Aria

Posted by: D&C | 8 February 2010, 12.40pm

Four of us went for a lunch time degustation on Friday afternoon. We were greeted by Matt!! So it all started off fantastically. Our waiter was very attentive and then the food feast began. Yes the food was sensational (my favourite was the scallops) although the last savoury dish was a little bit of a let down - tasty lamb but was not that tender at all - and being the last dish it left the biggest impression - but the rest of it was as expected, very good and the timing of the food was excellent .... Yes drinks are very over priced but you have to expect that a little bit given the amazing location of the restaurant- so... 4 hours later we leave all very merry and very happy and our pockets $1200 lighter!!! But we all felt it was worth it, as it is the whole experience not just the food, and not likely to happen to regularly!

Food:			Visit: Fri 5 February 2010 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: Waterwheel | 16 January 2010, 8.04am

I was a guest of some American visitors to this restaurant on the recommendation of the concierge at their hotel. The service was appalling, the wine hugely overpriced and the portion size embarrassing. My guests were appalled at the service and the price. In the end they became angry at the low quality of this restaurant experience. I am fully in agreement with their judgement. Not a good advertisement for my home town.

Food:			Visit: Sat 16 January 2010 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Diolay | 3 June 2008, 11.24am

This was the second time I have been to Aria but I will never forget my first experience. The waiter first opened the door and for a moment, I couldn't help but feel somewhat intimidated by the sheer ambiance and appearance of the staff and venue. Now I have eaten at a lot of places both nationally and internationally but this place had something about it. Within moments however, I found the staff were far more down to earth than any of restaurants I had been to. You know how it is when you go to a lot of restaurants, they have that stuck up factor? Nothing like that here. They were so friendly and made you feel really warm and welcome. There was just a real click to them and from that point on, I knew we were in for a good time.
I have Hospitality and Beverage Cert 3 and this was the very first time I saw everything I was taught put into practice. This was not being hosted by a bunch of backpackers or would be teeny boppers pulled off the street, these people were professionals. They have been to TAFE and learned their trade and it shows.
When the food came out, we could taste the fresh produce they use. There was no tinned or ready made plastic sauces here, it was all made from the freshest ingredients and done with care. From the presentation and more importantly of course, the taste, it was nothing short of what you would expect.
When I left, I said to my wife, "When our guests arrive in Australia, we will have to bring them here to showcase what Australia can really do." She agreed. When our guests arrived from Hong Kong and USA, they both commented that this was the best restaurant they had ever been to anywhere in the world and was nothing short of impressed.

Food:			Visit: Tue 3 June 2008 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: sdpwal | 29 April 2008, 5.07pm

Greeted warmly and shown to our table. We asked person showing us the table for still water as we read the menus. 10 minutes later we waved down the waiter (who told us he would be looking after us tonight and would we like to order drinks?). Not yet, what happened to the water? Not a good start. Water arrives. Waiter returns to explain meals and he is off to the kitchen (he needs to slow down). Next time we see him we order wine (he is looking after a good few tables). Offers for the sommelier to assist - no need. Entree arrives, and so does sommelier with Moselle three-glass tasting. Very friendly and helpful. Food is very good, mine could have been warmer but both of us really impressed. Mains arrive fairly quickly (a bit too quick) - my mains (chicken) is luke warm and my wife's is perfect and delicious (trout). No sign of our assigned waiter, so I call another to complain that food is not hot enough. She promtly takes it away and apologies and it came back 3 minutes later - much warmer. Our assigned waiter had no idea that I sent it back! Desserts were superb - again came out a bit quick.

Overall the food was good, but overpriced, service from our assigned waiter left a lot to be desired and for the price there was a wow factor missing. While we were not unhappy, we were not delighted either after spending $550 on a night out (including taxi & baby sitter). We have been to other places with similar prices and felt special.

Food:			Visit: Sun 27 April 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Ben Davis | 14 April 2008, 1.46pm

We received a gift voucher to Aria. So we had planned the night for some time. We had the degustation menu, I had mine with matching wines. The food was good, especially the sashimi tuna. Meals were well spaced apart to allow time for flavours to settle and talk. The waiter we got was rather impatient and lacking attention. He was more interested in swanning around the room rather than providing attentive service. Therefore the food is a pass, the service is a fail, so overall just a pass mark. Too many other restaurants in the same league that do better.

Food:			Visit: Mon 17 March 2008 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: bmascore | 23 December 2007, 1.54pm

I am still in a state of shock over the several things we were charged for in what turned out to be a $900 experience for 4 people.

When we arrived, we were invited to have a pre-dinner drink... my wife (and my colleague's wife) asked for a glass of champagne and I had a double nip of top shelf scotch. The 2 nips of scotch cost $18 (reasonable) but each glass of champagne cost $27!!!. I could understand 10 even $15. We weren't even asked what type we wanted nor what they were expecting to charge for it! Add to that, $11 for a one litre bottle of water, which again without asking or even knowing, our waiter managed to open 3 of.

Also, while I appreciate what it takes to prepare a fine meal, and expected to pay $45-$50 a plate, somehow the waiter forgot to mention the lamb special he sold so well was $60 dollars a plate! 20% more than any other dish on the menu. Another big surprise when the bill came!

Finally, in this day and age of workplace agreements combined with the sort of prices charged, I find it unbelievable your still charging a 'Sunday Surcharge'... $75!!! Surely wages, just like electricity and your phone bills are just a cost of sales and should be built into your prices rather than producing them like a slap in the face for your customers as some sort of penalty for eating out on a Sunday.

And tell me, what are they doing with a single shot of espresso that nobody else is to make it worth $7.50?

So, what we expected was going to be a special night turned out to be very sour indeed. It's one thing to charge for exceptional value and service, but you need to both deliver that value and make sure people know what it costs and are prepared to pay for it.

Food:			Visit: Sun 28 October 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: restaurantwhore | 16 July 2007, 5.34pm

I have never been treated so appallingly at a chef-hatted restaurant. We were rushed from the minute we walked in the door, no offer to take coats, given sighs when not ready to order after 5 minutes - behaviour befitting of takeaway staff at your local cafe. This is unfortunate as the food was expertly prepare and presented and everything it is famed to be with a vast wine list to match. It would take a lot for me to return - there are simply too many excellently well-rounded restaurants in this city to accept substandard service.

Food:			Visit: Sat 24 March 2007
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Posted by: Review Random | 5 May 2007, 4.47am

In all respects I can only agree with Registered User - name withheld on this one.
When I left the venue I can honestly say that I was delirious with pleasure from the food, the atmosphere, the service and the fact that the answer was a resounding yes to my proposal on this personally auspicious night.
Again another 5 star all round rating.
If one was to be critical then it would be the fact that the sommelier was a little late (possibly 5 minutes in a completely full restaurant) in his consulation with us, but this was easily made up for by the truly delightful selections made for the night.

Food:			Visit: Sat 28 April 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Registered user - name withheld | 6 March 2006, 4.23pm

Aria was everything I had heard it would be. The pork belly was amazing, the best I had ever experienced. The mouth-watering beef fillet with red wine butter was also exceptional. The view at Aria is just unbelievable. You have to keep reminding yourself of the view as its easy to start taking the whole experience for granted. This is truly one of Sydney’s best restaurants.

Food:			Visit: Mon 6 March 2006 Mealtime: lunch
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