Cafe Sydney

Posted by: lunchtime | 4 September 2010, 12.06pm

There is no doubt that the decor and atmosphere of this place is quite overwhelming on arrival. Being Friday night the place was full of Sydney's (and no doubt many other places') hip and groovy, rich and famous. But I'm not sure if the rest of the experience backs up the ambiance of the place. The service is attentive but slightly clumsy and while people do seem to be making an effort, they don't ooze the knowledge, confidence or the experience you would expect from a place charging this much. And the food too was similar. It wasn't bad but the flesh on my Tandoori Trout wasn't firm and the sauces accompanying the seafood platter were very ordinary. And like another reviewer the 10% service fee for groups of 10 or more raised its ugly head on our bill at the end of the night. I understand the logic of this charge but when I am paying the bill I expect to be told that a tip isn't necessary as a service charge has been added to my account. Had I not been in a fairly scrutinous mood or had I had an extra glass of wine or two, the service charge could easily have been overlooked. But it is a lovely venue, which would be even better were it not for the disservice the developers of the Toaster did to the people of Sydney!

Food:			Visit: Fri 3 September 2010 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Caoi | 3 April 2010, 11.34pm

I've been to Cafe Sydney over the years for work and the food has always been good. I went again this week however after 1 or 2 years without having visited. I have to say that the food there this week was incredible. I had a tandoori ocean trout marinated in yoghurt and it was incredibly soft and delicious. My husband had the lamb and he too was raving about the meal all afternoon. Cafe Sydney has always been good but we both certainly noticed a difference in the food this time versus the years gone. Fantastic.

Food:			Visit: Thu 1 April 2010 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: mpv1 | 24 January 2010, 5.56pm

How do i start!- NEVER DINE HERE
This was the 4th time at our ex favourite city resturant and never again will i be paying to be treated this way again.
10 guests from as far away as port macquarie went to celebrate a 40th birthday and from the minute that we booked (6weeks in advance) to be ignored at the front desk for a 6pm sitting out by 8pm no view air con pumping down our backs- 2 cocktail menus per table not a chance to be given any more- no SERVICE and a tip of $130 factored in to the bill and a birthday candle placed in a strangers desert and we had to pay for the desert!! and no chance of the head waiter even acknowledging our dissapointment to the 4 week wait to be acknowledged by the assistant manager replying to our email of dissapointment.
Food - average to ok
Service -PATHETIC
Atmoshere - absolute 0 rating

Food:			Visit: Sat 12 December 2009 Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by: Vortexxx | 17 August 2008, 9.05am

My partner and I had a very enjoyable Sunday lunch on the balcony at Cafe Sydney last week.

We started with a couple of cocktails from the extensive list.

We then moved on to seafood for starters. I had the Sydney rock oysters, which were plump and succulent, and my partner had the bugs with garlic butter. Both dishes were fresh, delicious and very tasty. This was all washed down with a bottle of Aris Champagne (Australian Verve).

Mains were just as tasty. I had the venison and my partner had the barramundi. Once again, the meals were a gastronomic delight, and superbly presented.

One thing that stands out in my mind about the afternoon was the quality of service. Every time I've visited Cafe Sydney I've been very impressed with the attentive, knowledgeable, nothings-too-much-trouble attitude of the wait staff. Our waiter was fantastic and definitely made the meal an outstanding experience.

If you're looking for a romantic meal or a special treat, Cafe Sydney is definitely worth a shot.

Food:			Visit: Sun 3 August 2008 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: Rob Tolliday | 27 December 2007, 5.12pm

Food is good - not amazing.
You really pay for the view.
Bit of a shame that we sat on the side of the balcony.
Have been here many times before.
Definately a safe bet.
Will wow many.

Food:			Visit: Thu 27 December 2007 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: Morsels | 18 August 2007, 4.51pm

I've eaten lunch here three times in the past 6 months and each visit has offered up divine meals. I've sampled some spectacular things done with lamb, salmon, tuna, prawns and bugs. The food continues to impress me. Service is average. The staff seem very friendly in a false way and have shown a lack of understanding about the food they serve. There are also a number of spelling mistakes in the menu that have been there forever and it irks me each time I see them. Regardless, the view is gorgeous and my meals have tasted wonderful so I'll continue to eat my business lunches there.

Food:			Visit: Mon 16 July 2007 Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by: Fishboy | 5 March 2007, 10.56am

Given its setting and hype, it is not unreasonable to expect much from this eatery.

Unfortunately, it seems that effort has gone out the window. While the setting is undeniably wonderful, the service was at best mediocre and the food was on par with that of an upmarket pub. The waiting staff seemed disinterested and lacked knowledge about the menu. The food was rushed - with steak overcooked and menu items lacking the flair of their description.

Overall, the high price tags are definitely for the location only. Go for the view - not the food.

Food:			Visit: Mon 5 March 2007 Mealtime: dinner
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