My better half took me here yesterday for an early birthday celebration. It was a surprise, and what a fantastic night. If you want to impress the hell out of someone, or if you want to treat someone to a truly special dining experience, then you must go here!
The night started with the (well worth it) 50 minute drive to the wharf to catch the ferry to the restaurant. No driving directly to this place. You board their private ferry, and take short ride to their private dock, all while enjoying the beauty of the Hawkesbury river and its lush landscape. Another option is to take a sea plane (imagine the brownie points you would get for adding that to the night!).
We arrived just after 7. It was the perfect time to arrive, as the lighting created this picture perfect setting to gaze at. Arriving earlier in the evening, you get to experience sunset/dusk and feel the ambiance of the restaurant change from a well lit water front establishment, to an intimate, modern, homey feeling fine dining icon.
The staff were friendly and genuine on arrival as they greeted us, and took us promptly to our table. There isn't a bad seat in the house here.
We started with a glass of champagne. Gosset seems to be the house pour, and was a welcome start to the dinner for us! For those who don't know, Gosset is the oldest winery in Champagne.
Staff here know how to make sure you have the fine balance of privacy, mixed with highly (yet unobtrusive) attentive service. There is no massive menu to flip through here. Everyone has the 7 course degustation dinner, and the staff make sure to inquire about any potential food allergies or sensitivities.
As for the wines, you can get the paired wines for $75, which were (mostly) perfectly paired. I Think there was one that I had a "meh" reaction to, otherwise, I was pleasantly amused with the changing characteristics of each wine when tasted before the plate arrived, and after the first bite. For those that want more control over their wine selection, they had a impressive looking cellar, but I forgot to ask to look at the list, as my partner was the designated driver for the night.
They seem to have a selection of spirits, but I was never offered an after dinner beverage, which really surprised me. There were also no supplemental dishes. I'm a sucker for supplementals, and usually like to start my evening out with a martini, manhattan, or old fashioned, or end it with a good ol' scotch.
The menu had apparently just changed earlier that week. They love their play on words here, with courses such as "Tomatoes", and "Beef, Onions, and Tarragon". Rest assured, there is nothing simple on the plate, but rather a perfectly balanced creation that left you wanting more. My favourite was the short rib (Beef, Onions and Tarragon).
Desserts were very nice, but as I explained to our server, I am one of those who love my desserts to be like a professional boxer. Rich, and knocks your socks off. A cheesecake, a chocolate masterpiece, or a cheese plate are some of my favourites, so this was my only disappointment of the night, and it was minor at that.
Chef and Owner Brian Geraghty could be seen (and heard) working with an intensity and passion for perfection in the kitchen, inspecting every plate before it was taken to its guests. It was almost a bit of pressure, as you could see him looking out over the pass to, waiting to see if you were enjoying his creations. I gave him my thumbs up, and was pleased to see him smile for the first time since we had arrived. I'm one of those who love to have the chef visit the table and discuss the concept or inspiration for the menu, or the sourcing of the ingredients. I suppose its because my partner is a trained chef, and we enjoy that banter. I was surprised that he didn't make the rounds, as there are only about 12(?) tables in the house.
The only negative that really stuck out for me, was one of the servers, was the sloppiest pourer ever. Each time he refilled out water, he seemed to pour a good amount on the table. It appeared to be a combination of a) staring at something else while pouring, and b) forgetting the ever important step of tilting the bottle upright before you pull your arm back towards your body.
Sadly, we were not staying the night at one of the many places along the river, so we reluctantly left Berowra Waters Inn, taking the ferry back to the wharf, enjoying the last little bit of romance before getting back in the car to drive home.
I will be back, maybe for a nice winter menu full of comfort dishes? read more