're sitting right at the window. I asked them for a window seat because it was our anniversary and they sat us in the middle of the restaurant. Service was horrible. Not sure if it was just our server, Charles, but he didn't even greet us happy anniversary or review the menu with us. For the price of the dinner, I expected dinner and service to be above standard when it was actually below standard. I recommend trying a restaurant with better reviews. I didn't read yelp reviews before I made the reservation but clearly I should have. We ordered the 3 course dinner and our 3rd course took over an hour so we sent it back and asked for our check. Our server did not apologize for the long wait nor did her try to make it up to us. read more

Rude and unorganized restaurant. I am trying to book for NYE and had emailed their reservations twice and still no response. read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Overall the meal was just okay. I have eaten at several three hatted restaurants and this doesn't even come close to competing with them. I have had better food at your local eateries. My biggest complaint of the day was when I ordered a steak. I'm always hesitant about ordering steak in restaurants because it's always cooked wrong. I thought however that a fancy restaurant could do it. So I paid the 10 dollars extra for the steak while already paying 100 dollars a head. Asking for medium rare, the steak comes out grey. Which is just bad. Which gives no credibility to Matt Moran judging contestants on Masterchef when they slightly over cook a meal. Other than that the food was pretty average. Nothing to write home about. The staff were friendly and helpful however. read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - The steak in question - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

For over a decade, one of Sydney's premier restaurants has been offering an optimal combination of tear-jerkingly beautiful views of the harbour and delectable haute cuisine. My first experience at ARIA was part of the 'Let's Have Lunch', where several restaurants partake in special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus once a year. I decided to go for a power lunch, where I was treated to a two-course lunch for $38. The featured dish was roasted barramundi with crab, pumpkin and sage risotto. At this time, most of the lunchgoers were of the corporate big shots schmoozing to clients or their trophy wives. I can't think of a better place to schmooze. As you would expect, the wine list is quite comprehensive though it highlights domestic bottles. However, I thought a glass of champagne would be the most complimentary choice for the moment. I have to say though, I expected the menu to be more inventive, but my time at ARIA didn't feel like a one-of-kind experience. Sure, the service was top of the line, but I honestly felt that I could have had the same meal at a comparable restaurant in New York or London (until I looked out the window). For dinner, ARIA is unquestionably the destination of choice for special occasions. I'll be there soon. read more

Aria Restaurant Sydney - Modern Australian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

I had a pleasant meal.... food was solid and service was professional. The view from Aria hits most of the criteria for a Sydney lookout spot. It has a professional and upscale quality that renders it a great location to bring people to taste and "see" a refined version of Sydney. The food echoed such. We ordered the seasonal tasting menu and loved the John Dory and lamb. The service here is interesting. The people were extremely professional but bordered on the cold to the warm...further the management of the dishes and the variety of waiters involved in the "how is everything" and "can I get you anything" was quite disorganized. Overall, I had a pleasant experience and thought the food was a solid 7.5/10. The view and ambiance will either pull this score down or up depending on what you prioritize. read more

Great restaurant with a great location right adjacent to the opera house. I came here on a Wednesday evening for dinner. We were properly seated at the window with a fantastic view of the water in opera House, the only downside being that there was a column blocking a portion of our view. Everything we ordered from the tasting menu was fantastic. Service was attentive. Things were well prepared, well done, which is expected at this price point. It's worth coming here on a nice vacation, but it's not so great but I would come here regularly or even more than just once. read more

I won a $200 Good Food voucher at work, and figured this would be a good time to take my mum to a fancy dinner she would otherwise refuse to attend. We also went to the opening night of Carmen at the Opera House :) The bill came to about $260 with 3 courses each and alcohol, which is what I would expect. The food was very constructed, ornate even... hehe... definitely not the kind of stuff you would ever eat or make at home, which is GOOD, because eating at a place like this is supposed to be special and unusual and not something just anyone can make or recreate, not even the best home cooks. And I am a very good home cook. The food was delicious. Also, the service was flawless. Warm, attentive, impeccable manners, without being pretentious and snooty. I feel like many, many Sydney restaurants in the upper tier of the "trendy" market, but certainly below the top tier places like Aria... are so bloody rude, obnoxious, with all sorts of stupid rules and inhospitable behaviour (especially trying to rush you out at 2 hours on the dot, but other things, too). None of this was part of my experience at Aria. So I think I'm going to restrict my dining out adventures to homely, warm suburban places and true fine dining establishments like Aria, and give the upper-middle tier of trendy douchebag joints the proverbial boot. BYE! A+ in every way for Aria. (By the way, my mum not only thought it was worth it and would like to return again, she described the whole experience as "perfect"... thanks for impressing my mum! Yay!) read more

A very impressive location for a high class dinner, with a spectacular view of Circular Quay, the opera house and the harbour bridge. My best recommendation would be come prepared to go all out for the best experience, there are many ways to enjoy a dinner at Aria. My personal favourite is to go for the set menu with the premium wine pairings and prepare yourself for a great experience. We had a fantastic evening with perfectly paired wines and journey through excellently crafted dinner courses. A relaxed but attentive service, ensuring that we had the best experience and did not go without but did not feel overwhelming. This is a great restaurant for something special albeit with the price tag you'd expect from the best of fine dining. read more

I reckon the more hats or stars or whatever a place is gauged by, the harder it is to give it top marks. I took a client to Aria, it was her idea. She is a Matt Moran fan. I am too, and I really like his couches as well. The food was fantastic, but at this level faults are amplified by high expectations. My problem was the lighting. I could not see the menu. I had to feel my way to the table. Its embarrasing when you sit on your client. Luckily I was not the only one who had bat syndrome, I know this because our waiter had a torch. True. If he didnt I was going to just point at something and hope I hadn't ordered a desert. Assuming I got what I ordered it was very good, but 'very good' is faint praise isn't it. My client loved it, but I have no idea what she had. I'm pretty sure she was on the other side of the table because I could hear her and she said it was great. read more

I could write a book of reviews on ARIA, as I have been fortunate enough to dine here many times. I think this is my favourite fine dining restaurant in Sydney, as it is reliable and always (well nearly) fantastic. Valentines day - that was another story, and I hate the obligatory dinners on Valentines Day, and we all deserve what we get, but anyhow. Matt Moran has for my money got the best spot and best reputation in town with ARIA. Yes I know Tetsuyas is lovely (if you are in the right room), and Quay has a great view (but no ambience), Rockpool is great food (No view at all) and Marque is the leader of the pack (also no view). But the food here resonates with me - clean, simple, good strong flavours presented well without being too fussy and overly creative, portion size that doesn't leave you wondering where the nearest Macs is afterwards, and a wine list for all tastes. His pork belly, a perennial on the menu in different incarnations, is hard to pass up, and the wonton in consomme is always lovely. Ther eis nothing on the menu that i would not eat, and I have eaten much of it at one time or another. It could be 5 stars, and is 4.5, but I reserve 5 for the extraordinary or unexpected - this is the epitome of reliability and quality, and everything you would expect from a Chef's Hat restaurant and celebrity chef - although he is a cheeky Aussie bloke!! Recommended, and the Brisbane one too - hard to fault. read more

I was invited to lunch at Aria today. It was unexpected, a complete suprise, and I was looking forward to it despite a very ordinary dinner there a few years ago. Once again though I was left wondering. What is the hype about and how are those two hats justified? The service is fine, as you'd expect, but the food just didn't sparkle. It was good but not the standard I expect from a hatted restaurant, certainly not of the standard of other similar places. The pre-meal bread was over-cooked with a hard crust and rubbery interior, and the appetiser, a cauliflower soup with salmon row, was pleasant, if a little bland. My entree, the 'King Salmon pastrami with crisp rye bread and pickled vegetables' and mustard, had subtle flavours and a true delicacy and it was definitely the highlight of the meal. For the main I had the 'slow cooked lamb neck with dukkah, harissa, eggplant and romesco sauce' with a side salad. It was cooked and presented well but, really, nothing out of the ordinary. I didn't have dessert (just coffee - and why do restaurant;s find it so hard to make a decent coffee?) but my companions did, and from the oohing and ahhing it was clearly worth the wait. The deserts certainly looked spectacular, but I was left wishing that the same creativity and care had gone into the mains. In summary, the service and food were fine, but not to the standard I expect from such a lauded restaurant, and certainly not as good as I've had at others. read more