Sails on Lavender Bay

Food was amazing. I can’t stop talking about it. You can taste the freshness from each dish. The black cod was the best fish dish I’ve ever had. Matching it with the king prawns as a started was a great suggestion. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the scallops were divine. They allowed the flavours from the freshness of the seafood to come through without being overpowered by sauces or over seasoning. The staff were amazing. Very accomodating and great to talk too.

House of Sails or known as Sails on Lavender Bay has a very especial place in our hearts as we got married there many years ago when chef Greg Anderson and Partner Patricia Nunes were the owners. We have come a few times since our wedding but this is the first time since the restaurant has changed owners ( Sydney Restaurant Group) and slightly different name with a more casual look and feel type of dining experience. The place looks cosy and I have to say I love the decor - ok I have a thing for shells! The staff are very friendly and accommodating. We were seated at a nice table by the window with the gorgeous view. Although the chairs are a bit too low for the table the staff members immediately looked for a solution to give us with a cushion. There were some minor things like a dirty knife which was replaced immediately but all was good at the end. We had the 3 course menu and we added some extras. We had the scallops which were in a sweet and and slightly citrus sauce very delicious and the little tacos were fabulous. To follow we had the silver fish with grapes - fabulous combination of flavours and the grapes which look like olives were uniquely delicious. But the winner was the octopus tentacle - wow I wish I wasn’t sharing it! It was cooked to perfection with a festival of flavours. We then had the NZ Hapuka fish which was so soft and delicate and the wagu steak just simply melted in our mouths. We closed the experience with the crème brûlée with rhubarb sauce which didn’t disappoint and my favourite was the blood orange cake with Greek yogurt sorbet - simply wow a dessert and a palate cleanser - the best of two worlds, light and delicious! We also had some lovely cocktails ( the sour was fabulous!) and they have a very nice selection of wines. All up a very lovely lunch to celebrate our wedding anniversary back at the place that means a lot to us.

Had an amazing experience at Sails ! The food was absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend the grilled octopus entree and the pork belly. Mains were very filling and delicious. Our wait staff, Lorena, was so attentive and provided a lovely dining experience.

An absolute cracker of an evening at Sails on Lavender Bay, thanks to the LEGENDARY JESS!🙏🏼💕 Scored a scenic window seat for a friendiversary last Thursday, and the service, food, views and vibes were sensational 🤩 I was on a return mission, after inhaling the Moreton bay bug pasta on a previous visit (this pasta had me in tears of joy... twice!) 1000% recommend. We opted for the a la carte 3 course, plus warm greens, quke salad, and drinks. Everything was executed with care, flavour AND fanciness in mind. Ordered succulent prawns, wagyu bresaola, and their Moreton Bay bug pasta x2 (my buddy loved it, too!). The apple sorbet and hazelnut praline meringue were dessert stand outs... Along with the pasta, all are must-eats when you visit!😋 Service from Jess was exceptional. She was knowledgeable, friendly yet unintrusive, very generous and accommodating. The Legend went above and beyond to make our entire evening fun and hilariously memorable 🤭. Thanks a million, will be returning and recommending for many a cellie in future! 🥰🙏🏼 Whenever you're after a solid venue for a spesh occasion, be sure to book early to get your brilliant bum on one of their pretty seats, and enjoy a ripper of a feast! 😘

Came here for a special lunch on a sunny day; the perfect kind of day for dinning at this restaurant. The views were stunning as we had lunch overlooking the harbour bridge. The food was delicious - special mentions to the scallops and the charred octopus which were explosions of unexpected flavours that came together so beautifully. For 2 individuals, we had to order minimum 4 dishes for a la carte which filled us to the brim. Unfortunately the service was poor for such a fine establishment. As soon as we walked into the door, we were pressured to order drinks despite saying no multiple times. Furthermore, the waiter was argumentative when asked about the menu, insisting that as I had visited before I should already know. Otherwise, a lovely restaurant with great food and great views.

Thank you to the team at Sails for making my birthday so special and for an unforgettable night. Come here every year for my birthday with my best friends and this place never fails to disappoint. Amazing food, amazing service and amazing atmosphere (view is to die for) - hands down one of the best restaurants in Sydney and better than most fine dining restaurants. Food cooked to perfection (especially the Wagyu rump) and prawns were an absolute tender delight. Special thanks to Abdul for his kindness and to the team to cater for all my special needs and requests - you guys are superstars and genuinely made me feel so loved and happy!

Had a lovely dining experience at Sails on Lavender Bay to celebrate a birthday. The vibe is relaxed and elegant, and the view is absolutely stunning, perfect for a special night out. Our server Lorena was warm and attentive, which added a nice personal touch to the evening. Food overall was solid, I'd rate it 8/10. Highlights were the charred Fremantle octopus and the wagyu beef cheek, both packed with flavour and beautifully cooked. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Moreton Bay bug spaghettini, it tasted fairly average, and at a fine dining restaurant I expected a bit more wow factor. Dessert was a winner though the hazelnut praline mousse was rich, smooth, and a perfect end to the meal. Would definitely come back, especially for the views and service!

We came here for my birthday dinner a while back and the experience was so lacklustre that I feel compelled to review it 4 months later. We had the 5-course set menu (priced at $155 per person) plus wine pairing (an additional $75 per person). It was an expensive meal, but we were happy to pay a bit more for good food and experience. It was a letdown, though. The whole dinner was meant to last 2 hours (as advertised on their website), and lasted nearly 3.5 hours. The service was shockingly bad - it seemed like we weren’t assigned to any waiter. When we were seated, we waited more than 30 minutes before flagging a waiter down to ask if we needed to place an order; we were a bit confused, assuming that we wouldn’t need to place any orders since we had specified in the reservation that we were doing the set menu and wine pairing. But when we spoke to the waiter, he seemed to not know anything about our reservation. Each dish took almost half an hour to bring out, and 2 of our wine pairings were forgotten. We were constantly flagging wait staff down, and confused how we could be forgotten when we were sitting in a high-traffic area in front of the kitchen. We suspect maybe they had recently hired new staff, so we tried to be understanding, but it’s really disappointing to have such poor service at such a high price point. Other patrons in the restaurant were less patient and actually got up to speak to the staff (so being forgotten was not unique to our table). Ultimately, most of our dishes were delivered by the wine sommelier, who was lovely and kind and apologetic (even giving us complimentary limoncello); we were grateful for her service and professionalism, but she was clearly doing a lot more than was expected of her. The food was decent, but I thought it was priced too high for what was received. It wasn’t very memorable - usually with restaurants that have set menus, the food quality is fresher and higher, and it is more innovative/creative with flavours and sauces, but it was neither of those things. I’ve included some pictures (unfortunately I don’t have any of the steak that was prepared, which was definitely the best). Note that these plates include the servings for both me and my partner (so 1 plate of pasta for 2 people). I personally think it would have been a tad nicer to actually divide the food between two plates, but I think that would make it more obvious that the portions aren’t that large. Based on our experience, I couldn’t recommend this restaurant. If service and food creativity improve, then I think it would be a lovely spot. The location is stunning, with beautiful views of the harbour. So I think there is a lot of promise here! But definitely a lot of room for improvement, and the current price point is definitely not justified.

It's a lovely restaurant in a stunning location, food was amazing and staff were wonderful, can't wait to come back.

My local colleagues took a bunch of us US folks to dinner here while we were in town for meetings. This place is awesome. It overlooks Sydney Harbor, Luna Park, Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The views are spectacular especially at night. Service was very good and the food was delicious as well. Definitely a special occasion restaurant. I started with the SEARED SCALLOPS, - Jerusalem artichoke, pipi veloute, broad bean, dill. The scallops were cooked perfectly. Seared outside, soft inside. Loved the pea sauce around the scallops. For my entree, I had the PINK SNAPPER - prawn bisque, heirloom carrot and ginger puree, spring onion. The fish was nicely cooked, soft and tender. Loved the carrot and ginger puree. And the crispy onions on top added a good texture element. We also had some sides. All were good. TRIPLE COOKED POTATOES, roast capsicum relish FRIES, onion salt, chive mayonnaise I was too full for dessert so I just had their tea served with petit fours. There were three cute bites in a little box. Two cookies and a chocolate. All were very tasty. This is a wonderful restaurant and definitely worth the drive over to Lavender Bay. You can also take the ferry as there is a stop right outside the restaurant.

This place has a great view, it's the perfect romantic dinner spot. That also makes it perfect for a wedding reception. And that's how I ended up at Sails. The service they provided was nothing short of excellent. It was a little small but it worked out fine, call it cozy for a larger party. The food was top notch, the service was really good and they treated everyone with respect. From the servers, the bar tender, the way the interacted with the photographer and the DJ everyone at the restaurant was awesome. They were able to accommodate everyone's dietary needs and the food service for such a large crowd was smooth and easy. All of this made for a perfect party. It Also made it ideal for those of us at the wedding who had kids with us. The service staff was on top of it. I will go back someday, maybe just for lunch.

Came here with two friends and we had a pleasant, somewhat casual upscale meal, with a great view. The food was solid with some holdbacks but good overall. We ordered the Smoked Ora King Salmon, Seared Scallops, Bannockburn Chicken, Grimaud Duck Breast, Blue Eye Trevalla and Honey and Lavender Creme Brulee. The Salmon was way too salty, thought the balance of the flavors could have been better. The scallops were done well and quite tasty. The chicken was also great, the garnishes and additions adding a lot to the dish. The duck breast was very very salty and required several gulps of water per bite. The Trevalla and the Creme Brulee were solid versions of what had already been established good dishes. So overall...would come back but would not suggest this place out of all the other options available in Sydney.

We stayed a block away and it was husband's birthday weekend so we did the 7 courses. I asked if the chef could make a vegetarian menu and they were so very accommodating. Our first 4 courses were amazing!!! Unfortunately the kitchen had a snafu and a large party arrives that derailed dinner for about 40 minutes. During this time our stomachs settled and tiredness set in so we couldn't really fully enjoy the next courses however I'm sure they were lovely. Husband's Wagyu beef was the only negative comment (possibly it sat too long and overcooked). We would enjoy the experience again but for the price point and overall premise they fell a little short. Overall we understand things happen, how you handle the not so perfect evenings makes or breaks an experience. I would give them a second chance for sure. *** this review is also 2 years almost late ... things change ****

Without a doubt an iconic restaurant in terms of amazing views of Sydney Food - Menu is excellent and nice tight selections across entrees. mains and desserts. For those who need to try everything the Degustation Menu is pretty good. Wine List - good range and probably $5 to $10 over priced per bottle but that's life! My only disappointment was asking for a 2014 Sav Blanc and they brought out a 2015 instead and of course it was dispatched back to the kitchen. Service - pretty good service - meals delivered effectively and in good time in a busy restaurant. Our waiters - well they just didn't hit it off with us in terms of engaging conversation, probably miffed about the bottle of wine being returned but all in pretty good. Would I go there again? Yes would I recommend? Yes For people from outside of Sydney - this just be on the bucket list !

Um only one word can describe sails.... Amazing! Great service, delicious food with a view to die for.

I love this place great food, great wine,great service and the view is outstanding. Can't wait to go back For my favourite 7 courses and matching Wine.

I went here last week as part of a group of 12 work colleagues and had a wonderful dinner. The location of this restaurant is prime Sydney real estate! Although I live in the lower North Shore & see this view everyday there is nothing more special then enjoying this stunning view over a wonderful meal. I ordered the Seared Scallops, Roasted Grange Eye Fillet with a side of Fries & finished off with Caramalised Apple Parfait for dessert. My scallops were great, the eye fillet to die for & the apple parfait was interesting - I have to say I didn't love it but appreciated the concept. The fries were delish as well! The service was great can't really fault anything, would definitely return!

Great spot! A serendipitous discovery at the end of a long weekend walk along the harbourfront. Tucked away beside the McMahon's Point ferry wharf, it has spectacular views, fantastic food, and service to match. Don't want to set your expectations too high... but prepare to be impressed!

There isn't a bad seat in the place. Sails has that iconic view that should make anyone realise what a great place Sydney is, regardless if you live 10 minutes away, or 14 hours away.... A leisurely lunch here is well worth it! On both occasions that I've been here, the food was beautiful. Perfect place for a nice relaxed lunch (and a glass or three of wine!).

Great food. Great views. Relaxing atmosphere. Went there for a work lunch and it was fantastic. It is also next to the ferry so easy to get to from various points in the Harbour. I didn't want to leave. I will go back.

Very impressive! I went there recently with my partner. We caught the ferry there, lovely! I don't remember the entree but my main being the pork belly was amazing. In fact the best pork belly ever. The meat melted in my mouth, yum yum!!! I didn't really like their cocktail list as there was nothing sweet, so I had vodka cranberry all night. All in all fantastic view, great service, crusty bread, yummy food. Will return :)))

Incredible view, easily accessible by ferry

It has been over 20 years since I last visited Sails at McMahon's Point after a disappointing meal, even though I live nearby. It is under new ownership and has been refurbished significantly since then. Sails is well located with great views of the Harbour Bridge, Luna Park and the Opera House. Eight of us were celebrating my parents 60th wedding anniversary. I should have read as a portent of what was to follow by the table we were given. It was set for 8, with 3 down one side, 4 down the other and one at the head of the table! The food I had was great. Others though thought their main dishes lacked complexity and depth of flavour. There were 8 people seated at the table and 8 mains ordered but only 7 mains served. The 8th main was delivered when everyone else was finishing their meals. And, showing this was no mistake only 7 sets of cutlery for desert were set. Those eating meat had their knives replaced with meat knives that were blunter than a butter knife. It was a mild Sydney summers day nudging 29C with a strong southerly, the air conditioning system could not cope and we all were uncomfortably hot. The fix seemed to be to open the front door intermittently. Also, don't rely on the online menu, it is not the same as the one presented on the day. It will be at least another 20 years before I visit again. Go somewhere else where customers are a consideration.

I took my mum & grandmother here for lunch for my grandmother's birthday. It's a great lunch spot with the harbour views etc. I'll certainly be back! For appetisers, my cured salmon was too firm for my liking - that was the only disappointing thing about the whole experience. For mains, I had the barramundi, which was excellent, and my grandmother had the lamb, which was also very good. The chocolate espresso and hazelnut pave was also fabulous. The wine list is also great - a good selection of affordable wines and a few premium ones for those who really want to splash out.

Awesome degustation menu. Best value in a wine matching degu menu. Service is attentive and spectacular. Will return again and again. Great experience.

Beautiful location with a stunning view of the bridge and SOH. Food was just wonderful. I had a wagyu carpaccio drizzled with truffle oil that was fantastic. My main was a salmon that was a bit overlooked vs how i ordered it (medium rare). Good wine list, which we well tapped into!

Was here a few months ago for a friend'a 18th birthday - we booked out the entire restaurant! Beautiful restaurant with amazing service and a stunning view to accompany it! It's also quite easy to get to and it is literally right next to (2m away from) the ferry dock. The food is amazing! Must order the lamb - beautifully done!

This is our 3rd visit to Sails this week. Absolutely fabulous. Food, staff, location, view. 5 stars +. When in Sydney sail on over to Sails on Lavender Bay!!!!

I booked a table for two to celebrate my partner's birthday. The food was very disappointing. The service was fantastic and location but that means nothing if you are not able to enjoy what you are eating. $213 for a meal that you would send back to the kitchen in a pub. A special night ruined.