My favourite Sydney restaurant. For any occasion. I first went for a business lunch. But now I use it as a special occasion venue. Never fails to impress with their quality of dishes. read more

Big and classy, that's how I like my burgers. Also my cars. Just kidding, I drive a Daewoo. Not kidding about the burgers though, the Riley St Classic is one well-thought out meat sandwich. The patty is thick and cooked medium rare, it's this beautiful rose-pink colour in the middle and hella juicy and it just melts together with the cheese and the milk bun into something glorious that's more than the sum of it's parts. The fries are shoestring, which isn't my first choice when it comes to hot chips but these were pretty delicious, yo gotta ask for the dipping sauce AKA crack sauce because that takes them to a higher plane of existence. They only do burgers during the day though, at night it switches over into high class mode. You'd crush a first date here. Oh and there's a new bar called Busby underneath that's only been open 2 weeks, it's a suuuuuper cool sneaky basement bar with beautiful furnishings that's cracking for a cozy drink or second tinder date. read more

See all

Ordered the pork knuckle which was amazing. I sat at the bar and seemed as if I was annoying the bartender by wanting refills of coke. He gave me one refill and then brought me water. Regardless, the food was amazing and I'll be back to try more. read more

WOAH this space is a knockout !!! High ceilings, communal tables, a load of bar seating - it truly is an impressive fit out. Ya know, I was very tempted to rate this place 3 stars but I figured a 2 star deficit due to one rather rude waiter would be unfair to the other remarkable staff and the quality of food pumping out of the kitchen. So let me get the bad off my chest - a very pushy and impatient waiter. He had no interest in taking down our order and was vocally rushing us through the menu that we felt there was no other option but to choose the set menu - we hadn't even checked out the set menu!! Kinda pee'd that we let this happen to us .. seriously had us all in a daze and left us thinking 'what the f.. just happened? Did we order? What food are we about to chow down on?' Anyhoo ... that was the last contact we had with him .. from then on service was great. Sooo despite the fracas ordering the food, I can honestly say overall, it was of a very high standard. Oysters - superb Kingfish sashimi - hmmmm okay i spose Beef carpaccio- STAR DISH, it was so tender and there was a load of sauce Scallop w garlic butter - AMAZE Spinach ricotta ravioli - truly incredible, such a great ration of spinach and cheese Crispy pork knuckle with a delicious soy seeded mustard and sides of truffle mash and iceberg salad - seriously good dish .. that truffle mash was soo creamy, I swear I thought it was bechamel sauce!! OHHH and to finish it off, a dessert platter - a flamin choc espresso creme brûlée ... Mango sorbet and the most interesting take on a banana split - it was the offspring of a cake and mousse affair - genius !!! I reckon the next time I head in there, I'm going straight to the bar and ordering me a dozen of those oysters and a plate of that beef carpaccio - sharing is not an option !! read more

Riley St Garage - It's a dessert tasting plate - chocolate espresso creme brûlée, mango sorbet and banana split with honeycomb foam - Restaurants Near Me - Woolloomooloo, NSW

See all

Best of the Best - fun relaxed environment, with exceptional service. Food is outstanding, interesting dishes and there is a great range of food options, so very pleasing for everyone! Oysters and raw dishes are a must, scallops are incredible as well as a whole baby snapper, huge Riverine Ribeye w/ truffle mash that is to die for. There are also great options for fussy eaters such as Vegan risotto and loads of gluten free. Cocktails are a must - the salted caramel martini is a favourite followed up by some Laurent-Perrier. Desserts are next level w/ a flaming enormous platter with so many divine and delicious options. 10/10 read more

See all

The fit out here is beautiful. Seriously, beautiful. I haven't been here for dinner yet but I came for lunch...because, well....burgers. Great burgers on offer here for $12 on their Pit Stop menu. Soft bun, well cooked meat and quality ingredients. If only this place were in a more convenient location I would come here for lunch more. I got the cheeseburger while my friend got the Riley Street Classic. I heard good things about the fried chicken burger and the pork knuckle....so I will definitely be back to try those. Also, for dinner... read more

Riley St Garage - Cheeseburger - Restaurants Near Me - Woolloomooloo, NSW

See all

Amazing experience! The place to go to on a special occasion. The atmosphere is really special. Mix between warehouse style (huge space, brick walls, metal everywhere...) and fine dining is great. Food is awesome. I would call it Australian modern with a twist: scallops, lamb, zucchini flowers - sounds pretty simple on the menu but the Chef knows how to sublime basics. I love the concept of small and large shares! It is super convivial and you can taste lots of different dishes. Mostly appreciated here in Sydney: booking is possible and not reserved for large groups (we were 2, asked for an quiet table and were fully satisfied as soon as we arrived). Go for the desert platter without any hesitation, both presentation and taste are memorable (you can tell from the pictures). Can't wait to have something to celebrate as a good excuse to be back! Maybe I'll test the Oyster Bar this time. read more

See all

Food was medium to good. The beetroot salad, zucchini flowers and the lamb shoulder were average but the beef sliders and grilled mushrooms were fantastic. Most importantly the waitress offered still water when we were seated which we accepted. Hilariously we found out when we received the bill that we had been charged $5 per person for the water. And when I remarked to the hostess that this was unusual she said that it was 'unlimited and probably the cheapest water you would find in Sydney haha'. Meanwhile, we only had one glass each - not that it should matter. Really put a damper on the overall meal, seems like a poorly executed duplicate of Buvette in NYC. Price: OK Service: below average read more

Riley St Garage - Unexpected $5 per person charge for the one glass of room temp still water we had each. - Restaurants Near Me - Woolloomooloo, NSW

Came here for an impromptu celebration, the 'mechanics' at Riley St Garage was not only accommodating, but took good care of us. No booking? No worries, grab a seat at the bar and we'll fix up a table for you...peckish? We have 1/2 price oysters happy hour if you want a few (or in our case, 2 doz) while you're sipping your cocktail. Yes, yes, yes thankyou! The cocktails and food was spot on, service was very attentive both at the bar and dining room. Our waiter very patiently explained the history of the building when we asked, we may have been a little drunk. Loved the decor, it's chic but not pretentious. Great mood lighting, flattering but not sleep-inducing. And it comes with an interesting story (it was Australia's first full service garage, incase you want to impress your date or just want to sound knowledgable). read more

See all

Finally, got to tick this one off my list! As expected it was sensational! Got the espresso martini with salted caramel to start! That def hit the spot. The lighting is very dark so it def sets the scene for those romantic dinner dates. So if you are here to take pictures you will need some light from your friends phone! Share among 3 people we got the following: Spinach ricotta ravioli w/ burnt sage butter $14 Tempura Zucchini flowers, whipped feta $14 Chicken Liver Parfait, fruit pickles, sour dough $14 Chorizo corn dog, dijon mayo $4ea Steak Tartare, barley miso, parmesan nori $18 700gm Organic half chicken w/ apple, onion vinaigrette $28 Wow! Presentation wise and taste = excellent. Staff were very attentive and patient as we were also paying with the new Clipp app. We finished off with the dessert platter and it was nothing short of spectacular! read more

See all

We had a pretty great meal here. Wagyu beef skewers, pork hock, truffle mash potatoes... spectacular desserts and desset wine... couldn't complain about anything. The place is very swanky looking, in a really large converted garage space. Very modern New York. read more

Riley St Garage - The bar. - Restaurants Near Me - Woolloomooloo, NSW

See all

Hands down one of my favourite restaurants in Sydney. The decor, the food, the drinks list, the oysters... Mmmmm oysters.... For oysters, my fave is the smokey soy truffle. Yum. I can just have a dozen of them and some bubbles. Their lunch specials is amazing too. The brioche bun burger, the best in town. If you're not too hungry then get the small shared plates. The burrata and smoked peppers oozed with yumminess. The steak tartare were fresh and tasty. It comes with Parmesan crisps! The octopus dish was yum and so does the ravioli with burnt butter sage. Simple but delish. Oh their fries is a must. Soooooo good with soy aioli. Truffle mash is also a good potato option. For the larger plate, I tried chicken and lamb both equally delicious. Here's a tip, you don't have to choose for dessert. Get the chef's special platter. You get a sample platter. Soooo good! So choose anything from the menu and most likely it would be great. read more

See all

Both ground level and downstairs are great. The bartender upstairs was super friendly, made me feel welcome and helped me pick something from the menu: kiwipirinha. It's a kiwi infused Caipirinha. Not strong and full of ice, but delicious. If I wasn't bar hopping last night I could have stayed here drinking that all night. But alas.... The bar area is beautiful and fully stocked with anything you could ask for liquor wise. Downstairs had Gin and Jazz night with discounted gin drinks ($15) and a live jazz band. The band was good and stopped around 9:30, so come early! Not sure if this is just a Thursday night thing or not. I had the Clove Club which is gin, raspberry and lime and was delicious. This area is also nicely laid out and has lounge seating as well as tables and hightops. read more

Riley St Garage - Upstairs bar - Restaurants Near Me - Woolloomooloo, NSW

See all

You know that moment when, having no expectations whatsoever - or even perhaps a negative feeling about the place, you get there and it rocks? That happened! You walk inside and if you're only in for a drink, you get ushered downstairs in this low lit ambiance with a coppery-mechanicky-industrial touch of exposed utilities and abandoned lubricant oil barrels. A tiny menu -perhaps the smallest font size I've seen which can be challenging to read - is offered to you: cocktails, nibbles, wines, a nice variety and the perfect stuff before a dinner or an early movie. The Almond Brothers cocktail is great (it didn't make the pic) and the little corn dogs are beautifully tasty! It's exactly what a cocktail lounge should feel like and even if the service was a tad long - though they were busy - I commend them for creating a unique place and I warmly recommend it! read more

Riley St Garage - Restaurants Near Me - Woolloomooloo, NSW

See all

Good vibes!! Made a booking for 6:30pm (2 hour seating) on a Saturday night (I booked a few days in advance and the only available seatings left were either 6:30pm or 9:00pm and even later times that were still available, so I suggest booking WELL in advance). My boyfriend and I arrived 20 mins late due to traffic and were seated and were well looked after for the rest of the night. We ordered a bottle of wine, 6 oysters (2 of each of the flavours, I was told they were really good, as I don't eat them), spinach ricotta ravioli which was probably my favourite of the night, ridiculously tasty! We also ordered the seared scallops which were cooked to perfection and the boy got a chorizo dog. We then ordered fries and the larger share of cripsy pork knuckle and lamb shoulder - get out. SO good. As we were running late our 2 hour seating was almost up though we were still interested in dessert so our more than helpful waiter seated us at a higher table (not at the bar, but a place to sit whilst enjoying drinks) and made us espresso martinis for our troubles, on the house (no trouble at all)! We THEN ordered a dessert platter - do it. You won't be disappointed. Really cool place, packed, great staff, amazing food - we frothed. read more

This was the first stop on a food date I had with my coworker. We really eat well together as we have similar tastes and are both determined to try everything we can. Riley St Garage had been on both of our lists for awhile and we decided it was time to cross it off. We were a bit nervous as the reviews we saw weren't that favorable as of late, but we went in with open minds and empty stomachs. First off, service was fantastic. Our server was friendly, informative, and was very genuine in her recommendations. Dinner commenced with the salmon sashimi "fish and chips" which was one of the items that wasn't well reviewed in our research, but we wanted to try anyway (sashimi and house made potato chips? Yum!) The chips were a bit salty on their own as we had been warned, but had the perfect amount of seasoning when paired with the sashimi. The salmon was followed quickly by one of my favourites of the night: the chorizo corn dog bites. At $4/per I'd say they're a bit on the pricey side for their size, but they were delicious and are a must do. The Dijon sauce was spot on! Next up was probably my least favourite of the night- the spinach and ricotta ravioli. They were nicely prepared, but way too heavy on the spinach. I had to ask my date what type of cheese was mean to be involved as I couldn't taste it. That said, it was still a decent dish for $14. Then came the beautifully presented Beer Tempura Morton Bay Bug. I'm fairly confident that you can dip anything in tempura batter and with the magic of deep frying it will be delicious. The Morton Bay Bug is no exception. It wasn't over cooked, and the "spicy mayo" sauce (which was flavoured strongly with dill and lightly spiced) was fabulous. For our final course of the venue we had the beef burger. I had read it was on the small side, and it was, but it was still big enough for a decent meal. I was also told it was delicious. And it was. The beef was cooked beautifully with a bit of pink still showing. The brioche bun was perfectly soft, and the blue cheese sauce was so delicious I could have consumed a cup of it on the side. Disappointingly, the chips were a bit undercooked. They were of the thin shoestring variety, but had too much potato taste. They were crying out for another 45 seconds in the frier, and I couldn't help them. The set up is nice - it's a funky old converted garage, with plenty of stools around a beautiful bar, and tons of tables surrounding that. There's nothing to cut the noise and at times I had to shout across the table to be heard, so it may not be the best choice for that romantic night out. Overall, there's some room for improvement, but I'm excited to go back and smash the giant pork knuckle (at $44 it's meant to serve as a main for 2-3 with the help of sides and entrees). read more

See all

One of my favorites in Sydney! Amazing food (esp. the tartar, ravioli and lamb) and a good wine selection. Also, the oysters are the best I had in Sydney so far. read more

MB and I impulse decided to go to Riley Street Garage after a picture of their Beef and Blue burger had us salivating on Instagram (there may have been a 6 week lag between these two events). RSG is set in a converted warehouse, presumably an old mechanic's garage and it is stunning to look at - lots of leather and exposed brick, warm low lighting - the kind that makes you feel really attractive. We were sat at the bar without a reservation and the wall of spirits was an education. The food was fantastic - the B&B burger did not disappoint: the patty cooked med-rare and juicy, run down your arm delicious; the chorizo corn dogs were tasty bites; tempura prawns crispy and the beetroot salad just right. The thing that makes me rave about this joint is the staff - every 'mechanic' in his manicured facial hair splendour was an absolute delight. They brought down bottles off their impressive spirits shelf (an education unto itself) just so we could read the labels and we got into a very funny dialogue about burger bloggers. Great setting, great food and amazing people. read more

Possibly our new favorite discovery in Sydney... I take that back it is our new favorite discovery in Sydney (been three time in last 6 weeks!) From the minute you walk into Riley Street Garage you feel transported to a different era, of handcrafted cocktails, and people passionate about the food they serve and cook. Over the past few visits I think I can confidently say "We have ate the whole menu!" and there isn't one thing that disappointed. If you are an Oyster fan their selection and presentation is amazing. The wine and drinks menu is extensive and don't even get me started on the Chrizo Corn Dogs... OUT OF THIS WORLD! I keep saying I'm gonna go back just for a scotch and some corn dogs but it always turns into a full on meal! It is also a great place to take out of town guest visiting Sydney, as it isn't in the CBD. read more

This place is awesome- best service I've had in Sydney in a long time, amazing venue and fantastic food! I've tried to get a table at this place on a Friday night and it's been really packed, so if you're going on the weekend I would recommend calling ahead, but on a random Tuesday night my friend and I easily got a table. The servers were attentive but not overbearing and we didn't have to wait long for our initial drinks or for additional drinks later in the evening. We both ended up with the burger and holy cow, it was to die for. I'd put it on par with Rockpool's burger, which is saying a lot, but it definitely measures up with the hint of blue cheese, juicy patty and slightly grilled bun. The fries that came with it were also fantastic- perfectly crispy and thin cut and perfectly salted read more

"Why is it called Riley St Garage? I understand it's located on Riley St though, what's with the 'Garage'?" Quite literally, this space used to be a garage. It all makes sense now.. Old time garage, new time, art deco fit out which screams suavity. We arrive at 8pm for our booking at the gorgeous bar positioned in the centre of this large industrial space. Pleasantly surprised, the bar stools are cushioned and better yet, they have a back rest - I make myself right at home. I am a Sydney Rock Girl myself though, I have read numerous reviews encouraging the Pacific as your selection. Dare I say it? These Pacific oysters were better than the Sydney Rocks! Furthermore, the Smoky Soy Truffle compliments the Pacific oysters almost a little too well. It's dangerous, I want to order more. Read More: http://www.simplicitybysarah.com/2014/11/riley-st-garage-woolloomooloo.html read more

I've only gone to this place for some late night snacks and beverages. I have to say that I am in LOVE with the oysters here! More specifically their smoked oysters. Although it says it's smoked, it still has a raw taste to it, which I like. The sauce they serve with it is to die for. I am drooling just writing this review. It is a dash and truffle oil mind explosion! Oysters are $4 a pop, but well worth it. I've had a few of their beers on tap and that is pretty standard. They do have a pretty good selection though, but my favorite has to be little creatures. I love the ambiance, it's like a converted garage, hipster kind of place. It's easy to miss so pay attention. A nice place for a good meal, or just to kick back and wind down. I would love to come back here for their happy hour! Overall, I love to come by this place late night, and would love to try their regular menu or happy hour. They can be a bit pricey, but the staff has always been great! I would say you must get the oysters! I can't wait to go back! read more

Food here is AMAZING. Great long lunch venue and service is really great. Special shout out to the oysters! Can't wait to go back read more

Walked in on nearly empty place at 5p on Saturday and no one came to greet or offer table service .... Staff was standing arose be kitchen and bar area ... Made eye contact w several who quickly turned away .... Looked at reviews on Google ( very poor) Waited for another few minutes..... No response ... No activity... And left - so I can spend $200 somewhere else I guess? read more

This place had a really cool vibe, funky drinks, and our meal was delicious! Had the steak tartare, corn dogs, crispy chicken, and a few of their desserts. read more

Great food. Great service. Restaurant/bar looks and feels amazing. They do their best to cater to a variety of dietary needs.

I am too drunk to review this because of the amazing wine. I love you all so much. Dave. xxxxxxxxx

Came here for a casual dinner date with a friend - with the casual bar / dining vibe of the place I didn't realise I was in for such a culinary treat! We ordered the Lamb to share, which had enough left over to take home. The entre's are designed to be ordered degustation style - coming out in the order the Chef sees fit, leading you into the main. I even left a 20% tip - which I don't do often! read more

Amazing! Best food in Sydney. You feel like you're in New York City. Service is impeccable and everything was just yes. Yes yes yes. Make sure you have the pork. We dined on the set menu and everything was delicious. Great wine selection too. Must try. read more

Outstanding dinner here this week. Made for sharing and good for groups. Probably more of a 4.5 than a 5 due to some of the wines not being excellent, but the food, service, ambience are all exceptional. We loved the ravioli small share and the mushroom risotto large share plate. The pork sliders and banana split are also very good. read more

we went as part of a group of 10. we chose the banquet at 100 per head. this was the most unsatisfactory over priced dinner i have had ever. oysters 2 each Fish and Chips was actually a spoonful of raw tuna and some crisps to share between 4. Ravioli - 2 small pieces each Scollops 1 scollop each and so it went on. Nice place and well presented but whatever you do don't do the banquet, or be prepared for a long wait for very minimal food. the good - great look. read more

Wow, this place was incredibly disappointing. From the moment sitting down we were ignored and then the waiter had the nerve to come over and start to patronise us. The Manager was also a complete smart ass to us and very rude. We thought it would be nice to check out the local area and liked the menu enough to try it out, but after the first 20 minutes of our welcome becoming an awful, laughable experience and actually leading to my partner asking me if we were on camera..... I would DEFINITELY NOT recommend this place to anyone!!! Save your money on the overpriced drinks and food that looked unappealing and go to a nice bar that actually serves gourmet food to match the decor and gives you friendly attention that you are paying for and expect!!!!. The place does not justify its price and its incredibly unfriendly, rude staff is not what you expect to receive. Stay away!!!! read more

From the moment we were greeted for our early sitting something was off. The young woman at the front told us sternly we were not allowed to have a drink at the bar as they were strict with their bookings, even making a weird chopping motion with her hands. Even with time supposedly being an issue the first round of drinks took forever to come. The menu, as with the setting and the service, is droll, predictable and somewhat unimaginative. Vegetarian? Forget it. Eggplant - really? Mushroom risotto - again? And don't bother ordering the mash or the fries to compensate - the waiter delighted in telling us the mash was made with fish flakes (why??) and that the fries were cooked in the very same oil as the meat dishes (gross and lazy to boot). As our mains were cleared we were unceremoniously told that we had five minutes to leave the table (wow!). After paying a small fortune for an average meal the wait staff twirled off without so much as a thank you or see you next time... No dessert? No after dinner drink at the bar? Guess not. No gushing goodbyes from bar or door staff either. Any hype there was has well and truly been misplaced. Very white jeans, chambray and gold hoops for a Friday night in East Sydney? Oh dear. There are just so many better options locally - from the Wharf to The Tilbury, Ms G's to Fratelli Fresh and any number of small bars in the surrounding areas. If you want service and quality you may just wonder what else is up the road. read more