The latest restaurant of chef, author, teacher and traveller Christine Manfield, Universal aims to provide an easygoing style of dining where diners are encouraged to interact with the kitchen. It's food without boundaries. This drifting, travelling vibe is carried through to the restaurant space and the positioning of most of the seating in the courtyard outside.
The menu, too, is boundless, with flavours and combinations inspired by Manfield's extensive travels and uninhibited by traditional rules. Renowned architect Tina Engelen designed the stylish decor in colours and textures inspired by an Indian spice box and a packet of liquorice allsorts.
Open
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Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
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Late
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Fri from noon Mon-Sat from 6pm
Modern Australian
Mains: $23-$29
Dessert: $18
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa and American Express
Licensed with bar. Wine is available by the glass.
This venue accepts bookings. Group bookings are supported.
Seats 110
Outside dining area
Wheelchair access
and wheelchair-accessible toilets
Gourmet Traveller Feature Review - "Sydney icon Christine Manfield is back in town with clever, intensely flavoured food that showcases a world of tastes."
Gourmet Travller 2009 Australian Restaurant Guide - "Christine Manfield's electric personality glows from Universal's vivid lightbox walls, sleek indoor/outdoor design and, at its highest wattage, the menu."
All reviews and ratings are the expressed opinions of our users, and in no way reflects the opinions of yourRestaurants, its staff and its affiliates.
Posted by:
StuartH
|
17 June 2010, 6.33pm
another triumph at Universal
This was my second visit to Universal, having been for lunch in June 2009. Once again, the food was outstanding with a whimsy, flair and downright brilliance you'd expect from one of Australia's, and indeed the worlds great cooks. Service was casual yet knowledgeable, the wines were excellent and we ate with breath and depth. A great night all round and I love the small plates idea - 4 each - is that greedy?? Go now - you won't be disappointed. 16/20. Oh, BTW, if you read the review under this, Venison is not beef, it's deer - as in Bambi and should always, always, always be served rare. See ya in the spring Ms Manfield.
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Visit: Thu 25 March 2010
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
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Posted by:
Kim & Graeme
|
22 February 2008, 11.34am
Outrageously overpriced
Short of being a supermodel who is watching her weight or/and can afford to pay an average of $25 per mouthful of food, I would not recommend this place at all. Don't get me wrong, the bites were very nice, a lovely fusion of flavours and the fairy floss dessert was lovely but for the feeling of being satisfied for the price - don't go. The restaurant itself was colourful and modern, but by no means anything out of the ordinary. I would say the staff were quite knowledgeable re food & wine but our waiter refused to take my three coin sized pieces of venison back to the kitchen to get cooked a bit more as I can't eat raw beef. Some people may think I'm not quite the food connoisseur because I like my beef well done but if I want my beef cooked more and I am paying for it - that is what should happen.
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Visit: Thu 21 February 2008
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
G e o
|
5 December 2007, 5.16pm
Great fine dining in a casual atmosphere
Went here with a group of 6. We had 4 courses each and dessert with wine matching and a cocktail. Came to around $180 each.
I had booked for the 6.30-8.30 sitting but they were fine with us staying till 9.
The service was friendly, prompt and attentive.
The menu does away with the whole entree/main thing and lists the dishes in order from lightest to heaviest. This is also the order they are brought to you.
All of the dishes I tried were well balanced. I'd put this restaurant on par with Tetsuyas but with a casual atmosphere.
The outdoor area would be a great during summer. I would eat here again.
Food:
Visit: Fri 30 November 2007
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
foodlover 100
|
24 November 2007, 7.59am
Very disappointed
I was a little worried when I booked this restaurant and I should have gone with my gut feeling. I had read a review saying that you leave hungry and leave hungry we did. The Service was really slow. You are recommended to order three courses which is a novel idea except that they are all tiny serves and very pricey.
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Visit: Sat 24 November 2007
Mealtime: dinner
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Atmosphere:
Posted by:
deliria
|
19 August 2007, 11.23am
Words are not enough....
Really not sure I can do justice to this magnificent dining experience. Sometimes words are not enough. We were really blown away by the quality of the food & the excellent service.
The room is stunning, everything has been so well thought out. It is the perfect blend of formal & casual.
Between us we sampled the following dishes: asparagus and lotus root tempura, samphire and wasabi avocado; jasmine tea-smoked duck, ginger pickled cherries and bitter greens; smoked eggplant and bean curd cake, star anise soy beans and chilli jam; soy-braised chicken and spiced beetroot; veal tenderloin with porcini crust, white truffle noodles, celeriac and morels; roquefort, quince paste and parmesan wafers; raspberry ripple; blood orange crunch; chocolate extravagance.
Every dish was amazing, a perfect blend of flavours & textures. We came to the restaurant with great expectations & left feeling that every expectation was surpassed.
Food:
Visit: Sat 18 August 2007
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
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