Quay Restaurant

I celebrated my graduation dinner here with my family in May, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve ever had. Over the years, I’ve visited various fine dining restaurants for special occasions, and I have to say—Quay truly got everything right. From the impeccable service and outstanding food quality to the gorgeous night view, every detail was thoughtfully executed. Each dish was beautifully presented, and the layers of flavour were simply remarkable. My entire family thoroughly enjoyed this unforgettable experience. Thank you.

Many people mentioned that the experience isn’t as impressive as it used to be and said it’s not really worth recommending. But I still wanted to try it for myself, so I decided to visit. Unfortunately, there was a cruise ship docked at the time, so we couldn’t enjoy the Opera House view. However, the staff kindly seated us on the Harbour Bridge side, which still offered a beautiful view during our meal. As for the food, it turned out to be a much more satisfying dinner than I expected. Every dish was enjoyable, although the pork jowl was a bit tough and didn’t quite meet the mark. That aside, the rest of the courses were well-balanced, and I really appreciated how beautifully everything was plated. I’d definitely like to come back next season to see how the menu evolves.

Dining at Quay was an experience that went far beyond just a meal. It was a beautifully orchestrated journey of flavours, textures, and impeccable service. We had the five-course tasting menu ( 275$ pp) and every dish delivered elegance and innovation, starting with a delicately balanced mud crab dumpling and culminating in the visually striking White Coral dessert. But there were two standout moments that truly defined the evening for me: First, the Wild Greenlip abalone course, paired with sea cucumber, koshihikari rice, and a seaweed broth. was a masterclass in subtlety and depth. The abalone was tender yet meaty, with an oceanic sweetness that paired perfectly with the aged vinegar notes and creamy milk custard. It was the kind of dish that quietly lingers in your memory. Second, the Blackmore Wagyu! Cooked to absolute perfection! Was everything you'd want from a premium cut: rich, buttery, and meltingly tender. The earthy Maitake mushrooms elevated it even further. It was luxurious, yet never overpowering. Beyond the food, what truly set Quay apart was their exceptional service. The team was thoughtful, attentive without being intrusive, and incredibly well-versed in the menu. Their quiet confidence made the experience feel seamless and genuinely special. This was for my birthday celebration, and Quay delivered something far more memorable than just dinner, it delivered a valuable memory. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a refined, world-class dining experience in Sydney.

An Interesting dining experience at Quay Sydney. Each course was a masterclass in creativity, balance, and finesse. The evening began with delicately plated raw scallops topped with smoked eel cream and Murray cod roe — a perfect harmony of freshness and umami. The wild greenlip abalone and sea cucumber with aged seaweed broth showcased the kitchen’s precision and respect for the ocean. The mud crab dumpling in brown butter emulsion was rich yet refined, while the smoked confit pig jowl with young macadamia and sherry vinegar prunes delivered bold, deep flavors with silky textures. The highlight for me was the David Blackmore Wagyu — intensely savory, paired with shiitake and dried oyster, elevated by a whisper of licorice kombu. Desserts were equally show-stopping. “White Coral” and the playful “Post Brood Honey Bee” were not only beautifully presented but also ended the meal with a delightful sense of whimsy.

My partner and I went here on Thursday night, we had booked months in advance and it was so worth it. The view from the restaurant is maybe better than anywhere in the world, the food was the standard of cooking in Australia that you’d expect. Couldn’t have been happier with our server Para, super attentive, and even took us for a tour of the kitchen with Chef Troy! Thanks again Quay team, I can’t wait to come back here!

Quay has been an Australian staple and it’s consistency and longevity has been well admired. Peter Gilmore’s classics inspired entire generations of chefs and decades later, many of them have caught up. Beautiful location and atmosphere but currently relies too heavily on its name and location providing “View Tax”. Cool ideas on their menu but seemed like they were all executed in a similar fashion. Extra butter, more cream and sauced the hell out of everything. I would have liked to see more balance on the palate and then have some classics pop up every now and then. It’s just not the same without Peter Gilmore around and the magic has quieted down.

Maybe because it was a special Valentine's Day and it was a different menu although it was completely underwhelming, do not get be wrong the food was nice although it was not WOW. Given the GFG score I was really expecting to be impressed with the food although just left hungry and disappointed. Having only just been to Aria for new years eve, I was really expecting the food to be as good if not better although there was no comparison in terms of both size and taste of the dishes. The first 4 courses had an nice taste (again not Wow) the portion size was absolutely horrendous and could have all fit on once small plate. The temperance pairing was fantastic and all the drinks were amazing although we just ended up with a bunch of liquid and no food. Thankfully there was a stake for one of the courses which was excellent although there are so many places in Sydney to get a good stake and we both still left hungry. Again compared to Aria service was completely disappointing, there was not call to confirm reservation and dietary requirements, the notes I left in my reservation about my partners shellfish allergy were completely forgotten and I had to mention it and a new menu was hurriedly swapped out. Service and atmosphere was completely stiff to the point of uncomfortable and not relaxed, a lot of the time our thank yous were just ignored. The hosts just seemed completely depressed, maybe they were sorry for us and how hungry we were. I have experienced a lot of good food experiences around the world and I understand the focus is meant to be entirely the food and not necessarily the portions although if you are doing fine dining at this level, special menu or not, it should be wow, not just mehhh. As you can see from the pictures the food is art although the taste did not match the beauty, if it was meant to be a gallery and not a restaurant it would have been amazing with the drinks and the view. I run quite hot and I was completely freezing, I felt like I was in a freezer room, luckily I had a jacket to give my partner. The view in the tower and my beautiful partner were the only saving grace of the entire night. We left hungry and went for another meal. I have heard great things about Encore in Barangaroo and I will be going there next time.

Dining at Quay is pure joy for any food and wine fan, and has one of the world’s best views or the Sydney Opera House and Harbour bridge. Quay is undoubtedly Australia’s best fine dining experience on every level and it’s no wonder it has been rated in the top 50 restaurants in the world since 2009. The 7 course degustation (with a couple of surprises thrown in) is the most extraordinary colllection of artistic dishes seen in a restaurant in Australia, and that’s on top of the breath taking location overlooking both the harbour bridge and the opera house, let alone the service. A dinner at Quay is an artistic expression from start to finish including the service, menu offerings, textures, produce quality, wine list and food & wine matching. This is a meal I did not want to end. From mud crab dumplings served with a brown butter emulsion poured over the top at the table and golden tapioca to David Blackmore wagyu with shiitake mushrooms, dried oyster and liquorice kombu this is a level of decadence, creativity and artisan rarely seen on dining tables in restaurants in Australia. The staff are outstanding and the sommeliers in particular have a passion for wine, for their work and for quay. The carefully thought out explanations of every dish were pure theatre and thrilling for any food or wine fan. we asked to see the kitchen and were stunned to see an oasis of calm -and staff carefully crafting each course station by station. I am saving my pennies to go back ASAP. What an experience.

The view is impressive - feels like you are in a fishbowl/cruise ship if you are seated upstairs. The night we dined there literally was a Celebrity ship docked next to us for part of our meal and when they left we were able to see the full view and fireworks. We walked from Sydney Opera House and we found it hard to find with the address given, check the reservation and enter through the cruise port or up the stairs from Campbells Cove. Food was expectedly upscale and refined. Only a few of the courses wowed us and the rest were good. Come here more for the experience and ambiance. If you are celebrating something they will provide a complimentary dessert.

Quay was, without a doubt, our favorite of the three fine-dining restaurants we visited on our recent trip to Australia across Sydney and Melbourne; all were awarded three hats with scores of 18-19 on the Australian Good Food Guide. We had walked to Quay from our hotel by Circular Quay. Despite the rainy weather, it was an enjoyable stroll. We particularly enjoyed the view of the barracks and the bridge leading up to the restaurant. The restaurant itself was modern and beautiful designed. We were seated at a table looking out towards the Sydney Opera House. We came here to celebrate my hubby's birthday, and it was nice that several amongst the staff wished him a happy birthday. I also appreciated their confirmation of our dietary restrictions and had planned our courses accordingly. Service throughout the meal was comfortable and the pace between courses were well-timed. We enjoyed all the courses. The Marron course and the alternative I received for the abalone course (I'm sadly allergic to abalone) were particularly memorable. Every fine-dining restaurant had a Marron course, and Quay's was a step above the rest. The same goes for the experience: good food and experienced staff made for a well-rounded, delightful evening!

I was extremely excited to try this restaurant during my visit to Sydney. Initially I was skeptical because a lot of restaurants with such amazing views bank on their location and view rather than food quality and become gimmicky. Quay was far from gimmicky and I was blown away in all categories. Initially I was researching high end restaurants in Australia and Quay came up ranked near the top. I didn't want to book too early because I wasn't sure about my travel arrangements. Luckily my gf and I were able to get an reservation about 4 days in advanced. On arrival, we had no issues with our reservation. Most of the tables are faced towards the opera house and we had a wonderful table with both our chairs with a clear view. Only downside was it was next to a private room with an automatic door which was annoying if you move your arm it automatically opens the door. We ordered the 6 course meal. I normally write a review on every menu item that we tried but I feel like it will ruin the experience for you and I want to keep the dishes new and exciting for everyone who hasn't tried it. Most of the menu items are seafood however so if you aren't a seafood fan, you may not like the type of food here. Nothing was overly fishy or "seafoody" tasting because it was super fresh and seasoned absolutely perfectly. The staff was incredibly attentive. To top off our night, a spontaneous fireworks show happened at the end of our dinner! My gf and I have been traveling the world trying Michelin star restaurants and Quay definitely ranks top 3. The food quality, price and service with the amazing ambiance of the incredible view of the Opera house is unmatched. I definitely want to come back to Quay next time I'm in Sydney. Thank you Quay for topping off the end of our Australian trip!

Overpriced and not very good service! We've done many tasting menus in big cities across many countries and this one was a huge disappointment.

- expensive - price fixe menu - excellent drinks drinks went by fast, I don't know if they were small or they just tasted that good - perfect satiety for food - amazing views - everything is good - awesome wedding anniversary celebration - excellent service - tasting menu offers inventive courses that you likely have never had - good wifi

The restaurant is a 5+ when it comes to the excepcional and artistic dishes. Definitely worth it just for the meal. HOWEVER, those monsters cruise ship now dock right in front of the restaurant and COMPLETELY block your view. The restaurant assured us they leave by 6:45 pm but did not warn us that it can change. And it did, so we had no view whatsoever. And we left after 11 pm. So, go for the food but don't count on that nice view of the Opera House. They really need to be more transparent when you book.

The Quay (pronounced quee) is the most celebrated restaurants in the Australian cuisine with awarded with three hats for 21 years . The dining terrace has a beautiful view of the opera house and the Sydney harbor bridge . Staff was excellent and kept rewarding me with extra desert. All ingredients are native to Australia -My modified 7 course meal - Amuse bouche Sea harvest ( scallops, octopus , quail egg) seaweed, virgin soy, aged vinegar Oscietra caviar katsuobushi cream sea cucumber crackling Native marron Koshihikari rice, sea urchin marigold broth Extra crumpet with truffle black butter spread Bone marrow noodles Mud crab, sour koji butter, walnuts Terra Preta truffle dumpling chestnut, oxtail Maremma duck maitake, sunchoke white sprouting broccoli -duck is dry aged for 1 week giving it more tender and fattier taste White Coral guava -white chocolate ganache frozen in liquid nitrogen served on top of a guava sorbet Extra dessert Drink Consommé & Dashi (non-alcoholic ) Clarified tomato consommé, ponzu, ginger, kombu https://www.instagram.com/p/CwzG172xQyA/?igsh=ZDE1MWVjZGVmZQ==

Went on an impromptu trip to Sydney and wanted to dine at the finest place Sydney had to offer! Based off of all my research, Quay was it! Location wise it was amazing with perfect views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House We had a fantastic lunch! Food was spectacular. The dishes were so beautiful and carefully prepared. Each one was flavorful and Chef Peter Gilmore has perfected the dishes to a tee! I added on the reservation that it was our anniversary but nothing was mentioned. Nobody wished us a Happy Anniversary. It was kind of sad. I think this could have been avoided if I was asked when we sat if we were celebrating anything special.

If you have a list of "Restaurants to Try Before You Die" then make sure this is in your top 10. I waited a very long time to try this place, but last November we had a special occasion and it was finally time. We booked in for a Saturday lunch and spent a good 4 1/2 hours here... to say it did not disappoint is an understatement. The food includes some of the most beautiful and innovative preparations I have ever seen anywhere. The pork broth is divine and if you are very lucky you might even get a tour of the kitchen. And the service was absolutely the best service I've ever had at any of the top restaurants I've been to while living in Australia the past 10+ years. Exceptional. Finally, the view... I mean, C'mon. Gorgeous harbor view of the Sydney Opera House, the bridge, all of it. It will cost you the equivalent of a month's food budget, but it is definitely worth it.

I am sorry but this place is trying so hard to be fancy and upscale but just does not succeed. The dishes were very similar in taste, and many not very enjoyable, trying to overcompensate and making most of them too rich. They bring the dishes out WAY TOO SLOWLY and NONE of them are worth the wait, all the while they play thee most boring elevator music that never changes in style for 3 and a half hours. I really regret going there when there were so many other choices.

Arguably the best food I've ever eaten. Had the five course menu, and some white wine. Absolute works of art on the plate and in my mouth. If I'm ever in Sydney again this is at the top of my list of places to revisit. The dishes were well balanced, flavorful, creative (eel cream, crunch sea cucumber and the ice cream at the end especially) and most importantly delectable. The service was spot on perfect. Best service I've ever had outside of the USA and it rivaled the best service I've ever had inside the USA also. Left a decent tip, whatever they get paid, as hard as they worked they deserve it. The ambiance was perfect too. We had a table by the big picture glass window overlooking Sydney harbor, the bridge and the opera house. Then the fireworks started. The portions seemed small but this fat American left full.

Food, service, ambience of these place are incredibly great and amazing. Had an amazing experience here.

Yummy yummy yummy.. One of the best meals I had while in Sydney. Chef Peter Gilmore and Quay made the list for "five years on the World's 50 Best Restaurant list and held the title of Best Restaurant in Australia for three of those years". Located right across from the Sydney Opera House in the Rocks and next to the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the restaurant is in the heart of the harbor. It's located on the 4th floor of the boat terminal, giving you an amazing view as you dine. We were looking directly out the window at the Harbor Bridge itself, lit up in all of its glory on a clear spring night. The service at Quay is impeccable, everything you expect of a high end restaurant. The food brought out and presented to you at the same time - the details matter. This restaurant only offers a 6 course or a 10 course tasting menu, and everyone at the table must select the same number of courses - which left a lot to decide if you can't agree. But after the decisions are made, sit back and relax and leave everything up to Chef Gilmore and his team. We opted for the 6 course menu and here's what it looked like: *Amuse Bouche - unfortunately I can't remember what the tart consisted of but it was rich and delicious! Please serve this as part of your menu! *Hand Harvested Seafood with Virgin Soy, Seaweed, and Aged Vinegar - the seafood comes in a bowl that looks like a crustacean. They give you tweezers so you can hand stack each bite with every single element to give you a burst of flavors as you take in each bite. The squid/octopus tentacles with the other elements (I can't even begin to tell you what everything is) is bursting with flavor and paired together so perfectly! 5/5 *Osetra Caviar with Smoked Eel, Walnuts and Sea Cucumber Crackling - this is another dish that plays with flavor and textures. The crackling sea cucumber is nothing I've ever tasted before and adds so much to the smoked eel mousse and caviar. Lovely, rich, but elegant. 5/5 *Steamed Mud Crab Custard with Garden & Sea Greens - You pour the dashi over the mixture and it's a burst of flavors in your mouth. I didn't notice any mud crab but the custard had amazing flavors mixed with the garden and sea greens. 5/5 *Salmon Roe and Butter on a Crumpet - we were surprised with an additional course of salmon roe and butter on a crumpet off menu. The crumpet was soft but toasted on on side. The butter and salmon roe made it taste like a salmon cream cheese bagel, but of course more elegant and refined. My least favorite dish of the night because it wasn't as amazing as the other dishes. 3/5 *Bone Marrow Pasta with White Asparagus, Koji and Garum Butter - It had good flavors but I was expecting more when I read bone marrow pasta. The pasta was cooked well but it wasn't as extravagant as the other dishes presented. 4/5 *Smoked Pig Jowl with Black Lipped Abalone, Shiitake and Fan Shell Clams - that pig jowl definitely melts in your mouth cause of all that fat. It was delicious and tasted fantastic. I was hoping being the main course, you would get more than 1-2 bites but the dish was as small as the other courses. Amazing texture, melts in your mouth like butter, delicious flavors. 5/5 *You get to choose your main dish, between 2 options - the pork jowl or the roasted Maremma duck. Nobody got the duck so we didn't get to try this dish. For dessert, you get to choose between the White Coral or the Moo. I chose the Moo and quickly realized why they named it that - just look at that bowl, it was made perfectly for this dessert. Rich, sweet, decadent and chocolatey. Delicious dessert. The White Coral was a bit on the lighter side - coconut, some kind of fruit reduction in the middle. I hear my Moo was better according to a friend. And if you aren't full from dinner, they surprise you with some canneles and honey tarts after dinner and you leave with a memorabilia of the menu and some Valrhona chocolates in a cute little box. They sure do think of everything! The details, the plating, the actual plates, the service and the food makes this place an amazing addition and a lovely treat for those visiting Sydney!

Beware. These people take a reservation for 8:45PM. At 8:47 they called and said the kitchen was closing at 9:00 (left that off when taking the reservation). We walked through the door at 8:56 and they hostess tells me we are limited to the 6-course menu and must order IMMEDIATELY. Horrible start. Then there is a ship in at the dock and we look right into the section where the crew is smoking and a large light is shining through the Quay window and the shades are broken.... horrible ambiance. Waiter staff was OK. Food was good but ruined by the run up and rush. At least they matched the cost to what a great restaurant would charge, getting one element right. Might be a great experience for Australia, but horrible next to Michelins in France, Spain, England, US, Germany (possibly everywhere?). Would not go back - oh, I won't as I am now back in NYC with tons of really great dining experiences!!

We had a nice Sunday late dinner at Quay. First: the view was astonishing and the presence of the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge as your dining companions is unforgetable. Foodwise, we had the six-course tasting menu. It was delicious. It was still a bit too much food. The dishes were ornate, diverse and tasty - basically met the bill, but struck us as a shade below the comparable Michelin-starred benchmarks we've tried elsewhere. We kind of thought Quay is resting a bit on its reputation and the view. The wine pairing was just too much alcohol and led to significant next-day hangovers - would strongly discourage. As the last patrons on a Sunday, it seemed the wait staff was exhausted and just could not get rid of us fast enough. We eat at a relatively quicker pace anyway, but they were really going through the motions in explaining the ornate dishes, and at one point our waitress just disappeared (while ostensibly asking the chef the answer to a question), replaced by a colleague similarly ready to see us through the motions as quickly as possible. It is, of course, very expensive. On the whole, a very memorable experience, but not as great as others we had in Australia (e.g., Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant in Adelaide).

Usually restaurants with great views are on the top of tall buildings, but Quay is in the middle of its view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. And usually restaurants with great views don't strive to provide particularly great food. Quay does try hard, though, and sometimes succeeds. Every course is certainly beautiful, but not everything tastes quite as good as it looks. The tasting menu is the way to go, because its many courses offer the best shot at finding something delicious. Our favorites were the smoked pork jowl, the lamb, and an amazing strawberry snow egg. The wine list is extensive, and although the markups are pretty high, it's a brilliantly constructed list, divided up by wine styles, varietals and regions in the most organized fashion I've ever encountered. The Champagne section even has two-page spreads that lists winemakers, grape percentages, and other vital statistics. I wish all wine lists were like this.

It's my first time dining at quay and I tried the 10-course menu without wine pairing. First of all, the view is great. We're seated at a table that faces the opera house, and the house looks very pretty at night. The service is good to: they keep checking our needs and they do a brief explanation of what each dish is about when serving them. The quality of their food is good too. The portion of each dish is reasonable and the presentation is nice. The overall taste is good, except for the duck dish and the ice cream: the duck dish is a bit too mediocre compared to all the other amazing dishes served that night. The ice cream is too sweet for me.

This is a great place if you want the most amazing view of the Sydney opera house and watch the river and the lights of the city glisten. This is an okay place if you want good food that blows your mind. We made our reservation weeks in advance and advised them of my dietary restrictions ( gluten free, dairy free) which they said would not be a problem to accommodate and they will make sure items are made accordingly. We arrived and were seated with a table with a great view of the opera house which saved this dinner and the restaurant from a 2 star or even 1. Dinner service is VERY slow for their 4 course degustation and will take nearly 3 hours. It's slow paced and almost 30-40 mins in between for each course which we got tired off quickly. I was disappointed that the options the chef had for my dietary restrictions were last minutes things and seemed like they had not given it any thought. From the amuse bouche to the dessert, we took a few bites and left most of the smallest portions on the planet on the plate. The only thing that was remotely good was the fresh baked gluten free bread which I kept eating because I was so hungry. The main course which was a congee style rice was hard and almost raw and could not be digested. Left most of it on the plate. For dessert, the snow egg was decent but after a few mins, the meringue that sits in ice becomes soggy and the texture is lost and almost tastes like cold soggy egg whites which was not a feeling I wanted to leave with. This was one of the most expensive meals we had in Sydney and was surprise that by the amount of reviews on TripAdvisor that this would have been a home run.

Quay has always been a mixed bag for me. Stunning views (undeniable and almost every review will mention that) but the food has always been a hit-or-miss. I came here with my family for Christmas lunch and had a pleasant time. I have attached pictures that are quite indicative. The setup was beyond cute and very nice and festive. We were seated in a new section of the restaurant which provided some privacy away from the main sections. The food was either the highlight of the let down. The seafood and dessert was amazing. We were served a dish with basically raw octopus and sashimi and (on the laurels of the quality of the seafood) it was great! The lobster dish was great too but the duck was just so tough and unappetizing. It was also extremely salty. The dessert, however, was amazing. I still don't know how to describe it (have attached a picture) but it was some sponge like texture over a thicker moose that was actually quite balanced and complex. Quay has so much potential so I will keep coming back when there are more changes added!

This restaurant is well known for being above the rest. For this diner, it was a hit and a miss. Some may say a little pricey. Sent email to restaurant to ask if we can visit being only there one day. They called me saying there's availability! We arrived at 7:15, just perfect. Sat us immediately. We decided on the 6 course menu. First served a wonderful nut appetizer. The next 3 were not memorable. The next was an eel dish. Not good, sorry. Then the pork arrived. Just amazing! Then dessert which was fantastic! Dessert was a ball with mango ice cream underneath. Spectacular! Oh I forgot to mention significant other is allergic to fish so meal was entirely different. Loved it! Recommend to ask for vegetarian meal. Was great! Attached a few pictures. Enjoy

Great food, great view, beautiful presentation, excellent service.. need I say more? Quay was on my bucklist for the longest time. Finally, while visiting family in Sydney, I was able to secure a reservation here. So excited!!! Everything was perfect just like their snow egg! I'm still dreaming about it!

Wow, what a dinner. That snow egg. That congee. I'm writing this 2 months after visiting and I still have food dreams about these dishes. Impeccable food, impeccable views, and impeccable service. PS: They also have an amazing wine selection. My friends actually enjoyed the mocktail pairing equally as much as the wine pairing.

Service was great. Always checked on us, provided us water and changed our utensils. I have no complaints about the service... but I do have complaints about the food. I know, maybe it's not my tastebuds and I'm not used to the flavors... but both my friend and I had trouble stomaching the food. At first I thought it was just me having issues with the food, but my friend quickly confirmed she wasn't enjoying this experience as well. I was so excited to come here. (I watch Masterchef Australia and I really wanted to try the snow egg). We decided to do the tasting menu ($245) and we regret it. We did not enjoy most of the food and we were stuck in there for 3.5 hours waiting 10-20 minutes for each entree to force it down our throats. The first entree was slow cooked carrots with caramel and milk feta... it did not taste good. I wish I thought about it more before we chose the tasting menu, BUT TO BE FAIR, I watched other people eat it and they seemed to enjoy it. I didn't finish it and the waitress asked me if there was something wrong with my meal. I did not want to say anything since I don't think there was anything they could really do to fix it (again, I think it's my tastes) but I didn't want her to ask me this question after every entree so I forced myself to eat the rest of my meals. Overall, everything tasted like cheese when the menu didn't say there was cheese in the entree. If we had to pick one we least disliked, it would be the uni in umami broth. We thought our favorite dish would be the duck because we love duck. This was not the case as we both thought "how could anyone ruin duck???" The snow egg was a little disappointing. It tasted a little like cotton candy and I did not care for the texture. I enjoyed the strawberry ice underneath it more than anything else. In the end, I was very disappointed by the food and very let down by the experience. If you have more of an Asian food preference, this may not be the best place to try.

After that we took a fairy to Circular Quay we went to Quay restaurant to get reservations and they told us they had nothing. After talking to them some more the manager said he liked our energy and said they would fit us in at 9 pm so we rushed to the hotel got showered and dressed and went back. They had the best table in the house for us with a beautiful view of the Sydney Bridge and opera house and the food was good. An even crazier coincidence was I was dressed in the colors that they lit the Opera House with. I believe it was the rugby colors for of the Wallabies. I was grateful to the manager who worked his magic to make it work for us to indulge in fine dining in Sydney

Simply the best!! Deserves 6 stars and I have NEVER said that about anywhere!! It was the most perfect evening. The views. The food. The service. Ordered the 8 courses. They wouldn't change any items on the menu but said we could add it on. In the end. Stuck to the 8 courses but wanted to try the crab congee. But end of the day, it's just rice with lots of water. Did add the 8 textured chocolate cake. Which was Devine and they wouldn't let us take away. That was a big let down. It goes against everything I believe in. Wasting food. But such fantastic food!! If I had to choose a favourite restaurant, this would be IT!! I could go on and on abt the night. Got the matching wines which didn't disappoint at all. Everything just complimented each other and got better. At first bite, I must admit that I was very disappointed with the snow egg. But it got better. Very different experience. I can't rate this place highly enough!! What I dislike about fine dining is that they never live up to expectations. I was wary. But this is exactly what fine dining is!!

PIMPIN VIEW. That's about all I can recommend for coming here. Decor - outdated and in serious need of renovation. Service - Stuffy, trying too hard, yet not really on top of things - in a word, awkward. Food - Beautiful presentation but tasted just OK - nothing that made me wish "god If I could have just one more bite". Several dishes not finished because they just weren't tasty. Definitely the most disappointing of San Pellgrino's World's Top 100 restaurants I've been to. The view is sick, but Sydney Harbor is so beautiful that you can admire the wonder that is the opera house from many places that won't put as much of a dent on your CC.

Overall, I would rate this as 4 stars. The basic summary is: Food: 3.5, Service: 5, Ambiance: 5, Wine Program: 4.5. Entering the restaurant you are greeted by sn impressive view and impeccable service. I went for lunch and sampled not their full evening experience so my rating is based on that. With respect to food, some positive things about the menu: variety, flexibility, and quality of ingredients. My favorite dish was the koshihiksri rice with sea urchin. The dish had a variety of texture and depth of flavor. The umami broth had a strong punch, warmth that satisfies, and is complimentary flavor to the shrimp and fish maw that are in the dish. My least favorite was the snow egg. People recommended I try it here. So I did. Texture was great. Flavors were there but perhaps it was the combination. They did mention that they do keep on changing the filling depending on the season. Overall the food quality for what I paid for was average. Some dishes perhaps have to be tjought of more carefully in terms of composition e.g. thd cod dish was kinda one note. It was cooked well but the other items in the dish failed to highlight the quality and taste of the main ingredient. It is a good place for a date or a business meeting due to the location and view but perhaps they have a bit more to work on if they truly want to be recognized as the top restaurant in this city.

Came here for lunch- did not disappoint. View was amazing- asked for a table by the window and got what I asked for :) Staff was friendly, professional, helpful, and funny. The decor is a bit outdated, yes, esp the plate settings and the bathroom- but the gorgeous view makes up for the others. Was highly satisfied with the food- the uni and the lamb were splendid, and the snow egg was just as expected. The 8 layer cake was a bit much for me, but if you're a fan of chocolate and ganache, it would be a thing just for you. 4 stars only because nothing can outdo Eleven Madison park, still, for me.

Wow wow wow!! This restaurant was absolutely incredible. From the views, to the service to the food. If you're in Sydney, and can get a table this place is a MUST. From the moment you step inside the staff go out of their way to make the evening super memorable. Explaining each dish is great detail and plenty of good banter. Inside you feel like you're on a cruise ship, looking to the water and Sydney opera house. The view is next to nothing. They offer an 8 course tasting menu for $235 or a 4 course tasting menu for $175. We went with the 4 courses and chose what we thought we liked best. What I would recommend is, take the staffs suggestions for which dishes to order. Let them take you on a journey and trust that if something doesn't sound like it would be something you would order. That it is more than likely incredible in flavor, texture and is nothing how it's described on the menu. My only disappointment was in some of the choices I made, my husband had the Uni dish and this was by far my favorite of all the flavors tasted this evening. I wish I'd ordered this dish. In saying that, everything I ordered was faultless. My highlight was the snow egg. The famous Peter Gillmore snow egg is everything it's hyped up to be. It's a little surprise in a glass and each mouthful is a tantalizing exploration for the taste buds. If I went back again I would probably choose to do the 8 course tasting menu over the 4 courses. The food - each dish- is spectacular and for an extra $50 it is totally worth it. Thank You for making this evening so memorable!

This restaurant has an amazing view of the Sydney Opera. The ambiance and decor is very chic. The service was good in general but towards the end of the night it was very slow. I understand you are suppose to get breaks between each dishes but the wait was kind of unbearable. They could have timed the dishes better. To get into the food. So we got their 8 course tasting for $225 and also did their standard wine pairing for $95. The food was ok. Some dishes were really good while others were mediocre. My only issue was that the main courses were mediocre. The roasted goose, beef cheeks, and veal was all mediocre. I just expected such a upscale restaurant to have blown me away with their main dishes. The congee was definitely awesome like how most people mentioned. Also the snow egg was pretty incredible but I did prefer the andalucia more. The wine pairing was definitely worth it. It is probably one of the better wine pairings I have done. All the wines went very well with the dishes and the pours were generous. Definitely worth it if you are a wino. :) Now would I go back? Probably not.

In a word - disappointed... I hate writing nothing short of raving reviews since who am I to judge all the hard work that goes into such a meal but we just couldn't get excited about Quay, especially after dining at Sepia. Like with Sepia, we had made reservations in advance of our trip to Sydney at Quay also. We also told Quay that we were visiting from NYC and would love a table with a view if they could accommodate us. Upon arrival, where we were treated like royalty at Sepia, at Quay, I felt like they were doing me a favor by squeezing me in. Not only did we not have a view, we were sat directly in front of a support beam (not even exaggerating, see pictures for what I'm referring to). I felt like we were being punished for daring to ask for a view. There were so many empty tables when we arrived but we were told those tables had been reserved over a year in advance. Come on now, the best restaurant in NYC isn't this pretentious. Food wise, we weren't blown away like we were at Sepia. There wasn't anything exciting or creative other than the snowball. Also, is it not a thing in a Sydney high end restaurant to devein shrimp? Or what about removing crumbs from the table. I understand it's my bad for being a messy eater but no other high end restaurant left crumbs unswept until the end of our meal... just thinking back to this meal is making my New York bitch resurface. Time to cut myself off.

The tasting menu was okay. Nothing negative about the restaurant. They work hard to provide top notch customer service. The thing is that it is expensive and for no reason in my opinion. I wasn't impressed with the food but this is a YMMV thing. The course I selectef with the wine pairing set me back about $600. For me it just wasn't worth it and I won't be returning

Rented the private room on top for a company event. The service was superb, the views and moon were amazing. The food was very well done. This was one to remember. The restaurant was not too busy either. I know I had some duck, and several other things which were part of the tasting menu. Excellent.

The most amazing dining experience ever! Here during the Vivid light festival, and since it was a special occasion we were upgraded upstairs into the VIP section. Awesome view of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, The Rocks and all the ferries going in and out of Circular Quay. The food was to die for - Mud Crab Congee, Quail, Pig Cheek, Black Pudding, Goose, Snow Egg all so delicious, with wines picked to accompany each course. Brilliant friendly service from our waiter Robert made for an experience that will not be forgotten.

Quay has claimed three hats from the SMH Good Food Guide Awards for 2017. I've never had the pleasure of dining at Quay however when MW's birthday recently came up, he suggested we go to Quay. MW really wanted to taste the snow egg (which was show cased on Masterchef). After looking at the Quay menu, we settle on the 4 courses for lunch for $175. One of the highlights is the Roasted local octopus, slipper lobster with pickled endives in an XO sauce. As a seafood lover, I absolutely fall in love with this dish. The octopus is perfectly cooked and is soft in texture. The XO sauce is light so you can taste the natural flavours of the octopus and lobster. I also think there is a nice portion of the lobster to enjoy. Now to the highlight of the meal which is dessert. This signature dessert has always been popular however it got even more exposure on Masterchef in 2010 however it's legendary experience lives on. The Snow egg has a centre of ice cream which is encased in a poached meringue (which has a marshmellow like texture). There is an additional crack to the snow egg which is malt biscuit that is blow torched to encase the egg. I also order another Quay signature which is their famous eight layered chocolate cake. Eight is my lucky number so I've got full confidence that this dessert is amazing. When the eight layered chocolate cake is served, the Quay staff add the final layer by pouring the chocolate into the centre of the cake. I love a bit of food theatre.

Spectacular views and an impressive wine list are the highlights along with excellent service. We did the 8 course tasting menu which I would recommend. The only course that we weren't impressed with was the cod which lacked flavor and texture. The snow egg was probably over hyped so while I enjoyed it I have to admit it didn't live up to my lofty expectations. This is a big ticket meal and was the perfect choice for our anniversary dinner. Plan far ahead, I made our reservation about a month in advance.

I had read about the snow egg and I was concerned that it was over-hyped but it was truly amazing!!! This has to be on my top five best desserts ever. We went with the four course tasting and had a lovely table overlooking the bridge. Unfortunately a giant cruise ship was docked right in front of the restaurant blocking most of the window seat views. I really appreciated the table we received because the majority of the seats looked right into the ship. Be sure to book a window seat and confirm if a ship will be docked.

The food is amazing. We had the 8 course dinner and added a 9th course (the congee as we heard it was amazing for an additional $25). It was worth adding, plus we had the premium wine pairing with our meal and they added another wine pairing for the congee, so definitely well worth it. The wine pairings were very generous pours. So much so that we almost didn't make it through the meal. Well, my wife didn't make it through. She ended up downing all the wine and passing out at the end of our meal. During our whole dinner, the beautiful view was blocked out by a massive cruise ship. The ship departed right around 11pm and we were in awe, enjoying the view of the ship departing on the patio balcony. My wife ended up falling asleep at our table and I was too preoccupied with the big boat to notice. The maitre'd came to our table and said that many parties were inquiring about the lady and asked us to leave... I guess I can't blame them. The fanciest restaurant in all of Australia and my wife is taking a nap. It was a busy Friday night and cabs were hard to find. They sent out a team of scouts to get us a cab which was pretty awesome. Also, it was Thanksgiving in the US and they heard us toasting happy Thanksgiving and prepared us a special chocolate dish with Thanksgiving well wishes... very sweet and awesome attention to detail with great service (minus them kicking us out, ha).

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. This restaurant is the epitome of fine dining. From the moment my boyfriend and I entered the restaurant, we understood how classy our dining experience was going to be. The three hostesses stood up immediately as we walked through the door, and exchanged our umbrella for a fancy key for "coat" check. We were seated at one of the tables that are elevated on a platform on the first floor in the corner, which allowed us to enjoy a beautiful view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Aligned with what fancy dinner experiences dictate, we were given an aperitif menu and each ordered a cocktail. The waiter watched until we were almost done with our drinks to serve our first course. We ordered the tasting menu with original wines, which had 6 entree courses with 2 dessert courses and an accompanying glass of wine for each course. As expected of a upscale restaurant, small servings, beautiful arrangement, large drink portions. Don't be fooled by the small portions, however-- by the end, you will be absolutely stuffed and drunk on wine. I'm sure they wanted us to get our money's worth with the wine, but being a lightweight, I actually had to ask them to serve me a little less because I didn't want to be super drunk at this kind of a place! With each course, the waiter cleared the utensils and laid down new ones needed for our next dish. Every dish was explained, as was each wine. Even the bathrooms are fancy-- yay for actual towels! The only negative part of our night was when we asked our wine server to take our picture. She was a little older, so I can't really blame her for taking bad pictures even with bursts. Overall, definitely 5 out of 5 stars.

Ok so its $200-300 a head but surely she is worth it; right? Great service including a sommelier to help you show off even more...dont bother looking for wines under $100. 4 courses is actually enough food. I know people complain the serving are small but they are missing the point...this is NOT an all you can eat or a family pizza restaurant. It is about the pleasure of culinary perfection. .its about enjoying eating as an art form and not for subsistence. Come for the right reason and you too will give it 5...come to get a $300 meal thinking about how many KFC buckets that is and you will surely go home unhappy. Save up and treat someone. You wont regret it .

We didn't expect to be a prefix menu but it was good and their view of the bridge and opera house is beautiful.

Look, I loved it. Great food, and it's pretty obvious as to why it has the reputation that it does. We went there for a work lunch, of all things (Yes, we agreed to chip a bit in on the budget.) A stand out dish for me, was the pork with maltrose crackling. I don't eat fat at all, but I ate every bite of that! It was spectacularly good. Sweet, crunchy, soft, beautiful. People complain about the serving sizes, but for me, they are perfect. Not being a big eater, I like not having to send a half eaten plate back, it embarrasses me, and sometimes I know I have offended the chef. That won't happen in Quay, and if you are like one of my companions, you may find yourself stopping for a burger on the way home. Don't do that, don't be a pig, just enjoy what you were served, because it's all bloody marvellous! Do have the snow egg, or, if you are a chocolate lover, that dissolving ring thing that had a colleague clutching her heart she was so excited! Give it a go, at least once to see what all the hype is about, but Sepia is better.

I had not been before but was very impressed and would put it on a must go list if you are in sydney. The service was fantastic and everyone did a nice job taking care of us. I ended up doing a fowl theme: starting chicken, then having goose, partridge and the egg for dessert. Everything was impeccably presented and prepared. The poached chicken was very tender and tasty. The goose and partridge were also excellent, blending textures and tastes. The dessert egg is special, with a flan-like egg in a bed of fruit (raspberry for me) granitee. Just an excellent contrast of flavor and texture especially well suited for those perfect-bite fans.

It is always a challenge when reviewing a restaurant that holds itself to high esteem. Do you compare it to your favorite restaurant down the street, or your local fish and chip shop? The answer, at least for me is no. None of the food was bad; but when I'm paying over 200 AUD per person for this meal, my standards are much higher. The atmosphere was lovely, and the presentation of the dishes was good. Yes the best dish of the 4 was the snow-egg, what Quay is famous for. But the other three dishes showed surprising lack of ingenuity or just tasted awkward. There were a couple plates that I didn't feel the need to complete. It was interesting to taste, but it wasn't delicious. Far too overpriced for what you get, I would urge other yelper's to try many of the other fine dining establishments of Sydney before they try Quay. And a side note to Quay (if they actually read this), I would urge you to invest in better teas, or at least be familiar with the proper brewing methods. As the tea I received was over-brewed and bitter, and I could have received a better tea from Starbucks.

I'm a regular at this place, I go once every 10 years. We had our wedding reception here, which entitles you to a free meal. My father in law didn't think that was a great deal but he only had one daughter so I felt it was fair that Keeno and I had it....Thanks again Gerry! Keeno and I go back every now and then for anniversaries. Last one was during Vivid and this place is a perfect spot to watch the Hoprahouse go off. The food is spectacularly good. The service is impeccable. The setting is just jaw dropping. and yes ...of course I had the Snow Egg!

I came here for a very special occasion and was giddy with happiness already so my rating might be a bit off due to the happy drug effect. The view was wonderful and the atmosphere was wonderful. The food however was interesting. Presented nicely and not the ordinary stuff you would eat (well duh it's fine dining) but nothing really grabbed me until dessert. We decided to get two different desserts to share but noticed that the waiters kept bringing out two snow eggs to each table each time. Was there something they knew that we didn't. Unfortunately yes they did and we regretted not ordering two snow eggs because it was absolutely divine. My rating is more for the snow egg rather than anything else. So yum... so yum...

Completely agree with James O. In short, I found two out of the 4 courses nothing special. There's a word in chinese that describes exactly how I felt about these, but what it is in English ugh. Basically means I got sick of the dish half way through and.... they're really not that big. The signature dish is wonderful though, but still wouldn't pay $200 for it alone amirite! Oh and great view, perhaps that's really what you're paying for. The last fine dining place I've been to was sepia and I couldn't help compare them. Sepia kicks ass all the way.

I had a lunch reservation at Quay, arguably Australia's best restaurant, the day after eating at sushi e. Dinner reservations for Quay are pretty hard to make, as the restaurant is booked out months in advance. However, lunch reservations are far easier. I booked about a week ago when I was in Wellington. (Then again, maybe I just got lucky.) The food at lunch and dinner are apparently very similar, so I didn't mind that I was going for lunch and not dinner. Both lunch and dinner serve the same tasting menu option, which is great for those who can only make lunch but want to try out the best the restaurant has to offer. (Also, the lighting's better at lunch!) I ended up being seated at a table facing the Sydney Opera House, which was pretty awesome. The building is pretty majestic. It's one of those things that looks awesome in pictures but ends up being even more amazing in person, even though you've seen it in pictures and on TV several dozen times already! Food: Amuse-bouche: Shaved black truffle, potato, and hot oxtail soup. 1. Salad of albino and Chioggia beetroots, preserved wild cherries, goat's curd, scorched beet leaves, sourdough bread soaked in pomegranate molasses, and violets. 2. Brined raw and smoked Australian Wagyu from Blackmore (near Queensland), fresh John Dory roe, horseradish juice, soured cream, and milk skin. 3. Red claw yabbies (crayfish in Eastern Australia), garlic-scented custard, yabby velvet, and yabby consommé. 4. Thinly-sliced green lipped abalone, ginger milk curd, rare greens, and "earth and sea" consommé (seaweed, anchovies, mushrooms, chestnuts, and other ingredients). Bread: Mixed-grain bread with black sesame seed. 5. Roasted goose, forbidden rice (black rice), black miso, and hatsuka radish. 6. Smoked confit of pig cheek, shiitake mushroom, shaved scallops, dried Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke) leaves, bay, and juniper. 7. Pasture-raised veal, bitter chocolate black pudding (chocolate brioche), slow-cooked wallaby tail, salsify, smoked bone marrow, and chestnut mushrooms. 8. "Jackfruit Snow Egg" Jackfruit "fool" (jackfruit puree mixed with vanilla cream) is at the very bottom, and jackfruit granite is on top of that. The egg is composed of jackfruit ice cream (as the yolk), poached meringue (as the egg white), and blowtorch-melted maltose tuiles (as the snow). 9. Jersey cream, Pedro Ximénez grape, salted caramel, prune, and confetti of different types of pulled toffee. --- I requested a third dessert because I wanted to try another dessert that Chef Gilmore was famous for, his "eight-texture chocolate cake". 10. Quay's "Eight-Texture Chocolate Cake": 1. Chocolate mousse 2. Caramel, vanilla, and chocolate ganache 3. Chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise 4. Cake base 5. Milk chocolate praline discs 6. Chocolate caramel cream 7. Dark chocolate top disc 8. Hot chocolate sauce 9. DIABETES Quay Petits Fours Conclusion: This meal was pretty amazing. Some of the courses were average for what you'd expect from a restaurant of this caliber, but the courses that were amazing were truly spectacular. The smoked confit of pig cheek course was to die for, and each dessert was outstanding. I can see why the snow egg and eight-texture chocolate cake are the stuff of legend! I'm happy I was able to try this restaurant, and I highly suggest anybody visiting Sydney to make reservations. The restaurant's pretty amazing. Notes: If you want to see pics and my thoughts of each course, you can check out my blog in my profile!

Was here for a wedding function on a Tuesday night. Bartender at the bar offered my partner a shiraz when she asked for a white wine. Waiter subsequently offered a choice between red and white whilst serving tables, a choice of Sauvignon blanc and Riesling. Wedding cake was served in a pile, with no cutlery being brought out until I questioned the maître d. If this is 3 hat, I would rather eat at no hats. Service has gone wayyyy down since my last visit a year and a bit ago. The food was okay, nothing to write home about, but presentation was a bit lacking in flair, even if it was a function. Deserves less hats, or maybe even to go the way of the dodo as so many have in the past few years. Better restaurants have closed. Take your money elsewhere, wedding or dinner.