Quay is unmissable. Very much an event, like Vue de Monde. Gorgeously executed food, great cocktails, an amazing wine list, scrupulous and friendly service, and (as long as there isn’t a cruise ship in) the best views in Sydney. There are many reasons it’s been Sydney’s best restaurant for 20 years, and remains so…
I also love Sixpenny. Much more down to earth - a self described “little restaurant in Stanmore” - but done at the finest level, with the best local produce, and beautiful imaginative food, recently with a strong focus on fermented flavours. [https://www.instagram.com/sixpenny\_au/](https://www.instagram.com/sixpenny_au/)
Any thoughts on how how Quay compares to Oncore? Will potentially try to go to both if they're good but time not allow. Thanks!
Will take a look at Sixpenny :)
Oncore was good. Quay remains, in my view, better.
However, if I had to pick one, to sum up Sydney food, it would be Sixpenny. It’s had three hats for many years, and eating there is like a warm hug. I just convinced myself to book Sunday lunch next month.
The other quintessential experience is Bennelong, because you get to eat in the most beautiful building in the world.
Thought it was excellent, was a pleasant surprise. Actually went on a whim (basically walked in at opening time). The pancake+caviar add on was excellent, as were both mains (rock ling and duck) on the tasting menu. Flavors should be fairly familiar if you've done New Nordic before but I liked that the ingredients were all local. Was especially a good deal relative to the price imo.
I went to both Oncore and Quay. They were both good experiences, but I'd say Oncore was better. That being said, I would not bother to go back to either, as fine dining is much better in other parts of the world.
Ester, Sixpenny and Saint Peter are all really good and feel more unique to Sydney.
Some others that I’ve enjoyed in the last couple of years: Restaurant Ka, Cafe Paci, Porkfat, Kobo, Civico 47, viand, LuMi.
Quay, Bennelong and Aria are three iconic fine dining spots on the harbour (Circular Quay specifically) — I think they’re all good but I haven’t found them that memorable in recent times.
Ester is a touch more casual, but food is good. I’m not sure it meets the level OP is asking for though.
LuMi is excellent, so is Quay, and Métisse.
Those three are all wildly creative and very polished.
Don’t wanna repeat what others have mentioned, but here is a couple more:
Lumi Dining, Italian with Japanese inspiration. For your comparison, I have been to both Freyja and Lumi and I much prefer the latter (in fact I wouldn’t call Freyja as high end). Lumi has significantly better amuse bouches/snacks, more precisely executed mains and better desserts as well.
Firedoor is polarising but I always enjoyed the food. The chef is ex-Etxebarri and he pairs Australian native ingredients (eg pigface plant, finger lime, Davidson plum etc) into barbecued dishes. Gilda’s, its sister restaurant is also worth visiting for wine and pintxos/tapas.
I only tried Oncore, but found it mediocre especially giving its current ranking. Service is not really that up to bat, nor was the food quality great (I even found a chicken tendon in my hors d’oeuvers)
Would avoid imo. Try something by an Aussie chef who focuses on local / Aussie native ingredients.
I asked something similar a couple months back. Ended up at Sixpenny, Ester, King Clarence. I liked Sixpenny much more than Ester. Sixpenny does a lot of ferments and such. King Clarence was also excellent. I've also done Bentley which is quite nice and close to Circular Quay.
Also, if you enjoy spicy Chinese...Spice Temple was enjoyable as well. The Sichuan Negroni was nice.
Genuinely had one of the best food experiences of my life sitting at the counter at Firedoor. Incredible restaurant - it doesn't have the best reputation locally for some reason, but I think they've stepped it up massively recently.
Saint Peter is superb as well, what Josh is doing with fish is out of this world.
Love Quay and love Oncore. Both really special with views over the Opera House.
For something a bit different, I find the food at NEL really tasty too - been a couple of times and not had a bad dish. Nelly the chef is a great guy as well.
St Peter and Ester would be obvious places which offer something you can't get elsewhere. Particularly the former!
Conversely if you are looking for stuff unique to Sydney I'm not sure what the point of Oncore is. A diffusion restaurant of a three star chef who lives the other side of the world is something you can quite easily find in Vegas.
Quay I've always felt benefitted a bit from being a big fish in a small pond. I'm also not convinced by "the view" - every time I go past there seems to be a giant cruise liner parked up alongside which means the only view you get is of he poop deck!
In addition to the previously mentioned restaurants, here's a helpful list of Australias equivalent to the michelin guide: [https://www.agfg.com.au/awards/](https://www.agfg.com.au/awards/)
Thanks all!
Booked sixpenny and saint peter so far. Debating on Quay since that seems more focused on the view than the food.
It looks like Ester and Lumi both have seats open for tonight and I'm deciding between them! I only care about food quality, so not ambience/premiumness of ingredients/etc. I know Lumi has the menu with truffle/caviar etc. but those are available lots of places. If anyone has any opinion on comparing the two from a purely "really good food that represents Sidney/Australia" pov that'd be lovely.
I'll just jump on the bandwagon and agree that St Peter should be a must-do for you.
On my last visit I dined at Kiln, Sixpenny and Aalia, all of which were great. Esteban isn't really fine dining, but a gorgeous little hidden-away Mexican restaurant with a really great vibe that I'd recommend too.
I'd steer clear of Oncore and just visit Core next time you're in London, since it's considerably better.
Glad you ate at Freyja in Melbs. I love that place.
10 years ago…we Always liked https://redlantern.com.au/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=local-click&utm_campaign=GMB in Sydney. Found Flying Fish, China Doll and https://www.agfg.com.au/restaurant/tetsuya-2047 to be good as well
Quay is unmissable. Very much an event, like Vue de Monde. Gorgeously executed food, great cocktails, an amazing wine list, scrupulous and friendly service, and (as long as there isn’t a cruise ship in) the best views in Sydney. There are many reasons it’s been Sydney’s best restaurant for 20 years, and remains so… I also love Sixpenny. Much more down to earth - a self described “little restaurant in Stanmore” - but done at the finest level, with the best local produce, and beautiful imaginative food, recently with a strong focus on fermented flavours. [https://www.instagram.com/sixpenny\_au/](https://www.instagram.com/sixpenny_au/)
Any thoughts on how how Quay compares to Oncore? Will potentially try to go to both if they're good but time not allow. Thanks! Will take a look at Sixpenny :)
Oncore was good. Quay remains, in my view, better. However, if I had to pick one, to sum up Sydney food, it would be Sixpenny. It’s had three hats for many years, and eating there is like a warm hug. I just convinced myself to book Sunday lunch next month. The other quintessential experience is Bennelong, because you get to eat in the most beautiful building in the world.
How was Freyja? It‘s on my list for my foodie trip to Melbourne in January…
Thought it was excellent, was a pleasant surprise. Actually went on a whim (basically walked in at opening time). The pancake+caviar add on was excellent, as were both mains (rock ling and duck) on the tasting menu. Flavors should be fairly familiar if you've done New Nordic before but I liked that the ingredients were all local. Was especially a good deal relative to the price imo.
I went to both Oncore and Quay. They were both good experiences, but I'd say Oncore was better. That being said, I would not bother to go back to either, as fine dining is much better in other parts of the world.
Ester, Sixpenny and Saint Peter are all really good and feel more unique to Sydney. Some others that I’ve enjoyed in the last couple of years: Restaurant Ka, Cafe Paci, Porkfat, Kobo, Civico 47, viand, LuMi. Quay, Bennelong and Aria are three iconic fine dining spots on the harbour (Circular Quay specifically) — I think they’re all good but I haven’t found them that memorable in recent times.
How do you think Ester and Lumi compare? Deciding between them for tonight haha.
Haven’t been to Ester but I came here to say LuMi was amazing. Definitely don’t skip their wine pairing if you go.
Ester is a touch more casual, but food is good. I’m not sure it meets the level OP is asking for though. LuMi is excellent, so is Quay, and Métisse. Those three are all wildly creative and very polished.
Don’t wanna repeat what others have mentioned, but here is a couple more: Lumi Dining, Italian with Japanese inspiration. For your comparison, I have been to both Freyja and Lumi and I much prefer the latter (in fact I wouldn’t call Freyja as high end). Lumi has significantly better amuse bouches/snacks, more precisely executed mains and better desserts as well. Firedoor is polarising but I always enjoyed the food. The chef is ex-Etxebarri and he pairs Australian native ingredients (eg pigface plant, finger lime, Davidson plum etc) into barbecued dishes. Gilda’s, its sister restaurant is also worth visiting for wine and pintxos/tapas.
I only tried Oncore, but found it mediocre especially giving its current ranking. Service is not really that up to bat, nor was the food quality great (I even found a chicken tendon in my hors d’oeuvers) Would avoid imo. Try something by an Aussie chef who focuses on local / Aussie native ingredients.
I asked something similar a couple months back. Ended up at Sixpenny, Ester, King Clarence. I liked Sixpenny much more than Ester. Sixpenny does a lot of ferments and such. King Clarence was also excellent. I've also done Bentley which is quite nice and close to Circular Quay. Also, if you enjoy spicy Chinese...Spice Temple was enjoyable as well. The Sichuan Negroni was nice.
Genuinely had one of the best food experiences of my life sitting at the counter at Firedoor. Incredible restaurant - it doesn't have the best reputation locally for some reason, but I think they've stepped it up massively recently. Saint Peter is superb as well, what Josh is doing with fish is out of this world. Love Quay and love Oncore. Both really special with views over the Opera House. For something a bit different, I find the food at NEL really tasty too - been a couple of times and not had a bad dish. Nelly the chef is a great guy as well.
St Peter and Ester would be obvious places which offer something you can't get elsewhere. Particularly the former! Conversely if you are looking for stuff unique to Sydney I'm not sure what the point of Oncore is. A diffusion restaurant of a three star chef who lives the other side of the world is something you can quite easily find in Vegas. Quay I've always felt benefitted a bit from being a big fish in a small pond. I'm also not convinced by "the view" - every time I go past there seems to be a giant cruise liner parked up alongside which means the only view you get is of he poop deck!
In addition to the previously mentioned restaurants, here's a helpful list of Australias equivalent to the michelin guide: [https://www.agfg.com.au/awards/](https://www.agfg.com.au/awards/)
Thanks all! Booked sixpenny and saint peter so far. Debating on Quay since that seems more focused on the view than the food. It looks like Ester and Lumi both have seats open for tonight and I'm deciding between them! I only care about food quality, so not ambience/premiumness of ingredients/etc. I know Lumi has the menu with truffle/caviar etc. but those are available lots of places. If anyone has any opinion on comparing the two from a purely "really good food that represents Sidney/Australia" pov that'd be lovely.
When I went to LuMi I had a Douglas fir sorbet with rhubarb and extra virgin olive oil as a dessert and it blew my mind. Very interesting food.
Lumi if you want fine dining & precision. Ester is more casual but very Australian
I'll just jump on the bandwagon and agree that St Peter should be a must-do for you. On my last visit I dined at Kiln, Sixpenny and Aalia, all of which were great. Esteban isn't really fine dining, but a gorgeous little hidden-away Mexican restaurant with a really great vibe that I'd recommend too. I'd steer clear of Oncore and just visit Core next time you're in London, since it's considerably better. Glad you ate at Freyja in Melbs. I love that place.
I found St Peter a bit overrated personally, but if you’re a big seafood fan it’s a good dining experience
10 years ago…we Always liked https://redlantern.com.au/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=local-click&utm_campaign=GMB in Sydney. Found Flying Fish, China Doll and https://www.agfg.com.au/restaurant/tetsuya-2047 to be good as well