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Recommended Reviews - The Rocks Cafe
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The Rocks Cafe is set in an adorable part of Sydney. I could see parking being a little challenging at times, but it's worth the effort and walk to make it to The Rocks Cafe! I understand it can get a little busy at times too, so there might be a wait. PRO TIP: make an online reservation and get seated right away! I had a couple of goals when visiting Australia... and one of them was to try kangaroo. The Rocks Cafe delivers with their Kangaroo Filet! And you can get it gluten-free! The sauce is a bit rich for me, but you can brush some of the sauce off with your fork. If kangaroo is not your thing, then there are plenty of other options on the menu... and the crowd around us all looked pleased with their orders. After you are done with your meal, you just go to the front/reception area and pay your bill. Easy peasy! Overall rating: ****FOUR STARS**** Gluten-free rating: ****FOUR STARS****
I liked the food and atmosphere here so much I ate here three times on my trip to Sydney in 5 days. Perfect for dining with a group on the outside patio, romantic dinner on outside patio, or alone on the patio or inside. The veggie omelet and chicken stir fry were outstanding.
the place was fairly quiet and very clean. the service was great, the servers were top notch. the food and portions were very good. sat outside and was entertained by the passersby.
BEST espresso and cappuccino in Sydney. Hands down! Lovely pastries, pies, croissants and banana bread. Full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner selections as well Great young and friendly staff. Highly recommend
Quality/Quantity - Grilled Chicken & Prosciutto Salad - Interesting combination, but good. Seafood Linguine - This was good, generous seafood. See picture. Grilled Kangaroo Fillet - Okay, I believe this is my first time trying kangaroo. And it was AMAZING! Done PERFECTLY, melted in my mouth. Generous portion. We were warned by our friends that if it is not done correctly, it will be rubbery and very chewy. We have had bad kangaroo after this and I agree with our friends. I knew I should have stopped ordering kangaroo after this visit as it was done so well... Special, Pan Roasted Cone Bay Barramundi Fillet - Good and tasted fresh. And a few glasses of Sauvignon Blanc. Good size menu, kids menu, dinner, lunch, breakfast, specials, etc. Atmosphere - Tourist area. Many choices to choose from. Interesting layout, but again this building is from the 1780's. We did not bother checking out the rest of the place. We just stayed in the front of the business, so we could people watch. Table, booth, bar seating. Open 7 days a week from 7:30am to 5pm or 9pm. Service - Good. Price - Expensive but worth it. Expect "tourist" prices. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since the late 1980's. We will be back.
We were looking for a restaurant with air conditioning for lunch on a sweltering hot day in Sydney. Many were open air, but this one had it. The main floor looked like it was full, but they directed us upstairs where it was even more comfortable temperature-wise. The ambiance/vibe was great, although I forgot to snap any pictures of it. Attentive service with a smile. I ordered the calamari and a house salad, my son ordered the kangaroo burger with chips. We enjoyed our lunches. The calamari was tender and crispy coated, the house salad was large with lots of tomatoes and kalamatta olives with a lemon vinegarette. The burger gave my son a chance to try kangaroo and a beet on a burger. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it was fairly expensive for a lunch meal. It was a nice break in the middle of a hot day of sightseeing.
Walking down such a busy block, it's hard to think you'll run into a great restaurant. The Rocks Cafe sure is though! Superbly friendly staff brought us right in. The Grilled Haloumi Breakfast and poached eggs were just what we needed this morning. The coffee is top notch. Super strong and delicious. Highly recommend if you need a quick but awe inspiring breakfast
Excellent seafood pasta. We substituted penne for the seafood linguine. The gnocchi with mushroom was amazing. A cheap appetizer would be the kid size fish and chips for $15.
Located in the heart of the busy George street in the Rocks section of Sydney Harbor. The bustling nightlife is contagious and even though you know it as a tourist site the food is actually really good. There is a full menu for three squares a day but we arrived during the busy Friday night dinner hour. Despite the crowds, we were seated immediately with orders taken within minutes. Specials of the day (shown on dry erase board): Cauliflower and Leek soup With toasted pane di casa. Lovely cauliflower brew, creamy and well balanced with herbaceous side notes. Pan Roasted Barramundi Filet Marinated artichoke salad, roasted potato, cherry tomato, kalamata olives, big stemmed capers and salsa verde dressing. Filet is soft and tender with a nicely crusted skin. It reminds me so much of ling cod in California. Grilled Kangaroo Filet Mash Potato, buttered spinach and red wine jus. This is a lean, low-flavor red meat - that eats more like a hamburger patty than a steak (especially since I'm used to fatty rib eye). Ordering medium rare is the only sensible option otherwise it would be bone dry. Less gamey than lamb and overall a healthier alternative to fatty cow steak. Seafood Linguini Queensland king prawn, squid, mussels, tomato sauce, chili and parsley. Noodles cooked just right and a nice assortment of seafood. Looked for clams but didn't find any. Truffle Fries with Shredded Parmesan Fat cut chips that are pretty regular - bountiful aroma but dry to the palate. This was the only meh item tonight. The long menu contains a wide variety of beverage choices: coffee, tea, cocktails, wine, beer, fortified and even a liquor coffee section. You really can't go wrong with so many options. That's all...
We were in Sydney for 2 1/2 days before beginning our cruise. We found the Rocks on the first day. We walked by on our way to an excursion and noticed how busy they were and decided we had to go back for dinner. The food was outstanding and the staff were beyond impressive. We went back for 2 breakfasts and another dinner. All the staff and managers remembered us each time. You cannot go wrong with eating here.
I'd like to thank the owner or manager who greeted us when we were looking at their outside menu. He took his time to find out what we were looking for. I was looking for a healthy meal without oil which is very hard to find and, to my surprise, they were able to cook without oil. He told us that they took great pride in making home cooked meals. As you can see in the picture, my dish looked very beautiful and it was delicious He brought the plate out himself as he wanted to make sure it was done properly. I'm very grateful for the service, and the food ... the ambiance was a nice bonus too.
2 months ago
Really popular place. They have street seating and indoor. The only thing available when we went without waiting was inside. Inside wasn't bad, the table was big and the chairs comfortable. We were waited on immediately. Servers fly around like dancers, it's actually pretty impressive. Our food arrived in no time. My wife had fish and chips and I had lamb and rosemary pie. She enjoyed her meal. Mine was different than I've had before. It was still ok but I wouldn't order it again. Others would probably like it, it just wasn't for me. We didn't have any dessert but as you walk in the door they have some wonderful looking pies and cakes. Do yourself a favor and save room for one of those. I messed up and didn't try something. This is actually a really cool restaurant that I would like to try again. I wouldn't let one dish that didn't hit my taste buds keep me away. read more
This is my first international review in NSW, as we are Yelp Elites visiting Sydney from the US. Since we were staying in The Rocks, we had to try The Rocks Cafe. We were bummed that the meat pies were sold out, but we were glad we got a chance to eat Kangaroo steak. That was our first opportunity and it was delicious. It was tender and flavorful. We also ordered calamari and schnitzel and they were good as well. Service was prompt and friendly, and we enjoyed the decor highlighting its early years as a penal colony. It was obviously a restaurant for tourists with tourists' prices and tip (gratuity) line for those not knowing that tipping is not customary in Australia. A bit sneaky. . read more
The Rocks Cafe is set in an adorable part of Sydney. I could see parking being a little challenging at times, but it's worth the effort and walk to make it to The Rocks Cafe! I understand it can get a little busy at times too, so there might be a wait. PRO TIP: make an online reservation and get seated right away! I had a couple of goals when visiting Australia... and one of them was to try kangaroo. The Rocks Cafe delivers with their Kangaroo Filet! And you can get it gluten-free! The sauce is a bit rich for me, but you can brush some of the sauce off with your fork. If kangaroo is not your thing, then there are plenty of other options on the menu... and the crowd around us all looked pleased with their orders. After you are done with your meal, you just go to the front/reception area and pay your bill. Easy peasy! Overall rating: ****FOUR STARS**** Gluten-free rating: ****FOUR STARS**** read more
9 months ago
I liked the food and atmosphere here so much I ate here three times on my trip to Sydney in 5 days. Perfect for dining with a group on the outside patio, romantic dinner on outside patio, or alone on the patio or inside. The veggie omelet and chicken stir fry were outstanding. read more
2 months ago
Very cool bar/restaurant. Service was great and food was yummy! Friend had the kangaroo burger and loved it. Hubby had the fish and chips. All great. read more
Quality/Quantity - Grilled Chicken & Prosciutto Salad - Interesting combination, but good. Seafood Linguine - This was good, generous seafood. See picture. Grilled Kangaroo Fillet - Okay, I believe this is my first time trying kangaroo. And it was AMAZING! Done PERFECTLY, melted in my mouth. Generous portion. We were warned by our friends that if it is not done correctly, it will be rubbery and very chewy. We have had bad kangaroo after this and I agree with our friends. I knew I should have stopped ordering kangaroo after this visit as it was done so well... Special, Pan Roasted Cone Bay Barramundi Fillet - Good and tasted fresh. And a few glasses of Sauvignon Blanc. Good size menu, kids menu, dinner, lunch, breakfast, specials, etc. Atmosphere - Tourist area. Many choices to choose from. Interesting layout, but again this building is from the 1780's. We did not bother checking out the rest of the place. We just stayed in the front of the business, so we could people watch. Table, booth, bar seating. Open 7 days a week from 7:30am to 5pm or 9pm. Service - Good. Price - Expensive but worth it. Expect "tourist" prices. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since the late 1980's. We will be back. read more
We were looking for a restaurant with air conditioning for lunch on a sweltering hot day in Sydney. Many were open air, but this one had it. The main floor looked like it was full, but they directed us upstairs where it was even more comfortable temperature-wise. The ambiance/vibe was great, although I forgot to snap any pictures of it. Attentive service with a smile. I ordered the calamari and a house salad, my son ordered the kangaroo burger with chips. We enjoyed our lunches. The calamari was tender and crispy coated, the house salad was large with lots of tomatoes and kalamatta olives with a lemon vinegarette. The burger gave my son a chance to try kangaroo and a beet on a burger. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it was fairly expensive for a lunch meal. It was a nice break in the middle of a hot day of sightseeing. read more
Walking down such a busy block, it's hard to think you'll run into a great restaurant. The Rocks Cafe sure is though! Superbly friendly staff brought us right in. The Grilled Haloumi Breakfast and poached eggs were just what we needed this morning. The coffee is top notch. Super strong and delicious. Highly recommend if you need a quick but awe inspiring breakfast read more
8 months ago
3 years ago
Located in the heart of the busy George street in the Rocks section of Sydney Harbor. The bustling nightlife is contagious and even though you know it as a tourist site the food is actually really good. There is a full menu for three squares a day but we arrived during the busy Friday night dinner hour. Despite the crowds, we were seated immediately with orders taken within minutes. Specials of the day (shown on dry erase board): Cauliflower and Leek soup With toasted pane di casa. Lovely cauliflower brew, creamy and well balanced with herbaceous side notes. Pan Roasted Barramundi Filet Marinated artichoke salad, roasted potato, cherry tomato, kalamata olives, big stemmed capers and salsa verde dressing. Filet is soft and tender with a nicely crusted skin. It reminds me so much of ling cod in California. Grilled Kangaroo Filet Mash Potato, buttered spinach and red wine jus. This is a lean, low-flavor red meat - that eats more like a hamburger patty than a steak (especially since I'm used to fatty rib eye). Ordering medium rare is the only sensible option otherwise it would be bone dry. Less gamey than lamb and overall a healthier alternative to fatty cow steak. Seafood Linguini Queensland king prawn, squid, mussels, tomato sauce, chili and parsley. Noodles cooked just right and a nice assortment of seafood. Looked for clams but didn't find any. Truffle Fries with Shredded Parmesan Fat cut chips that are pretty regular - bountiful aroma but dry to the palate. This was the only meh item tonight. The long menu contains a wide variety of beverage choices: coffee, tea, cocktails, wine, beer, fortified and even a liquor coffee section. You really can't go wrong with so many options. That's all... read more
9 months ago
We were in Sydney for 2 1/2 days before beginning our cruise. We found the Rocks on the first day. We walked by on our way to an excursion and noticed how busy they were and decided we had to go back for dinner. The food was outstanding and the staff were beyond impressive. We went back for 2 breakfasts and another dinner. All the staff and managers remembered us each time. You cannot go wrong with eating here. read more
10 months ago
Delicious food and great service by very attentive staff. We sat outside, lots of families and people watching. The specials were great! My husband had the kangaroo filet and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. read more
1 year ago
I'd like to thank the owner or manager who greeted us when we were looking at their outside menu. He took his time to find out what we were looking for. I was looking for a healthy meal without oil which is very hard to find and, to my surprise, they were able to cook without oil. He told us that they took great pride in making home cooked meals. As you can see in the picture, my dish looked very beautiful and it was delicious He brought the plate out himself as he wanted to make sure it was done properly. I'm very grateful for the service, and the food ... the ambiance was a nice bonus too. read more
Great little spot to grab breakfast. Nice outdoor seating, quiet and enjoyable. Service was quick and you pay at the counter when you've finished. The avocado toast was tasty and the grilled halloumi was a nice treat on the side! read more
LOVED THIS PLACE! Great place to try traditional Australian style food- I personally had a kangaroo burger with beetroot spread on it. We ordered the prawn bruschetta as an appetizer and it was perfect- light, well flavored and balanced. Would definitely recommend! read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
Recently had dinner at the Rocks Cafe. It was a really good experience. Food was fresh and tasty. Service was polite and efficient. Atmosphere was very vibrant and lively. We started with the herb crusted bread - yummy! I had the scotch grilled steak and my wife had the stir fry with chicken. Everything was terrific. To top in all off was the cheesecake with strawberries and cream! Our server recommended the cheesecake and it was an excellent choice. I highly recommend this cafe. I plan to go back soon! read more
2 years ago
One of the best eggs benny going around. I had the salmon, and my partner had the bacon and both were on point. The hollandaise was on the vinegar side which surprisingly added to the dish. Eggs on the salmon were runny on the inside, whilst the bacon eggs were a little firmer. Staff were attentive, and we managed to snag breakfast just prior to the kitchen swapping out for lunch. Thanks for fitting us in! read more
3 years ago
Service was a bit slow but friendly. The food was really good. I got the chicken Penne and my hubby got fish and chips. We both loved our dishes. Another friend got the chicken stir fry and he raved about it. It was pretty crowded for a Wednesday night. I highly recommend reservations. read more
This is our first time visiting Australia and so my son wanted to try something new. He ordered a kangaroo burger and I ordered a crocodile burger. Honestly, it did not sound appetizing to me but I figure I'll give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. The kangaroo burger tastes very similar to beef except the texture to me was more like liver. The crocodile burger tastes very similar to crabmeat. These burgers were served with fries but I asked to change them to truffle Parmesan. The truffle flavor was very mild and I would have preferred a little stronger flavor. Service was okay. They took our order and served us but did not refill our water flask or ask if we wanted dessert. read more
2 years ago
Very nice food and super good cafe. Quite busy but beautiful little restaurant. Waiters are polite and professional. read more
3 years ago
Super cute little restaurant/ diner! Open all day with outdoor and Indoor seating. Great spot for breakfast- huge lattes and great food! The pancakes are some of the best I've ever had. The mushroom toast was huge- artisan bread with mushrooms, spinach, roasted tomatoes, parm cheese topped with scrambled egg whites (per my request). A must go! read more
3 years ago
This is a great restaurant to enjoy a full breakfast. Open early in the morning with indoor or outdoor seating. The staff were very friendly and personable. There were eight of us in our party and we wanted to sit outside. They quickly put three tables together and sat us. The Ambiance was relaxing but still in the middle of shopping and other restaurants. I ordered a long black (regular coffee), a warm fresh baked croissant with homemade strawberry jam and butter, and the eggs royal which was Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. (See pictures). The price wasn't bad either, I paid A$38 which came out to about $26 USD. All and all, I would highly recommend this as one of your breakfasts for your trip. read more
3 years ago
This is a cozy little place in the rocks, very friendly service, excellent staff. I came for breakfast and coffee, and both were quite appealing. They pay attention to presentation, and put dishes together with a nice blend of flavors. For a relaxing meal at the rocks, it's a great choice. read more
3 years ago
Coffee and ham cheese croissant sandwich for breakfast. Nice people working there and quick. Ambiance of The Rocks can be found there. Also ended up there for dinner one night, service and food tasty. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Pretty good cafe in a great location and good vibe if you're in the mood for that but obviously due to the location it's always packed busy and loud so not always the vibe. Food is decent and price is high as expected. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Atmosphere, Atmosphere, Atmosphere....... Amazing tasing breakfast and brunch. Must try if in the area read more
Food: amazing. My boyfriend had the kangaroo filet which was supposed to come medium rare but really was cooked medium. He enjoyed it nevertheless. It comes with spinach and mashed potatoes on the side. I had the fish and chips. Probably the best fish and chips I've had in a long time. The batter was crispy and the inside was soft and fluffy. Atmosphere: cute cafe with outdoor and indoor seating. We chose to sit outdoor to enjoy the lovely Sydney breeze and people watch. Service: good. Staff were friendly and attentive without being overbearing. You must check this place out if you're in the area and wanting good food! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
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